LaFayette Ramblers have grown closer, more experienced

LaFayette's  Max Studdard (99) punts the ball during a scrimmage between Trion and LaFayette at LaFayette High School Thursday, August 9, 2018 in LaFayette, Georgia.
LaFayette's Max Studdard (99) punts the ball during a scrimmage between Trion and LaFayette at LaFayette High School Thursday, August 9, 2018 in LaFayette, Georgia.

Head coach: Paul Ellis (5-5 in one year here; 130-77 overall)

Returning starters: 5 offensive; 5 defensive

Key players: OL-DL Matt Wallin (5-10, 240); RB Jamario Clements (5-11, 190); WR-CB Jalen Suttle (5-11, 165); K Max Studdard (5-10, 160); WR-DB Drake Bing (6-0, 170); LB Brady Beard (5-10, 190).

Team strengths: Being in year two with Ellis and his staff will pay off. The offseason, according to Ellis, has brought the team closer. It also helps to have experience and decent size on the lines.

Team concerns: The Ramblers lost a slew of playmakers off last season's 5-5 squad, including dynamic quarterback Vyshonn Daniel and nearly all the receiving corps.

photo LaFayette head coach Paul Ellis talks to players on his team during a timeout during a scrimmage between Trion and LaFayette at LaFayette High School Thursday, August 9, 2018 in LaFayette, Georgia.

Breakout candidate: Senior quarterback/receiver Zach Cowan has been held back by injury the past couple of seasons but heads into the year set to share starting QB duties with Jalen Ramsey. Both will play receiver when not behind center.

Season outlook: If year two of a coaching change is supposed to bring the most improvement in a football team, the Ramblers could find themselves sniffing the playoffs.

Coach Ellis nearly got them there in year one, but a late-season losing streak, which included a wild 49-47 loss to eventual No. 3 seed Heritage, cost the team a spot. It's a goal the veteran coach doesn't mind talking about with his players.

"Last year was a small steppingstone in getting our kids to understand we can compete with these teams, so that should help us on the mental side," Ellis said. "I want for our seniors to have that experience of having played in the playoffs, and to do that we have to not only compete with those teams, we have to find a way to beat them."

While many of last year's offensive leaders must be replaced, the Ramblers have a strong group back along the lines. Ellis calls the linemen - who include experienced players such as Wallin, Jordan Bradley, Brendan Ratliff and Xavier Priddy - the team's strength. Ellis also is seeing the benefits of having that full year with his players.

"The kids know what to expect," he said. "There's a certain way of practice, certain tempo, expectations. That helps kids be a little more comfortable in what they are doing. We've had a great summer as well, and we're starting to find some leaders."

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