BY THE NUMBERS7 - Starters returning on offense, including most of the line.4 - Teams on the schedule this year that also were on last year's. The Tigers defeated Heritage and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and lost to Cartersville and Dalton.6 - Home games this year. It's a stark contrast to a year ago when the Tigers played their home games at Finley Stadium while their stadium was being rebuilt.SCHEDULEAug. 24 DaltonAug. 31 HeritageSep. 14 at Central, CarrollSep. 21 at Gordon Central*Sep. 28 at Adairsville*Oct. 5 Sonoraville*Oct. 19 North Murray*Oct. 26 Coahulla Creek*Nov. 2 at Lakeview-F.O.*Nov. 9 Cartersville** Region 5-AAA game
RINGGOLD TIGERS
Coach: Robert Akins (29-22 in five years here, 256-150 in 35 overall)
Stadium: Don Patterson Stadium
Address: 29 Tiger Trail, Ringgold, GA 30736
RECENT HISTORY
The Tigers have had just one losing season in Akins' five seasons after having just two in the decade preceding his arrival. Ringgold still, however, does not own a playoff win. Here's a look at the regular-season win total the last five years:
2011 ------(6)
2010 -----(5)
2009 --------(8)
2008 ----(4)
2007 ------(6)
THREE STRENGTHS
1) Intangibles. The Tigers endured a season without a home field last year and still nearly qualified for the playoffs. Coach Akins admits the process made his team tougher mentally.
2) New-look Region 5-AAA includes only two teams that made the playoffs a year ago and only one, Adairsville, that won a postseason game. The Tigers expect to contend right away.
3) In junior quarterback Slade Dale the Tigers have one of the premier playmakers in the northwest Georgia area. Dale had a combined 2,000 yards last year and 16 touchdowns.
THREE CONCERNS
1) Shaun Anderson graduated after a 1,200-yard, 15-touchdown season. Akins will count on several backs to replace him, but can someone emerge to claim the No. 1 job?
2) Ringgold had trouble stopping the run a year ago. The coaching staff has focused on the run defense in camp, most notably making sure tackles and getting off blocks.
3) Akins expects his team to be in several close games, especially at the beginning of the season. Finding a replacement for reliable kicker Adam Ray is a must.
THREE QUESTIONS WITH TYLER "TEDDY" ADAMS
(Senior two-way lineman)
Q: How different is this summer from last year for this team?
A: It's a lot different from working out at Northwest and practicing and playing at Finley. We feel more like a family and closer connected as a team.
Q: You guys were close to making the playoffs last year. What has to happen to get there this season?
A: We have to be more sound defensively this year and finish games. We've been doing different drills and I think we're stronger. We're more experienced this year, so that should help us.
Q: Does Ringgold have a main rival? If so, who is it and why are they rivals?
A: Yes, Heritage. It's a cross-county rival and we all know each other.
ROSTER
1 Kanan Briner - Senior
2 Chandler Gray - Junior
3 Kile Sholl - Sophomore
4 Jordan Ransom - Sophomore
5 Sam Taylor - Junior
6 Caleb Peters - Junior
7 Slade Dale - Junior
8 Brandon Johnson - Senior
9 Zach Morris - Sophomore
11 Devin Wilson - Junior
12 Cade Gilbert - Freshman
14 Brandon Wright - Sophomore
15 Devin Lancaster - Freshman
16 Reid Adams - Sophomore
17 Christian Plott - Junior
19 Jared Spivey - Senior
20 Henry Bowen - Senior
21 Bobby Campbell - Senior
22 Garrett Morris - Freshman
23 Adrian Hart - Sophomore
24 Alex Harper - Sophomore
25 Julian Ritchey - Sophomore
26 JT Roach - Sophomore
27 Hayden Moss - Sophomore
31 Austin Phelps - Junior
34 Jacob Chisenall - Junior
35 Ethan Dalton - Sophomore
37 Dakota Chambers - Freshman
41 Michael Lewis - Sophomore
42 Chandler Morris - Senior
43 Dakota Baer - Junior
44 Hunter Sosebee - Sophomore
45 Chris Watts - Junior
46 Nathan Bello - Sophomore
47 Nathan Watson - Freshman
48 Cameron Hood - Freshman
49 Hunter Foskey - Freshman
50 Christian Etheridge - Junior
51 Deonte Mitchell - Sophomore
53 Jacob Silks - Freshman
54 Chase Burke - Junior
55 Chad Hartman - Senior
56 Dylan Richardson - Senior
57 Grayson Coleman - Freshman
58 Tristen Hickey - Sophomore
59 Kellen Despaux - Junior
60 Jonathan Rodriguez - Junior
61 Dewayne Linder - Freshman
62 Jesse Wade - Freshman
63 Caleb Hamby - Senior
66 Christopher Fuqua - Freshman
70 Jacob Fuller - Freshman
71 Ryan Emmer - Junior
72 Tristan Pierce - Freshman
73 Bryan Derben - Sophomore
74 Zach Shahan - Freshman
75 Deshon Bowen - Freshman
76 Tristan Ford - Sophomore
77 Taylor Dietz - Freshman
78 Kolton Begley - Sophomore
80 Quinn Oppenheim - Freshman
81 Austin Cantrell - Freshman
82 Dallas McGee - Junior
83 Austin Thomas - Freshman
85 Nathan Woods - Freshman
87 Daniel Hollifield - Freshman
88 Paul Michael - Freshman
99 Tyler Adams - Senior