Preps Preview: Ringgold Tigers

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

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