Meigs County Tigers
Coach: Ricky Holliday (6-15 in two seasons here and overall)
Last year: 1-9 as District 5-AA member
'13 dreams: Eight sophomores got a lot of game experience last year, whether they were ready for it or not. So Meigs County is going down a classification with an experienced group of starters. The combination of the two should help the Tigers improve their record, but District 3 still will present plenty of challenges. Grace Christian and Greenback were both 10-2 and second-round playoff teams last year, and Rockwood and Midway also playoff teams. The Tigers are awaiting the return of middle linebacker and fullback Lee Wilson (6-foot-1, 240), their leading 2012 tackler who had surgery July 29 on a foot he broke while going through drills at Jacksonville State University earlier in the month. Big things also are expected from fellow seniors Austin Kennedy (6-3) and Quincy Parris (5-10), who check in at a combined 440 pounds. Kennedy, a two-way tackle, carries 200 more of those pounds than Parris, a running back and safety.
Number of interest: It's been 13 seasons since the Tigers last won a state-playoff game.
13 years ago: Current Meigs principal Clint Baker, whose son, Bryson, is a junior and the starting quarterback for the Tigers, was in his first season as head football coach. He guided them to a 10-2 record and the second round of the playoffs.
Program superstition: A ceramic statue of a tiger sits perched on a brick pedestal behind the end zone where the players enter a gate to their home field. All the players touch it before they gather to run through the customary big paper sign.
1-through-3: Senior fullback and linebacker Lee Wilson
Q. What has it been like for you missing so much practice time?
A. It's just been terrible. I've been at home and can't do anything. I've been keeping [the broken foot] elevated. Hopefully I can get it to heal soon. I'm going into my senior season and it's been rough. I want to be there to lead my team. We're hoping to have a good season.
Q. How does the team feel about moving into a new district?
A. I think we're kind of excited about it. In our old district we were borderline on the number of students in the school to qualify, so we were on the lower end. Those other schools had a lot more kids than we did. It was a disadvantage in my opinion. Now we're in a district with schools closer in numbers with ours.
Q. When are you expected back and how do you feel about it?
A. From the time of the surgery, the good scenario would be four weeks. It could be six weeks. It could be longer. If it's four weeks, then I would be back at the Monday practice of week one. That would be good because our off week is the first week of the season (week zero). I'm hoping that's how it goes. Our defense especially is in real need of some leadership right now.
2013 Schedule
Aug. 30 at Sweetwater 7:30
Sep. 6 Greenback* 7:30
Sep. 13 at Sale Creek 7:30
Sep. 20 Rockwood* 7:30
Sep. 27 McMinn Central 7:30
Oct. 4 Grace Christian* 7:30
Oct. 11 at Lookout Valley 7:30
Oct. 18 at Midway* 7:30
Oct. 25 Harriman* 7:30
Nov. 1 at Tellico Plains* 7:30
*District 3-A game
2012 STATS
Passing
C-A-I Pct. Yards TDs
Bryson Baker 70-113-7 800 2
Rushing
Att Yards TDs
Dakota Ricker 69 760 6
Quincy Parris 100 450 1
Receiving
No. Yards TDs
Jessie Mills 25 261 1
Dakota Ricker 13 174 0
Elliott Aikman 17 159 2
Tackles
Solo Assists Total
Lee Wilson 56 40 76
Jacob Kile 47 37 65.5
Roster
No. Name Class
1 Tyler Millard Senior
2 Bryson Baker Junior
3 Dakota Ricker Junior
4 Tyler Lawson Sophomore
5 Bryson Ridge Sophomore
6 Quincy Parris Senior
7 Tyler Moats Sophomore
8 Tristan Fisher Sophomore
9 Blake Westmoreland Sophomore
10 Derek Letner Junior
12 Brandon Swanson Freshman
14 David Hicks Senior
15 Ryan Rayl Sophomore
16 Brandon Lawson Junior
17 Jesse Rayl Freshman
18 John Bratcher Junior
22 Justus Palko Sophomore
25 Zack Ridge Junior
30 Lee Wilson Senior
32 Taylor Fugate Junior
33 William Bearden Freshman
34 Lucas Goforth Sophomore
40 Zack Thomas Junior
42 Brandon Donaldson Sophomore
44 Casey Tate Freshman
46 Brian Baskowsky Sophomore
49 Jake Prince Junior
50 Cody Kennedy Senior
51 Blaze Bunch Sophomore
52 Aiden Sidereas Sophomore
53 Tyler Williams Senior
55 Marcus Smock Sophomore
56 Richard Cleary Sophomore
57 Zach Farrington Senior
58 Austin Cooley Junior
59 Gavin Scott Sophomore
60 Mitchell Fowler Freshman
62 Brandon Perry Junior
63 Jacob Kile Junior
65 Justin Stephens Freshman
66 Dylan Taylor Junior
70 Michael Ogle Freshman
71 Jacob Baker Freshman
72 Alec McKenzie Sophomore
73 Austin Kennedy Senior
74 Mason Anderson Freshman
75 Tannyr Beaty Senior
77 Dylan Hiefner Freshman
78 Seth Norris Freshman
80 Cody Meadows Junior
85 Tannyr Peaden Junior
92 Jordan Carrol Junior
99 Stanley Mayton Freshman