Whitwell now the favorite to win 3-1A

Last season, during his first year at Whitwell High School, head coach R.C. Helton helped turn things around and guided the Tigers to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. This year, the Tigers have been picked by Region 3-1 coaches to win the league title.
Last season, during his first year at Whitwell High School, head coach R.C. Helton helped turn things around and guided the Tigers to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. This year, the Tigers have been picked by Region 3-1 coaches to win the league title.

The last time Whitwell High School won a district or region football championship, many of the current players were either toddlers or not yet born.

But the 12 returning starters who helped lead a second-half surge last season are a key reason Region 3-1A coaches voted the Tigers the overwhelming preseason favorite to claim their first league title in 14 years.

photo Staff Photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press - 8/30/12. Whitwell High School's Cody Ingrassia (7) runs the ball for a first down against Marion County High School during the first half of play Thursday at Bill Baxter stadium in Jasper, Tenn.

Region 3-1A at a glance

* Team to beat: Whitwell returns six starters to both sides of the ball, including three backs with more than 1,000 career rushing yards each. The Tigers last won a league title in 2001, when they went from being picked last in the preseason to winning eight games.* Watch out for: It isn’t often that South Pittsburg is considered an underdog in its league, but coming off a disappointing season, and with very little experience, it would be a bit of a surprise to claim the region title in Vic Grider’s first year back as coach.* Best game: Whitwell travels to South Pittsburg on Oct. 9 for a game that not only kicks off the second half of the season but will likely decide the region championship. The Pirates held on for a one-point win last year.* Dream schedule: Grace Academy has a pair of first-year programs on the slate — Knoxville’s Concord Christian and Cleveland’s Tennessee Christian — and its out-of-region schedule also includes Ezell-Harding, a one-win team last year. None of the Golden Eagles’ five road opponents had a winning record last season.* Nightmare schedule: South Pittsburg’s schedule outside of league play consists of five teams from a larger classification, including road trips to rival Marion County, a state runner-up last year, and perennial playoff power Boyd-Buchanan.* Players to watch: Whether he plays quarterback or running back, Whitwell senior Cody Ingrassia is an offensive weapon. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year, averaging 9.3 yards per carry, and is also a hard hitter on defense. South Pittsburg’s Chase Blevins is quick out of the backfield and plays bigger and tougher than his 5-foot-8, 155-pound frame. Junior Jared Jones, a running back and linebacker, could become a big-time weapon for the Pirates on both sides of the ball.* Predicted order of finish: Whitwell, South Pittsburg, Copper Basin, Lookout Valley, Grace Academy, Sale Creek.

Second-year coach R.C. Helton continues to change the program's culture, having spent much of last season convincing a downtrodden group of players that they could beat any team on the schedule. The next mental hurdle to clear is preparing a more confident team to play with higher expectations.

"As a staff we've put them in situations at practice that will prepare them to handle the pressure and adversity that pops up in a game," said Helton, who guided the team to four straight wins to end the regular season and claim a playoff appearance for the first time in a decade.

"There's a change in attitude with the kids, but we're not reflecting on last year's measurable indicators as much as we are looking forward to this year."

Whitwell has three returning players in a backfield that led Class 2A teams with 3,461 regular-season rushing yards in 2014, averaging better than 7 yards per carry.

Senior Cody Ingrassia is one of those returners, having surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last year, but he could be asked to step in at quarterback this year to allow the Tigers to have their best weapons on the field at the same time. Ingrassia, who averaged more than 9 yards per carry in 2014, will also be relied on heavily on defense.

But while the majority of league coaches picked Whitwell as the team to beat, Helton pointed to county nemesis South Pittsburg.

"We haven't beaten South Pittsburg in 24 years," Helton said, "so until we do they're the standard-bearer."

As unaccustomed as Whitwell is to being the preseason favorite, it is just as much a role reversal for South Pittsburg to be considered an underdog. But with only three starters back on both sides and just two seniors on the roster, this is not the same program that once led the state in games won by the 35-point mercy rule.

The return of veteran coach Vic Grider - along with defensive coordinator Shawn Peek, who averaged more than 10 wins a season as North Jackson's head coach - will eventually right the Pirates' ship. But for now the roster numbers, experience and talent are not up to the program's past standards.

Chase Blevins, one of the two seniors, will be counted on to provide a spark on offense, while Jared Jones (6-1, 180) has the talent to become a two-way contributor. The Pirates will need some younger players to mature quickly to speed along the rebuilding process.

Copper Basin reached the quarterfinals in last year's playoffs, a run that included a second-round win over South Pittsburg, but the Cougars will have to rely on a young group to mature quickly this time around. Those youngsters' skill set will likely lead the team to pass more.

After missing out last year, Lookout Valley should get back to the postseason with the return of seven starters on both sides of the ball and seven seniors who will either start or receive significant playing time.

"I like the way our kids play, and I think we have the talent to play with most of the teams in our region," Yellow Jackets coach Tony Webb said. "I just worry about our depth. We're already inexperienced in some areas, so if we lose a couple of starters and have to move kids around or play younger kids, it could make things tough."

There is experience along both lines of scrimmage, led by seniors Kyle Smith (6-2, 265) and Michael Minnick (6-0, 200), but very little in the backfield, where senior Austin Stansifer (6-2, 185) moves from receiver to quarterback and Kahliel Peoples (5-11, 215) takes over at running back.

If not for the multiplier rule, Grace Academy - with an actual enrollment of 160 - would be the smallest school in the state that plays football. Last year there were only 22 players on the roster, but that number is close to 30 now, which should help the Golden Eagles compete for one of the region's four playoff spots.

As Sale Creek continues to build its fledgling program, the numbers are there to snap a 20-game losing streak. The Panthers have nine seniors, the most since the program started, and more than 40 total players on the roster. There are also 17 freshmen, which bodes well for the future.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.

Upcoming Events