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CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN CHARGERSRegion 3-3AChargers Stadium, 3354 Charger Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37409Driver’s seat: Rob Spence (4-7 in second year here, 33-24-1 overall)Road tested: 7 offensive, 7 defensive starters return
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Pump the brakes: The Chargers have a pretty solid squad of first-team players, but the depth and talent has a drastic drop from top to bottom of the 44 players combined between the varsity and JV squads.
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Route ‘15: Spence, with his broad experience in high school and college coaching, won’t base success of the season on wins and losses. “We create memories because of the way we do things,” he said. “Our goal is to play to our God-given potential.”
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Taking the wheel: The Chargers are petty stout at the skill positions, including senior WR Brandon Mason, senior QB Matthew Mercer and junior S Justin Wheeler. All three are viable options to represent the Chargers as captains at the first coin flip of the season.
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Cruise control: The Chargers are far from a bruising team, but they can dice their way through a defense and slice their way through an offense with players who know how to play the ball. The likes of Mercer, Mason, Wheeler, Will Patton, D.J. Toney and Ben Moore find the ball and move the ball.
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Backseat driver: An opposing coach said, “CCS is much like us and relies on kids working together more than talent. It’s tough for them because they’re a less talented team playing in a higher division.”
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Rearview2014 game resultsAug. 22;Grace Academy;won, 62-0Aug. 29;at Lookout Valley;won, 43-0Sep. 5;Notre Dame;lost, 42-7Sep. 19;at Sequatchie County;won, 32-28Sep. 26;White County;lost, 21-14Oct. 3;Grundy County;lost, 30-24Oct. 10;at Silverdale;won, 39-0Oct. 17;Signal Mountain;lost, 49-14Oct. 24;at Marion County;lost, 61-27Oct. 31;at Bledsoe County;lost, 21-14Nov. 7;at Notre Dame;lost, 55-15 (first-round playoffs)4-7, 1-4 District 7-AA
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On the horizon2015 scheduleAug. 21;BrainerdAug. 28;Lookout ValleySep. 4;at Notre DameSep. 11;Davidson AcademySep. 18;at Signal MountainOct. 2;HowardOct. 16;Red BankOct. 23;at Grace AcademyOct. 30;East RidgeRegion 3-3A games in bold
Pedal to the metal
A Friday night scrimmage revealed more than who can play football for Chattanooga Christian.
It revealed the character of a team.
"When we made a mistake or there was some type of error, somebody faltered, I saw people picking each other up," coach Rob Spence said. "I saw more love and care than I've ever seen around our team."
Those emotional responses were triggered earlier than that scrimmage on Aug. 7.
They were developed during a two-day camp for the team at Camp Skyline in Mentone, Ala.
The Chargers developed a team.
"I can tell you that in all my years, I've never seen a moment like that night like that," said Spence, who has coached at college programs up and down from Louisiana Tech to Syracuse in New York. "We worshiped, prayed, cried and wept together."
And they practiced.
The schedule lent no time for fun and games like a water-balloon fight or a zipline drive. The focus was on football and faith.
"I've never seen a moment like that Saturday night," Spence said. "It was one of the most powerful moments in my life."
Capsule by David Uchiyama; contact duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or follow on Twitter: @UchiyamaCTFP