Region 3-4A prep football preview and predictions

East Hamilton's Ian Ammerall (28) runs drills with his team during football practice Wednesday. Ammerall is the Hurricanes' most experienced defensive player, and he has moved to safety.
East Hamilton's Ian Ammerall (28) runs drills with his team during football practice Wednesday. Ammerall is the Hurricanes' most experienced defensive player, and he has moved to safety.
photo East Hamilton safety Ian Ammerall, left, a starting linebacker last year, runs drills with Kevin Siniard (33) during the team's practice Wednesday.

REGION 3-4A AT A GLANCE

* Team to beat: Stone Memorial went undefeated last regular season and finished 11-1, averaging 34.5 points per game. Although a new QB will be featured this season, returning are most of the line and backfield that helped the Panthers total 2,300-plus rushing yards. Plenty of experience returns on the defensive side, too. * Watch out for: First-year Central coach Cortney Braswell already is on record saying, "We've got nowhere to go but up." That's because last year's team was 0-10. Braswell is a former defensive coordinator for the Purple Pounders. Look for this year's defense, spearheaded by DB and NCAA Division I college prospect D.J. Baxter, to be much improved. * Best game: East Hamilton hosts Stone Memorial on Oct. 28. The Hurricanes lost 14-7 to Stone Memorial last regular season but gained revenge with a 28-16 state-playoff victory in the second round. The Panthers will be in payback mode this time. But being the regular-season finale, it gives East Hamilton's inexperienced defense all season to jell. Additionally, the 'Canes will be off the week before. * Dream schedule: Two of the out-of-conference teams Cumberland County plays, Oliver Springs and White County, were each 2-8 last year. The others, Kingston and DeKalb County, were state-playoff teams, but both lost in the first round. When the Jets get to the back half of the season and play nothing but region opponents, three of their last four games are at home. * Nightmare schedule: Hixson not only plays Class 5A teams Soddy-Daisy (7-4 in 2015) and Walker Valley (4-6), the Trojans return QB Justin Cooke, who threw for 2,273 yards a year ago, and the Mustangs bring back Kolten Gibson, who passed for 2,112. The Wildcats also play two teams in lower classifications, but they are 2A state runner-up Marion County (13-2) in the opener and 3A East Ridge (12-1), which returns area-leading rusher and scorer Traneil Moore. * Players to watch: East Hamilton has a veteran QB in Nick Woods, who threw for 1,426 yards and 10 TDs in the regular season last year. Jake McClure is also a formidable weapon as the Hurricanes' K and P, and he'll also contribute at WR and S. Central has an NCAA Division I college prospect in 6-foot-7, 295-pound McCallie transfer McClendon Curtis. Don't be surprised by a tackle-eligible play near the end zone. * Predicted order of finish: Stone Memorial, East Hamilton, Hixson, Cumberland County, Central, Livingston Academy, Sequoyah.

By now East Hamilton's Ian Ammerall has gotten around to introducing himself to all of his new defensive teammates. It may have taken a while, since not one of the 10 surrounding him in the Hurricanes' 3-4 this year was a starter last year.

In spite of all the defensive shakeup, East Hamilton enters the upcoming high school football season optimistic it can challenge for the Region 3-4A championship.

"We definitely want to be region champions," Ammerall said. "That's one of the most common goals for every team."

Even the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Ammerall didn't start in last year's opener, but he started every subsequent game at outside linebacker after then-senior Isaac Hembree suffered a season-ending broken ankle. This year he's making the transition to safety.

"I'm doing it because it's the best fit for the team," Ammerall said. "I have it down, for the most part. There are still a few things to work on before the season starts."

The defense isn't as inexperienced as it may seem, however. As an example, senior linebackers Bradley Boozer, Tyler Green, Kirby Sailors and Kevin Siniard all registered multiple tackles a year ago.

"As last season went on we had some other kids that started playing some minutes and got some experience," East Hamilton coach Ted Gatewood said. "We've got some kids with experience, just not as starters."

The defensive line and secondary are a little less experienced than the linebackers. But Gatewood likes the work sophomore Jayden Smith, also a running back, and senior Sam Blakemore are doing as cornerbacks. And they have Ammerall behind them.

"Ian is a great football player," Gatewood said. "He's a tough kid. He understands and has a great grasp of what we're trying to do. He communicates. He makes sure the kids around him are where they're supposed to be."

Stone Memorial won the region title a year ago, but the Hurricanes beat the Panthers in the state playoffs. Half of East Hamilton's region games were decided by seven points, including its two league losses.

"We have a really competitive region," Ammerall said. "It's a fun region to play in. Last year we had a few really close games, but we know what we have to do to compete with those teams and what gives us the best chance to win those games."

Cumberland County, Hixson and Central are among the teams that finished below third-place East Hamilton last season but could show marked improvement. Cumberland's Jets return several starters, Hixson's Wildcats have eight back on offense and the Purple Pounders have been infused by a new coaching staff.

"I think it's wide open," Gatewood said of the region race. "I think our league is pretty balanced. I think everybody has got a shot. One thing for any team will be staying healthy, obviously. Number two, I think it will be an advantage to get a foothold in the early part of region play.

"Everybody has got some key people coming back. It's probably going to come down to the final week. It did that last year. I think we've got a chance."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com@KelleySmiddie.

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