Tennesee Region 3-3A football preview: Irish can adjust

Notre Dame football coach Charles Fant must replace several talented players from last year's team that reached the state semifinals.
Notre Dame football coach Charles Fant must replace several talented players from last year's team that reached the state semifinals.

REGION 3-A AT A GLANCE

Team to beat: Coach Charles Fant has completed four seasons at Notre Dame, and each of his teams has competed in the state playoffs — the past two in semifinals. That success should have the attention of the rest of the teams in the region.Watch out for: Chattanooga Christian is a relatively young team that will need plenty of players to contribute on offense and defense. But this is a program on the upswing. First-year head coach Mark Mariakis enjoyed plenty of success in Georgia at Ridgeland. Look for a sufficient defense and a ball-control offense to keep the Chargers in most games.Best game: East Ridge hosts Notre Dame on Sept. 30. The Pioneers were unbeaten in the 2015 regular season. Their closest game was a 14-9 victory at Notre Dame. The teams met again in a state quarterfinal at Finley Stadium, where the Fighting Irish prevailed 55-27. The Irish graduated some top-notch players but return starters to 13 positions. Having standout RB Traneil Moore gives East Ridge a chance in any game.Dream schedule: At least some of the five nonregion teams on East Ridge’s schedule are likely to show some improvement from last season. But those teams were a combined 7-44 a year ago.Nightmare schedule: Red Bank begins by hosting Soddy-Daisy, a 2015 Class 5A playoffs qualifier, followed by a trip to Division II-AA program Baylor the next week. DII-AA member McCallie visits the Lions two weeks after that. In the final three weeks of the season, they travel to last year’s Class 3A state champion, Alcoa, sandwiched between region games against CCS and Notre Dame.Players to watch: Moore, who led the Chattanooga area in rushing and scoring last season as a junior, had a knee operation but isn’t expected to miss much, if any, playing time. Signal Mountain TE/DE TaDarrell Hodge blocked three kicks last season. CCS brings back senior QB Matthew Mercer, who completed 61 percent of his 193 passes for 1,278 yards. Notre Dame RB Akil Sledge did some noticeable things in a backup role as a sophomore last year.Predicted order of finish: Notre Dame, East Ridge, Chattanooga Christian, Red Bank, Signal Mountain, Howard.

Notre Dame graduated several good football players off its 2014 team that advanced to the TSSAA Class 3A state semifinals, but the Fighting Irish made just as deep a run in last year's playoffs.

The program faces a different set of graduating circumstances coming into this season, but since Charles Fant took over as head coach in 2012, every year the Irish seem to figure out how to adjust. Once again, they should be major contenders for the Region 3 title.

Last season's senior class didn't compare to the one before in terms of the quantity of talented players who left, but it featured players who were more highly regarded.

Now Notre Dame is searching for successors for some skill-position players who contributed as far back as when they were freshmen. One of them, Ricky Ballard, ran for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns during the 2015 regular season and was a valuable member of the secondary and a kick returner.

Tyler Enos contributed at fullback and tight end at times during his Notre Dame career, but it was at linebacker where he gained his notoriety. He overwhelmingly led the Irish in tackles last season.

"We're having to replace a guy with over 500 career tackles," Fant said. "We've got to get that tackle production from somewhere. Our defense is set up to be aggressive. We're wanting to funnel things into those 'backers."

Sophomore Alex Flemister has earned the opportunity to step into that role.

"He's bigger and longer," Fant said of the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Flemister. "He's a hard worker. It's going to be so exciting to see what he can do."

Flemister said he doesn't feel pressure to perform a certain way. But he does respect what Enos accomplished.

"Actually, during spring he came out to a couple of practices," Flemister said. "He took the time to help show me the ropes."

Perhaps the Irish's most glaring void to fill is at quarterback. Alex Darras completed 56 percent of his passes last regular season for an average of 155.2 yards per game with a touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio of 20-to-6. Junior T.J. McGhee, sophomore Parker Brock and freshman Landon Allen are in competition for the job.

"All three kids have been taking a tremendous amount of snaps," Fant said. "Once we start scrimmages, that's when we'll start the separation process."

Flemister said there were things to be learned watching last year's team from the sideline. Now he's ready to help this team to create an identity.

"They were fun to watch play," Flemister said of last season's seniors. "They played on the field, and they supported their teammates. That's what we needed to elevate us."

Sparked by a 14-9 victory at Notre Dame, East Ridge won last year's Region 3-3A title on the way to its first unbeaten regular season. The Pioneers have gone through a coaching change, bringing back Tim James, but should expect to be in the title chase again.

Fant's teams have compiled a 40-13 record entering his fifth season at Notre Dame. The league's other head coaches, all having been around three years or less, are trying to shape their programs.

Fant's semifinal team two years ago was a region champion. Although last year's Notre Dame team was not, it beat East Ridge in the state quarterfinals for a higher finish in the end.

"We don't judge our season on championships or gold balls," Fant said. "We want to get better every day."

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

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