Region 3-1A // Max Finley Stadium, 1826 Carter St., Chattanooga, TN 37408
At the helm
Ron Cox
(5-35 in four years here and overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Panthers return 8 off., 9 def. starters.
Super powers
The Panthers will line up offensively in a pistol wing-T formation, and they will spread the ball among the six or so backs they'll shuttle in and out. Couple that with an OL where there's competition for some starting spots, and Sale Creek could have the most productive offense in the program's short history.
Possible kryptonite
It's the same with all small schools: A couple of significant injuries to key players could derail any hope of the team fulfilling its potential.
Spidey sense tingling
Sale Creek, starting its fifth year as a varsity program, got its first win in 2015 and had its best season to date last year at 3-7. Given the returning talent and maturity, this year's Panthers are out to top that and to try to secure that first playoff berth.
Here I come to save the day!
Junior Tanner Harvey gets the nod at QB and likely will distribute the ball often to senior RBs John and Luke Roberts. Senior Tucker Hooker (6-1, 240) anchors the line on both sides.
Up, up and away!
There are two new things associated with Sale Creek's football program this season. They're called depth and experience.
Perhaps no area of the team is deeper than the OL. And for sure no Sale Creek player is more experienced than Hooker.
Of the team's 10 seniors, seven have played extensively since they were freshmen. One, Hooker, played some as an eighth-grader.
Back then he was a 5-foot-10, 210-pound G who also played some MLB. It was on defense in his first game when he received his "Welcome to high school football" moment, courtesy of Marion County hard-charging RB Hunter Zeman.
Now a 6-foot, 235-pound OG/DE, Hooker is dishing out more than he's taking.
"I really feel like I've improved on the offensive side of the ball," he said. "When I first started playing high school ball, I had no clue what I was doing. And I wasn't used to the fast pace of the game. I've tried to be more coachable. I've listened to whatever the coaches would teach me."
As Hooker has improved, so have the Panthers. He now thinks they could play beyond that final regular-season game for the first time.
"The biggest thing with Tucker is his work ethic in the weight room," Cox said. "He pushes everybody else to do better. He's such a leader. He demands that everybody plays like they're supposed to."
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Richland lost, 50-10
Aug. 26 Concord Christian won, 47-6
Sep. 2 Copper Basin lost, 45-6
Sep. 8 Tenn. Christian Prep won, 1-0 (forfeit)
Sep. 16 Grace Academy lost, 49-0
Sep. 23 Silverdale Baptist lost, 62-0
Sep. 30 South Pittsburg lost, 56-0
Oct. 13 Whitwell lost, 49-16
Oct. 21 Oakdale lost, 39-0
Oct. 28 Lookout Valley won, 26-21
3-7, 1-4 Region 3-1A
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 17 at Sunbright, 7
Aug. 25 Grace Academy at Finley Stadium
Sep. 1 S. Pittsburg at Finley Stadium, 8
Sep. 15 at Copper Basin
Sep. 22 Pickett County at Finley Stadium, 8
Sep. 29 at Lookout Valley
Oct. 6 at Clay County, 8
Oct. 13 Zion Christian at Finley Stadium, 7
Oct. 20 Wartburg at Hixson
Oct. 27 at Whitwell, 8
Region 3-1A games in bold