Signal Mountain wide receiver and defensive back Travion WilliamsRegion 3-3A // 2650 Sam Powell Trail, Signal Mountain, TN 37377
At the helm
Josh Roberts
(first year here and overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Eagles return 5 off., 7 def. starters.
Super powers
There are both speed and experience returning in the backfield and on the perimeter. The Eagles also added athletes from other sports, including basketball's Silvestro Silvestro (6-1, 165), lacrosse players Matthew Mersch (6-0, 195) and Dylan Lisowski (6-3, 195), wrestler Will Davis (5-9, 185) and soccer player Gray Joyce (5-9, 160).
Possible kryptonite
New assistant Tony Webb, the former Lookout Valley head coach, is working hard with the OL, breaking in new talent and trying to develop depth. Numbers are up teamwide, more than doubling the 25 with whom the Eagles finished 2016.
Spidey sense tingling
There is the unknown of new region competition (Loudon, McMinn Central, Sweetwater), but the coaching staff, while being cautious, is optimistic about the Eagles returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2014, Bill Price's last season leading the program.
Here I come to save the day!
QB Tom Vatter (6-3, 200) is the linchpin. The offense, with much more balance, won't be so much handing off to runners, as Vatter can hit the ball in windows that are beyond the expertise of many passers.
Up, up and away!
The rebuilding actually began before Roberts knew he would be the head coach, and it started by recruiting in the halls, adding new talent and getting former players to return.
He was happy with the first day in pads.
"They're a lot more physical than we thought they'd be," he said. "The big thing, though, is that they're having a lot of fun and they're flying around."
He has been delighted, too, with the addition of Webb.
"The defensive line is obviously ahead of the offensive line, but the guys know where to go. Tony's got them going in the right direction," Roberts said.
With Signal, which often wore down in the fourth quarter of 2016 games, the catch-phrase right now is the more the merrier.
"We're going to be playing a lot of kids," Roberts said. "Not counting special teams, we'll play at least 25 guys. Our goal this year is the starters rolling in the first quarter and then in the second and third quarters we'll rotate some players in to keep the guys fresh for the fourth quarter."
One of those unlikely to get a breather is Vatter, a returning starter.
"With our style of offense (multiple spread), he has to be the leader and know what we're doing. We're going to be using the receivers more but also running the ball," Roberts said.
2016 Results
Aug. 19 East Hamilton lost, 24-13
Aug. 26 Ooltewah lost, 38-7
Sep. 2 East Ridge lost, 35-28
Sep. 9 Tyner won, 22-21
Sep. 23 Cleveland lost, 38-0
Sep. 30 Red Bank lost, 29-8
Oct. 14 Notre Dame lost, 37-6
Oct. 21 Giles County lost, 30-14
Oct. 28 Howard lost, 35-16
2-8, 1-4 Region 3-3A
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 18 East Hamilton
Aug. 25 Tyner
Sep. 1 at Red Bank
Sep. 8 at Whitwell
Sep. 15 Loudon
Sep. 22 at East Ridge
Sep. 29 at Brainerd
Oct. 13 McMinn Central
Oct. 20 Soddy-Daisy
Oct. 27 at Sweetwater
Region 3-3A games in bold