Region 2-4A // 2015 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, Ooltewah, TN 37363
At the helm
Ted Gatewood
(46-44 in nine years here; 90-90 overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Hurricanes return 5 off., 2 def. starters.
Super powers
The Hurricanes have some younger players with experience, and as one of Gatewood's peers said, they always will be good up front, their defense will be sound and they won't make many mistakes.
Possible kryptonite
While the lines should be above average, Gatewood, for one of the few times in his career, is looking for depth in both fronts.
Spidey sense tingling
With just seven returning starters, coaches have been focused within the ranks, seeking to develop a football mindset and IQ. The Hurricanes have advanced to the postseason four of the past five seasons, including quarterfinal appearances twice, so a postseason showing is ingrained.
Here I come to save the day!
Jared Price (5-11, 180) got his QB education the hard way, stepping up from junior varsity as the starter as the Hurricanes entered the playoffs. He was their third starter at the spot after the Hurricanes lost first Nick Woods and then Andrew Sturdivant. Led by Jhaden Smith (5-11, 175), the Hurricanes have a trio of experienced RBs, with the others Adam Caudle (5-9, 180) and Drako Wise (5-6, 160).
Up, up and away!
The new seven-team region alignment features five teams that were playoff participants last season, but East Hamilton played only Central, Hixson and Sequoyah and lost to Hixson and Central. There is at least some size on the line, including C Corbin Turner (6-3, 290) and OTs David Bohn (6-2, 255) and Harrison Davis (6-1, 250). It's a good start for the I-formation spread offense, and veteran leadership has enhanced advancement.
"We have some good upperclassmen who've been on the field and who have shown some leadership," Gatewood said. "One of the strong points is that the kids are soaking (teaching) up. They're very coachable, and they know what effort is."
Opponents know that with Gatewood, a standout lineman at Red Bank and then at Memphis, running the football will be an East Hamilton strong suit. Yet he has softened tremendously from the "3 yards and a cloud of dust" approach.
"We want to be balanced offensively but we have to play to our strengths, and there is depth in the skill positions," he said.
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Signal Mountain won, 24-13
Aug. 26 Cleveland lost, 34-6
Sep. 2 Sequoyah won, 38-14
Sep. 9 Ooltewah lost, 38-3
Sep. 16 Hixson lost, 21-18
Sep. 23 Soddy-Daisy won, 24-14
Sep. 30 Livingston Academy won, 38-7
Oct. 7 Cumberland County won, 37-10
Oct. 14 Central lost, 14-9
Oct. 28 Stone Memorial lost, 33-28
Nov. 4 Marshall County lost, 46-0
(first round)
6-5, 5-1 Region 3-4A
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 18 At Signal Mountain
Aug. 25 Soddy-Daisy
Sep. 1 East Ridge
Sep. 8 At Ooltewah
Sep. 15 At Central
Sep. 22 At Tyner
Sep. 29 At Sequoyah
Oct. 6 Hixson
Oct. 20 Anderson County
Oct. 27 At Howard
Region 2-4A games in bold