Region 4-3A // Crisp Field, 24970 Highway 108, Coalmont, TN 37313
At the helm
Casey Tate
(2-18 in two years here and overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Yellow Jackets return 8 off., 8 def. starters.
Super powers
Young but experienced players should bode well for the Yellow Jackets this season and next. Tate has a pair of former head coaches as coordinators - Greg Brewer on defense and Chad Barger on offense.
Possible kryptonite
Like all coaches, Tate fears what injuries could do. The Jackets are not three deep at all positions, but they can go two deep.
Spidey sense tingling
Grundy County is coming off back-to-back 1-9 seasons. Tate, though, feels that streak will come to an end this year and the Jackets will make the state playoffs.
Here I come to save the day!
The coaching staff is predicting good things for brothers and RBs/DBs Ethan (5-10, 170) and Evan Nunley (5-11, 160) and QB/DB Hagen Cash (5-10, 160). Each is in a new position and healthy.
Up, up and away!
The team was so close to breaking through a year ago; close losses included setbacks to Upperman and DeKalb County.
"We were four points from finishing third in the region," Tate said in retrospect. "They worked so hard and got right to the door, but 1-9 and the next year there isn't much encouragement outside of the administration, coaches and parents. This year the attitude is so different for whatever reason. They're hungry. They're tired of everybody talking about 1-9. Our goal is to make it to the playoffs, and I believe with all my heart that they can do that."
Much will depend on a small senior class that includes OL Corbin Lusk (6-0, 220), OL/LB Aaron Comer (6-0, 235), TE/DE Josh Nance (6-1, 230) and RB/LB Drew Tate (5-10, 185).
Cash took over as QB early in 2016, and the team's offensive skill set improved with junior WR Ethan Chouinard (6-0, 160) transferring in.
The defense remains the same under Brewer, a 4-4, while the offense is a hybrid of Barger's wing-T and Tate's double-wing flexbone.
"We're limiting the number of plays and just trying to get really good at running them. We're more dominant wing-T, but we'll still run some option," Tate said.
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Whitwell lost, 35-12
Aug. 26 Marion County lost, 58-6
Sep. 2 Cannon County won, 13-12
Sep. 9 Watertown lost, 48-7
Sep. 16 Upperman lost, 13-12
Sep. 23 South Pittsburg lost, 45-0
Oct. 7 DeKalb County lost, 25-22
Oct. 14 York Institute lost, 36-21
Oct. 21 Sequatchie County lost, 49-0
Oct. 28 Smith County lost, 42-6
1-9, 1-5 Region 4-3A
2017 Schedule
(All times 8 Eastern)
Aug. 18 at East Hickman
Aug. 25 Ezell-Harding
Sep. 1 York Institute
Sep. 8 Bledsoe County
Sep. 15 at DeKalb County
Sep. 29 Cannon County
Oct. 6 at Cascade
Oct. 13 at Upperman
Oct. 20 Sequatchie County
Oct. 27 at Smith County
Region 4-3A games in bold