Region 3-2A // Bill Baxter Stadium, 160 Ridley Ave., Jasper, TN 37347
At the helm
Joey Mathis
(13-2 in one year here and overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Warriors return 4 off., 4 def. starters.
Super powers
No team in the area can match the amount of big-game experience Marion's seniors have. Over the past three seasons, the Warriors have played a combined 45 games, including 15 in the playoffs. Combine that with the returning talent in the backfield, and Marion again will be a favorite in its region and beyond once the postseason rolls around.
Possible kryptonite
It's difficult for any program to lose the amount of elite talent Marion has - six all-state players have graduated the past two seasons - and continue winning at such an impressive rate. It's particularly tough for small schools. Depth along both lines is a question entering the season, and the Warriors will face an unforgiving schedule.
Spidey sense tingling
Despite all the unknowns, there is no substitute for having played for a winner. After older teammates set the example the past three years, confidence is high even for new starters. The offense averaged 41 points per game last year and returns all-state senior RB Jacob Saylors (5-10, 190) and dual-threat junior QB Isaiah Sampson (6-1, 180) to ensure things continue to click.
Here I come to save the day!
Saylors, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards each of the past two years, is fast enough to break long runs but also dependable in short-yardage situations, and Sampson is a 1,100-yard passer who can make plays with his feet, too. Senior WR Kane Hale (6-3, 200) gives the offense another big-play threat, while classmate Nick Capps (5-10, 170) is expected to have a breakout year on offense after establishing himself defensively with six interceptions last year. Senior FB/LB Seth McClain (5-8, 190) is one of the team's leading returning tacklers and will be counted on heavily on both sides of the ball as well.
Up, up and away!
Despite having just four starters back on both sides of the ball, the Warriors have the potential to win the region title and make another deep run in the playoffs - provided some young linemen step up. Marion, which has played in three consecutive state title games, can match skill-position talent with anyone in its region. Having an 1,100-yard passer (Sampson) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Saylors) returning are reasons enough for optimism. And while the line doesn't have as much starting experience, because of the number of lopsided wins and Mathis's willingness to substitute freely, several of those players have had game action and know what is expected.
"We need several guys to have breakout seasons for us, especially up front," Mathis said. "We have limited game experience in some key spots and not as much depth as we'd like."
While the offense has drawn much of the spotlight, the defense allowed just four opponents to score more than two touchdowns last year, including eight games in which they held foes to six or fewer points. If the young front steps up, there is plenty of talent in the back half of the defense to make it stingy once again.
Marion's schedule includes nonregion games against Class 5A power Rhea County and two of 1A's top-ranked contenders, South Pittsburg and Coalfield, as well as an early-season matchup at Sequatchie County, which reached the 3A semifinals last year.
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Hixson won, 39-3
Aug. 26 Grundy County won, 58-6
Sep. 2 Meigs County won, 43-6
Sep. 9 South Pittsburg lost, 24-17
Sep. 16 Brainerd won, 74-34
Sep. 23 Boyd-Buchanan won, 19-0
Sep. 29 Tyner won, 25-6
Oct. 7 Silverdale Baptist won, 52-12
Oct. 14 Bledsoe County won, 46-3
Oct. 28 Polk County won, 42-6
Nov. 4 Westmoreland won, 42-0
(first round)
Nov. 11 Waterown won, 49-15
(second round)
Nov. 18 Forrest won, 55-14
(quarterfinals)
Nov. 25 Austin-East won, 35-21
(semifinals)
Dec. 3 Trezevant lost, 42-20 (championship)
13-2, 7-0 Region 3-2A
2017 Schedule
(All times 8 Eastern)
Aug. 18 Hixson
Aug. 25 at Sequatchie County
Sep. 1 at Bledsoe County
Sep. 8 South Pittsburg
Sep. 15 Tyner Academy
Sep. 22 at Coalfield, 7:30
Sep. 29 at Tellico Plains, 7:30
Oct. 6 Rhea County
Oct. 20 at Loudon
Oct. 27 Polk County
Region 3-2A games in bold