Region 2-2A // Jewell Field, 105 Abel Ave., Decatur, TN 37322
At the helm
Jason Fitzgerald
(21-13 in three years here; 105-71 overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Tigers return 2 off., 3 def. starters.
Super powers
The offense and defense will feature sophomore QB/S Aaron Swafford (6-0, 182), who started all 12 games in the Tigers' 10-2 run of 2016. A part-time starter on defense last season, Swafford will have a full-time role there also this year.
Possible kryptonite
Meigs had a veteran team last year and is replacing 19 starters. The Tigers have, however, moved from Region 3-2A with the likes then of state finalist Marion County, Tyner and Boyd-Buchanan to a five-team region that also includes Rockwood, Oneida, Cumberland Gap and Wartburg.
Possible kryptonite
There's no panic, but the staff has worked hard to find replacements for both lines and most of the RBs and LBs. The two biggest region games, or so they expect, are at Rockwood and Oneida.
Spidey sense tingling
The Tigers will find out what they're made of early, opening the season at Sweetwater, one of the Region 3-3A favorites. However, with just five teams in their region and four advancing to the playoffs, they'll be aiming for their third postseason under Fitzgerald.
Here I come to save the day!
Swafford is vital to the Tigers' offense, and he is poised to surpass his 800 passing yards and 500 rushing yards of last year.
Up, up and away!
If they're not ready early, the Tigers could find themselves 0-2 after games at Sweetwater and Hixson before they open the home season with their first region outing against Cumberland Gap.
Swafford, who has been to camps at Florida, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Memphis and Auburn, will run the multiple offense. He was selected one of the top five QBs at the Louisville camp and had the best vertical jump (37-5) and one of the fastest shuttle times (4.0) at Florida.
"He's a true dual-threat quarterback, and he will play in the secondary full time," Fitzgerald said.
Swafford is one of the very few, though, whose starting job may be uncontested.
"We have a number of kids that can contribute, and it's going to be good competition week in and week out to see who's going to play, including the offensive line," Fitzgerald said. "Then we have six or seven receivers, four or five cornerbacks and five or six defensive linemen - competition all week every week."
Fitzgerald loves a 3-4 defensive look, and it was bolstered in a big way when he learned that LB Jawan Martin (5-11, 228), who led Rhea County last year with 152 tackles, had decided to transfer to Meigs for his senior season. Fitzgerald also welcomes WR/DB JonJon Beeler (6-1, 160) and LB Jair Beeler (6-1, 180) from Rhea and DL Trace Corne (5-10, 200) from Dunnellon, Fla.
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Sweetwater won, 21-7
Aug. 26 Oneida won, 34-10
Sep. 2 Marion County lost, 43-6
Sep. 16 Silverdale Baptist won, 32-9
Sep. 23 McMinn Central won, 33-7
Sep. 30 Brainerd won, 56-12
Oct. 7 Boyd-Buchanan won, 19-9
Oct. 14 Tyner won, 26-12
Oct. 21 Polk County won, 35-0
Oct. 28 Bledsoe County won, 20-12
Nov. 4 Jackson County won, 49-14 (first round)
Nov. 11 Forrest lost, 16-13 (second round)
10-2, 6-1 Region 3-2A
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 18 at Sweetwater
Aug. 25 at Hixson
Sep. 1 Cumberland Gap
Sept. 8 Sequatchie County
Sep. 15 at Rockwood
Sep. 22 McMinn Central
Sep. 29 at Cumberland County
Oct. 13 at Oneida
Oct. 20 Polk County
Oct. 27 Wartburg