Region 6-AAAA // Bruin Stadium, 1651 Tunnel Hill-Varnell Road, Tunnel Hill, GA 30755
At the helm
Josh Robinson
(42-22 in six years here and overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Bruins return 7 off., 6 def. starters.
Super powers
The Bruins have one of the area's most dangerous weapons in QB Luke Shiflett, a senior who is committed to Middle Tennessee State University and accounted for more than 3,000 yards and produced 33 touchdowns a year ago. He's equally troublesome for defenses passing or running and is known for turning near-disaster plays into big ones.
Possible kryptonite
As good as Shiflett is, there are major unknowns at WR. More than 140 catches departed with the graduation of Jay Jones and Will Blanchard. Dalton transfer Jaret Staten (6-2, 190) has looked strong this summer, and a combination of former RB Sebastian Orozco, Seth Godfrey and Jack Brock will see lots of playing time.
Spidey sense tingling
Expectations are extremely high in Tunnel Hill coming off an eight-win season in which three of the losses were by seven or fewer points, including against region champion Ridgeland and Class AAAAAA semifinalist Dalton. Robinson believes the offense will again be dynamic and the defense, a sore spot at times last year, will be much improved. This team believes it's ready to get a Region 6-AAAA title.
Here I come to save the day!
Shiflett is the focal point in the spread attack that often relies on finesse. However, when they want, the Bruins can line up and play power football with any team thanks to 220-pound RB Dominique Sistrunk. The junior, despite his size, has good speed and has, Robinson said, dedicated himself to being more consistent this year. A year ago in back-to-back games against playoff-bound Pickens and Heritage, he ran for 284 and 275 yards, yet in the other 10 games he averaged fewer than 60.
Up, up and away!
As successful as last year was, which included the team's first home playoff win, Robinson and his staff were not pleased with the defense.
Still the team's defensive coordinator, Robinson worked extensively this offseason to pinpoint what the problems were. The trouble arose the week after the Bruins' best performance of the season in a 10-3 loss to Dalton.
They gave up 34 points in an upset loss to Model before allowing 48 in a shootout defeat against Ridgeland. Two weeks later, they defeated Heritage 41-34 but gave up three fourth-quarter touchdowns to make it close. The next week, the Bruins surrendered 41 in a win over Pickens and sent the coaching staff into a quest for answers.
"I was very frustrated with our defense last year, especially in the middle," Robinson said. "Our biggest problem was inconsistency. When we had those games in the middle of the season where we gave up a ton of big plays, we were just so inconsistent you couldn't just pinpoint one or two kids. It was one kid on this play and one kid on that play. Kids are going to make mistakes, but we just had too many."
Robinson's conclusion is his players were trying to do too much instead of just doing their jobs. With experienced players like DL Jon Tant, a preseason all-state pick, and Tanner Floyd along with senior DBs Godfrey and Trey Ramsey returning, he expects marked improvement.
"Hey, in today's world of offense, teams are going to get their yards and points, but you just can't help them by being in the wrong place or making the wrong key," the coach said. "We think we've corrected that and really feel our defense will be a strength this season."
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Ringgold won, 49-24
Aug. 26 South Atlanta won, 54-7
Sep. 2 Dalton lost, 10-3
Sep. 9 Model lost, 34-27
Sep. 23 Ridgeland lost, 48-42
Sep. 30 LaFayette won, 30-7
Oct. 7 Heritage won, 41-34
Oct. 14 Pickens won, 50-41
Oct. 21 Gilmer won, 27-14
Oct. 28 SE Whitfield won, 51-14
Nov. 11 Oconee County won, 31-20 (first round)
Nov. 18 Woodward Acad. lost, 49-8 (second round)
8-4, 5-1 Region 6-AAAA
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 18 Ringgold
Aug. 25 South Atlanta
Sep. 1 at Dalton
Sep. 8 at Model
Sep. 22 Ridgeland
Sep. 29 at LaFayette
Oct. 6 Heritage
Oct. 13 at Pickens
Oct. 20 Gilmer
Oct. 27 at Southeast Whitfield
Region 6-AAAA games in bold