East Ridge is hoping for a breakthrough ear.Fan’s guide to this year’s East Ridge Pioneers
Coach: Tracy Malone (first year here, 25-39 in his six years) Stadium: Raymond James Stadium Address: 4320 Bennett Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412
THREE STRENGTHS
1) Senior quarterback Eric McCurdy will be a three-year starter. He threw for 1,115 yards and 11 touchdowns despite splitting time with Demetrius Bumpass, and running back Torrey Hughes and tight end Mike Johnson also return. Malone also is confident in the kicking game and junior Tad Whitaker.
2) Pioneers linebackers Mike and Deangelo Johnson and Hughes meet the looks test and also have the needed football IQ and demeanor, and the four-man defensive front will rotate by series to keep throwing fresh bodies at the opposing offensive line.
3) Team demeanor and chemistry. Malone thought he’d spend a month teaching kids to say “Yes, sir” and “No, sir” and to look coaches in the eye when they were conversing, but he praised predecessor Mike Martin’s work in that area. “I’ve been pleased, too, with the team chemistry. These guys are a close-knit group. They want to be successful, they want to be coaches and they want discipline,” Malone said. He’s also happy with his young-and-old coaching staff that includes out-of-retirement Jimmy Starling, who’ll be back as defensive coordinator.
THREE CONCERNS
1) Malone said his focus was eliminating the clutter – the reasons why East Ridge might not be successful – and the list included the community not being what it was once, the practice field not being in great shape and a lack of spring practice. “My dad was always fond of saying if it’s important you’ll find a way; if it isn’t you’ll find an excuse,” he said.
2) The best 11 players will be on defense, but the coaches are looking for numbers and toughness in the offensive line and Malone is shooting to help develop that with up-tempo practices. His idea of practice is to make Monday through Thursday tougher than Friday. Linemen are going to be special at East Ridge from eating first at team functions to getting extra T-shirts.
3) The main question these Pioneers have to answer is how they’re going to respond if something goes wrong. “They have to know that we can overcome adversity,” Malone said. He also wants to revive the culture surrounding the school and in the community that East Ridge is a special place. As he pointed out, on Friday nights close to 150 players, band members and cheerleaders will be giving their best efforts, and he wants the community to support that.
Three questions with …
KENDALL SMALL
(Senior fullback/linebacker)
Q: What’s the players’ mindset about the season?
A: We want to get better as the season progresses and have a better record than last year (5-5). I’m looking forward to the season. I love football. I think we’re going to go beyond what people are expecting, especially if we continue to work hard.
Q: What’s your opinion of Coach Malone?
A: He’s a great coach. He’s switched our defenses from a 3-4 to a 4-3, which I think was a great idea. When we make a good hit he gets excited. Sometimes when we mess up he can get a little upset. He hollers sometimes but more when he’s happy. If you mess up, he tells you what you did wrong and helps you correct it.
Q: How do you prepare for a game?
A: Listening to rap, especially two songs by [former boxer] Roy Jones Jr.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 – Primary goals Malone has given the Pioneers: Get better every day, win at home and make the playoffs. “You go 5-0 at home, you have a good shot at getting in the dance,” Malone said.
8 – Postseason appearances this century for the Pioneers, last advancing in 2010 although they had a 4-6 regular season. They have just one win in the eight appearances, beating Knoxville Halls in 2001.
15 – Returning lettermen, including 10 starters. Just because they were starters last year doesn’t mean they have jobs sewn up. “We’re changing our depth chart so often we just keep it on a grease board,” Malone said.
Recent history
The 2011 Pioneers started off with a bang, clubbing Walker Valley 39-17, but lost an overtime heartbreaker to Boyd-Buchanan in the next game. They kept reeling for three weeks – Red Bank, Tyner, Ooltewah – before a surprising 23-21 win over eventual district champion East Hamilton. Three straight wins followed by a last-week loss to Brainerd dropped them to 5-5 and bumped them from the playoff picture.
Here’s a look at the regular-season win total for the last five years:
Season
2011 ——(5)
2010 —-(4)
2009 ——(7)
2008 ——(6)
2007 —-(4)
2011 stats leaders
RUSHING Att Yards Avg TD
Aaron Sternes 70 341 4.9 3
Deonte Dokes 49 277 5.7 2
Alex Smith 32 1172 5.4 1
*Torrey Hughes 25 108 4.3 1
PASSING Comp-Att Yards Int TD
*Eric McCurdy 76-163 1115 7 11
Demetrius Bumpass 26-41 282 2 3
RECEIVING Att Yards Avg TD
Avious Griffin 30 412 13.7 5
Emanual Harris 22 405 18.4 7
Shaquille Holland 17 254 14.9 0
*Torrey Hughes 5 46 9.2 0
TACKLES Solo Assists Total
*Mike Johnson 102 36 120
*Torrey Hughes 61 24 73
Emanual Harris 59 14 66
*returning player
Schedule
Aug. 17 Walker Valley
Aug. 24 at Boyd-Buchanan
Aug. 31 at Red Bank*
Sept. 14 at Tyner*
Sept. 21 at Ooltewah
Sept. 28 at East Hamilton*
Oct. 5 Howard*
Oct. 12 Hixson*
Oct. 19 Central*
Oct. 26 Brainerd*
*District 6-AA game
Games start at 7:30 p.m.
Roster
1 Alston Toran Senior
2 Torrey Hughes Senior
4 Jo Jo Tillery Sophomore
6 J.J. Johnson Senior
7 Kolbe King Junior
8 Seth Vaughn Sophomore
9 Matthew Mapp Sophomore
10 Tyler Walden Junior
11 Nakota Culver Junior
12 Eric McCurdy Senior
13 Tad Whitaker Junior
15 Dequantis Jones Freshman
16 Cordelious Jones Junior
17 Dominique Milener Freshman
18 Andrew Mapp Sophomore
20 Josh Lambert Senior
21 Paul Bembry Senior
22 Keion Jones Junior
23 Deangelo Johnson Sophomore
24 Mike Johnson Senior
25 Jacob Crawford Junior
27 Marquell Toran Junior
28 Jamichael Woirdlaw Senior
30 Michael Knox Junior
32 Kendall Small Senior
33 Dakobe Jordan Freshman
35 Dexter Green Senior
36 Quin Washington Senior
40 Quasey Vinson Freshman
42 Nigel Colbert Freshman
44 Taylor Malathong Freshman
45 Christin Gil Senior
48 Briston Hill Freshman
52 Cortney Mills Senior
53 David Meier Junior
54 Robert McAvoy Senior
55 Alex Goodwin Freshman
62 Brandon Cantrel Senior
65 Brandon Davis Junior
66 Andre Calloway Freshman
69 C.J. Baker Junior
72 Allen Lee Sophomore
75 Ryan Young Junior
77 Will Garner Senior
80 Deonte Calloway Sophomore
81 Darius Moore Freshman