Division II-AA East // David L. Boyd Field, 4650 Buccaneer Trail, Chattanooga TN 37411
At the helm
Carter Cardwell
(7-4 in one year here and overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Buccaneers return 4 off., 6 def. starters.
Super powers
The Bucs have some speed, so look for them to try to spring some big plays out of their spread offense. Additionally they have the luxury of a solid kicking game in the combination of juniors Eli Terrell and Riley Barnes.
Possible kryptonite
Cardwell likes the starting groups he’ll be fielding, but an injury to a key player could be demoralizing. The coach tinkered with some players filling new positions in spring practice as a precautionary measure.
Spidey sense tingling
Boyd-Buchanan will compete in the new Division II-AA East Region. One of its new opponents is Knoxville’s Webb, which was a state runner-up last year and is the prohibitive favorite in this seven-team league. The Bucs, at least, are one of four others in the region to earn a state playoff berth last season.
Here I come to save the day!
At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, expect senior Kohl Henke to again be a force on defense, whether at DB or LB. Trimmed-down RB/LB Will Watkins (5-10, 210) should bolster the running game, and fellow senior Asa Owens (6-0, 210) has the ability to perform well on both sides of the line.
Up, up and away!
The relationship between Boyd-Buchanan junior kickers Eli Terrell and Riley Barnes could be described as a situation of “Anything you can do, I can do better – but just barely.”
Terrell handles kicking extra points and field goals for the Buccaneers. Barnes will be seen kicking off and punting for the Bucs this year.
“Both have important jobs, and they handle them well,” Cardwell said. “One can back the other up. It’s been a good thing to watch them, too. They definitely work hard at their craft.”
Terrell wasn’t able to participate in spring practice because he was busy playing for Boyd-Buchanan’s soccer team that advanced to the Class A/AA state tournament. The two have known each other since sixth grade, which is when Terrell first gave kicking a football a try.
“I’m mainly confident from about 40 yards in, but I can go farther,” Terrell said. “I made a 50-yarder before at camp.”
Cardwell said punting was a real need for the Bucs this year, and he credits Barnes for the work he’s done all offseason to try to help the team in that area. He already was helping with his booming kickoffs.
“I would say Eli is very accurate when kicking,” Barnes said. “He kicks a great ball, and he’s really been quality on field goals. I probably have a little bit more leg than he does. I think that’s why they have me on kickoffs. We’re a great duo.”
And there’s one other area where Barnes has shone, although it’s debatable whether Cardwell might turn to him for help at LB.
“He made four tackles last year on kickoffs,” Terrell said. “We do tackling drills in practice every day, just in case.”
2016 Results
Aug. 18 Tenn. Christian Prep won, 1-0
(forfeit)
Aug. 26 King’s Academy won, 28-24
Sep. 2 Brainerd won, 35-14
Sep. 16 Tyner won, 24-22
Sep. 23 Marion County lost, 19-0
Sep. 30 Bledsoe County won, 24-0
Oct. 7 Meigs County lost, 19-9
Oct. 14 Polk County won, 35-6
Oct. 21 South Pittsburg lost, 52-19
Oct. 28 Silverdale Baptist won, 10-6
Nov. 4 Watertown lost, 38-24 (first round)
7-4, 5-2 Region 3-2A
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 18 Whitwell, 7
Aug. 25 South Pittsburg, 7
Sep. 1 at Knoxville Grace Christian
Sep. 8 Battle Ground Academy
Sep. 15 Notre Dame
Sep. 22 at Grace Academy
Sep. 29 Chattanooga Christian
Oct. 6 Knoxville Webb, 7
Oct. 13 at Silverdale Baptist
Oct. 27 at Christian Acad. of Knoxville
Division II-AA East games in bold