BAYLOR RED RAIDERSCoach: Phil Massey (33-23 here; 95-59 overall)Returning starters (O/D/K): 9/8/3Remember these names: The staff has revamped the offensive philosophy and will depend more on the running backs than last year when Jacob Huesman was at quarterback. That spot has been filled by Matthew Oellerich (Sr., 5-11, 190), who served for two years as Huesman’s backup after starting part of his freshman year. Offensive tackle Barrett Gouger (Sr., 6-5, 280), a Vanderbilt commitment, will be a third-year starter and George Porter (Soph., 5-8, 165) will lead a quartet of running backs.Will be a memorable year if: The Red Raiders win the school’s first state championship since 1973. With 17 starters returning, anything short of a second trip to the state final likely will be a disappointment. Baylor fell short last year on a controversial, last-second touchdown pass by Ensworth.ScheduleAug. 19 at Soddy-DaisyAug. 26 at Bradley CentralSept. 2 at Father Ryan*Sept. 9 at Montgomery Bell*Sept. 16 Ensworth*Sept. 23 McCallie*Sept. 30 at Brentwood Academy*Oct. 14 Columbia CentralOct. 21 Pope John Paul II*Oct. 28 Battle Ground Academy** Division II-AA game
MEMORY LANELegendary coach Red Etter had two undefeated seasons during a career that ended with 324 wins – at Central in 1962 and at Baylor in 1973, the latter resulting in state and national championships. The Red Raiders’ closest game in ’73 was the state final, 6-0 over Memphis Hamilton, and the touchdown was scored by Tommy Tucker, filling in for injured Andy Rutledge.”The first thing that comes to mind is that finals game,” said Gene Etter, Red’s son and defensive coordinator. “I took pride in the fact that we didn’t give up any points and we held them four straight downs down around our 12-yard line.”Among notable players on that team were quarterback Bobby Worthington, offensive lineman Clay Crumbliss, defensive end Cal Jumper, running back Clay Gibson and defensive back Scott Price.”I remember [in the semifinals] Scott scored a touchdown offensively and intercepted a pass,” Gene Etter said. “That game is what convinced Ken Donahue, who was defensive coordinator at Alabama at the time, that Scott could be a college player.”Hamilton ran a wishbone offense, and Red Etter switched to that for the next several seasons.
Baylor returns most of the starters who carried the Red Raiders to the Division II-AA state final a year ago, but the impact guy – quarterback Jacob Huesman – has taken his skills to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
There is a plan in place, though, to replace Huesman’s combined 3,000 yards of offense. The Red Raiders have turned over the passing game to Matthew Oellerich, a freshman starter at quarterback who served his sophomore and junior seasons as a backup following Huesman’s arrival. Oellerich hasn’t sat idly, though, contributing the past two seasons at wide receiver and in the secondary.
Replacing Huesman’s 1,900 rushing yards will fall to the quartet of sophomore George Porter and juniors Connor Davidson, Houston Clements and Mike Davis.