Despite a complete offensive overhaul, the only thing that changed at North Jackson was how the Chiefs beat people. The transition to the spread snapped the program’s eight-year streak of 1,000-yard rushers, but the Chiefs continued piling up the offensive stats, finishing last season with a 3,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and averaging 38-points per game in advancing to the Class 4A quarterfinals.
The excitement of the quick-tempo style also attracted four transfers from rival Scottsboro, including running back Deuntae Johnson and defensive back Khaleem Jones, who joins talented sophomore Austin Blevins to give the Chiefs a solid safety combination.
“We gave up way too many big plays last year, but with those two back there we should be a whole lot better defensively,” Chiefs coach Shawn Peek said. “Those guys can run and they’re real good tacklers. We’ll need good depth on defense because our offense is designed to score quick, so the defensive guys will be on the field a lot more.
“That’s one thing we’ve got, guys who can run.”
The Chiefs’ list of speed starts with senior Denzel Bynum, who has won or finished second in the state 100-meter run each of the last three years. Bynum will play cornerback and return kicks one again for the Chiefs, after setting several school records including taking three kickoffs back for touchdowns last year.
Also back is all-purpose athlete Montel Hale, who set a school record with 2,140 total yards and led the team in rushing, receiving and scoring, averaging more than 15 yards per touch.
“I’ve never had this much speed here as a coach,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Haynes said. “We’re a little undersized up front, but not small. But so much of what we do is based on quick tempo and timing anyway. We don’t have to blow people off the ball. Just give us a small seam and we’ve got guys who can go with it.”
After years of struggling, Ider had a breakout season, winning 11 games and advancing to the 2A quarterfinals. It was the first playoff appearance in 11 years for the Hornets, who have 11 starters back, including middle linebacker Dylon Overdear, the region’s defensive Player of the Year and 1,250-yard rusher Teague Whitaker. Much of this year’s success could ride on quarterback Seth Finch, a senior who takes over as the starter. Three teams in Ider’s region are ranked in the state’s preseason top 10.
“It’s a different area for us, having everybody gunning for us now,” said Ider coach and former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga lineman Brent Tinker. “But the kids are carrying themselves with a lot more confidence.”
Both Scottsboro and North Sand Mountain have new coaches following disappointing seasons. Adam Gilbert’s first head coaching duty will be turning around North Sand Mountain, which won two games last year, while Swane Morris, who has a history of turning programs around, takes over at Scottsboro, which won just one game last year. The Wildcats will build on the return of several senior linemen, including defensive ends Jordan Baker and Jeffrey Moore and nose guard Cory Moore.
“We’ve got 63 kids on the roster and all but 24 of them are freshmen or sophomores, so we’re going to play a lot of young kids,” Morris said. “I don’t mind stepping into a program that hasn’t won. The kids have a desire to be good and get as much out of their high school career. So long as they have that desire we can work with them to turn things around.”