Staff Photo by Laura-Chase McGehee/Chattanooga Times Free Press/ Sep 9, 2010 – Polk County senior Tyler Lee runs the ball clear down Walker Valley High School’s football field to score a touchdown during a varsity game in Charleston, Friday evening.DISTRICT 5-AA AT A GLANCE
• Team on the rise: With nine starters back on both sides of the ball and Travis McHone still handling the kicking and punting chores, Meigs County’s Tigers not only are looking to improve on last year’s 2-8 record but believe they have the experience to gain a state-playoff berth.• Nightmare schedule: Polk County may be the favorite again after winning all of its district games the last two seasons, but it would be difficult to believe any area team has three more rugged opponents outside its league than Class 6A Bradley Central (a second-round playoff team in 2010) and Class 2A and 1A state champions Signal Mountain (now in 4A) and South Pittsburg.• Dream schedule: Sweetwater’s schedule toughens as the season goes on, but the Wildcats have four nondistrict games to sharpen their skills before playing their first league game. Their first three opponents were a combined 7-23 last season.• Best game: Both teams hope to at least be jockeying for state-playoff positioning when Meigs County hosts Sweetwater on Sept. 30. The Wildcats won 26-23 at home last year.• Biggest shoes to fill: It may take four players to fulfill all Jared Allen did on offense, defense and special teams for Polk County last season. His most meaningful duty was that of quarterback, where Al Akins is set to step in.• Playoff bound: Polk County, Sweetwater, Meigs County.
There are four high school football teams in District 5-AA that have their sights set on trying to beat Polk County and win the league title. Those tasks could be one and the same.
The last two years the Wildcats have compiled a 21-3 record, including 8-0 in district play. Their last league loss was to McMinn Central on Oct. 24, 2008, when they were in the nine-team Region 3-3A.
“They’re not going to let down for anybody,” said Josh Goodin, head coach at McMinn Central since 2009. “When you play them on Friday, win, lose or draw you’re going to know you’ve been hit. Right now they’re the kings of the hill until somebody knocks them off.”
Depth is one area where Polk County has held an advantage over its league rivals recently. Coach Derrick Davis said player turnout is down slightly from the more than 70 the Wildcats are accustomed to having. Some of that has to do with the freshman class not being big.