EAST RIDGE PIONEERS
Head coach: Tim James (70-43 in 11 years here; 94-99 overall)
Returning starters: 5 offensive; 5 defensive
Key players: QB Cameron Sanders (5-10, 175); RB Latrel Adair (5-10, 210); OL Shane Alford (6-1, 285); OL Dino Sabic (6-1, 220); MLB Chris Diaz (5-9, 200); DB Dejuane Norris (5-10, 160); DB Deidrick Chambliss (6-0, 170).
Team strengths: Sanders is a mature leader who has worked hard with his senior teammates this offseason to make their final go-around together memorable. The Pioneers will have the team speed to make big plays if they are provided the space to make them.
Team concerns: A lack of depth on the offensive and defensive lines will require several players to step up.
Breakout candidate: Senior two-way lineman Azontay Sills has caught the attention of his coaches and teammates, who believe he is in for a big season.
Season outlook: The past four seasons showcased a lot of Jalen Boykin around the football for the Pioneers, but now they must move on without one of the program’s top all-time tacklers who helped produce three winning seasons.
Diaz returns after leading the team with 75 tackles last year, and the secondary should be stout with Chambliss, Norris and transfer Desmon Drake, who was a two-year starter at Hunters Lane in Nashville.
Sanders and Adair are expected to be a lethal combination for an offense that also returns a pair of three-year starters on the line in Alford and Sabic.
“Latrel is a hard-nosed runner who can pick up the tough yards,” said Coach James, whose team will benefit from starting the season with three straight home games. “He and Cameron should both be playing on Saturdays next year. Cameron really has worked hard this offseason and should be in for a big year.”