Bledsoe County will rely on youth movement to step up

Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / Bledsoe County tight end Brady Reece is part of the senior class on a team that will be counting on younger players as the Warriors replace more than half of their starters from last season.
Staff file photo by Robin Rudd / Bledsoe County tight end Brady Reece is part of the senior class on a team that will be counting on younger players as the Warriors replace more than half of their starters from last season.

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BLEDSOE COUNTY WARRIORS

Head coach: DeWayne Tabor (24-9 here and overall)

Returning starters: 5 offensive; 5 defensive

Last year's record: 5-4 overall, lost in Class 2A first round

Key players: Brady Reece (6-3, 175) Sr. TE/OLB, Braiton Boring (6-0, 205) Sr. RB/OLB, Hunter Clark (5-10, 180) Sr. RB/DB, Eli Tabor (5-9, 165) Sr. RB/DB, Silas Davis (5-10, 215) Sr. OL/DL, Tristen Smith (5-9, 210) Sr. OL/DL, Andrew Sandell (6-0, 240) Sr. OL/DL, David Holt (6-1, 220) Sr. OL/DL

Season outlook: Just two years removed from a region championship, the Warriors will rely on a large number of underclassmen in key positions to perform if they are to return to contender status. That includes a sophomore backfield of quarterback Jonathan Thomas (5-9, 180), who was forced into action last year due to injuries, and Caymen Siever (5-11, 160), who joins Boring, Clark and Eli Tabor to give Bledsoe a solid running back rotation.

Another pair of sophomores, Zack Bruggner (6-3, 215) and Damon Robeck (5-11, 225), will play both offensive line and in the defensive front.

"This is the biggest roster we've had since I've been here, but it's also the youngest," Coach Tabor said. "We'll have three or four freshmen who are a legitimate No. 2 on the depth chart. I believe we've got good potential, it's just how quickly the young guys step up and contribute."

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