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HERITAGE GENERALS
Head coach: E.K. Slaughter (51-36 here; 80-71 overall)
Returning starters: 8 offensive; 8 defensive
Last year's record: 6-5 overall, lost in GHSA Class AAAA first round
Key players: Kaden Swope (6-2, 200) Sr. QB, Paxton McCrary (5-11, 215) Sr. RB, Tyler Cheatwood (5-10, 170) Sr. WR, Bryce Travillian (6-3, 210) Sr. LB, Peyton Newman (6-3, 215) Sr. TE/DL, Jarod Barnes (6-2, 240) Sr. DL, Evan Wingrove (6-3, 190) Jr. LB, Max Owens (6-3, 170) Jr. WR
Season outlook: In a new-look Region 7-AAAA, Heritage may be the exception this season.
The region appears to be full of teams with explosive offenses - and a few with lots of holes to fill defensively. While the Generals boast a robust attack, they also return a potentially dominating defense that should keep them in the postseason hunt.
"If we stay healthy, this defense could be special," Slaughter said. "There are some good offenses, but I don't expect to see many shootouts. This is a very mature and smart team. There is no substitute for experience, and it is really nice to be able to teach some higher-level concepts because this team understands the basics so well."
Highlighting the team's 3-4 defense is a big, physical group of linebackers led by leading returning tackler Travillian and fellow college prospect Wingrove. Newman and Barnes should more than handle their own up front.
The physical nature of the team will also be seen on offense, where second-year starter Swope added a team-leading 737 yards rushing to his 1,069 passing last season. Slaughter expects his impact to be even greater this fall.
"I expect Kaden to be one of the best QBs in the area," the coach said. "He is an incredible person and he loves to compete. He will be fun to watch this year."
He'll be joined in the backfield by powerful runner McCrary, and he has two sure-handed receivers in Cheatwood and Owens. The line isn't big, but Slaughter is confident it can hold its own - and then some.
"We do not have a lot of depth up front, nor do we have many prototypical O-linemen," he said. "However, we have some really tough, coachable, athletic 215-pounders. I believe this unit could be really good."