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LAKEVIEW-FORT OGLETHORPE WARRIORS
Head coach: Mac Bryan (first year here; 161-142-1 overall)
Returning starters: 7 offensive; 8 defensive
Last year's record: 1-9 overall, did not qualify for GHSA Class AAA playoffs
Key players: Dylan Blankenship (6-3, 215) Sr. QB, Trevon Gott (6-0, 175) Sr. WR, LaDarrius Bunch (5-9, 170) Sr. WR, Brody Benton (5-8, 200) Sr. LB, Bryce Goins (6-1, 230) Jr. DL, Hayden Goins (6-1, 235) Jr. DL, Gabe Helton (5-9, 165) Sr. WR/RB/DB, Carter Wilson (6-2, 240) Sr. OL
Season outlook: Bryan, who won three region titles in four years as Ooltewah's head coach, won't predict a win-loss record for the Warriors this season. He does, however, make one prediction: The team will be fun to watch.
Bryan inherits one of the area's deepest group of offensive skill players - including six quality receivers - to lead what should be a wide-open spread attack.
"Our plan is to come off the bus and see how many times we can throw it before the game ends," Bryan said with a laugh when asked how he was going to take advantage of his team speed. "I've been impressed with our receivers and our defensive backs.
"It's nice having Dylan Blankenship back there after he had to miss last season. He's gained a lot of respect for working to get back, and he's quickly become a leader."
Blankenship, who had an elbow injury, is ready to sling it to a group that includes the speedy senior trio of Gott, Bunch and Sean Brown, junior Jordan Nintirat and electric 6-3 freshman Jared Mitchell.
In a new-look Region 6-AAA that includes several ground-oriented, physical teams, the Warriors will be the exception.
"We will be able to move the ball, but any success we have will be in the play of the offensive and defensive lines and at the linebacker level," he said. "We're going to be young in some places in that front seven and on the offensive line.
"We haven't had time yet to get strong enough to compete physically with some of these teams. You cannot win without the weight room in football these days, and it's not a quick process. When you've had a freshman class committed to the weight room for four years, then you've got something. We'll get there."