If two games are any indication, it appears any storyline involving a Whitwell football game this season will have a heavy focus on the defense. Tonight's opponent, fellow Region 3-1A member Copper Basin, will know soon.
The fact the Tigers returned almost all of their starters on both sides of the ball from last year's team has been widely reported. But that team started 1-3, and when it was 3-4 it was allowing an average of 31.6 points per game.
Whitwell began showing signs of defensive progress in its 3-2 finish to last season, when it allowed an average of 13.6 points per game. And that included two state-playoff games.
The defensive coordinator on that team, Randall Boldin, is now the head coach. So far in 2017, his team has a shutout against Boyd-Buchanan and allowed only a Gabe Boring field goal last week to Bledsoe County, and those opponents combined for 46 yards from scrimmage.
"I'd like to see us continue that," Boldin said. "We've still got stuff to work on. We just need to take care of us."
Pemberton returns
Quarterback Zach Pemberton has been pronounced ready to go for Rhea County's game tonight vs. Walker Valley.
The Eagles junior, a second-year starter, was forced to miss his team's home loss to Blackman last week due to a severely sprained ankle suffered against Cleveland in the season opener. He is the son of Rhea coach Mark Pemberton.
Streak-stopping losses
Calhoun's 24-0 win over Dalton last week was the first time the Catamounts had been shut out since 2010, a span of 77 games.
Calhoun's Yellow Jackets know all about painful shutouts. A year ago Cartersville hung a 56-0 loss on them at Phil Reeve Stadium, ending the program's run of 182 games without being blanked. It was Georgia's second-longest streak (Roswell, now at 220 games, has the longest).
Among area Georgia teams, Northwest Whitfield now owns the longest run of avoiding a shutout at 74 games, with North Murray second at 62.
Blevins honors granddad
Trion High School honored former championship-winning coach Clarence Blevins last Friday with the unveiling of a bust that will become a permanent part of Sam R. McCain Stadium.
Blevins, who coached the Bulldogs from 1965 to 1998, including the state-championship 1974 season, died in March. His grandson, Logan, made Friday night even more memorable with 115 yards, three touchdowns and a team-leading 13 tackles in a 49-21 win over LaFayette.
"It was a special night all around," Trion coach Justin Brown said. "Logan went out to honor his grandfather and played a heck of a game. The Blevins family has meant so much to this community, and last week was a nice way to show them we notice."