Head coach: Jason Fitzgerald (46-15 in five years here; 130-73 overall)
Returning starters: 7 offensive; 7 defensive
Key players: QB Aaron Swafford (6-0, 210); OL Gage Gardner (6-0, 265); ILB Canyon Grant (5-10, 190); ILB Brady Blevens (5-9, 205); DL Montana Lowe (6-0, 225); OL Malachi Hayden (6-2, 275); WR-DB Jon Jon Beeler (6-3, 180); RB Will Meadows (5-9, 175).
Team strengths: The amount of experience, depth and talent that returns from last year's state semifinalist team should make the Tigers a favorite among Class 2A contenders.
Meigs County quarterback Aaron Swafford (19) runs around right end. The Rockwood Tigers visited the Meigs County Tigers in a TSSAA rivalry game on September 14, 2018.Team concerns: The Tigers must replace three starters on the offensive line and develop depth there from among a young group of up-and-comers.
Breakout candidate: Meadows missed much of last season because of injuries but is now healthy and ready to go. He should give the offense a boost out of the backfield.
Season outlook: The Tigers have reached the state's No. 1 ranking in 2A each of the past two seasons, and last year they advanced to the semifinals before bowing out by three points at Trousdale County.
"I think what we've learned over the last couple of years is that we're capable of playing with the best teams in the state," Fitzgerald said. "It's been so long since Meigs County had done that, but now the kids believe they belong."
Swafford, a Naval Academy commitment, is a four-year starter at quarterback with a 35-4 career record, and he was last year's 2A Mr. Football back of the year after accounting for more than 2,800 total yards. He and his teammates will be more battle tested once the playoffs roll around after a regular season that includes nonregion games against perennial 1A powers Greenback and South Pittsburg as well as 5A foe Clinton.
"We upgraded our schedule with the playoffs in mind, because we wanted to add teams that would show us some athletes like the ones we'll see there," Fitzgerald added. "Our guys understand we can't live off what we've done the last couple of years, and they want to do whatever it takes to be good enough to get over that last hurdle and have a chance to play for a (state) championship."