Tyner's Ram train looks to continue rolling in Region 3-2A

Staff fhoto by Robin Rudd / Tyner's Jeremiah Sawyer breaks into the open for a long gain during a scrimmage against visiting McMinn Central on Aug. 6, 2019.

Monday's afternoon heat and humidity had pretty much sapped the energy from Tyner's football players, making for back-to-back mistakes by the offense. As Wayne Turner, the Chattanooga area's dean of prep football coaches, stepped into the huddle, his instructions were short and blunt.

"Run it again, but this time do it right!" Turner growled.

On the next snap, the Rams' offensive linemen created a gaping hole that 6-foot-1, 215-pound sophomore running back Jersey Chubb sprinted through before lowering his shoulder and running over a defender.

A satisfied grin came over Turner's face, and he nodded his approval.

"We've got one of the most talented bunch of linemen up front that we've had in a while, and we've got some backs that will make it tough on defensive backs coming up to stop," Turner said. "Some of those young guys are real anxious to show what they can do, too, and I really like that attitude."

Three years removed from a state runner-up finish, Tyner has remained dominant in Region 3-2A, winning 14 consecutive region games, three straight region titles and averaging 10 wins in those three seasons.

With 13 total starters returning - seven offensive, six defensive - the Rams are once again the region favorite and expected to make another deep playoff run.

The biggest concern is establishing a starting quarterback - either senior Amarioun McClain and sophomore Demetrii Lovick - but regardless of who takes the snaps, the offense will likely rely more on its ground game than in years past. That's because, beside the inexperience at quarterback, the foundation for this year's expectations begins with an offensive line that returns intact from last year, led by veterans Jamarion Varnell and Jailin Worthy.

They will be blocking for a deep group of athletes who are both physical and fast, including Chubb - whose cousin is former University of Georgia star Nick Chubb - as well as senior Jeremiah Sawyer, Melique Hambrick and Anthony Bell.

Sawyer, who recently earned his first scholarship offer from Tennessee State University, gives Tyner a bona fide leader on both sides of the ball. A three-year starter and all-region selection, he rushed for 11 touchdowns and more than 500 yards last year,while also making 69 tackles, 10 of them for loss.

"Our backs can bring a load every time they carry the ball," Turner said. "We've just got to work to be more balanced, but I like where we're at."

Marion County also brings back the majority of its starters - eight on each side of the ball - and will be back under the direction of Dale Pruitt, who guided the program to consecutive seven-win seasons in his previous stint with the Warriors. Pruitt, the father of University of Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt, is just eight wins shy of 300 for his career.

Overall roster numbers are better, and the Warriors have more team speed than they had the past two seasons, led by junior Taye Hutchins, who could play any skill position needed, as well as senior running back/linebacker Alex Nunez (6-1, 185) and quarterback Anthony Guevera, who's back for his second year as the starter.

Similar to Tyner, Marion's offensive line could be the team's strength with good size and experience, led by Jared Allender, Jackson Anthony, Christian Cannon and tight end Michael Showalter.

The Warriors open the season with consecutive home games against nonregion opponents, then travel to Polk County, which went winless last year, to open league competition. Getting off to a strong start would help build confidence for back-to-back tough road games, which include a showdown at Tyner. That game could decide the league title and help speed up Marion's turnaround.

Bledsoe County was one of the area's surprise teams with an eight-win season - the program's best in eight years - in Dewayne Tabor's first year as head coach in 2019. The Warriors return 11 total starters, including running back Cadillac Siever and quarterback Harmon Keith, who combined for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns.

For Polk County to end an 11-game losing streak, it will need big contributions from the backfield tandem of Eddie Lamb and and Kole Green, who has more than 1,000 career rushing yards. The Wildcats will also need to avoid the injuries that plagued them last season.

In Region 2-2A, Meigs County is the only area team that competes in the league, and the Tigers have owned it, having won 15 consecutive region games and three straight region titles. Over the past four years, the Tigers compiled a 48-6 overall record and finished as the state runner-up last season.

Six starters return on each side of the ball, including all-state offensive lineman Malachi Hayden (6-3, 280), running back Will Meadows and linebackers Justin Key, Ben Smith and Brady Blevens.

Senior Logan Carroll takes over at quarterback for Aaron Swafford, who was one of the area's most decorated players in recent history. Swafford, who is now at the Naval Academy, was a three-time state Mr. Football finalist, winning the award once. Carroll knows the offense and has enough surrounding talent to allow him to pick and choose his moments to make plays.

Because the Tigers won eight games by four touchdowns or more in 2019, a good deal of underclassmen got valuable game experience, which should pay off this season when they're called on to fill the roles held by starters who have since graduated. That type of success tends to breed more of the same as players come to expect to find ways to win consistently, and that big-game experience cannot be overstated.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.

Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Marion County's Alex Nunez, left, takes the handoff from Anthony Guevara during a Sequatchie Valley jamboree matchup on Aug. 16, 2019, at Grundy County.