Soon after a brief lightning delay, an energetic group of Red Bank High School football players made their way up to the team's practice field Wednesday afternoon.
With nonregion rival Soddy-Daisy set to visit Red Bank's Tom Weathers Field on Aug. 21 in the season opener for both teams, the Lions are focused on making the most of every second they have together.
Loaded with varsity experience and a handful of Division I prospects, Red Bank hopes to play an uninterrupted season amid the coronavirus pandemic and return to the top of the Region 3-3A standings. The Lions finished as league runners-up to Loudon last year after winning the title from 2016 to 2018.
"Loudon beat us twice last year and exposed some things we needed to get better at that we have been able to focus on already this offseason," said Lions coach Brown, who is 21-3 since taking over ahead of the 2018 season. "Our kids are hungry and really have worked their tails off to try and get that region championship back."
Loudon star running back Drew Jackson was a thorn in the Lions' paws last year. While he was a senior, the reigning region champions do return a strong playmaker in quarterback Keaton Harig.
Red Bank is loaded with experience on its lines, bringing back all five starters up front on offense and four on defense, including BJ Ragland (6-2, 275), the Tulane-committed 6-foot-2, 275-pounder who will play for both units. Cam Bell (6-4, 235) and Jadon High (6-3, 215) have a knack for rushing into opposing backfields, and they'll lead a defense that is also loaded in the secondary with players who will be major contributors for an offense with several good options in the ground game.
"You have to run the ball extremely well to be successful in the playoffs," Brown said. "Lumiere Strickland, Reco Trimble and AD Crutcher all started games for us last year and were our three predominant running backs. They all have excellent vision and know how to set their blocks up and how to pass protect."
Strickland (5-10, 185) has a quick burst and is able to run defenders over, proven by his 30 touchdowns and 2,000-plus all-purpose yards over the past two seasons. Trimble (6-1, 195) has wheels and elusive moves, while Crutcher (5-10, 180) has his own burst of speed - and like the rest of Red Bank's running backs, the sophomore will be focused on finishing each game with zero turnovers.
Joseph Blackmon (5-11, 175), a junior, is in his first year as the Lions' starting quarterback, but his transition should be made easier by having a sure-handed senior to target. Receiver Kel Eddins (6-3, 210) had 10 catches for 107 yards in last year's playoff win at Upperman, which sent Red Bank on to the state quarterfinals and, ultimately, a season-ending 33-14 loss to Loudon. Red Bank lost 24-7 to Loudon to close the regular season.
"We had a lot of questions of how we would fill Calvin Jackson's role when he left," Brown said. "I quietly thought, well, we had this other receiver who finished with 400 yards and seven touchdowns. His name was Lucas Brown. I feel like Kel is in the same boat. By the end of the year, people around town should all know his name."
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Red Bank senior Kell Eddins catches the ball before punting during practice Monday. Eddins will be a key receiver for the Lions this season.Senior strongside linebacker Silas Garibay (6-0, 185) will take on an even bigger leadership role.
"Having Silas back for us is huge. He is very talented and knows our expectations from having played a lot of valuable snaps," Brown said. "We continue to expect our linebackers to make great plays and set the tone."
Signal Mountain gave Red Bank a great challenge through three quarters at Tom Weathers Field last year, and the Eagles expect their experienced offensive line to help push for more success after a four-win 2019 season.
Junior quarterback Duncan Cannon (6-3, 185) has a strong arm and is expected to fit well in an option-based offense with backfield mates Braden Casner (5-11, 175), Andrew Eichner (5-11, 180) and Logan Farr (6-0, 165). The Eagles have added strength this offseason in hopes of finishing stronger in the fourth quarter.
Brainerd star Xiyeer Lattimore (5-11, 175) has set a great tone for the rest of his teammates by working extremely hard this offseason. The super athletic quarterback and defensive back hopes to leave a mark at his high school and catch the eye of colleges.
As for Region 4-3A, while Upperman has recently dominated the league, Sequatchie County looks capable of being a dark horse candidate for the title thanks to extensive depth at skill positions on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Austin McCurry (5-9, 160) is a spark plug for the wing-T offense, and the defense's depth includes its line.
Grundy County is coming off a winless season but returns the majority of its offensive playmakers, including running backs Jordan Hackworth (5-10, 195) and Gavin Tate (5-10, 230).
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Red Bank junior Joseph Blackmon throws the ball during practice Monday. Blackmon is in his first year as the team's starting quarterback.REGION 3-3A
Team to beat: With Division I prospects all around the field and a very experienced senior class, Red Bank looks extremely capable of winning its fourth region title in five years.Watch out for: Brainerd won only one game last year, but the Panthers have been working hard this offseason to surprise some folks, and sophomore lineman Demetrius Locklin (6-3, 310) could play a part in that.Best game: Two state champion hopefuls in Red Bank and Class 1A’s South Pittsburg will face off on Sept. 25. The Pirates will host the highly anticipated game that was canceled last year due to lightning.Dream schedule: Loudon hosts Red Bank to close the regular season on Oct. 30 as it tries to beat the Lions for the third straight time — and perhaps repeat as region champion.Nightmare schedule: Brainerd travels to Baylor and Howard for its first two games. The Panthers’ first five opponents this year had a combined record of 54-18 in 2019.Players to watch: Red Bank junior running back Reco Trimble is capable of being a home-run threat for a team with lots of weapons. He and receiver Kel Eddins are both also standout defensive backs who can do a little bit of everything on the football field. Senior defensive lineman Jadon High has grown a lot this offseason for Red Bank, which also returns Cam Bell, who had 15 tackles for loss in 2019. Signal Mountain’s Braden Casner was a touchdown machine last year while sharing time at running back. He will once again be set up for success behind a strong offensive line. Brainerd’s Xiyeer Lattimore is hungry to be great on the field and has worked tirelessly this offseason to be a major playmaker on both sides of the ball.