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Cougars 2020 Game Schedule Aug. 21 at Cocke County Aug. 28 Carter Sept. 4 at Oak Ridge* Sept. 11 at Seymour Sept. 18 Gibbs (Homecoming) Sept. 24 Karns* (Rivalry Thursday) Oct. 2 at Powell* Oct. 16 at Fulton* Oct. 23 Clinton* Oct. 30 Knoxville West* (Senior Night) *denotes region opponents.

All kickos are at 7:30 p.m., except Sept. 24 vs. Karns (7 p.m.)

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Blue Devils 2020 Game Schedule Aug. 28 at Oakdale Sept. 11 McCreary Central Sept. 18 at Unaka* Sept. 25 at North Greene Oct. 2 Hancock County* Oct. 9 at Wartburg Oct. 16 Cloudland* Oct. 23 Cosby Oct. 30 Berea *denotes region opponents.

All kickos are at 7:30 p.m.

The Blue Devils’ season-opening game against Williamsburg was cancelled due to KHSAA Board of Control delaying Kentucky football until September.

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2 • FOOTBALL FOCUS

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LaFollette Press Football Focus Table of Contents About the cover

Photos by NOAH TAYLOR/LaFollette Press Graphic by ADAM WILLOUGHBY/LaFollette Press

About Table of Contents photo Photos by NOAH TAYLOR/Staff

• 2 » High school football schedules • 4-5 » Campbell County High School Cougars • 6-7 » Jellico High School Blue Devils • 8-9 » QB White focused on improving • 10-11 » C.J. ALL DAY • 12-13 » Familiarity, faith led Paul to Jellico • 14 » King looking to build off stellar junior season • 15 » Former Jellico players remember 2000 playoff run • 16-17 » LaFollette Middle School Owls • 18-19 » Jacksboro Middle School Eagles • 20-21 » Jellico Middle School Blue Devils • 23 » Middle school football schedules

LaFollette Press

FOOTBALL FOCUS • 3

Campbell County High School Cougars

The 2020 Campbell County High School football team.

BY NOAH TAYLOR we have returning,â€? Price said. “Really, dtaylor@lafollettepress.com for the ďŹ rst time in a couple of years, you look at our roster at how many guys that have played on Friday night that hen Campbell County football are going to be on our team this year is a head coach Justin Price looks lot more. It kind of reminds you of that over his 2020 roster, he can’t help but feel optimistic. time for 2013 to 2017 where we had a lot The Cougars ďŹ nished 4-6 in 2019, but of kids come back almost every year, so according to Price, a lot of talent from we’re excited about those guys.â€? that team is coming back and with a lot On the oensive side of the ball, CCHS of experience from highs to lows under returns a pair of junior standouts in quarterback Hunter White and running their belt. back C.J. Allen, who contributed heavily According to Price, those experiences a season ago, and their experience from have helped his team mature over the last season will be matched with an past nine-plus months. oensive line that also has grown up. “We’re excited about the players that

W

NOAH TAYLOR/Sta “We’re excited for guys like C.J. Allen,â€?

Price said. “His ďŹ rst six games he played last year, he was an impact player about every game. On the oensive line, we’ve got several guys coming back in Carson Meade, Ben Conrad, Caleb Osborne.â€?

On defense, which will also feature Allen at linebacker as well as senior Blake Taylor, Price is just as excited. “I think our linebackers and our defensive line corps, that front seven, we’re excited about that,� Price said. “I think if you can stop the run in high school, you’ve got a good shot every game.�

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CCHS From 4

But even with the returning players, the Cougars are coming off of a challenging offseason, one that both coaches and players have never experienced and are learning to cope with together.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Price and the CCHS coaching staff were robbed of valuable spring practices and offseason conditioning, which works towards developing new players.

That is why having so many players come back that played last season is so important to Price.

“Like we were saying, in what we’ve been dealing with, experience has been so crucial right now,” Price said. “We haven’t had the time to really develop players, so we’ve had to adapt our schedule and be very flexible in how we do that, but having guys that understand what it takes to play on Friday, I think will help us as we get through this.”

The disrupted offseason wasn’t a problem unique to the Cougars.

Teams all over the state eagerly awaited their fate for months only to find out the season was given the green LaFollette Press

light three weeks before it was scheduled to begin, including CCHS’ Class 5A foes.

According to Price, it’s one of the most competitive regions in the state, and he knows the Cougars will have their hands full in region games this season.

They aren’t shying away from that challenge.

“I think when you look at a 5A region, I don’t know about all over the state, but we’re a tough region,” Price said. “I think if you look at Powell and West, Oak Ridge, Fulton, Campbell County, Clinton, Karns, I mean you’ve

got some heavy-hitters in that and some teams that are very well-coached and have some really good players that they program the right way, so every year they’re kind of reloading. We knew that when we got in this region that it would be that way.

I feel like for the most part we’ve competed and have gone toe-to-toe with these guys. Some games we haven’t, and I think our kids kind of know that. I think that’s the good part about having that experience.”

As the Cougars jump right into the season, Price

is continuing to stress the importance of putting full effort into every aspect of practice and game preparation to yield positive results on the field.

“Our kids understand it is every play and how being a half-step slow or running a route at a wrong depth how big of difference that is,” Price said. “A lot of that you can’t teach it until they’ve experienced it. We’re going to continue to try our best to develop our kids so that they can compete at the highest level.”

FOOTBALL FOCUS • 5

Jellico High School Blue Devils

NOAH TAYLOR/Staff The 2020 Jellico High School football team.

BY NOAH TAYLOR dtaylor@lafollettepress.com

B

rent Peel surveys the practice field with his arms folded. He leans over with a smile and says simply, “We’re gonna be good.”

Peel is optimistic about his second Jellico football team.

The laying of the foundation began a year ago, in Peel’s first season.

The Blue Devils went 1-10 in 2018, the season before Peel’s arrival from Jacksboro Middle School.

In 2019, Peel’s first at the helm, Jellico won three games.

He expects more positive results in 2020.

“We are very optimistic,” Peel said.

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“When you return the caliber of players that we are returning and have the good leadership qualities this group has, you can’t help but get excited about our possibilities.”

Peel’s reason for optimism begins on the offensive side of the ball, where the Blue Devils will feature a pair of standout players coming off impressive junior seasons a year ago.

“Well, you have to be excited when you return the Offensive Player of the Year and Receiver of the Year in [quarterback] Joseph Paul and [wide receiver] Jordan King,” Peel said. “But I think these guys better bring their A game because we have some other kids that have worked really hard and want some time in the spotlight.”

As a junior, Paul passed for 1,571 yards and 17 touchdowns, while King was just shy of 1,000 yards receiving with 38 catches and 14 scores last season.

Paul has been one of the instrumental leaders for Peel as he tries to change the culture of the Jellico football program.

Peel has made changes since arriving last season to usher in that change, including new helmets, uniforms, charter buses to away games and upgrades to the field.

According to Peel, the driving force behind that change has been the players.

“It’s not so much what I have done but what these kids have done,” Peel said. “They have committed themselves to making a change for JELLICO » 7

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Jellico From 6

Jordan King.

the better. They want things to be dierent, so they are being more accountable and working extremely hard to make a dierence, and my assistant coaches have done a great job helping me get these kids to buy in and working to get things going in the right direction.�

While Peel has been rebuilding the program, his expectations haven’t changed, and his team has remained focused on those goals despite an oseason that included an unprecedented amount of uncertainty just weeks before it was scheduled to begin. “I always have high expectations, and this year is no dierent,â€? Peel NOAH TAYLOR/Sta said. “We want to win the region, then win a

2020 JHS Roster 1. Haiden Russell 2. Jordan King 3. Hunter Baird 7. Joseph Paul 9. Kuzson Jeerson 13. Connor Slover 21. Raymond Jeers 22. Will Mancini 24. Carter Bolton 33. Carter Muse 45. Cledith Lay 51. Tytan Mills 52. Caleb Elliott 55. Jonathan Paul 56. Alex Baird 60. Dillon Moses 62. Skyler Elliott 64. Gage Heatherly 65. Jack Hackler 66. Joey Young 70. Andy Campbell 72. Luke Bowlin 76. Isaiah Campbell 77. Joe Greene 78. Ben Albertini game in the playos and advance to that next level.

With the circumstances that we have been dealt, I feel very pleased with how our kids have focused and responded.�

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FOOTBALL FOCUS • 7

QB White focused on improving

BY NOAH TAYLOR dtaylor@lafollettepress.com

H

unter White lined up in the shotgun, his Cougars team leading 16-3 in the third quarter over Cocke County.

White looked over to the sideline for the play.

They were driving.

A touchdown here would all but put the game away.

White gets the play, takes the snap and drops back.

His pass overshoots Cahron Williams and lands in the arms of a Cocke County defensive back in the endzone.

The interception gives the ball back to the Fighting Cocks down two possessions and a quarter-plus left to play.

Maybe a younger Hunter White would have been rattled.

Maybe he would have hung his head on the sideline and wallowed in his mistake.

But Hunter White has grown up a lot in the last year from a football standpoint.

As a sophomore in 2019, he won the starting quarterback job and started 10 games.

WHITE » 9 Hunter White.

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NOAH TAYLOR/Staff

Hunter White

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White From 8

Now, a junior, White shakes off the interception, comes back out a few drives later and hits Devon Jones for a touchdown to put Campbell County up 29-3 in the fourth quarter to cap off a 203 yards passing and three touchdown performance.

“Anytime you throw an interception or make a bad play, people get down themselves,” White said. “But, you know I had the guys around me, and they were picking me back up.

“I don’t like to make mistakes, but those guys picked me up and to get out there and throw another touchdown felt amazing.”

Following the game, Campbell County head coach Justin Price emphasized the importance of responding to adversity and how it matters.

He noticed his quarterback’s response to the interception and saw it as another sign of White’s maturity as one of the team’s leaders between his first start a year ago and his 11th start.

“I thought Hunter looked a lot better back there,” Price said. “Hunter is a competitor.

“He’ll want some throws back, and he’ll wish he could have done some things a little bit different, but overall, I think he’s done a great job.

“With the limited amount of preparation he had as a quarterback coming into this game, it’s hard to play and execute at such a high level like that.

“He’s been putting the ball in right spots and he went through a little bit of a slump with the pick, but he kept playing.

“You can just tell that’s matured.

“Last year, as a sophomore, he had some ups and downs, and tonight you could tell he just had a different look about him, like he knows what to expect now.

“You’ll only see him get better.”

White showed more than a few flashes to get Price and the rest of the coaching staff excited about the step he could take in his junior season.

White took advantage of opportunities for growing last season, opportunities that should pay off in similar moments this season.

“We’re excited about guys like Hunter White at quarterback who at times as a sophomore played really well,” Price said. “He led a game-winning drive against Carter; he led a game-winning

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drive against Karns, but also had some sophomore moments that you’d expect.

But Hunter is the type that is selfmotivated.

“He knows the areas he needs to improve on, and he’s worked on those.

I’m excited about him.”

White knows his performance against Cocke County wasn’t perfect.

But that’s just another sign of his growth.

He isn’t settling on anything, especially a single performance, this season.

White believes there is always going to be room for improvement, both as a quarterback and a leader, which the Cougars will need in other adverse ingame situations this season.

“It’s a lot different for sure compared to last year,” White said. “You know, I was kind of a little bit more nervous, but this year I just played.

“I’ve been out here before. I’ve started 10 games already, but I’m still not near where I want to be yet.

“I made some bad decisions, but not as many as I did in my first or really, any of those starts from last year.

“But I still got to get better and get better at leading the team as well.”

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FOOTBALL FOCUS • 9

C.J. ALL DAY

BY NOAH TAYLOR dtaylor@lafollettepress.com

C

.J. Allen was well on his way to having a big sophomore season in 2019.

Then the injuries happened.

For Allen, injuries were nothing new.

“I’ve dealt with many injuries throughout my years of playing football,” Allen said. “But last year’s were a lot different than the rest simply because I was having a pretty decent season and just one play put me out for ALLEN » 11 C.J. Allen.

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Allen From 10

the rest of the year.”

The injury came early in a game against Karns.

But as Allen prepares to make up for lost time in the 2020 season, the injury hasn’t served as his motivation for a breakout junior year.

In fact, Allen doesn’t need things like injuries or losses to stay motivated.

“As far as motivation goes, [the injury] didn’t really serve as that,” Allen said.

“I stay motivated year round, no matter what, to just be the best player that I can be.”

Allen’s time off from the Karns game to the season opener was extended because of COVID-19.

Outside of some non-team affiliated 7-on-7 games in early March, Allen missed out on spring practice and preseason scrimmages.

And the season itself appeared in jeopardy until three weeks before the Cougars’ season opener at Cocke County.

Even with little preparation, Allen posted 108 all-purpose yards, two interceptions — one of which was

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returned for a touchdown — and a touchdown catch in a 29-3 win over the Fighting Cocks.

But Allen wants more, and he is focusing on areas to improve this season, including the defensive side of the ball where he plays linebacker.

“Looking back to last year, my biggest flaws I feel like were defense, speed and film study,” Allen said. “Last year, I focused on running back way more and it showed at times, so I decided to really study strong safety and see how the best played it and try to imitate them.

“As far as speed goes, I just did a lot more agility and speed training drills.

“Film study is a huge part when it comes to wanting to be the best.

“Knowing the players you’re going up against’s tendencies, speed and size goes a long way.”

There are other areas where Allen has shifted his focus on, one that he has struggled with his entire career: weight.

“I struggled with maintaining weight throughout the season,” Allen said. “I got up to 205 during the offseason, and now I’m around 190.

“I work out a lot and take in crazy amounts of calories, but between all the sweating I do in practice and the work,

it’s just hard to keep weight on.”

The weight and improvement on defense are just a few of the goals that Allen has set for himself.

As a versatile running back that has proven to be just as lethal with his hands as he is with his legs, it comes as no surprise the standard that Allen believes is achievable each game.

But there is one standard that matters to him the most.

And he doesn’t care how the Cougars achieve that one.

“My personal goal for every game is to get 150 yards and two touchdowns at running back,” Allen said. “But my main goal is just for us to win.”

Allen has already been instrumental in helping CCHS do that in 2020.

But to win more games, he knows that he has to be a leader, and that is another area that he has worked on since last season.

“I’ve always felt that leadership by example is better than just vocal leadership,” Allen said. “When it comes to improving as a leader, it’s just doing everything I can to the best of my ability, always being accountable, putting my team first and being coachable.”

FOOTBALL FOCUS • 11

Familiarity, faith led Paul to Jellico

BY NOAH TAYLOR dtaylor@lafollettepress.com

B

efore Joseph Paul stepped foot on Jellico’s campus in 2019, he had an idea of what to expect playing for Brent Peel.

The two had a history together, going back to Paul’s playing days as a quarterback for Peel’s Jacksboro Middle School football team. On the eve of the 2019 season, the two would be embarking on a new journey together. For Peel, it was his ďŹ rst high school head coaching opportunity, taking over a dormant Jellico football program.

For Paul, it was a fresh start after transferring from Campbell County High School. Both head coach and quarterback now had the chance to make a dierence and change the culture at a football program that didn’t have a lot of it. “Well, we’ve been around each other for quite some time now,â€?

Peel said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s a great kid, he’s a great leader for our football team and he leads by example also because his work ethic is tremendous. That’s why he is what he is because of putting in the work that he has.�

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Paul From 12

practice on a steaming August afternoon. Paul steps out on to the practice field, which sits in the shadows of Bill Humphrey Stadium.

As his teammates step out of the locker room and join him, Paul offers words of encouragement and jumps from drill to drill with the same intensity and eagerness.

The players feed off of it.

Peel notices, too. Paul is the leader of the team and his head coach doesn’t miss a chance to tell anyone that wants to hear about how impressed he is with Paul.

The two trust each other and it was that trust-and his faith-that went a long way in helping Paul make the decision to play out his final two seasons of high school football at Jellico.

“He had a big part in my decision,” Paul said. “I knew how he was when I played

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in middle school and I knew that I could trust him. It just felt like the right decision for me and the Lord had a lot to do with it, just having a lot of faith in what I do. But I can definitely say [Peel] had a lot to do with it because of that trust.”

After going 1-10 in 2018, the Blue Devils made marked improvement in Peel’s inaugural season, winning three games in 2019. Paul finished 113-of225 for 1,571 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to just 8 interceptions. Heading into his senior season, the goals haven’t changed and Paul wants more out of himself not just for his benefit, but for the benefit of those around him.

“I’m just keeping those same goals,” Paul said. “I’d like to double my stats, just try my best to make it to the next level and kind of put Jellico on the map, because you know, it’s kind of been rough these last few years

for them, so hopefully just putting a big name out there for the team is just really a

goal for me. There is more to it than just me.”

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FOOTBALL FOCUS • 13

King looking to build off stellar junior season

BY NOAH TAYLOR dtaylor@lafollettepress. com

J

ordan King has simple expectations when it comes to building off of an impressive junior season a year ago.

King was a standout wide receiver and versatile weapon for the Jellico Blue Devils football team in 2019, and the season caught the attention of those outside of the program.

As a junior, King caught 38 passes for just shy of 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning himself receiver of the year honors in Region 1A following the 2019 season.

Heading into his 2020 senior campaign, King was named to the U.S. Army AllState Preseason Team.

“Anytime someone in your program gets recognized like this, it’s a big deal,” Jellico second-year head coach Brent Peel told the Press in August. “When individuals receive recognition like this, it means their teammates are receiving some also.”

It’s the teammates that King cares about the most.

In fact, Jellico’s team goals transcend his own goals as the Blue Devils embark on a season full of expectation.

“I want to win every game from now on,” King said.

“Personally, I just want to do anything I can to help the team. Mine and the team’s expectations are just about the same. We’re just trying to win as much as we can.”

While King did just about as much as any teammate or coach could ask for as a deep threat in 2019, there are areas where King wants to improve as a senior.

“I need to improve on my downfield blocking a lot,” King said. “I know that will help the team out tremendously. I’m just trying to do better than I did

14 • FOOTBALL FOCUS

last year. I plan on getting more done this season.”

Peel also sees room for improvement for one of his most talented weapons.

“Jordan had a tremendous year last year,” Peel said.

“He has to continue to be a playmaker for us. He needs to be more consistent on making catches and he’s going to have to work on running good routes and getting open, because we know everyone is going to be playing him different and most of the time, doubling him.”

For King’s quarterback, fellow senior Joseph Paul, having the wide receiver in his arsenal helps to complete the Blue Devils offense, and their connection is one that garnered a lethal reputation in region play last season.

But like Peel, Paul knows his favorite target is going to be one that defenders key in on this time around.

“Well, me and Jordan have a great connection,” Paul said. “All of the teams and coaches we played last year see that because they know No. 2 is going to be open. We’re a very crucial part of our offense, and it’s going to be a lot tougher this year than it was last year because they know what to expect. He has lots of speed, and he can jump, which is perfect for a receiver. He can catch it in the toughest situations.”

While King’s abilities won’t go unnoticed or unprepared for by defenses and coaches this season, Peel likes his receiver in any matchup.

“He has tremendous athletic ability and speed,” Peel said. “He can run by people with his speed and go up and over people with his jumping ability and athleticism to bring in the ball. He is going to be a threat to score from Jordan King. anywhere on the field.”

NOAH TAYLOR/Staff LaFollette Press

Former Jellico players remember 2000 playoff run

BY NOAH TAYLOR dtaylor@lafollettepress.com

B

radley Faulkner remembers the sour taste the 1999 season left in his mouth.

That season, the Jellico football team ďŹ nished 0-10, and Faulkner and his teammates did not want to repeat it in the new millennium.

What that Blue Devils team did instead was reverse their fortunes, using that winless campaign as motivation to springboard them on a historic run, a run that carried them to a state playo appearance for the ďŹ rst time as a 3A school. “I was a senior during the 2000 season,â€? Faulkner, who played both fullback and linebacker on that team, recalled. “Going 0-10 as a junior was deďŹ nitely not something we wanted to repeat. We all wanted a senior season we could be proud of, so there was serious motivation to do everything in our power to string together some wins.â€?

Jellico did more than just string together some wins.

They instead solidiďŹ ed themselves as one of the greatest teams in school history.

But getting from win No. 1 to state playo contention in a classiďŹ cation full of bigger schools wasn’t easy.

The Blue Devils ran into their fair share of tests, pulling out wins late to keep their Cinderella run alive.

Faulkner remembers a few of them. “Two moments stand out above the rest for me,â€? Faulkner said. “The ďŹ rst being our last-second winning touchdown at our cross-state rival, Williamsburg. With time winding down, we had gotten within striking distance and Ryan Williams found Timmy Bowlin on a quick slant route for the TD as time expired. The Jellico fans rushed the ďŹ eld in celebration. It was such a great moment for our team and our town.â€?

The season before, Jellico lost to Williamsburg 42-0.

They avenged that loss by coming from behind with quarterback Ryan Williams leading a 55-yard drive in the ďŹ nal minutes that ended with the 3-yard pass to Bowlin with no time left.

Bowlin recalled the moment. “I just remember a lot of emotion, especially after the way they beat us the previous year,� Bowlin said. “I just remember my quarterback calling the call. He just gave me that eye that he

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gives me, like ‘it’s coming to you; get that Williamsburg was, but since they ready.’ You couldn’t ask for a better are a perennial football power, it was a team. Everything just went perfect on huge upset that I took special pride in that play. Ryan was a great quarterback. being one of the interior linebackers and I knew all I had to do was run the route.� leaders, along with fellow senior Mike For Williams, even 20 years later, the Perkins.� play is still hard to put into words.

Jellico ďŹ nished the regular season 7-3, In a season full of memorable ďŹ nishing No. 3 in Region 2-3A play. moments, the Williamsburg game was But the run came to an end in a ďŹ rstthe arguably the best. round loss to Gatlinburg-Pittman. “That was deďŹ nitely the biggest win of Despite the ending, it took nothing that season,â€? Williams said. “It was like away from what that 2000 team it was meant to be. Things don’t play accomplished. out that way. A fumble with so many The list went beyond making the seconds left and then we drive it down playos and beating their biggest rival. the ďŹ eld. Just being a single A school, “I think the most special thing going up against schools that had more about the 2000 football team was our football players on the ďŹ eld and in their heart,â€? Faulkner said. “We were always band than we had in our entire school, overachievers, even our 8th grade year. after we had a taste of it our junior year, Talent-wise, Jellico hit a good cycle we weren’t going to let it happen again.â€? starting in the 1996 season, which made For Bowlin, the moment was certainly the state playos. The 1997 and 1998 special, but it wasn’t the moment that he teams were also very good. We may knew this team was special. not have been the most athletic, but That came a few months before during our heart and leadership was second an oseason scrimmage. to none. This, coupled with some nice “The moment came in a summer contributions from the underclassmen, scrimmage against Union County,â€? led to a memorable season.â€?

Bowlin said. “They were a pretty big school. But we put our pads on for a scrimmage against them, and we came out on top big time. They were 3A football teams, and we weren’t supposed to be in 3A. We were TO ALL OF OUR COUNTY TEAMS IN 2020! just a little single A school that was put in 3A. But during those summer practices, we knew it was going to be a good year.�

The second moment for Faulkner was one that he was in on, holding Knoxville Catholic scoreless SINCE 1952 deep in the red zone late in an upset win over the Irish, 12-7, to move to 3-1 on the season. “Another moment CARL PIERCE FURNITURE & APPLIANCE CO. that stood out was our goal-line % #ENTRAL !VE s ,A&OLLETTE 4. stand against (OURS -ONDAY 3ATURDAY s 7EDNESDAY Knox Catholic,� he said. “They weren’t the rival

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FOOTBALL FOCUS • 15

LaFollette Middle School Owls

NOAH TAYLOR/Sta The 2020 LaFollette Middle School football team.

BY NOAH TAYLOR dtaylor@lafollettepress.com

G

arrison Hayes knew what he was getting into when he took his ďŹ rst head-coaching job at LaFollette Middle School.

Hayes was hired to take over the Owls football team this past spring and has embraced the challenge of taking over a program that has struggled in recent seasons. “Coming here as the head coach, I’ve taken over a team that went 5-27 in the past four years and is coming o of an 0-8 season,â€?

Hayes said. “A big thing we are focusing on

is taking it one day at a time, one team at a time. Talent is here, but we have to learn to lean on one another and to help build this team into what it once was.�

The talent is what Hayes is most excited about. He’s conďŹ dent in the personnel that the Owls have, but the challenge is getting that talent to translate on the ďŹ eld as they adapt to a new scheme and coaching sta. “I think we look really good on both oense and defense,â€? Hayes said. “On oense, we are trying to include all positions on the ďŹ eld from the line to the skill players.

Our team, in my opinion, is very talented and to have an oense that uses every one of them is the best approach.�

According to Hayes, the LMS oense features experience that is going to help younger players adjust on that side of the ball. “The 8th graders are leading the way for the younger guys on the team,â€? Hayes said. “We have about ďŹ ve guys that are 8th graders on the oensive side that are starting. This, mixed with 7th and even 6th graders really helps push us ahead on oense. We are talented at both passing and running the ball and it makes us diďŹƒcult to defend when both are a weapon.â€?

On defense, the unit is anchored by a number of 8th graders as well, according to

OWLS Âť 17

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Owls From 16

Hayes. “As far as defense, we have 5-6 8th graders while our main voice is a 7th grader,” Hayes said. “We run several different looks on defense. It’s overall OK, very aggressive and mean upfront.”

While the Owls ran into some early adversity in their season-opening loss to Horace Maynard, Hayes looked at it as an opportunity for his team to grow and learn from it, turning to his faith to help spread that message.

“I am a religious man,” Hayes said before game two. “The other day we talked about a verse that we will a lot this season, which states, ‘when I am weak, then I am strong.’ That applies to us greatly. Our 8th graders have only won two games in their career and the 7th graders and below have won zero. Our goal is to get used to winning and fighting together as a team to get the win. We stress the importance of doing the little things, even when no one is looking and to rely on each other for guidance. We will not give up regardless of the score or our opponents. It has been one of the best decisions of my life coming here and running a program like LMS.”

LaFollette Press

2020 LaFollette Middle School Football Roster No. 2 4 5 7 10 11 13 14 20 21 22 25 28 30 34 53 55 56 57 61 63 65 70 75 80 82

Name Keegan Nelson Jacob Carr Tyler Selvy Carter Sharp Anthony Mills Timmy Gibson Austin Jordan Marquese Houston Skyler Ivey Makya Pratt J.T. Williamson Noah Smith Landon York Hunter Watson Keith Gonzalez Joshua Ramsey Braxton Orick Zach Daughtry Caden Miller Jonathan Hernandez Zach Shoffner Gavin Petree Coltun Wasson Gabe Sanders Ethan Nelson Kadeen Hayes

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FOOTBALL FOCUS • 17

Jacksboro Middle School Eagles

NOAH TAYLOR/Sta The 2020 Jacksboro Middle School football team.

BY NOAH TAYLOR dtaylor@lafollettepress.com

J

acksboro Middle School football head coach Cody Parker likes his team against anyone the Eagles will face in 2020, but health will be the key to fulďŹ lling those expectations. “Honestly, we have high expectations for our team if we can manage to stay healthy,â€?

Parker said. “I feel like we’re good enough to compete with anyone we play.�

The reason for that optimism is the experience Jacksboro displays on its roster and Parker hopes that experience, mixed in with some young talent that will learn as the season goes on, leads to positive results. “We’ve got close to twenty 8th graders,�

Parker said. “When you’re old, you better be good, because when you’re young like we were last year, there’s going to be growing pains.�

Parker, who is entering his second season as the Eagles’ head coach, likes the personnel his team returns on the oensive side of the ball, especially at quarterback, which features Landen Hensley and a number of talented wide receivers in Riley Wolfenbarger and Blake Albright as well as running back Landon York and tight end Eli Dorton. “Oensively, we’ve got a lot of returning experience at the skill positions,â€? Parker said. “Year two, running the [Campebll County] high school’s spread oense, our kids have really done a good job adjusting

and getting comfortable with it. Up front, we lost some experience, but honestly, I feel just as good about those guys as I do the skill positions.�

On defense, Parker is hoping for more growth and maturity on that side of the ball after the group struggled last season. “Defensively, we have to be better than we were last year,â€? Parker said. “A lot of 7th graders trying to tackle 8th graders. Folks don’t realize the maturity dierence from 7th to 8th grade. We’re going to be really good up front if we’re able to stay healthy, in the defensive backďŹ eld we’re going to be solid.

The only real question for us is at linebacker.

We’ve got to improve in that spot for us to be what I think we can be.�

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FOOTBALL FOCUS • 19

Jellico Middle School Blue Devils

NOAH TAYLOR/Staff The 2020 Jellico Middle School football team.

BY NOAH TAYLOR they wanted to play. Of course, the rules dtaylor@lafollettepress.com won’t let us, but they were ready to play.” look across to the other sideline Of the players available, Proffitt sees during a Jellico Middle School the potential, especially at quarterback football game this season might where Jellico features Jadon Reno who show a lack of depth, but head coach now has a season of experience under Jeff Proffitt is pleased with what he does his belt as he heads into year two as the have.

Blue Devils’ signal caller.

The Blue Devils’ first game back on “Jadon has really stepped up this year Aug. 20 against Lake City had to be at quarterback,” Proffitt said. “We threw postponed because Proffitt’s team was him in there last year, and he didn’t one player short of being able to field know anything. He has really stepped up enough players on the field at a time. this year.”

They wanted to play anyway.

Alongside Reno is wide receiver J.B. “The biggest thing was, last week’s Llewellyn and running back Wyatt Baird, game had to get rescheduled because who were all key contributors in Jellico’s we had a couple of kids that couldn’t season opener against Burchfield on make it,” Proffitt said. “With that being Aug. 27. said, we had 10 kids ready to play, and According to Proffitt, that experience

A

will pay off down the road.

“We’ll see a different team by the time the end of the year comes,” Proffitt said. “By then, you’re going to see a big difference in all of these kids.”

While adjustments will have to be made in practice and in-game this season, the heart factor is already there for Jellico.

“That comes back to heart,” Proffitt said. “We’ve only got a few weeks under our belt with practices. Nobody has been missing practice; everybody has been there. I’m so proud of them because nobody gave up on us. In a case like that, you’ve got to be proud of that.

“I told them I’ll always have their back, and if they keep showing up like they have everyday, I’ll never quit on these kids.”

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LaFollette Press

2020 Jellico Middle School Football Roster No. 11 58 1 65 3

Name Malak Thomas Ewan Deane Jadon Reno Josh Hackler J.B. Llewellyn

Grade 7th 8th 8th 8th 8th

52 4 60 51 17 8 62 50 5

Ethan Sowder 7th Dylan Johnson 7th Rylan Jeffers 7th Brandon Carpenter 7th Wyatt Baird 8th Jason Hoover 7th Owen Morgan 7th Michael Paul 7th Elijah Reno 7th

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Eagles 2020 Game Schedule Aug. 20 Eagleton Sept. 3 Lake City Sept. 10 Cumberland Gap Sept. 17 at Maryville Sept. 25 LaFollette* Oct. 1 at Horace Maynard Oct. 8 at Dayton City Oct. 15 Playoffs Oct. 22 Playoffs Oct. 31 Championship*

JELLICO

*denotes that game takes place at CCHS. All kickoffs are at 7 p.m.

Middle Blue Devils 2020 Game Schedule Aug. 27 Burchfield Sept. 3 Oakdale Sept. 10 Robbins Sept. 17 at LaFollette Sept. 24 at Winfield Oct. 1 at Fairview Oct. 6 Lake City

Owls

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JACKSBORO

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2020 Game Schedule

Aug. 20 at Horace Maynard Aug. 27 at Cumberland Gap Sept. 3 at Oneida Sept. 10 at Lake City Sept. 17 Jellico (Homecoming) Sept. 25 Jacksboro* Oct. 1 SMMS Oct. 8 Coalfield (Eighth-grade night) Oct. 15 Playoffs Oct. 22 Playoffs Oct. 31 Championship* *denotes that game takes place at CCHS. All kickoffs are at 7 p.m.

Kickoffs are at 7 p.m. Home games at Jellico High School.

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FOOTBALL FOCUS • 23

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