COVID has Longhorns behind to start the season
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BY TIM CHAMBERS
n unexpected shutdown for 14 days put the Johnson County football team behind to start the 2020 season. The Longhorns are trying to overcome a two week shutdown and appeared sluggish in their game at Sullivan East on Friday. Head coach Don Kerley and his staff have been working overtime trying to get their team ready but the lack of practice time was evident especially at Sullivan East on Friday in a 20-6 loss. Head coach Don Kerley has done all he can do to try and get his squad ready but you can’t compensate for the time missed that was needed for conditioning. It’s been a roller coaster ride for Kerley and his staff trying to figure out who is playing where. Last year’s starting quarterback Stacy Greer has moved over to fullback hoping to add some depth at the running back position. “Whatever helps the team is what I want to do,” said Greer one of the team’s senior leaders. “We’ve got to get some practices in but I feel like we can be pretty good if we get
Don Kerley Head Coach
in football shape and keep working hard. This team wants to do well and I think that we can.” Greer will be joined in the backfield by running back Sam Mann, quarterback Dalton Brown and split back Corie Neely. The line will be senior-heavy with Connor McNutt getting the nod at the center but will miss the first game due to an injury. Ricky Fenner, John Stout, Nathaniel Summerow and Trevor Henson will make up the offensive line. Ryan Morfield will start at tight end.
Morefield has looked good in practice to never had played before added Kerley. The kids are working hard trying to make up for the time that we lost. I’m glad we’re playing the first game or we would really be behind.” The Longhorns have several players that will start both ways on offense and defense. Morefield, Fenner Greer and Mann will do the double duty. They are joined on defense by Matt Mowery, Ethan Icenhour, Aden Walker, Ethan Bower, Tyler Wilson, and Javier Benfield in the season opener. Kerley indicated that they could be playing more freshman than in years past but that’s a wait and see thing. Johnson County will open the season at Sullivan East and Sullivan North before returning home in week three to take on rival Hampton. “We play some tough nonconference games,” said Kerley and most of them are our rivals. We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then. The COVID put us behind but we’re not going to use that as an excuse. We just need to work hard over the next few weeks to try and make up for some lost time.” Jenna Horner will handle the
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placekicking duties while Nate Rice will be the punter.
2020 Johnson County Schedule September 4—CHUCKEY-DOAK* 18—WEST GREENE* 25—HAMPTON October 2—at Claiborne* 9—HAPPY VALLEY 16—NORTH GREENE* 23—at Cloudland 30—at Unicoi County* ALL CAPS denotes home games * denotes region games
