Longhorns

COVID has Longhorns behind to start the season

BY TIM CHAMBERS

An 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 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

Don Kerley Head Coach 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

No Name Class Position No Name Class Position

1 Tyler Wilson 12 2 Evan Dollar 9 3 Stacy Greer 12 4 Ethan Simcox 9 5 Matt Mowery 12 6 Connor Simcox 9 7 Aiden Fredell 9 11 Brenton Black 9 12 Jay Ortega 12 13 Dalton Brown 11 15 Joseph Gambill 12 16 Grinnan Walker 10 18 Jenna Horner 12 20 Nate Rice 11 21 Cory Neely 11 22 Ethan Bower 12 23 Chase Muncy 9 25 Aiden Walker 12 26 Sam Mann 12 27 Ryan Morefield 12 32 Hank Sauer 9 42 Tracy Hicks 9 WR/DB WR/DB QB/LB QB/DB TE/DE

FB/LB QB/OLB RB/LB QB/DB K RB/DB RB/DB WR/DB FB/LB WR/DB RB/LB 44 Ethan Icenhower 11 50 Nick Speed 10 52 Trevor Henson 11 56 Gavin Wilson 11 64 Shawn Perkins 11 66 Nathaniel Sumerow11 67 Jacob Earp 11 70 Jason Faulks 10 71 John Stout 11 72 Ricky Fenner 12 73 Nemiah Willis 9 74 Connor McNutt 12 77 Daniel Stout 9 85 Christian Johnson 12 88 Javier BuenField 12 92 Brandon Vanover 9 FB/LB OL/DE DE LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL C/DL

DB

Head Coach: Don Kerley

Mascot:Longhorn Colors: Maroon and White

(L-R) Audry Godines, Paiten Carroll, Gracie Grayson, Madi Walker, Aleena Summerow, Kirsten Day, Emmy Miller, Hannah Walker, Bella Phipps, Jessie Anderson, Chloe Hopkins, and Makenzie Poe. Coaches: Michelle Walters and Kayla Hensley. Not pictured: Ashlee Anderson, Kaylee Anderson, and Maggie Stout.

Good luck to all area teams!

Together we can do more and be more. Just like the area sports teams, what makes Modern Woodmen different is what makes us strong. We are proud to support programs important to your school and our community. I can help you plan for life. Let’s talk.

Modern Woodmen of America

Donna J. Bare

402 Mary Patton Highway Corner of West G Street and New Highway Elizabethton, TN 37643 B. 423-543-5305 • C. 423-302-8188 donna.j.bare@mwarep.org reps.modernwoodmen.org/dbare