Warriors

from Gridiron 2022

Bulldogs

Happy Valley Warriors Warriors on the upswing after down season

BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN STAR CORRESPONDENT

Happy Valley did not have the kind of season fans and coaches expected in 2021, but finding a quarterback can make a big difference in 2022. Senior Reagan Ensor will be at the helm of the offense after stepping in midway through a disappointing season last year.

The Warriors struggled through a 1-9 overall season – defeating

only Johnson County 24-6 – and injuries were a major factor.

“We have a group that has been able to have a full pre-season camp for the first time in three years,” Warriors head coach Jason Jarrett said. “The last couple of years we were shut down for multiple weeks and lost scrimmages. We hope this will propel us to have a better start and overall better season. Our depth is an issue. An injury here or there typically requires us to make several moves. That is just part of small school football.”

The Warriors lost 10 seniors to graduation including standouts like Cameron Cochran, Andrew Little and Landon Babb, but Jarrett believes that with stability at the quarterback position the team will improve offensively.

“Reagan came in midway through last season after suffering from an early season injury,” Jarrett said. “He started the last four or five games and brought a spark to our offense. We look for him to be a playmaker and field general in leading our offense.”

Success begins up front on the line of scrimmage and the Warriors have some players there to compete starting with senior Maliek Clark (OL/DL), Hayden Walls (OL/DL), Ethan Townsend (OL/DL), and Gavin Way (OL/DL).

Sophomore Drew Blevins will start at wide receiver with Pedro Colunga at the running back spot and Joseph Sowards will handle the duties at H-back and defensive line. Senior Bronson Norman will man the fullback spot and is someone Jarrett is counting on to be a leader on the field and is a player to watch.

Warrior Standouts

Drew Blevins Pedro Colunga

HEAD COACH: Jason Jarrett COACHING STAFF: Greg Hyder, Hunter Buchanan, Todd Caldwell, Randy Ferrell, Austin Hicks, Steve McKinney and Brandon Mottern

Jason Jarrett Joseph Sowards Bronson Norman

Quarterback Focus

Favorite quarterback Tom Brady

First touchdown pass A 5 yard hitch to Andrew Little in a game with Cumberland Gap

What to improve on Mentality and footwork

Toughest defense to face in 2022 Pigeon Forge

Goal for the 2022 season To win a conference championship.

Reagan Ensor

Happy Valley Warriors

“We also have several young kids that will be asked to grow up quickly and perform at a high level,” Jarrett said.

That includes a group of sophomores like Carson Sells (WR/DB), Jamie Esterline (WR/DB), and Cade Kendall (WR/DB) as well as junior Dawson Young (WR/DB) and Cole Deakins (WR).

HV opens with Cloudland on Warrior Hill and the Highlanders dominated the Warriors 50-14 last season and then will travel to Afton in week two for a clash with Chuckey-Doak. Weeks three and four will see conference foe South Greene come to Warrior Hill and then a home game with cross county rival Unicoi County.

The Warriors will play home-and-away games with Unaka and a conference road clash mid-season against Hampton. HV will play backto-back road games with Cumberland Gap and Johnson County before finishing the home slate with Pigeon Forge.

“All of our opponents will be key,” Jarrett said. “We believe we play a tough schedule which only helps us improve. All our county teams are very athletic and well-coached and our conference alignment is one of the toughest in the state with perennial powerhouses.”

Warriors 2021 Results

Date Opponent Result Fri Aug. 27 7:00 PM #21 Chuckey-Doak L 0-14 Thu Sep. 2 7:00 PM at #14 South Greene R L 8-39 Fri Sep. 10 7:30 PM at #10 Unicoi County L 6-35 Fri Sep. 17 7:00 PM #3 Hampton R L 0-48 Fri Sep. 24 7:30 PM at #17 Unaka L 6-8 Fri Oct. 1 7:30 PM Cumberland Gap R L 12-36 Fri Oct. 8 7:30 PM Johnson County W 24-6 Fri Oct. 15 7:00 PM at #6 Cloudland L 14-50 Fri Oct. 22 7:00 PM at #9 Pigeon Forge L 0-35 Fri Nov. 5 7:00 PM at #21 Rockwood Class 2A State Playoffs First Round L 6-40 Overall Record: 1-9 Region Record: 0-3

Elizabethton Star

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Number Name Grade Position

2 Ezeikiel Yutzy 11 RB/LB 3 Drew Blevins 10 QB/WR/DB 4 Carson Sells 10 WR/DB 5 Jamie Esterline 10 WR/DB 6 Gabe Macdougald 9 RB/DB 7 Tyler Bailey 9 WR/DB 8 Cade Kendall 10 WR/DB 9 Landon Keller 9 WR/DB 11 Cole Deakins 12 WR/OLB 13 Dawson Young 11 WR/DB 14 Aiden Paul 9 WB/ILB 15 Reagan Ensor 12 QB/OLB 16 Reece Sauer 10 FB/DLB 17 Nathan Peterson 9 WR/DB 20 Pedro Colunga 12 RB/ILB 24 Ron Paul Parker 9 RB/DB 32 Malachi Shaver 10 FB/ILB 34 Joseph Sowards 11 FB/DL 43 Bronson Norman 12 FB/ILB 44 Jackson Stout 10 FB/ILB 51 Maliek Clark 12 DL/DL 54 Carlos Lopez 9 DL/DL 55 Hezekiah Bellamy 9 DL/DL 59 Ethan Townsend 12 DL/DL 60 Andrew Ellis 9 DL/DL 61 Matthew Savage 10 DL/DL 64 Zachary Hicks 10 DL/DL 65 Gavin Way 12 DL/DL 67 Hayden Walls 12 DL/DL 71 Nic Primeau 9 DL/DL 72 Zach Stansell 11 DL/DL 76 Jayden Walls 10 DL/DL 77 Ben Stansell 11 DL/DL 80 Devon Smith 84 Dorian Young 85 Billy Howell 88 Austin Nickles

Kortlin Bennett, Jaydon Brummitt, Jaylen Fletcher, Maliyah Green, Shaylee Grindstaff, Hannah Smith, Natalie Cline, Bella Garmon, Izzy Sisneros, Emilie Vanover, Juley Nieminski Jon Perry (Co-Captain), Kanye Fair Gracie Young - Captain,

Coaches: Greta Helm, Brooke Tolley