Highlanders

Cloudland Highlanders Depth builders...

Highlanders can be good if injury bug stays away Highlander Standouts

BY IVAN SANDERS STAR CORRESPONDENT

Cloudland head coach Zac Benfield would love nothing more than to have an encore presentation of his first season at the helm of the Cloudland High football program.

Benfield led his squad to within one score of heading to

the 2021 Class 1A Blue Cross Bowl State Championship as the ‘Landers fell in overtime to South Pitt who went on to claim the state title the following week in Chattanooga.

After losing several key pieces from that team, Benfield still feels that he has a good team minus the depth that he had on last season’s squad.

“We are not going to have as much depth - we lost a lot of kids including linemen and backs,” Benfield said. “One thing that we are going to have to do this year is develop depth at least by week five or six if we have anyone that gets hurt so that we will have someone out there. Last year, we had six to seven kids that could step into that row, but this year

they are already starting.”

Benfield said the key is to develop junior varsity players to get better. Also, with the loss of last year’s players to graduation, the ‘Landers hope to see some come on with their speed.

“We are nowhere as fast as we were last year,” Benfield said. “This bunch is gritty, however.”

Strengths for 2022

The second-year head coach still believes he has some strengths to rely on to set the tone for the new season and it all begins up front on both sides of the football. Kyle Birchfield Austin Caraway

HEAD COACH: Zac Benfield COACHING STAFF: Adam Boling, Jonah Jones, Garrison Julian, Jamie Johnson, Beaver, Eli Benfield, Ronnie Hendry and Garry Oakes Dylan McClellan Jacob Street

Quarterback Focus

Zac Benfield

Key differences from last year to this season

As previously mentioned, depth is going to be critical for the ‘Landers if they are to make a deep run in the playoffs this season.

Favorite quarterback

Drew Brees is my favorite quarterback because like me he is short and really has to work to see over his offensive line having to drop back deeper to do so. He is a great Christian guy to model after as well. First touchdown

I started at Unaka and threw a 25yard scoring pass to Gage McKinney. It was the greatest feeling ever. I then took over at center in the second half of the first round of the playoffs and started ever since.

What needs improvement

I guess mostly my speed since we are going to incorporate more quarterback run this season. I also want to work on my passing accuracy.

Favorite receivers

Gage McKinney and Caden Clarke because both of them are big, physical targets. Goals for the season

I hope to be All State as a sophomore. I also am going to shoot for 15 passing touchdowns and 15 rushing touchdowns this season.

Cam Peppers

Cloudland Highlanders

“I think our biggest strength is going to be our offensive and defensive lines,” said Benfield. “We have four to five kids that are really, really good. We can have that as our staple and build around it. Also, Gage McKinney is a really good receiver on offense.”

Biggest challenge for the 2022 season

Having to utilize players as starters that served in critical backup roles last season will put a crunch on the small group of players that will be counted on to do the same this season.

“Like I said before, keeping people healthy is going to be the real challenge this year,” Benfield said. “80% of injuries happen during the season so keeping everybody healthy is going to be key. I think that we have a shot at being pretty successful if we do that.”

Players to watch in ‘22 Benfield said that Highlander Nation will have some great players that will bring excitement to the field when the lights turn on Friday night.

“Cam Peppers is going to be fun to watch,” said Benfield. “Jonah Jones came up from Hampton to help develop quarterbacks and he has done a phenomenal job helping Cam. Kyle Birchfield and Austin Caraway are really gritty runners who may not outrun you but they can get 10 to 15 yards for you every carry. Dylan McClellan and Jacob Street are going to be fun to watch on the offensive and defensive line and Cayden Clarke’s work in the weight room during the offseason has really translated to the field as well.

Tough competition

Looking ahead, Benfield said that he is looking at Hampton and Rockwood to be the two teams that will really bring the challenge to the ‘Landers in 2022.

“Hampton has developed a solid team and they just reload season after season,” Benfield said. “If you can beat a Michael Lunsford coached team, then you know that you have defeated a sound, quality team. Also, Rockwood lost in the second round of the playoffs last season, but they are always a tough team to go up against and they are going to be really good this year.

Highlanders 2021 Results

Date Opponent Result Fri Aug. 20 7:30 PM Jellico R W 42-7 Fri Aug. 27 7:00 PM at #17 Unaka R W 54-22 Fri Sep. 3 7:30 PM at Rockwood COVID W 1-0 Fri Sep. 10 7:30 PM #3 Hampton L 0-33 Fri Sep. 24 7:00 PM Cosby R W 52-18 Fri Oct. 1 7:00 PM West Greene W 20-7 Fri Oct. 8 7:30 PM at #10 Unicoi County W 28-0 Fri Oct. 15 7:00 PM Happy Valley W 50-14 Thu Oct. 21 7:30 PM at Johnson County. W 42-6 Fri Oct. 29 7:00 PM at North Greene R W 38-8 Fri Nov. 5 7:00 PM Greenback Class 1A State Playoffs First Round W 42-24 Fri Nov. 12 7:00 PM #14 Oakdale Class 1A State Playoffs 2nd Round W 60-16 Fri Nov. 19 7:00 PM #9 Coalfield Class 1A State Quarterfinal W 22-21 Fri Nov. 26 7:00 PM #2 South Pittsburg Class 1A State Semifinal L 22-30 Overall Record: 12-2 Region Record: 4-0

Freshman: NO NAME POSITION HT. WEIGHT

1 Bryce Birchfield RB. OLB. 5’7. 140 lbs 29 Bryson Peppers TE. Corner. 5’6. 130 lbs 63 Blake Dugger C. DE. 5’10 140 lbs 71 Caleb Ledford RT. DT. 5’9 180 lbs 62 Lucas Johnson LG. DT. 5’7 140 lbs. 49 Ashton Blevins RG. DE. 5’9 170 lbs. 21 Tyler Jordan WR. CB. 5’8 140 lbs. 1 Walker Gouge WR. CB. 5’8 130 lbs. 29 Kasey Chamberlain WR. CB. 5’6 130 lbs.

Sophmore:

24 Kingston Cole WR. Corner. 5’9 160 lbs 13 Camden Peppers RB. MLB. 5’7 190 lbs 60 Jacob Stinnet LG. DT. 5’7 180 lbs 15 Matthew Baker WR. Corner 5’8 155 lbs 57 Noah Young OG. DT. 5’10 190 lbs. 58 Sean Miller OG. DE. 5’10 160 lbs.

Junior:

9 Austin Caraway RB. MLB. 5’8 170 lbs 75 Silas Burleson DT. Guard 5’8 240 lbs 74 Dylan McClellan DT. Tackle 6’1 315 lbs 22 Elijah Holtsclaw WR. Corner 5’9 175 lbs 16 Miguel Hernandez WR. Corner 5’7 140 lbs 56 Cayden Correll T. DT. 5’10 220 lbs 23 Hunter Oakes WR. CB. 5’10 130 lbs 7 Kyle Birchfield RB/LB. 5’10 170 lbs 73 Gabe Whitson T/DT. 6’1 200 lbs

Senior:

62 Jacob Street DT. Tackle 6’2 290 lbs 12 Gage McKinney WR. FS. 6’0 190 lbs 5 Cayden Clarke WR. Corner 5’10 185 lbs

Highlander Cheerleaders

Top Row Left to Right: Kendall Birchfield, Katie Baldwin, Ella Benfield, Melena Roberson, Faith Roark, Shana Canady, April Stone and Hailey Simerly Front Row Left to Right: Kaydence Sweat, Jenna Stinnett, Alexus Ward, Katelynn Simerly, Mackenzie Johnson, Allie Miller, Clarissa Wilson, Adlyn Williams, Tate Shaw, Mackenzie Moro and Izabella Christman