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ANDERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ....................................................................................................6

CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL ............................................................................................................................15

OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.......................................................................................................................30

OLIVER SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL .........................................................................................................38

CAMPBELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ..................................................................................................43

POWELL HIGH SCHOOL ............................................................................................................................49

GAME SCHEDULES ...............................................................................................................................28-29

ADVERTISER INDEX

AISIN ....................................................................................................................................................................47

ANDERSON ORAL & FACIAL MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY ........................................................55

APPLE DISCOUNT DRUGS .......................................................................................................................26

ASAP OF ANDERSON .................................................................................................................................26

BIG C’S BARBER SHOP ..............................................................................................................................40

BROGDON ROOFING ...................................................................................................................................28

BURR-VILLE SWEET TREATS..................................................................................................................28

CANTERFIELD OF OAK RIDGE ................................................................................................................43

CHARLEY’S PIZZA PARLOR .....................................................................................................................29

CLINTON HOME CENTER / TRUE VALUE ...........................................................................................27

COMMUNITY TRUST BANK .....................................................................................................................46

EDWARD JONES INVESTMENTS - JOSH MOLES ...........................................................................16

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE - JARRETT GALLOWAY ...................................................................12

FARM BUREAU INSURANCE - MICHAEL BOWERS ......................................................................19

FIRST BAPTIST

CHEVROLET .............................................................................................................56

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH OF CLINTON .........................................................................................14

SELLERS REALTY ..........................................................................................................................................22

SHONEY’S.........................................................................................................................................................39

SOUTHERN KEY REALTY ..........................................................................................................................32

STATE FARM INSURANCE - JOSH HEMPHILL ................................................................................52

STATE FARM INSURANCE - TREY MCADAMS................................................................................26

STEPHENSON REALTY & AUCTION ....................................................................................................20

STEVE PYATT INSURANCE .......................................................................................................................16

TAYLOR PLUMBING OF EAST TENNESSEE.......................................................................................19

THE UPS STORE ............................................................................................................................................23

TN BANK............................................................................................................................................................35

TOMMY’S MOTORSPORTS .......................................................................................................................22

VAUGHN PHARMACY ..................................................................................................................................51

Y-12 FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ...............................................................................................................54

2023 Anderson County High School Seniors

NOT PICTURED: SAM RUTHERFORD

DAYLEN COLE

JOSH VALERO

NICK MOOG

XAVIAN JAMES

ZAE HALL

TREY ROWE

TYLER RADCLIFFE

LANDON ENGLE

DOMINIC McMILLAN BRYCE LEATHERWOOD

ELI NELSON GRACEN BRADSHAW

2023 ANDERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MAVERICKS

ANDERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR STATE CHAMPS

BY KEN LEINART editor@mycouriernews.com

Great swaths of forests were cut, milled, pulped, and turned into paper for the sole purpose of writing about the 2022 4A State Champion Football Mavericks.

Well, it’s not 2022 anymore. It’s 2023.

We’ll need more paper.

You can argue that 2022 was a “one off” for the Mavs, but then you’d just sound silly.

Anderson County High School will not only be defending its state championship, it will be defending a mind boggling six-season undefeated record in region play.

Take a second and let that sink in.

Let that sink in because that is the real pressure — pressure being a relative frame of mind — for Anderson County.

Head Coach Davey Gillum said any “pressure” his team faces

DAVEY GILLUM HEAD COACH

Senior Nick Moog is the latest in a long line of Maverick running backs with all-state potential. Moog is a punishing runner who can break off the big gains. He is also very good out of the bac field as a receiver for the Mavs.

doesn’t come from defending State.

“The pressure every year is to win the region,” Gillum said.

“That’s always the goal. That’s what puts you in position for the playoffs. Year in and year out our goal has always been to win our region.”

The Mavs have been very good at that — winning their region — but until last year found a stumbling block when facing Region 1-4A champions in the playoffs — usually in the form of Greeneville or Elizabethton, and usually in the quarterfinals.

‘We got over that hump last year,” Gillum said.

“Sure, last year was special. We had generational talent last year. It’s special to go 15-0 and win a championship. But every year our first goal, our priority, is to win our region.”

Gillum has built a program

where the team on the field is the product of tireless work off the field. He’s built a program that is fed by community support — from youth league and middle school coaches; parents; former players — all with one, common goal.

“When I first came here (Anderson County High School), we didn’t have the fan support we have now. There were some lean years,” he said.

Gillum is an all-state running back who helped guide Anderson County High School to multiple playoff appearances. Gillum knows pressure — or rather knows “pressure” means nothing. He was part of the ACHS squad that tormented Cleveland High School and ended the Blue Raiders’ 54-game winning streak on a cold night in Mavland in the playoffs in 1996.

Gillum worked to bring

back the winning tradition, the mindset of “you HAVE to beat US,” not vice-versa, at ACHS.

He’s not a man who sits comfortably with “lean years.”

He reached out to the communities that make up the student body of ACHS, he worked with the coaches, the parents, the teachers, the pastors of the churches in the region.

If you buy in to what we are doing, he told them, we will make you proud to be a part of what we are doing on and off the field.

Championships are great — they’re awesome — but being a part of a team that is consistently in the discussion of, “the best of …” is priceless. The only “pressure” on the 2023 version of the Anderson County Mavericks is not really “pressure.”

It’s old hat. There’s nothing new or unexpected here.

It’s what the Mavs do.

Win the region, play sound and solid football, advance in the playoffs, make the community proud to be a part of “The Herd.”

Anderson County has a lot of talent to put on the field in 2023.

“We were fortunate last year that we were able to play a lot of kids,” Gillum said.

“We were able to get guys in and that gave them game experience. Even in the playoffs.

“A lot of our guys who are ‘first year’ starters have actually had a lot of playing time in game situations and that means a lot.”

Senior Nick Moog is the latest in a long line of Maverick uber-talent coming out of the backfield. It’s debatable if he’s better at running the ball or stopping others running the ball from his linebacker position.

And he’s a solid receiver

out of the backfield.

As the season unfolds he may not see as many snaps on defense because the Mavericks have a history of developing old school-type linebackers: Just mean and surly guys who leave it on the field — Think Eli Davis and Gavin Noe from last year.

This year seniors Landon Engle and Bryce Leatherwood will get a chance to be “those guys.” Also look for junior Logan Crumpley to step up, as well as Taylor Davis, and senior Dominic McMillan. Davis has experience and can have an impact for this team.

Walker Martinez is gone. After being robbed (yes, “ROBBED”) of 4A Mr. Football honors last year Mr. Martinez will redshirt at CarsonNewman this fall before being let lose again.

But the Mavs have Zae Hall and that’s a good thing, as well as junior Cody Miller, who is a solid football player.

Junior Israel Small is going to have a break out season. Wait and see. His sophomore campaign was mixed. But this guy is just waiting for his fuse to be lit and when it is, take cover.

Riley Wolfenbarger, Bennett Campbell, Max Wolfley … Look down the Maverick roster, find a receiver, make your bets.

The Mav system lets talent rise to the top and because Gillum has been so invested in the programs that feed ACHS, that talent rises quickly.

And man, can it shine.

The heart and soul of Maverick football is old school — own the line of scrimmage. Own the line of scrimmage and you own the game. Own the game and, well … You win.

Jadon Bullock and Lucas May and Jonah Arender are

Ty Murphy (57) and Connor Isabell (78) are two reasons there are high expectations for the Maverick offense in 2023. The junior linemen have put the work in in the off season to be impact players this year.

racen radshaw is another anchor for the nderson County line. radshaw plays like a beast off his leash and is as solid as they come.

probably the best recent examples of Maverick muscle.

ou saw these guys in street clothes and you’d think, “Oh, Maverick linemen.”

nter ennet Hicks, Kaleb Sullivan, Hayden ray, eremy Hall, Connor sabell Big, strong linemen all. All ready to be the meat and potatoes of the Maverick offense.

And thanks to last year’s steamrolling team, all have experience and will get better each and every week.

There are, however, some big boys who can really set the tone on game day.

very team has them — “That uy,” or “ uys,” who lead by example, don’t have time for fanfare, and seem to always get the ob done.

They are blue collar in their approach to their skills — they work at it in the off season so that when the season rolls around it’s time to have fun.

ive them a ersey, a game

time, and take them off their leashes.

They can be mean and surly — racen radshaw, who is ust a stud. Seriously, this guy is a beast on the field but will be the first to stand in line to help little old ladies cross the street.

He really is that good at his game and in his heart.

They can do “whatever it takes” — Eli elson will not make highlight films. That’s ust not his style of play. But if you look over him, think he’s not “all that,” you will pay a dear price. Because he can be scary good.

The Mavs have a plethora of young linemen who have game experience and have worked their collective tails off. unior Ty Murphy is a prime example. He studies the game in an almost monkish way and has “lineman” in his genetic code.

Hayden ray, Connor sabell, and Cole Fo , also

uniors, and senior Sam Rutherford, more than help solidify the offense and defensive lines.

The Mavs wiil, once again, have a number of candidates for all-region on the offensive and defensive lines.

Once the 2023 Mavericks get past the shadow of trying to live up to the 2022 version of the state champion team, they are going to find out they are a really, really talented and good football team in their own right.

Take notice the Mavs aren’t “back” because the Mavs never left.

Anderson County High School, as always, has a brutal schedule.

They open at Powell High School so illum’s squad doesn’t have time to settle in and ad ust to being defending state champions.

And if you think other teams don’t like beating “defending state champions,” you need help.

“It’s a hard schedule, but we believe in that. We play some really good teams and that helps us win our region,” illum said.

“ ou know, you don’t have to be undefeated to win state. ou can be 6- , or 5-5

going into the playoffs. But you need to win your region. That’s important.”

illum said his team “got over the hump” of beating the Region 1- A champions last year, usually a face off in the third round of the playoffs for the Mavs.

ew on the Mav’s schedule this year are Seymour High School region game on Sept. 15, replacing Scott High in the region , and non-region games against Clinton Sept. 2 and West High School undefeated 2022 5A state champions Oct. 6. Anderson County will get perhaps its toughest region test early when the Mavs travel to noxville Sept. for a clash with the ulton alcons.

There are no easy region games with South-Doyle, ibbs, Carter, and Seymour on the list.

“We replaced li abethton and Rhea County — two really good football programs — and we picked up Clinton and West,” illum said. “So there’s no let down in our scheduling.

“It’s good to have Clinton back. It’s a fan favorite and the kids like it. And Clinton is going to be tough. They’re doing good things and I think it will be a great game.”

We give our all to care for the Tennessee Vols. We’ll do the same for you and your family.

head-to-tail grooming service. We provide every pet with gentle care, comfy accommodations and plenty of love to minimize stress and make them feel at home here.

nderson County High School Dance Team members are, from left, Elina ean, le is Owens, Kennedi row, Lindy effries, Karina Lope , rooke yles, and ddison Taylor.

nderson County High School football cheerleaders are Khloe Marlowe, Emily Ledford, oe Robinson, nna Happney, Camri oins, Maison Farley, and nnie Meier.

2023 ANDERSON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MAVERICKS

2023 Clinton High School Seniors

JAYSON GRAHAM JERIUS HUNDLEY JOSHUAH KEITH WESLEY PHILLIPS

D’MON MARABLE JAWAN GOINS

CHAUNCEY FELTS

J’KYRON PENDEGRASS BRAYLON TAYLOR GAGE WERGIN

CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL

CLINTON: IT’S TIME TO SHINE

BY KEN LEINART editor@mycouriernews.com

Clinton High School Head

Football Coach Darell Keith has worked the last four years to get his Dragons where they are heading into the 2023 football season.

“First you lose big. Then you lose close. Then you win close. Then you win big,” Keith said, quoting another good coach.

“That’s what Bobby Bowden said and that’s how he built his team. This is my fourth year at Clinton and we expect to win big this year.”

There is a lot of talent on the Dragon roster and that talent has looked outstanding in the spring game and in pre-season.

There are a lot of expectations — high expectations — for this team.

“But we have to play like we believe we’re supposed to win,” Keith said. “We belong, but we have to believe we belong.”

The offense can be explosive.

Senior Joshuah Keith is one of the more talked about quarterbacks in East Tennessee but is father, the head coach, says the 2023 Dragons won’t be The Joshuah Keith Show.

“He’s talented and he’s worked hard,” Darell Keith said of his son. “But he won’t have to carry the offense. We’ve got Jawan Goins, Chauncey Felts, and some other backs who can carry the ball and that gives us another dimension on offense.

“You’re not going to be able to just concentrate on our passing game.”

Jerius Hundley can also tote the rock and junior Travian Bounds can do some damage.

Goins and Felts will probably get most of the carries: Both are strong kids, have speed, and break tackles.

Keith said with the talent Clinton has coming out of the backfield the Dragons aren’t going to have to rely solely on the Dragon air raid.

But the CHS passing game is going to be fun to watch.

“We have a lot kids for Joshuah to throw to,” Keith said. “A lot of good receivers.”

Senior Braylon Taylor has glue sticks for hands. He’s adept

DARELL KEITH HEAD COACH

2023 CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL DRAGONS

at getting open ust enough — one of those “Where’d he come from ” types.

Wesley hillips, a senior, and ryson Maddo , a sophomore, were clutch last year, but they let the cat out of the bag and now everyone knows how good they are.

Senior ’Kyron endergrass is another explosive talent in the receiving corps.

Mix in Landan Westmoreland, Derek ean, and o Wright, and the Dragons have a very deep group of receivers.

And that’s not even scratching the surface.

The Dragons also have Deameion Leavall, a sophomore listed as “athlete” on the roster, who can do about anything.

“And we have eremiah Lee,” eith said. “He’s a playmaker. I don’t care where you line him up at he can makes things happen.”

ot only does he have the arm strength, Clinton signal-caller oshuah Keith is mobile and has enough e perience to read defenses.

eith noted his son will also have more targets with his running backs.

“ oins is a threat as a receiver coming out of the backfield,” he said. Then there is the receiver

a lot of people are talking about, but doing so in hushed tones because he could be THAT good — ayson raham.

“Our kids have worked hard,” eith said. “They’re hungry.

The Dragons have that look kinda lean and mean a little fearless a team with menace on their minds.

Take Rhett Seivers for example he ust looks intimidating, aggressive, kinda pirate-like.

ou really wouldn’t want to come across him in a dark alley — not that he’d ever be in a dark alley.

“He’s a good man, a good Christian man with a good Christian family. He’s the kind of man you want your daughter to bring home to meet you,” eith said. “But he’s a football player.

“And he’s not the only like that we have. ndrew Mcmis, arrett Lee, Eric age,

arker Searle We have a lot of good kids on our team.”

Seivers, McAmis, Page, Searle, and Lee are also the heart an offensive and defensive line that take up space and make things happen — or stops them from happening — depending on what side of the ball they’re playing on.

There are a number of underclassmen who have followed their example and have worked hard in the weight room, which is a good thing.

“We have pretty good depth,” eith said of his linemen. “But you never really have enough depth. We need to stay healthy.”

With his wideouts doubling at defensive back, the Dragon coach is blessed to have such a deep roster in that regard, but again, you never have enough depth.

Defensively, the Dragons

have switched a few things up. They are going to be tough to pass against and it’s going to be harder to run against them.

D’Mon Marable is the defensive equivalent of Joshuah Keith — one of the most talked about players from Clinton in East Tennessee.

The senior Purdue commit plays “up.” The harder the challenge the tougher he plays. He’s a rock-em sock-em robot type that should have cartoon word bubbles pop up around him on some of his hits — like the 1960s Batman series with “Boom” and “Pow” and “Bam.”

He is that good.

Gage Wergin is another linebacker who plays with a chip on his shoulder and will make plays.

Kayson Hendrix has been a ball hawk as a linebacker/ defensive back and always seems to be around the ball.

La’Dailyon “Day Day”

Anderson could play a big role for the Dragons.

And, again, Jeremiah Lee and Deamion Leavell are going to make plays.

With the new lean and

mean Dragons of 2023 comes a new lean and mean schedule … Well, mean anyway.

Coach Keith said in the past two years the Drag-

ons scheduled some teams because he believed his team could beat them and his kids needed that experience — to win some games because they needed to know they could do just that: Win.

For 2023 the Dragons have made a serious upgrade to their schedule.

They start at home with 6A Cleveland, a team that went 6-4 last year, but 2-3 in Region 2 6A and fifth place (missing the playoffs). The 2022 Blue Raiders were all over the place suffering losses to Bradley Central, Farragut, and Maryville in region play, but beating playoff teams McMinn County, Red Bank, Walker Valley, and Maryville.

The Dragons then have West High at home, then Scott High before getting into region play on the road at Campbell County.

The Dragons will play Oak Ridge at home Sept. 22 in a region game.

A week later the Dragons will host Anderson County in a return of the cross county matchup.

Senior Chauncey Felts is part of the one-two punch out of the Dragon backfield. The Clinton running game is expected to make the Orange and Black Air Raid a bigger threat than it alreday is.

Senior D’Mon Marable (8) is a hitter. The Purdue commit is a huge key to the revamped Clinton defense.

Joey SmithK.K. Meredith

Jo SuggsBobbie Sellers

Teresa PortwoodDarren FullerScott BurtonTiffany Hawn

The

Seniors, Kendra Holbrook, Hayden Scarbough, Shelby Moore, AnnaKate Hackworth, Rylee Gann, and Olivia Marlow; junior, Sarah Conatser; sophomores, Sydnee Young, Ayana Miller, Addison Maddox, Hannah Cook, Hannah Whitley, Gracie Williams, Taylor Adkins,

and Brooklin Wilkerson; freshmen, Charli Riggs, Haileigh White, Kaitlyn Campbell, and Jaylynn York; captain, Reese Rittenberry, co-captain, Sadie Haney; Head Coach, Tessa Holbrook, Assistant Coach, Paige Moore.

2023 Clinton High School football cheerleaders are:

2023 CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL DRAGONS

Head Coach: Darell Keith

Assistant coaches: Don Colquitt, Justin Ellis, Jason Hamock, Jordan Hannah, Ahmad ‘Ro’ Hardin, Robbie Herrell, Dwight Hundley, Kevin Inman, Donovan Keith, Josh Paris, Tracy Sims, and Gene Chunn.

“When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.”

— Walter Payton

The Clinton High School dance team members are front row from left Kaylee ean, Kaylee Davis, riana Herrell, Kailynn Hundley, Lauren Farmer and Carleigh White. ack row Coach

Emily Watson, Savaiah Stewart, ubrey Tipton, Karsyn Riter, Reagan Ma ors, asmine Erick, Hannah Collins, llison Mullins, ella Orti , ddison Herrell and Coach Kelsey Ellis.

SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE TEAM THIS SEASON

SUPPORT YOUR FAVORITE TEAM THIS SEASON

2023 Oak Ridge High School Seniors

VASHAWN NALLS IZZY MITCHELL PRYCE DAVIS

BRANDON HEYWARD

JUNIOR ADAMS

MARSHALL McCONNEHEY

De’JAUVIS DOZIER

DAVID JENKINS

ISAIAH PORTER BRYCE DORSEY ELIJAH BRADLEY DANE HARTWICK

Amy Evans Principal Broker 865-228-4513 amy@seemeforthekey.com

Kristin Choate REALTOR® 865-466-0840 kristinchoate01@gmail.com

Brandi Blackburn REALTOR® 318-470-0870

Valerie Collins REALTOR® 865-851-4752 valerie@outsellingtn.com

Stephen “Cade” Shelton REALTOR® 865-951-3745 cadeshelton17@yahoo.com

Betsy Speed REALTOR® 865-382-5643 speedybetsy@gmail.com

Robert Ford REALTOR® 865-973-4977 cowboyhatrealtor@yahoo.com

Shawn Evans REALTOR® 302-423-0018 shawn@seemeforthekey.com

Rick Smith REALTOR® 865-456-0488 rssmith412@yahoo.com

Amanda Walker (Mandy) REALTOR® 865-435-2919 mandywsellshomes@gmail.com

Jake Galvan REALTOR® 865-951-4421 therealtorjake@gmail.com

Holly Pruitt REALTOR® 609-346-4555

Ray Williams REALTOR® 865-776-7368 sellwithraywilliams@gmail.com

Delvon Stults REALTOR® 931-319-4779 delvonsellshomes@gmail.com

Megan Hutson REALTOR® 865-314-9579 homeswithmeg@gmail.com

Traci Richmond 865-617-4553 tracirichmond08@comcast.net

brandi.blackburn@keystotennessee.com

OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

’CATS WILL HAVE THE TOOLS

BY KEN LAY sports@mycouriernews.com

For the second consecutive year, the Oak Ridge High School football team will begin the season with a new head coach. Derek Rang was hired after the school parted ways with Scott Cummings after just one season in 2022.

Cummings guided the Wildcats through a campaign filled with injuries and other assorted adversity.

ORHS had a mediocre regular season, finishing 5-5, but the Wildcats made a postseason run that ended with a loss to Powell in the TSSAA Class 5A quarterfinals.

Oak Ridge defeated Rhea County and McMinn County in the playoffs, and when the dust had settled, the ‘Cats finished above .500 at 7-6.

“I know from talking to Scott that last year was a weird year,” Rang said. “I know that they had a lot of injuries.”

The Wildcats had struggles last year but they did have some of the best athletes in the area, particularly in the skill positions. Oak Ridge also had speed on the perimeter and many of those players are back and battle-tested.

But the Wildcats will have to avoid the injury bug if they are going to maximize their potential in 2023.

“We’ll have to stay healthy and we’ll just have to take better care of ourselves,” said senior wide receiver and defensive back Brandon Heyward, one of the area’s top players. “We’ll have to do the things that we can to recover and stay healthy during the week.

“We do have an early bye week.”

The Wildcats, who won four of their five Region 3-5A contests in 2023, losing only to Powell in league play.

The Panthers and Wildcats will meet again this year. It will not, however, be a regional game as Powell has moved to Region 2-5A. The two rivals will tangle in a Rivalry Thursday

DEREK RANG HEAD COACH

2023 OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WILDCATS

tilt that will be regionally televised on Thursday, Aug. 31 after the Wildcats have an open date in Week 2. The Wildcats will again play one of the area’s toughest and most competitive schedules.

ight of their 10 opponents made the playoffs last season and eight also finished at .500 or better.

Oak Ridge opens at home when efferson County visits Blankenship ield on riday, Aug. 1 . The Patriots, coached by former Tennessee player Spencer Riley qualified for the postseason and wentlast season.

After a bye, ORHS host the Panthers. Powell, the 2021 Class 5A State Champion, went 11-3 and made it to the state semifinals and knocked off the Wildcats twice last year.

Oak Ridge then has four consecutive road games. The Wildcats travel to

arns to open regional play on Sept. . The Beavers have a new coach inLee Warren. They made the playoffs for the second consecutive season as they posted arecord.

On Sept. 15, the Wildcats will head to McMinn County. The Cherokees went -3 but were ousted from the playoffs by ORHS.

Oak Ridge plays at Clinton on Sept. 22. They Dragons went 5-5 last season but were winless in the region and failed to qualify for the postseason. The Wildcats head to ountain City to play nox Central on Sept. 2 . The Bobcats won seven games last season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Oak Ridge will renew acquaintances with rival arragut in West nox County on Oct. 6. The Admirals, who routed the Wildcats last season, won nine games in 2022. ORHS finally returns home

to face Bearden on Oct. 13. It will look to avenge last year’s loss to the Bulldogs, who posted seven victories in 2022.

The Wildcats close out the season with a pair of region home games. They entertain Lenoir City (4-6 in 2022), which had a coaching change as Gary Dugger was dismissed after just one season. Oak Ridge closes the regular season on Oct. 26 against Campbell County, which had five wins and reached the playoffs last season.

“Our goals are always the same at Oak Ridge High School,” Rang said. “We want to win the region and we want to host playoff games at Blankenship.

“We want to host as many playoff games as we can at Blankenship because that gives you a better chance to make it to state and win a state championship.”

Heyward agreed.

“I want to make it to state,” he said. “I made it my freshman year and I want to go back. I’m going to be a leader and help the younger guys.”

Team strengths for the Wildcats include speed and depth at the skill positions.

Areas of concern for Oak Ridge include youth on the offensive line and depth at certain positions, including linebacker, according to Rang.

“We have a lack of depth at a couple of positions and we have a lot of sophomores and juniors on the offensive line,” Rang said.

Top returners include: Heyward; VaShawn Nalls (senior, tight end/linebacker); De’Jauvis Dozier (senior, running back); Pryce Davis (senior, wide receiver/defensive back); Almani Rembert (senior, wide receiver); Elijah Bradley (senior, defensive lineman); Dallas Frendt

Almani Rembert is another playmaker at the disposal of the Wildcats in 2023.

(junior, defensive back); Izzy Mitchell (senior, defensive back); Tobja “Tim” Walters (sophomore, defensive lineman) and Will Pressley (sophomore, wide receiver).

Key newcomers are: Blaine Stansberry (sophomore, quarterback); Ve’lon Henderson (freshman, wide receiver); Malik Howard (freshman, tight end); Jared Bafford (sophomore, offensive lineman); Ryker Armes (sophomore, running back); Bryce Dorsey (senior, linebacker); Wayne Gibson (sophomore, defensive back); Canaan Hixson (senior, offensive lineman); Malachi Bonner (junior, offensive lineman); Elijah Young (sophomore, offensive lineman) and Hudson Lee (junior, offensive lineman).

De’Jauvis Dozier will run over you, run past you, or make you grab thin air. He’s a huge talent out of the Wildcat backfield.

Oak Ridge High School Football Cheerleaders are, front row from left, captains Heidi Choate, Maddie Mitchell, and Gigi Booker. Second row, from left, Assistant Coach Julie Hutchison, Head Coach Zephanie Dykes, Cora Green, Brooklyn Copeland, Makayla Adkisson, Asistant Coach Jesse Levens, and Assistant

Coach Hope Sprenz. Third row, from left, Kaylee Broome, Heidi Choate, Brooklyn Farmer, Mascot (Evelyn Eubanks), Addy Calder, Yasmine Fultz, and S’celena Stewart. Fourth row, from left, Jayla Jones, Angel Kendall, Maliq Newcomb, Ja’Nye Mckissack, and Aubrie Stott.

2023 OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WILDCATS

FRESHMAN

OLIVER SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE BOBCATS

BY KEN LEINART editor@mycouriernews.com

Last season Oliver Springs High School Head Coach Tyler Harper was a little bit of an unknown.

Not outside of Oliver Springs.

But it was his first high school heading coaching job — though he had garnered much respect in the middle school head coaching ranks and as an assistant high school football coach at his alma mater on Larry Green’s staff.

And his Bobcats were young. Surrounded by bigger schools with big reputations, little ole Oliver Springs High School football did what it always does: Dig in and make folks pay for underestimatinng them, and make them pay attention to what’s happening in the TriCounty area.

The Bobcats have never been an “easy” win for any team.

They are one of those teams on your schedule you have to pay attention to. or they will hand you your hat.

In his first year at the helm

Harper had a couple of three things going for him.

He had good athletes, good football players, and still does.

He has a fan base that is

2023 OLIVER SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WILDCATS

TYLER HARPER HEAD COACH

The Bobcat defense starts with Carson Givens. The big lineman was “snubbed” as an all-state selection last year, according to his coach.

unyielding in its faith and support of the program.

And more importantly, he knows football Oliver Springs Bobcat football.

The Bobcats do the little things right. They are fundamentally sound. They learn — getting better every week., and the Bobcats never take their foot off the pedal.

And they make very few mistakes. ou have to beat them because they aren’t going to beat themselves.

So it was a strange beginning for Harper and the Bobcats. Last season the Purple and ellow opened up with four straight losses all non-district tilts all against quality teams.

But in all things Tyler Harper does, his Bobcats grew from those losses.

“I don’t believe in scheduling teams ust to get a win,” Harper said. “ ou don’t get better scheduling wins.”

After that tough start, the Bobcats went 5-1 in the region, the only loss to powerhouse Coalfield. The Bobcats then reached the third round of the playoffs where they ran up against Coalfield once again.

And that’s where the season

ended. The Bobcats finished -6.

Oliver Springs beat Cosby at home in round one of the playoffs, then handled Cloudland Roane Mountain on the road in week two.

It was an impressive first year for Harper and his young charges.

Harper and the Bobcats want more in 2023.

“We have a little higher expectations this year,” he said. “We want to play after Thanksgiving.

“We have to stay healthy. We do that, if we’re healthy, I feel we can play late into ovember, maybe even in December in Chattanooga.”

The goal, he said, is to make Oliver Springs a top 5 team in the state in Class 1A year-inand-year-out.

He and his Bobcats certainly have everyone’s attention now.

The Bobcats start the 2023 season on the road at South Pittsburg.

“That should tell you everything you need to know,” the coach said.

Play tough outside the region so you can be tough in the region.

The Bobcat toughness

obcat senior Dakota dkins is one of the many e ceptional athletes Oliver Springs has who will light it up offensively and knock it down defensively.

Sophomore Liam oeke earned his wings as a freshman starter at uarterback for Oliver Springs. His sophomore campaign will be fun to watch.

starts in their defense.

“That’s our strength, defense,” he said.

“Overall, you have to understand defense first.”

The Bobcats have the tools on both sides of the ball, but they do have a bit of an edge when they defend if only because of Carson ivens.

He was the region defensive player of the year in 2022 and his coach said ivens was “snubbed” as an all-state selection last year.

“I really believe that,” he said.

Caden ackson is another big guy on the defensive line. Harper said the unior

Defense lives here Oliver Springs will swarm the ball and put pressure on oppoent’s offense every play. Dalton Reynolds and Matt Disney swarm the Tellico lains uarterback and get a batted ball as a result.

“takes up multiple blocks” on almost every play. “He maybe doesn’t get the stats, but he does his ob.”

Cole ackson is the heart of the defense. “He’s typically

the smallest guy on the field, but he has the heart of a lion. He gives 100-percent, 100-percent of the time.”

Dakota dkins is a fourE S S S

year starter for the Bobcats, one of the three seniors the Purple and Yellow have, and is an exceptional athlete.

“He plays football, basketball, and baseball so he’s competing all the time,” Harper said.

Cooper Jones is another returning starter for the Bobcats and he’s just a sophomore.

Sophomore Dalton Reynolds is blossoming into a solid defender as well.

“Thomas Albert is another big kid, a strong kid, who takes up a lot of blocks,” Harper said.

What doesn’t get taken care of by the big guys up front, the Bobcats have some hitters playing off the line.

Jaxon Jett is going to make plays. He’s one of those guys you don’t think about until he’s standing in the end zone with the football.

Ja’Quan Benton is a ball

hawk. Jordan Gray finds the ball, attacks the ball.

“We should be pretty good defensively,” Harper said. “And we do have a little bit of depth here.”

Offensively the Bobcats aren’t slouches.

Liam Boeke, a sophomore, will be under center in his second year as a starter.

“He has arm talent. He can make the throws on the field,” Harper said. Boeke took his mantle as starter to heart as a freshman and improved every week. This could be a really big year for him.

“We have a plethora of weapons on offense,” Harper said.

Junior Mason Day and Reynolds make things happen when they touch the ball.

The Bobcats have a load of athletes who play offense and defense. It’s 1A football at its best and finding a way to make the most of that tal-

ent pool is something Harper knows how to do.

With a good quarterback and a big offensive line the Bobcats won’t be a onedimensional team — not with the plethora of offensive wepaons who can make big plays.

Jaxon Jett led the team in rushing as a freshman last year.

“And he didn’t get started until midway through the season and came on strong,” Harper said.

That probably won’t be the case this season.

The Bobcats have now had a year to get comfortable with Harper’s offenense. Last season’s region run proved the Bobcats caught on to that system and flourished with it.

Expect more in 2023.

Senior Dakota Adkins is a tough runner, has good vision on the field, and can make

good things happen.

Benton and Gray are also expected to shine on the offensive side of the ball.

Sebastian Keith, a sophomore, and junior Nick Johnson are also big parts of the Bobcats’ attack.

“We have some depth, which is rare for a small school,” Harper said.

Cole Jackson, Matt Disney, Kadain McCoy can all make plays.

The offensive line is big, strong, and experienced. They take care of business and the business is making room for the backs to roam at will.

The Bobcats are, again, young. They were last year though and made it to round three of the playoffs.

“We have to stay healthy, that’s the key,” Harper said.

Who doesn’t like playing football on Thanksgiving weekend?

The 2023 Oliver Springs High School cheerleaders are: Ally Nivens, Tori McCrary, Jailyn Phillips, Jalynn Bridges, Addison Mello, Summer Stockton, Mia Harris, Lyric Ogle, Anna Haney,

Ariana McKenzie, Haley Seiber, Lauren Payne, Samantha Brown, Jada Parsons, and Skylar Barker. The team is coached bu Candice Mello.

2023 OLIVER SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BOBCATS

Head Coach Tyler Harper

Assistant coaches: Todd Tinker, Tony Kegley, Brent Kelley, Wendell Jones, Jason Robbins, Brandon Toomey, and Lucas Daugherty.

2023 Oliver Springs High School Seniors

DAKOTA ADKINS

MICHAEL WHIDDON THOMAS ALBERT

2023 a ell o n High School Seniors

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CAMPBELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

EXPECTATIONS NEVER CHANGE

By Ken Lay sports@mycouriernews.com

As veteran Campbell County High School football coach Justin Price prepares his team for the upcoming season, his expectations for the Cougars never change. He doesn’t ever project a win total and he never says that his goal is to make the playoffs.

Like any coach, Price, who will begin his 13th season as head coach in Jacksboro, wants to see his team play in November. But his goals are deeper, and somewhat simpler than that.

“Our expectations are always to maximize the team’s potential, and if we do that, the other things will take care of themselves,” Price said. “We have to look for different ways to maximize our potential and we have to take advantages of our opportunities to improve.”

The Cougars are coming off a

2022 campaign that saw them go 5-6 and make the TSSAA Class 5A Playoffs. They made an early exit in the postseason, falling in the first round to McMinn County. CCHS went 2-3 and finished fourth in Region 3-5A, one of the toughest leagues in the Volunteer State.

The region got a bit of a facelift following last season as region champion Powell has exited and now competes in Region 2-5A. The Panthers went 11-3 in 2022 and reached the state quarterfinals before losing to eventual undefeated state champ Knoxville West, which finished 15-0. Powell won the state title in 2021.

“Powell’s not in the region anymore and they didn’t replace them, so there are only four teams in our region now,” Price said.

CCHS will be one of the first teams to open the 2023 season as it travels to North Knox

JUSTIN PRICE HEAD COACH

2023 CAMPBELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COUGARS

Sophomore Landen Hensley will guide the Cougar offense in 2023.

County to play Knoxville Halls on Thursday, Aug. 17 in a Rivalry Thursday in a matchup, which will be locally televised.

The Red Devils, who went 2-9 last season, are one of eight teams on the Cougars’ schedule to qualify for the postseason in 2022.

Campbell County then hosts Fulton (4-7 in 2022) on Aug. 25. The Cougars travel to The King’s Academy in Seymour on Sept. 1. The Lions made the Division II-A playoffs despite winning just three games.

The Cougars open league playP Sept. 8, as they host Clinton. The Dragons were 5-5 in 2022 but didn’t win a game in the region. Region play continues for Campbell County on Sept. 15 as it travels to Lenoir City. The Panthers went 4-6 and narrowly missed the playoffs. LCHS, however, had a tumultuous summer as it dismissed its head coach, Gary Dugger, for unprofessional conduct in July. Former head coach Mike Zellar was named interim coach.

On Sept. 22, the Cougars host Daniel Boone in a nonleague tilt. The Trailblazers were 12-1, losing their only game in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. Campbell County hosts Gibbs (7-5 while playing all of its games on the road last year) on Sept. 29. The Cougars then host Karns on Oct. 6.

CCHS travels to Morristown East on Oct. 20 before closing out the season at Oak Ridge on Oct. 26.

The Cougars enter the season with an experienced offensive line and that front will be in charge of protecting one of the area’s top returning quarterbacks as Landen Hensley was an all-state field general last season. Hensley threw for

over 3,200 yards and 39 touchdowns in 11 games last season.

“We have an experienced offensive line. All five of our lineman started at least one game last season,” Price said.

“Landen was an all-state

quarterback as a sophomore last season.

Hensley will have a new receiving corps in 2023.

“We lost a lot of our receivers from last year,” Price said. “They really helped Landen grow last year.

“This year, he’ll have to help the receivers. But having Landen exudes confidence in our young receivers.”

Defensively, the Cougars posted some impressive statistics but they had the

Head Coach Justin Price noted the Cougar defense needed to improve — the 2022 version was apt to give up big plays — and Campbell County has been showing off a swarming, attacking defense for 2023.

One of thngs Campbell County does well is throw the ball. With Landon Hensley’s arm and a fleet full of sure-handed receivers, the Cougars can put on an air show on any given game night.

tendency to give up big plays at crucial times.

“We’ll have to really improve on defense,” Price said. “Statistically, we played good defense, but we gave up some big plays. Our offensive line will be a strength for us and we’ll have to do better defensively.

Top returners for the Cougars include Hensley Storm Webb senior, offensive lineman defensive lineman Kayden King senior, offensive lineman defensive lineman Eli Dorton unior, offensive lineman defensive lineman Luke Carroll unior, offensive lineman defensive lineman amal Wright senior, running back linebacker Keagon Cowan unior, running back linebacker avin Owens unior, wide receiver outside linebacker Robert Kirby unior offensive lineman defensive

lineman K. . Chadwell senior, wide receiver defensive back Luc Ward senior, wide receiver defensive back Luke Lindsay sophomore, wide receiver defensive back abe St. ohn sophomore, wide receiver defensive back Timmy ibson sophomore, wide receiver defensive back lake lbright unior, wide receiver defensive back ed Carroll unior, wide receiver defensive back and Mike Ensley unior, offensive lineman defensive lineman .

ey newcomers, according to Price, include Kole Welch unior, wide receiver defensive back Caden dles sophomore, wide receiver linebacker Tyrus McCulley unior, running back linebacker and Logan elew sophomore, offensive lineman linebacker .

Kunior Keagan Cowan has proven to be a hard runner out of the Cougar backfield. He’s tough to bring down and doesn’t know the word, uit.

The Campbell County High School football cheerleaders are, front row from left, Savannah unch, aelin Wilson, ella Fleming, Macey Miesel, Rylee urns, le rown, and rissa aker. Middle row from left, Kilyn Smith, Milan Cook, Sydney Lane,

Layklei Kidd, and Sophia Demott. ack row, from left, Harly Smith, Madison Ridenour, Emmy Stanfill, Kinsley Carroll, Eden Reese, Reagan Rutherford, and Kailyn raden. The team is coached by reana rice.

2023 CAMPBELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COUGARS

Head Coach: Justin Price

Athletic Director/Assistant Head Coach: Matt Price

Assistant coaches: Josh Kerr, Landon Reese, Chris Honeycutt, Shaun Cross, Zach Rutherford, Adam Allison, Zack Shelley.

THANK YOU: The section could not have been produced without the help of the following: Coaches Darell Keith, Davey Gillum, Derek Rang, Justin Price, Tyler Harper, and Matt Lowe; the Athletic Directors at all the schools in this section; the coaches of the cheerleading and dance teams; players for taking time out of your busy practice schedule and being so darn nice about it; Just Another Mom photography (www.justanothermomphotography.com); The Volunteer Times for the Campbell County High School team photo; game shots by Tony Cox, Dwane Wilder, Ricky Williams, Barry Houchins, and Luther Simmons (sports phtographers rule!); the advertisers in this section because they care about high school football; and all of The Courier News readers who will read this section. Previews by Ken Lay and Ken Leinart.

2022 Powell High School Seniors

NOT

TREVOR BRYANT

JESSE MASSENGILL

MARKUS JACKSON

BLAKE NEELY

LEWIS BRADYN

NOAH BREWER

KESHAUN JACKSON

MATTHEW CLAYTON

BYRON FINGER

JEREMIAH BELMARES

PICTURED: STEVEN SOLES JR. JOSHUA FIFE-OFFSHACK MATTHEW CLAYTON

POWELL HIGH SCHOOL GETTING BACK TO ‘STATE’

By Ken Lay sports@mycouriernews.com

It’s hard to imagine Powell High School’s football schedule being much more difficult than it was last year. But it just may be.

Sure, the Panthers won’t have Maryville, a top Class 6A program in the Volunteer State, on their slate of games this season. But they’ve switched leagues, going from Region 3-5A to Region 2-5A.

That league features defending Class 5A State Champion Knoxville West, which went 15-0 in 2022. Both Knoxville area leagues are among the toughest in the state.

“Class 5A football in Tennes-

see is the toughest around and it the Knoxville Area is particularly tough,” Powell coach Matt Lowe said. “Every year, a team from Knoxville seems to represent the east side of the state in the championship game.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not the same way this season. In our region, you have Central, Halls and West and in the other one, you have Oak Ridge, Clinton, Campbell County and Karms. Class 5A football in this area is extremely tough.”

The Panthers were moved from Region 3, the league featuring Oak Ridge, Clinton, Campbell County, Karns and Lenoir City; to the conference that features Knoxville Halls, Knox Central, Heritage and the

defending Class 5A Champion Rebels from the Marble City Community just west of downtown Knoxville.

The expectations at Powell, however, never change as anything short of an appearance in the Blue Cross Bowl in Chattanooga is a disappointment.

“Every year, you’re only playing for one spot. You don’t always get there,” said Lowe, who will soon begin the sixth season of his second tenure at Powell. “But that’s the only thing that you’re really playing for.”

The Panthers went 11-3 last season and won Region 3-5A winning 11 consecutive games before being ousted from the playoffs in the state semifinals.

MATT LOWE HEAD COACH

Powell won the Class 5A title in 2021.

The Panthers’ region schedule is only part of the story in 2023. Eight of their opponents reached the playoffs last season. Two went undefeated (15-0) and hoisted the championship plaque when the final gun sounded at the Blue Cross Bowl.

Powell will find out where it stands early as it opens the season at Scarbro Stadium on Friday, Aug.18, against defending Class 4A State Champ Anderson County.

On Aug. 25, the Panthers hit the road to play Farragut to take on the Admirals at Bill Clabo Field. Farragut went 9-3 and will replace Maryville on this year’s schedule.

“We don’t have Maryville on the schedule this year, but we replaced them with Farragut, so I’m not sure

Dwight & Andrea Disney

Conner Wheeler (13) and Adam Weaver (10) returns as key compnents to the Panther offense. Both juniors, “The Ws” are clutch players with sure hands and are also able to carry the rock out of the backfield.

how much easier things got,” Lowe said.

In Week 3, Powell travels to Blankenship Stadium as it tangles with Oak Ridge -6 in 2022 . The game is a Rivalry Thursday Showdown and it will be regionally televised on Aug. 31. Powell beat the Wildcats twice last season. Oak Ridge is now coached by former Panthers’ head man Derek Rang.

Powell hosts Heritage to open league play on Sept. . The Mountaineers, coached by former Tennessee assistant oe Osovet, narrowly missed the postseason as they went -6. But they had their best season in recent memory.

On Sept. 1 , Powell and Clinton renew their rivalry for Clinton Highway bragging rights. The Dragons went 5-5 and failed to qualify for the postseason.

Powell will have another rivalry game on Sept. 22 when it travels to face the Halls Red Devils in the Battle for mory Road. Halls went 2and reached the playoffs in 2022.

Powell travels to arns on Sept. 2 . The Beavers made the playoffs for the second consecutive campaign last year as they went - . Lee Warren was recently named head coach after Brad Taylor resigned in une.

The Panthers host nox Central on Oct. 6. The Bobcats were -5 last season. After an open date, Powell entertains McMinn County, which won nine games last season.

On Thursday, Oct. 26, the Panthers head to Bill Wilson ield to tangle with West High in a game between the last two state champions in Class 5A.

‘CHEERS’ TO YOU, POWELL HIGH SCHOOL

The 2023 Powell High School football cheerleaders are ddison rnold, raya rowning, Kennedy yrd, riana Daugherty, McKen ie Elliott, Ken li Lambert, Lillian Meyers, Campbell Moore, eye Morgan,Ella Riggs, Kiersten Sheppard, Hannah Simmons, and Kellie Whiteley.

As Powell enters the 2023 campaign, it has four returning starters on the offensive line as esse Massengill senior, left tackle lake eely senior, left guard yron Finger senior, center and oshua Fife-Offshack senior, right guard are all beck.

“We have four starters back on the offensive line and that will be a strength for us,” Lowe said. “We also have three returning defensive linemen, so our big strength will be up front.”

Other key returners include Connor Wheeler unior, running back Dylan Stooksbury an all-state kicker, who will also play wide receiver Trevor ryant senior, wide receiver Steven Soles r. senior, defensive end ikko McDonald senior, defensive lineman Charron Thomas unior,

defensive lineman Fabby eiwah unior, running back wide receiver verson arcia- once sophomore, defensive lineman drian Daugherty unior, linebacker ohntay Dunn unior linebacker .

ey newcomers are Matthew Clayton senior, tight end dam Weaver unior, wide receiver Deuce Rodgers sophomore, quarterback aylin en amin freshman, quarterback bu Keefer unior, linebacker and Markus ackson senior, linebacker

owell High School Head

Football Coach Matt Lowe ssistant coaches ackson Daniel, ndre as Duerig, Troy Fleming, ach ibson, Corey Larkins, Herman Lathers, ason Ludwig, eff Lusby, ace Melvin, Tai Miller, and Daniel Thompson.

2023 POWELL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PANTHERS