JEFFERSON -- One might expect to find some apprehension within a football program that has moved up classifications, one that must also replace its entire starting offensive line and its two leading running backs.<br />
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Don't go looking for any trepidation at Jefferson, however.<br />
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Yes, the Dragons find themselves in that exact situation after moving from Region 8-AA to 8-AAA in the offseason, but the combination of a veteran defense and standout quarterback and receivers in a program that has gotten used to winning big actually has Jefferson feeling pretty optimistic about the challenges of 2014.<br />
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"We're coming off two very successful seasons, and the kids go into every game expecting to win now; you can't coach that," Dragons head coach Ben Hall said. "The program has grown a lot; our youth programs are also growing, and there is just a lot of momentum going forward."<br />
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Nowhere is that more obvious than along the offensive line, where Jefferson will plug in five new starters but is not sweating the situation.<br />
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"We have a lot of program guys who have been with us -- in 2012 (when Jefferson won the Class AA title) we replaced four starters -- and they're excited about their opportunity," Hall said. "We've got nine-10 guys battling for starting spots, and most of them have gotten some playing time at some point. There's just a 'next man up,' mentality, and there's great competition up front."<br />
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There is also plenty of size.<br />
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"We've got a couple of 270-pound guys and are at about 220 pounds at guard," Hall said.<br />
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That should be plenty of comfort to veteran quarterback Evan Shirreffs, who was on his way to a stellar campaign in 2013 before a thumb injury derailed his season at the midway point.<br />
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The heady senior, who is likely Ivy League bound, is ready to improve on his 1,188 yards passing and 14 TDs from 2013 and has two outstanding targets to help him in T.J. Skelton -- who ably deputized under center when Shirreffs went down -- and Dalton Hill (27 receptions, 533 yards in 2013).<br />
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Yet the Dragons are not some wide-open spread attack, passing all over the field. They will also search for a pounding run game to balance their pro-style offense. Sammy Williams is the leading returning rusher (389 yards) and will share time with Rodney Carr and a handful of underclassmen in the backfield, as they look to replace the punishing presence and leadership of graduated fullback Tristen Jackson.<br />
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Hall can take some comfort in the fact that -- should his offense require some time to find its feet -- he can lean on a defense that returns nine starters from a unit that posted five shutouts in 2013.<br />
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"Our goal is just to be more consistent on that side of the ball," Hall said of a group that allowed 16.1 points per game in 2013. "We had some great weeks last year, but we want to be great every week."<br />
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The defense is fronted by an athletic and sizable line, including Michael Paolozzi, Cole Stanfill and Dontae Wilson, while outside linebackers Trent Sorrells and Cooper Young return to anchor a group that racked up tackles in 2013.<br />
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Perhaps the biggest key lies in the secondary, where safety Tradd Porter -- a preseason All-State selection -- returns for his senior campaign after leading the team in tackles in 2013 with 96 stops. Kendrick Robinson will also feature at cornerback.<br />
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It is a unit that knows it will be tested early and often against a tough new region -- as well as a non-region slate that includes three playoff teams from a year ago in arch-rival Commerce, old 8-AA foe Rabun County and 8-AAAA's North Hall. The 8-AAA slate will also include two local rivals in Jackson County (coming off back-to-back playoff appearances) and East Jackson, as well as playoff regulars Elbert County and Hart County.<br />
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"It's probably the toughest schedule that Jefferson has ever had," Hall said, before adding that his team is far from daunted. "It's almost scary the amount of focus shown by this group in preseason. They understand it's their time now, and they've been a fun group to work with."
