JEFFERSON — Plenty of what helped Jefferson football to a stellar 2014 is now in the collegiate ranks: quarterback, receivers, defensive backs, linebackers and defensive linemen.
But you will find very little panic around Memorial Stadium this preseason. In fact, the Dragons are feeling pretty good about the 2015 campaign.
Yes there are plenty of holes to fill, but there is also plenty of talent competing for those spots. Meanwhile, whoever takes over those slots will be aided by two physical and talented lines of scrimmage, not to mention a deep running back corps.
"Our foundation remains the same; the changes in our personnel will change a little about the way we play, but it won't change who we are," coach Ben Hall said. "There is a lot of hunger in the kids we have, and I feel confident we can fill those skill positions. Of course we'd like to be able to run the ball early and take pressure off the QB."
Caleb Chandler, Dontae Wilson, Alex Corbett and Jackson Bowen started every game of 2014 for the Dragons offensive line. Meanwhile, the defensive front, led dy defensive ends Joseph Randolph and Deshon Lester and defensive tackle Wilson is equally experienced.
Junior Lane Sorrow and sophomore Bryce Moore are battling for the starting spot under center and will be aided by a backfield that features sophomore running back Colby Wood (900-plus yards rushing in 2014).
JEFFERSON: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Dragons
- TEAM COLORS: Royal Blue, Red and White
- CURRENT REGION: Region 8-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Ben Hall, third season, 22-4
- 2014 RECORD/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 12-1, Class AAA quarterfinalist, Region 8-AAA champion
- KEY LOSSES: QB Evan Shirreffs, WR T.J. Skelton, WR Dalton Hill, RB Sammy Williams, Saf Tradd Porter, OLB Trent Sorrels, DL Michael Paolozzi, DL Cole Stanfill, CB Kendrick Robinson
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Pro style -- The Dragons will still look to spread the field and go to the air, but a stellar offensive line and running back corps might mean more of a reliance on the ground attack -- at least early in the campaign.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Four offensive linemen that started every game of 2014 (Jr. Caleb Chandler, Jr. Dontae Wilson, Sr. Alex Corbett, Sr. Jackson Bowen), Sr. TE Joseph Randolph, So. RB Colby Wood (900 yards rushing in 2014)
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 4-3 -- Jefferson likes to attack in order to penetrate and create pressure on opposing QBs.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Jr. DT Dontae Wilson, Sr. DE Joseph Randolph, Sr. DE Deshon Lester, Jr. MLB Jonathan Paolozzi, Sr. DB Darrian Hill
- SPECIAL TEAMS: So. PK Lucas Carreno, Jr. P Zack Boobas/So. P Justin Cole, So. KR Colby Wood, Sr. KR Darrian Hill, Jr. KR Zack Boobas
- STRENGTH: Line of scrimmage -- Both the offensive and defensive lines have the size, strength and experience to maul opposition lines this season.
- QUESTION: Defensive secondary/quarterback -- There is talent and experience at both spots, but many of those players will be thrown into a starting position for the first time.
- KEY GAMES: The season opener (in Week Zero) at Rabun County brings plenty of intrigue, as both teams feature plenty of talent. The always-intense rivalry with Commerce (Sept. 11, away) is always worth watching, and will lead into the Region 8-AAA season, and Hall believes the league -- which proved itself the toughest in Class AAA last season, placing three teams in the state quarterfinals -- will be even better in 2015. The Dragons close out the season against back-to-back playoff teams from a season ago, including a tough appearance at a vastly-improved Oconee County (Oct. 30) and then home to Hart County (Nov. 6) -- the game that decided the 8-AAA title in 2014.
- TRENDING: Jefferson has experienced very little drop-off since claiming the 2012 Class AA crown, claiming a double-digit win total each of the last two seasons and reaching the state quarterfinals each occasion. In fact the last three seasons have seen the most successful slate in program history, and the program seems only to be adding momentum.
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 at Rabun County
Aug. 28 vs. Winder-Barrow
Sept. 4 vs. North Hall
Sept. 11 at Commerce
Sept. 25 vs. *Jackson County
Oct. 2 at *Elbert County
Oct. 9 vs. *Morgan County
Oct. 16 at *East Jackson
Oct. 30 at *Oconee County
Nov. 6 vs. *Hart County
* - indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
