DAHLONEGA — Coach Ty Maxwell set a pretty high bar for Lumpkin County football in his first season at the helm, clinching a state playoff berth for the first time since 2003.
The Indians have embraced that success and want to set the bar even higher in 2015. And despite returning just eight seniors, Lumpkin County has the kind of talent and desire to make that a realistic goal.
"This group has been so fun to coach; they just give tremendous effort in everything they do, whether it be on the practice field, the weight room or in the classroom," Maxwell said.
It also helps to have a quarterback like Zach Matthews. The sophomore lit up Region 7-AAA last season to the tune of 1,463 yards rushing and, at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Maxwell believes the talented athlete is ready to lead the way once again for his split-back veer rushing attack. To help share the workload, coaches have shifted Class AAA 100 meter champion Austin Pierce from receiver into the backfield.
Meanwhile, the Indians have added Matt Mayes, who once coached alongside Maxwell at Chestatee before leaving for North Gwinnett, as defensive coordinator, and the coach has shifted Lumpkin to a 3-5 base that will bring pressure from all angles.
LUMPKIN COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Indians
- TEAM COLORS: Purple and Gold
- CURRENT REGION: 7-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Ty Maxwell, second season
- 2014 RECORD/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 5-6, first round Class AAA playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: RB/FS Gunner Wood, OL/DL Steven Bowen, OL/DL Garrett Gray
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Split-back veer -- The Indians showed just how punishing and successful their ground attack could be last season and have a stellar leader for it in quarterback Zach Matthews
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 starters returning -- Jr. QB Zach Matthews (1,463 yards rushing in 2014), Sr. OL Ben Brown, Sr. OL Zach Samples, Sr. RB Austin Pierce (Class AAA 100 meter champ), Sr. WR Cal Thrilkill
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-5 -- The Indians are under a new coordinator in Matt Mayes, who will look to bring pressure against opposing defenses.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 starters returning -- So. MLB Cole White, Sr. NG Justin Cantrell, So. DE Cole Mayo, Sr. OLB DJ Jackson, Sr. DB Austin Pierce
- SPECIAL TEAMS: So. PK/P Wesley Wells, Sr. KR Austin Pierce, Jr. KR Zach Matthews
- STRENGTH: Effort/power -- This group loves to work and grind -- and did so at the expense of a lot of opponents last season. Matthews proved one of the breakout players of the season and should be improved in 2015.
- QUESTION: Depth -- Lumpkin County certainly has some firepower, but a grinding season will show the Indians, who have just eight seniors, if they have developed key back-ups.
- KEY GAMES: The opener against Model (a second round playoff team in 2014) will provide Lumpkin with a solid barometer right out of the gate (Week Zero, Aug. 21). A week off then follows before the Indians travel to face a talented Union County team (Sept. 4) that has the ability to threaten any defense. Maxwell believes the entire 7-AAA schedule will be improved this season, and opening that with a home date vs. East Hall (Sept. 25) could prove interesting.
- TRENDING: Lumpkin County bounced back from two tough seasons in a big way in 2014, notching the program's first state playoff appearance since 2003. Now the Indians will look to show that they can sustain that success and consolidate those gains. After going a combined .500 over 2007-11 and then going 4-16 2012-13, Lumpkin will want to avoid a roller-coaster back down.
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 vs. Model
Sept. 4 at Union County
Sept. 11 at Johnson
Sept. 18 vs. Our Lady of Mercy
Sept. 25 vs. *East Hall
Oct. 2 at *Franklin County
Oct. 9 vs. *Fannin County
Oct. 16 at *Banks County
Oct. 30 at *Dawson County
Nov. 6 vs. *West Hall
* - Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
