COMMERCE — A tough schedule and the loss of some key defensive players to graduation should make for an interesting season for Commerce as the Tigers try build on their best campaign since 2006 after advancing to the 2014 Class A public semifinals.
The Tigers should be potent on offense with nine returning starters, including three-year starter at quarterback in senior Caleb Brooks to man their triple-option attack.
They will be battle-tested in 2015, opening the season with two Class AAA teams in Banks County and Jefferson. The Dragons advanced to the Class AAA quarterfinals a year ago. The key stretch will start on Sept. 18, as Commerce travels to Athens Academy and then plays host to Athens Christian and Providence Christian.
Head coach Michael Brown said the key will be in finding replacements for a defense that lost its entire linebacker group and several top linemen on a unit that held opponents to 16 points per game in 2014.
"I feel the offense will be even better than last year, and I feel like we'll score points," Brown said. "The big thing for us is to find the right combination on defense. Losing your entire linebacking group at one time is tough to replace. We have some guys that can step in; we just need them to step up as quick as they can."
COMMERCE: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Tigers
- TEAM COLORS: Black and Gold
- CURRENT REGION: 8-A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Michael Brown, third season, 17-7
- 2014 RECORD/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 10-3, reached semifinals of Class A Public playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: DL Derek Benoit
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Triple option -- The Tigers like to control the ball and chew up the yardage in their traditional attack to help keep their defense fresh.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 9 returning starters -- Sr. QB Caleb Brooks (3-year starter), Jr. FB Will Thomas, Jr. HB Cole Chancey, Sr. HB Jvarius Wood, Sr. OL Cody Weaver, Sr. C Jared Pate
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- Commerce will attack and blitz with linebackers whenever possible.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Jr. S Cole Chancey, Sr. CB Jvarius Wood, Sr. CB Trevonta Williford, Sr. DL Dontavious Mosely
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK/P Andres Salgado, Sr. KR Jvarius Wood
- STRENGTH: Offense -- The Tigers return all of their top skill players on offense to go with an experienced group up front. Scoring points should not be a problem in 2015.
- QUESTION: Depth/defense -- Depth is always an issue in Class A, and Commerce must replace its entire linebacker group while also filling two big holes on the defensive line.
- KEY GAMES: They open on the road against rival Banks County and get arch-rival Jefferson at home in Week 3. The winner of 8-A gets an automatic berth into the state playoffs. The Tigers will face its key stretch when they play Athens Academy, Athens Christian, and Prince Avenue in consecutive weeks, the final two at home. Prince Avenue won the region last year by virtue of its win over the Tigers.
- TRENDING: Brown’s record in his first two years is the second best in school history in that stretch behind only Steve Savage, who went 18-8 in his first two years in 1989-90. The Tigers have increased their win totals each of the last three seasons and are back in the conversation in Class A with their most wins in a season since 2006 (11). Another deep run in the playoffs is possibility, barring any serious and/or key injuries.
2015 SCHEDULE
Aug. 28 at Banks County
Sept. 4 at *Hebron Christian Academy
Sept. 11 vs. Jefferson
Sept. 18 at *Athens Academy
Sept. 25 vs. *Athens Christian
Oct. 2 vs. *Prince Avenue Christian
Oct. 16 vs. *Providence Christian
Oct. 23 at *Towns County
Oct. 30 vs. *George Walton Academy
Nov. 6 at *Lakeview Academy
*- indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
