DAHLONEGA — "This is our identity, and we're going back to old school."
Third-year Lumpkin County football coach Shane Williamson said a spread experiment in 2017 helped him realize that the Indians had an identity as a power running team, and he wants to go back to what they do best: running the wishbone.
"Doing something different from everyone else and being consistent throughout the system from park and rec and middle school up to the high school -- we know the wishbone, and feel we have the right kind of players to be successful," he said.
In 2016 the Indians went into the final week of the regular season with a playoff berth on the line behind a bruising rushing attack. And Williamson said they experienced their most physical spring in his three seasons. With that in mind, senior running back Luke Smith could be poised for a breakout campaign. Junior quarterback Tucker Kirk, who had never taken a traditional snap under center, has shown steady improvement since the spring and also has the ability to throw after coming through Gainesville's spread system before transferring last year to the Indians.
Defensively, Lumpkin should be improved, especially in an experienced secondary -- seniors Jonas Ramirez, Kyle Amburghey, and Coleman Wendl, and sophomore Drew Allison should anchor the unit in a region that likes to throw the ball with five of the seven teams employing the spread offense.
Some early success could go a long way in helping the Indians regain some swagger, but a tough non-region schedule with Jackson County and White County, both playoff teams in 2017, should offer challenges. Games against East Jackson and Gilmer, a combined 1-19 in 2017, also offer chances to build some momentum. Lumpkin opens Region 7-3A with three of four road games so they could know by midseason if they are in the hunt or not.
LUMPKIN COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Indians
- TEAM COLORS: Purple and Gold
- CURRENT REGION: 7-3A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Shane Williamson, third season, 5-15
- 2017 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 1-9
- KEY LOSSES: QB Chandler Woodham, OL/DL Josh Chastain, OL Dalton Savage, WR Julian Hazen, PK/P Wesley Wells, OL Caleb Frady
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Wishbone -- The Indians are going back to what they are known for -- a power ground attack after experimenting with the spread in 2017. Kirk is moving over from WR to take over the QB duties full time.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 starters returning -- Sr. OL Devin Dye, Jr. QB Tucker Kirk, Sr. TE Jack Robinson, Sr. RB Jonas Ramirez, Jr. TE Aaron Hopkins, Sr. RB Luke Smith
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: Odd-man front -- After experimenting on a 4-2-5 system to try and slow the spread offenses in 7-3A, Williamson is also going back to the basics of the past with the odd-man front to utilize their DLs and LBs in an effort to be able to stop the run first and be more physical.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 starters returning -- Sr. CB Jonas Ramirez, Jr. LB Kevin Harkins, Jr. DE Aaron Hopkins, Sr. LB Ben Jones, So. S Drew Allison, Sr. DE Jack Robinson, Sr. CB Kyle Amburghey, Sr. S Coleman Wendl
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Wells, who became a preferred walk-on at Georgia Tech, may be the Indians' biggest loss. The PK spot is an open competition but Sr. Jordan Buice has stepped forward of late; P duties also are an open competition, but Ben Jones and Luke Smith are the top contenders; Sr. KR/PR Jonas Ramirez
- STRENGTH: Continuity/Secondary -- Williamson says the Indians have the "total team" attitude for the first time in his three seasons and said that has them further along heading into the opener than in his first two seasons. Lumpkin returns plenty of experience in the secondary with Allison, Ramirez, Amburghey, and Kirk, and the addition of Wedl gives the Indians a deep group.
- QUESTION: Offensive transition/LB -- While it knows the wishbone, Lumpkin also sports a new QB in Kirk, who had never taken a traditional snap under center until the spring. Kirk is improving daily but how quickly he grasps the concepts could determine their offensive fate. After Harkins and Jones the LB group lacks depth and game experience and they will need to find a combination to help the secondary be able to make plays in a pass-happy region.
- KEY GAMES: Non-region games will be huge for the Indians to try and build some early success prior to region play. They open on the road at East Jackson, and then a big rivalry game against White County, a game they lost 66-14 in 2017, could show if Lumpkin is ready to turn the corner. The Indians open 7-3A play with three of four road games against arch-rival Dawson County, newcomer Cherokee Bluff, and North Hall sandwiched around a home game against GAC so they will know quickly if they are in the playoff chase.
- TRENDING: Back in 2016 the Indians went into the final game of the season playing for a playoff berth. Despite a big step back in 2017 Williamson said they are not in a rebuilding mode and in fact feels the changes back to what they know best should again have them in a position to challenge for a playoff spot.They have 26 freshmen on the roster compared to just 6 in 2016 so the numbers are up as are the expectations. If the Indians can recapture their offensive identity by region play they could be right in the mix, as they should have an experienced and more physical defense to combat the offensive firepower in 7-3A.
2018 SCHEDULE
Aug. 17 at East Jackson
Aug. 24 vs. White County
Aug. 31 vs. Jackson County
Sept. 7 at Gilmer
Sept. 21 at Dawson County*
Oct. 5 at Cherokee Bluff*
Oct. 12 vs. Greater Atlanta Christian*
Oct. 19 at North Hall*
Oct. 26 vs. Fannin County*
Nov. 2 vs. East Hall*
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
