DAWSONVILLE — So, how do you approach a season one year removed from unprecedented success, a campaign in which you announced your arrival to the rest of the state?
According to Dawson County football coach Sid Maxwell the only real response lies in even more hard work and dedication. And while some teams might be tempted to rest on their laurels after the kind of season that the Tigers put together in 2015 -- winning their first ever region title and reaching the state quarterfinals for the first time (in Maxwell's first season in charge) -- Maxwell says there is little danger of that in Dawsonville.
"The guys learned and absorbed so much last year, and we've got some leaders on this team that are focused and they're setting great examples in the weight room and in practice," Maxwell said.
Even if a player does loaf in 2016 -- in the weight room, practice field or on Friday nights -- he is likely to find himself on the sideline and supplanted by a hungrier teammate, as the Tigers have built quality depth on their roster.
"There's strength in competition, and we have a lot of that going on right now," Maxwell said. "At the same time if we have a player in a game that gets tired and can't go 100 percent or is playing poorly, we can sub him out, make it a teachable moment and get someone in there without any real drop off."
With plenty of 2015 veterans filling the line up -- including junior quarterback Coey Watson and senior linebacker Luke Martin -- perhaps the only real question lies in who will step in to provide the game-breaking plays that turned several games in Dawson's favor last season. Graduated receiver Tucker Maxwell (who averaged an astounding 23.5 yards per catch) and running back Hunter Mitchell (who rushed for 1,296 yards while averaging 7.1 yards per carrry) were key cogs that the Tigers are looking to replace.
The emergence of a new big-play threat will only help against a tough schedule, including a revamped Region 7-AAA that coaches believe will be tougher even than last season's slate.
"It's still a discovery process; hopefully we'll improve the guys who we have here, and all that experience should help," Maxwell said. "And the team and coaches have had another year to mesh together, and I believe we're headed in the right direction."
That was made obvious in just one season under Maxwell.
DAWSON COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Tigers
- TEAM COLORS: Maroon and Gold
- CURRENT REGION: 7-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Sid Maxwell, second season, 9-4
- 2015 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 9-4, Class AAA quarterfinalist, Region 7-AAA champion
- KEY LOSSES: OL A.J. Manor, RB Hunter Mitchell, LB Conor Woodbury, LB Andrew Goley, WR Tucker Maxwell
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread/multiple -- The Tigers will look to open things up and blend speed on the perimeter with power in the ground game.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Jr. QB Coey Watson (2,171 yards passing, 18 TDs, 13 INTs; 499 yards rushing in 2015), Sr. WR Austin Young (team-high 53 receptions, 703 yards yards in 2015), Sr. OL Brison Henson, Sr. OL Tyler Womack, Sr. RB Payton Myers
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: Multiple -- Dawson County will look to put pressure on opposing offenses from multiple angles.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 returning starters -- Sr. LB Luke Martin (team-high 133 tackles in 2015), Sr. FS Dylan Nix, Jr. DL Taylor Swofford, Sr. DL Jordan Hannah, Sr. OLB Jakob Scoggins, Sr. OLB Jeremy Whalen
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK Peyton Allen, three players battling for punting duties, kickoff return duties undecided as of publication time
- STRENGTH: Depth -- The Tigers graduated some key contributors that put up a lot of explosive plays last season, but there are plenty of experienced veterans still on board -- and they are veterans that now know what it takes and how it feels to win big games and make a playoff run.
- QUESTION: Who will provide big plays? -- Watson proved last season he could produce big moments and also lead time-consuming drives, but after graduating a receiver that averaged 23.5 yards per catch (Tucker Maxwell) and a running back that averaged 7.1 yards per carry (Hunter Mitchell), the Tigers are eager to see who will be the game-breakers in those spots this campaign.
- KEY GAMES: Dawson faces 2015 playoff teams in back-to-back road contests (Sept. 2 at Chattooga and Sept 16 at West Hall) and then tackles a White County team looking to get back to the playoffs after breaking a three-year postseason streak in 2015. The Region 7-AAA opener against North Hall could be a slugfest, while the defending 7-AAA champs close the regular season campaign against 2015 Class AA semifinalist Greater Atlanta Christian.
- TRENDING: Talk about a grand entrance; Sid Maxwell led Dawson County to its best ever season in his first in charge in Dawsonville. The region title and state quarterfinal berths were firsts and took a program that had flirted with success to another level. Can the Tigers maintain that? The experiences of last season and a number of returning players give plenty of reason for optimism -- though the 7-AAA schedule will probably be tougher top to bottom.
2016 SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 vs. Forsyth Central
Sept. 2 at Chattooga
Sept. 16 at West Hall
Sept. 23 vs. White County
Sept. 30 at *North Hall
Oct. 7 vs. *Union County
Oct. 14 at *Fannin County
Oct. 21 at *East Hall
Oct. 28 vs. *Lumpkin County
Nov. 4 vs. *Greater Atlanta Christian
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
