HIAWASSEE — John Cornett has what may sound like an unusual idea to jumpstart Towns County football.
"We want our kids to have fun, and we want them to treat this game for what it is -- high school football; that's all it is, and we want our kids to see it that way," Cornett said. "If they do that, they will have fun, and they'll want to come out and play."
It is an approach that is already starting to pay off, says Cornett -- who took over the program just recently, becoming the Indians' fourth coach in five seasons -- as 42 athletes came out for the first day of fall practice, an impressive number for a school with an enrollment of just over 300 students.
Included in that group are 15 seniors -- "a special group, an athletic class," said Cornett -- that are hoping to turn around the fortunes of a program unused to sustained success (their last winning season came in 2008). It is also a group that draws strength from playing the underdog role.
"These guys have all been together since kindergarten, and they know they have what it takes to get this thing going," Cornett said. "I can promise two things: We'll be in better shape than anyone else we play, and our defense will hit you in the mouth. These guys are working so hard, and they're so hungry to be successful. And they're already starting to have fun."
That can only be a good thing for the Indians.
TOWNS COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Indians
- TEAM COLORS: Blue and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-A
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: John Cornett, first season
- 2015 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2-8
- KEY LOSSES: TE Daulton Rogers, FS/PK/P Shea Underwood
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: I formation/multiple -- the Indians want to run the ball first and throw when necessary and will use several formations to do so.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 7 starters returning -- Sr. QB Russell Cox, Sr. RB Kobe Denton, Sr. OL Luke Ledford, Sr. OL Waker Ross, Sr. WR Major Moss, Sr. TE Blake Silvers
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 8 man front -- Towns County will look to stop the run first, stuffing the line of scrimmage while relying on two outstanding linebackers.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 5 starters returning -- Sr. MLB Nick Shook, Jr. LB Harold Cox, Jr. DB Andy Chambers, Jr. DB Colton Shook, Jr DL Luke Woody, So. DL Hunter Frisk
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Jr. PK Wes Calhoun, Sr. P Major Moss, Sr. KR Kobe Denton, Sr. KR Chayton McClure
- STRENGTH: Hunger for success -- With 15 seniors on the roster, the Indians believe they have the group to get Towns County into the win column. Cornett has been more than impressed with both the working mentality and determination his new team has displayed throughout the summer.
- QUESTION: How will coaching changes play out -- As the Indians' fourth head coach in five seasons, Cornett is looking to bring both stability and excitement to a program that has not posted a winning campaign since 2008, but he knows there are plenty of questions the Indians will face in an always-tough Region 8-A that produced two state semifinalists in 2015 (Commerce, Public A; Prince Avenue Christian, Private A).
- KEY GAMES: Towns County opens the campaign against rival Hayesville, N.C., and against a George Walton team that went 3-7 last season. If the Indians open the season 2-0 that would prove a huge boost for a program hungry for success.
- TRENDING: As mentioned previously, Towns County has not produced a winning campaign since 2008 and has spent plenty of time watching coaches come and go -- but Cornett hopes to change all that and believes he has the formula to make the Indians successful depsite the challenges that a small mountain school will always face.
2016 Schedule
Aug. 19 at Hayesville, N.C.
Sept. 2 vs. *George Walton Academy
Sept. 9 vs. *Prince Avenue Christian
Sept. 16 vs. *Riverside Military
Sept. 23 at *Athens Academy
Sept. 30 vs. *Hebron Christian Academy
Oct. 14 at *Athens Christian
Oct. 21 at *Commerce
Oct. 28 at *Lakeview Academy
Nov. 4 vs. *Providence Christian
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
