JEFFERSON — There is a sense of anticipation around the Jackson County fieldhouse these days.
With Brandon Worley and his staff entering their third season in charge and a plethora of starters from last year's state playoff team filling the roster, it's not hard to see why.
"When we came here we weren't looking for any fast fixes. We wanted to get things set in place and get the kids believing in the process. Now that they do believe in the process we're making those gradual gains," Worley said. "Going into the third year... Xs and Os there may be some subtle changes here and there, but we are who we are and the kids know that."
What Jackson County is -- especially this season -- is a power running team.
The Panthers return six offensive linemen that either started or lettered, and they will clear the way for a running back in Noah Venable that set the school record for single season rush yards in 2016 (1,381 to go along with 10 TDs), breaking the old mark held by Odell Collins.
"Those guys not only have experience but also have great camaraderie," Worley said of an offensive line that helped turn the Panthers' 1-4 start to last campaign, anchoring a 2-3 run in region play that saw the Panthers drop two games by a single touchdown apiece. "And Noah is an angry runner. He's a slicer that weighs about 205 pounds and always falls forward."
That nucleus will aid quarterbacks Gray Akin (senior) and Landon Youngblood (sophomore), who are each looking to earn snaps this season in Jackson's pistol attack.
Meanwhile, the Panthers defense also returns six starters, including outside linebackers Seth Caylor (senior) and Rayshun Dorsey (junior), who coaches believe are set for big seasons as disruptors all over the field.
"I think our defensive coordinator and strength coach, coach Tyson Baxter, does a fantastic job," Worley said. "We've seen gains there. I think the intensity we're able to have in the weight room year-round is going to carry over on to the practice field."
And that in turn could carry over to the scoreboard, as the Panthers look to match their program-best mark of back-to-back state playoff berths.
JACKSON COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Panthers
- TEAM COLORS: Black, Red and White
- CURRENT REGION: 8-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Brandon Worley, third season, 7-14
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 3-8, first round Class AAA playoffs
- KEY LOSSES: QB Caleb Matthews, WR Zane Corley, RB/CB Chris Griggs, TE Micah Vincent, DL Mason Williams, LB Micah Vencent, DE Jesse Davis
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Pistol -- The Panthers will look to be balanced and will rely on a veteran offensive line to pave the way for a talented running back corps and a new starting quarterback.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 8 returning starters -- Sr. RB Noah Venable (1,381 yards rushing, single-season program record), Sr. OL Wesley Harper, Sr. OL Hunter Baggett, Jr. OL Jonathan Fountain, Sr. OL Collin Lewis, Sr. OL Noah Breakspear, Sr. OL Noah Hayes, Sr. QB Gray Akin, So. QB Landon Youngblood
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 5-3 -- Jackson County will be even more aggressive than last season, trying to force opposing offenses into mistakes, and will have a pair of outside linebackers the Panthers feel are ready to wreck havoc.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Sr. DL Noah Breakspear, Sr. ILB Collin Lewis, Sr. OLB Seth Caylor, Jr. OLB Rayshun Dorsey, Sr. CB Bryce Byrnes, Jr. CB Kyle Langston, Sr. Saf Brayson Beinke
- SPECIAL TEAMS: Sr. PK Evan Mershon, Sr. P Kyle Langston
- STRENGTH: Lines of scrimmage -- Not only do the Panthers have veterans and depth, they also have a chemistry that Worley believes has spread throughout the entire team.
- QUESTION: Safety position -- Worley says his team has talent at the position but is still trying to sort out the starters.
- KEY GAMES: The Panthers would love to start strong after going 1-4 in non-region play last season. The Sept. 8 game at West Hall could tell Jackson County just how far it has come after falling to the Spartans 42-0 last season. The Oct. 6 game at Franklin County and the Nov. 6 home game against defending 8-AAA champ Morgan County could be huge for the Panthers.
- TRENDING: The Panthers may have won just three games last season, but they also made the state playoffs for just the third time in program history after winning key Region 8-AAA contests. Jackson County lost two region battles by a single touchdown, showing impressive growth as the season matured, and a program that broached the state bracket for the first time in program history in 2012 believes it is ready to continue its upward progress in 2017.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 vs. Banks County
Aug. 25 at Madison County
Sept. 1 vs. Lumpkin County
Sept. 8 at West Hall
Sept. 15 vs. East Hall
Sept. 29 at Monroe Area*
Oct. 6 at Franklin County*
Oct. 13 at Hart County*
Oct. 27 vs. East Jackson*
Nov. 3 vs. Morgan County*
*- Indicates region contest
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
