BLUE RIDGE — While many gushed over the ability of Fannin County's offense last season, coach Jim Pavao watched the grim reality of what was happening to his defense.
With starter after starter losing their season to injury, the Rebels' high hopes circled the drain before plunging downward under the weight of a gritty Region 7-AAA schedule.
"We lost five-six starters to season-ending injury, and we just don't have the depth to overcome something like that," said Pavao, a defensive guru in his own right whose first two teams showed impressive improvement in points allowed before last year's team yielded 43.9 points per game (more than two touchdowns higher than the previous season).
With that in mind, the Rebels are focusing squarely on shoring up their defense in 2017. And, so far, Pavao likes what he sees.
"If we stay healthy and play as solidly as we're capable we could be alright," Pavao said. "We could be in the playoff race."
With six starters back, Fannin County will look to standouts like defensive linemen Clay Holloway and Cole Earls (both seniors) to lead the way. Another senior, Brett Galloway, should anchor the linebacker corps, while the backfield features four senior starters in Austin Brown and Bailey White at corner and Jonah Henry and Ethan Smith at safety.
Offensively, there will be change aplenty after Fannin graduated record-setting quarterback Brad Davis and explosive receiver Cooper Earls. Offensive center Bradley Flowers is just one of three returning starters, though there is plenty more size to go around the line of scrimmage, including 6-foot-5, 300-pound sophomore tackle Miles Johnson.
But after the air-raid attack of the past two seasons, fans can expect more run-pass-option within the structure of Fannin's spread offense in 2017, as Tyler Norton and Chandler Smith battle to be named the starter at quarterback.
"We'll be doing more bootleg, roll-out type stuff, because both those guys have good feet," said Pavao, who added that he's looking forward to what the season may bring. "These guys have been as coachable as any group we've ever had and been a lot of fun to be around. We've just got to stay healthy."
FANNIN COUNTY: NEED TO KNOW
- MASCOT: Rebels
- TEAM COLORS: Blue and Gray
- CURRENT REGION: 7-AAA
- HEAD COACH/RECORD AT SCHOOL: Jim Pavao, fourth season, 10-20
- 2016 RECORD/ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2-8
- KEY LOSSES: QB Brad Davis, WR Cooper Earls, OL River Dixon, OL Dillon Breedlove, OL Hunter Davis, TE Jacob Reece, LB Andrew Pavao, LB Jeffrey Whitemire, LB Christian Cornillaud
- OFFENSIVE STYLE: Spread -- The Rebels are shifting from a drop-back, pass-happy attack to a more run-pass option (RPO) style due to personnel changes in the offseason.
- KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: 3 returning starters -- Sr. C Bradley Flowers, Sr. WR Dawson King, Sr. WR Luke Cowart, So. OL Miles Johnson (6-foot-5, 300 pounds), Jr. QB Tyler Norton, Sr. QB Chandler Smith, So. WR Jacob Tuggle, Sr. TE Jacob Hood, Sr. RB Cody Jacobs
- DEFENSIVE STYLE: 3-4 -- Fannin is re-affirming its commitment to defense after a 2016 campaign that saw the unit decimated by injuries while allowing 43.9 points per game. Pavao will employ the attacking, aggressive style that is his trademark.
- KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: 6 returning starters -- Sr. DL Clay Holloway, Sr. DL Keenan Putnam, Sr. DL Cole Earls, Sr. LB Brett Galloway, Jr. LB Mason Rhodes, Sr. CB Bailey White, Sr. Saf Jonah Henry
- SPECIAL TEAMS: So. PK Alex White, Cody Jacobs and Tyler Norton may share punting duties, Sr. LS Jordan Newman
- STRENGTH: Team unity -- After graduating so much offensive production and battling through an injury-riddled 2016, Pavao says his squad is determined to bounce back and has attacked offseason workouts with gusto -- "It's probably the team that's in the best shape of any in my four years here."
- QUESTION: Offense -- You don't graduate a quarterback with the experience and stats of Brad Davis (2,458 yards passing, 16 TDs, 13 INTs; 415 yards rushing, 6 TDs) and a receiver like Cooper Earls (1,190 yards receiving, 12 TDs) without suffering some growing pains. The biggest question is just how fast the offense, which may see both Norton and Smith play at QB, can adjust to a more run-pass option game rather than the pass-happy attack that averaged over 32 points per game over the past two seasons combined.
- KEY GAMES: The opener against traditional rival Gilmer (a series the Bobcats lead 25-14-2) is always intense, while game two foe Ringgold (Sept. 1, away) expects to compete for the playoffs out of Region 6-AAA. Success early could prove key for a Rebels team that faces three straight playoff foes from a year ago to open Region 7-AAA play (North Hall, GAC and Dawson County).
- TRENDING: After narrowly missing out on the playoffs in Pavao's first two seasons in Blue Ridge the 2016 campaign proved disappointing, as injuries ravaged the defense. It has been seven seasons since the Rebels made the state playoffs (2010, which was also Fannin's last winning season), but Pavao believes that -- if his team can stay healthy -- that it will be right back in the thick of the postseason race in 2017. And it showed as much in his first two seasons in charge, though the 7-AAA line-up could be as tough as any in Class AAA.
2017 SCHEDULE
Aug. 18 vs. Gilmer
Sept. 1 at Ringgold
Sept. 8 at Chestatee
Sept. 15 vs. Andrews, N.C.
Sept. 22 at North Hall*
Sept. 29 vs. Greater Atlanta Christian*
Oct. 13 at Dawson County*
Oct. 20 vs. Lumpkin County*
Oct. 27 at Union County*
Nov. 3 vs. East Hall*
*- Indicates region game
(All kickoffs scheduled for 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
