Will a full offseason be the key for a Lumpkin County turnaround?

DAHLONEGA — If there’s a program that has been hit hardest by the lack of offseason preparation, it’s Lumpkin County.

Over the last two seasons, Head Coach Caleb Sorrells has been implementing his system piece by piece as quickly as possible.

In his first season, Sorrells was hired late in the spring to replace former coach Shane Williamson, which left him with little time to plant his system in the ground. And in Year 2, COVID-19 completely canceled all off-season workouts, spring practice and vastly altered the June and July schedules.

As the Indians roll into the 2021 campaign, Sorrells and his coaching staff finally have a full off-season under their belt. They have conducted off-season workouts and had a successful spring practice with a big win over Johnson in the scrimmage game.

All of that propelled them into the summer on a positive note and allowed them to improve and build on the system through 7-on-7s and team camps.

But has it really helped a program that has won two games in the last two seasons?

You could tell by the tone of Sorrells’ voice that all the work has him feeling better this season.

“I knew it in my head, but it’s funny how once you go through it, you realize just how important the offseason is. I’ve said for two years now, man it’s just really tough because we haven’t had a full offseason. Now, that we’ve had it, that winter and spring in the weight room is really, really important. So, now, going into Year 3, we’ve had both of those. I feel good about where we are right now. We’ve got a long way to go and tons of improvements, but we the kids have responded this offseason.”

While it’s true the Indians still are really young with more than 50 underclassmen scattered up and down the roster, the sophomore and freshmen classes house a boatload of talent. Talent that will be mixed in with, oddly enough, the strongest part of Sorrells resurrection – the offensive line.

That’s where it all starts for the Indians in 2021. The five guys up front, all seniors and all returning starters, left tackle Andrew Adams, left guard Cam Simpson, center Ricky Hicks, right guard AJ Reeves and right tackle Tucker Bagley will provide the stability to the Indians’ power spread offense, and as Sorrells says, “as they go, we go.”

The Indians’ line of scrimmage has a different attitude this year, according to Sorrells. They’ll need that different attitude to help improve an offense that averaged just over seven points a game in 2020.

“These guys came into the offseason with a different attitude,” Sorrells said. “They have a different desire to compete. It wasn’t just the same one or two that always come in ready to compete, it was all of them.”

But there are a few question marks with the senior linemen. Can they block and create a power run game? Sorrells believes so. 

“The guys up front have embraced the challenge,” Sorrells said. “They have put in the work to get better blocking, but they’ve got to make it happen and get it done or it doesn’t get done.”

Cooper Scott returns at quarterback but will have a challenge from freshman Cal Faulkner.

“Cal is pretty good and will push for the quarterback position,” Sorrells said. “How fast can he develop into a guy that understands the position and the offense will be the question.

Athletically, he’s good. He’s just got to come in disciplined and embrace what playing quarterback really requires.”

Sorrells points to wide receiver Caleb Norrell, 6-foot, 175 pounds, as being the offensive playmaker.

“Caleb had a great spring and summer so far,” he said. “I think he’s ready to take on the primary playmaker role. I think he’s ready to take over.”

As for the other side of the ball, the Indians ranked near the bottom of Class 3A in points given up, just over 45 points per game.

Sorrells says they’ve gone back to the basics of defense – tackling.

“We’ve had a great offseason but went into it reteaching how to tackle,” he said. “We’ve spent a ton of time on how to tackle right. We keep improving every day. If we can tackle, then we’ve got a chance.”

He’s riddled his linebacker corp with a load of pressure and said senior Daniel Brinson is the guy to direct the turnaround.

“He is another kid that has improved,” Sorrells said. “But can he tackle and be in the right place? He was our leading tackler in the spring and in the right place most of the time. If he can be that linebacker that can make the plays we need him to make, that will be a huge foundation for the rest of the guys.”

 Linebacker will remain a question mark entering the season, however. Right now, Tavion Lawrence and Jay Grizzle are two that will fill one of the other four spots.

“It’s a question across the board,” Sorrells said. “We’ve got to continue to grow. Daniel has got to step up, Tavion is a warrior, and we need him to continue to be one and Jay must keep working. They’ve got to be good for us to be good on defense.”

He’ll rotate a slew of guys on the defensive front, platooning his O-Line and adding in Mason Sullens and Steven Yorkey.

Sullens will play defensive end most of the time when he’s not toting the ball on offense, and Yorkie will add quickness at nose guard.

“Mason will get a ton of snaps,” Sorrells said. “Steven is so fast and strong. He’s an odd front nose guard that wants to shoot the gap.”

Regardless of tackling, blocking, passing and rushing, Sorrells continue to reiterate the program is exactly where they need to be right now. He also stressed the importance of being able to build on what they’ve installed over the last two seasons.

With all that said, Sorrells wouldn’t elaborate much on who he expected to win the region. After all, what coach will pick the region winner in public.

Sorrells said they’ll keep working and, hopefully, will be there at the end with a chance to make the players for the first time since 2012.

“I think it’ll be Cherokee Bluff, Dawson County, North Hall and White County fighting for the top spot this year,” Sorrells said. “Those four consistently battle each year for the title. In terms of what games we have circled, we are just focusing on ourselves needing to compete each week. If we do the things that we need to do to improve each week, we’ll put ourselves in a position to get in. We just want to be competitive every week.”