Warriors’ depth has them in the region title conversation

CLEVELAND — Head Coach Tim Cokely has worked to build depth in the program over the last four years.  

He’s now entering season No. 5 at the helm of the Warriors and has plenty of stock in the pantry.

Of course, some may think losing the program’s top quarterback, J Ben Haynes, to graduation and his No. 1 receiver, Cooper Turner, along with Jimmy King and Reece Dockery, would be a massive setback. But because of the work over the last four seasons by the coaching staff, the Warriors are set to reload, not rebuild, for the 2021 season.

“We will sorely miss J Ben, but we’ve worked really hard the last couple years building depth and to get a lot of guys playing time,” Cokely said. “We’re pretty confident going forward and I think we’ll be better defensively, so there’s a lot of optimism right now.”

The optimism is real, and so is confidence. If you look down the roster, the amount of talent returning is fuel for the high expectations for the Warriors this season.

The Warriors have seven returning starters on offense, including dynamic receiver Darius Cannon, who’s getting looks from Alabama and Clemson, running back Silas Mulligan, Bryson Cronic back at the skill positions.

And, of course, filling the massive hole left by Haynes is not easy, but Cokely has that checked on the list.

Senior Billy Carder and freshman Tripp Nix are vying for the open quarterback spot. Right now, Carder has the edge in the battle.

“We’ve got two guys we are repping,” Cokely said. “We don’t want them to be J Ben, we want them to be themselves. We feel the quarterback play will be fine. We have two really good quarterbacks; we’ll settle on one and go play.”

Of course, having players like Cannon and Mulligan back to help lead the offense makes it a lot easier breaking in a new quarterback.

Cannon was tough to defend last season and is back bigger and stronger.

“Darius is being recruited by several Division I schools,” Cokely said. “He’s a really dynamic playmaker.”

Mulligan did nothing but get more comfortable in the Warriors’ backfield last season and, by the end of the season, was one of the top backs in the area.

“He’s had a year to mature,” Cokely said. “About week three or four last season, he really started to get locked in. He got comfortable and really gained some confidence as the season went on and at the end.”

Junior JD Trowel, the 6-foot-5, 290-pound left tackle will anchor the line at left tackle. By the way, he’s fast as well, turning in a 4.85 40-yard dash time at camp in the summer. He’ll be the lead Warrior on an offensive line that returns three starters. Alex Garcia and Trenton O’Kelly are back as well.

“JD will definitely be our anchor on the line,” Cokely said. “He’s a big guy that can run and has huge upside. We feel like our line is a big strength this year.”

Cokely said he hopes the line will open up the running game, which will allow the passing game to flourish with returning starters Cannon, Cronic, along with Kaine Lowery and Alex Thornton at receiver.

“If you have a D1 left tackle and college running back, people will be forced to play him,” Cokely said. “That will open up those passing windows. If you can run the ball and be effective, it opens places to throw it.”

Defensively, the Warriors have five returning starters.

Malaki Zellers is back on the line, Riley Turner and Cannon at corner and Thornton and Zion McMullen return at linebacker.

Cokely will fill the secondary with Cronic and Tavi Simmons at safety. Colton Turner and Teddy Strange at linebacker, and Garcia and Scotty Brigham on the defensive line.

The Warriors experienced a bit of adversity in the middle of the last season, losing Haynes to injury for most of the region schedule. They lost back-to-back games to Dawson County and North Hall but ended the season with a big win over region champ Cherokee Bluff, 48-7. 

The losses, however, put them in the No. 4 seed. They fell in the playoffs to Rockmart, in a close one, 48-35.

They’ll turn around and play the same schedule as last season, opening on the road at Stephens County, followed by a big home game against Hart County. The non-region schedule will have the Warriors ready before they open region play at home against Dawson County. But it doesn’t get any easier with North Hall the next week and an improved West Hall team the following week.

“We open with Stephens and Hart who are good, tough opponents,” Cokely said. “We like our non-region schedule just because it prepares us for our region. In our region, anybody could win it. It’s really competitive. The winner of the region will not be undefeated.”