Experience has Tigers thinking big

COMMERCE, Ga. — Head Coach Mark Hollars referred to an old songbook to describe the program's state.  

“We’re kind of singing from the same hymnal now,” he said. 

Hollars and Commerce football already had success before the two came together in 2021. The Tigers had won at least eight games for seven straight seasons before the departure of longtime program staple Michael Brown. 

Meanwhile, Hollars had turned North Cobb Christian into a consistent force, including a state quarterfinal appearance in 2018.

But his first season in Commerce was up and down. 

Entering the last game of the regular season at Lincoln County, the Tigers only needed a win to capture the Region 8-A Public championship. Instead, they lost and fell to the third seed. The Tigers also lost in the first round at Bowdon to finish at 6-5.

Entering year two, however, Hollars believes the team is ready to take a step forward.

“When you’re going into year two, everybody has relationships and gets to know each other better, and it just makes things easier,” Hollars said. “I’ve been through this before, and year one is always the toughest. There’s nothing wrong on either side; it’s just that there are no relationships, and the only way to build relationships and trust is through experience. We have a group of kids who have been with us for a full year.”

The changes Hollars brought to Commerce were relatively small. He continued the traditional triple-option offense the Tigers have run for decades with a few of his own wrinkles. Still, the transition saw its struggles. The team dipped from an average of 35 points per game in 2020 to only 18 in 2021.

That will need to improve, and Hollars will have some talented pieces to do just that.

Headlining that talent is sophomore a-back and All-Access team selection Jaiden Daniels. Daniels ran for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman last year and looks poised for more big numbers this season.

Fellow sophomore Jacari Huff will be the other starting a-back with Daniels. Seniors Malachi Shockey and Jack Fagan will rotate at b-back.

“Let’s be honest, when a team lines up against us, they’re going to start with taking away Jaiden. We’ve got to make sure our offense is diversified enough and I think Jacari is the kind of back that can go in there and give Jaiden a blow and keep fresh legs,” Hollars said.

Commerce’s top three quarterbacks in 2021 were all seniors, meaning the position battle this offseason has been wide open. Senior Coleson Smith and two juniors, John Paul Allen and Hudson Thomason, have been the candidates, and Hollars said he still had not selected a clear starter as of the summer.

Allen started the scrimmage game, but Hollars said the competition will go right to the opening kickoff of the season.

Still, he said he’s confident in all three.

“All three of them bring different things to the table, but they’re all competitors, they’re all leaders, and it’s a good problem to have,” Hollars said.

While Commerce does not throw the ball often, they will return last year’s leading receiver Cohen Thomason as a reliable weapon for whoever is playing quarterback. Senior Matthew Simpson will also contribute at receiver, and if Coleson Smith isn’t under center, Hollars said he will play at receiver as well.

“Cohen caught some biggest passes for us last year. He had one over 65 (yards) and another one over 40,” Hollars said. “We’re a play-action pass team, and he has the ability to go make some big plays. Coleson’s still competing for a starting quarterback job, but he’s the type of kid that could plug in at a lot of different places.”

Senior Hampton Hutto and junior Joey Duncan will return to what will be a veteran offensive line after starting last year. They’ll be joined by senior Jonathan Orozco, who started in 2020 but missed last season due to a knee injury. Senior Logan Sherman will also start at guard. 

Senior Colton Hill will start at tight end.

The Tigers' defense will shift to a multiple-front look this year. On the defensive line, seniors Talon Carroll and Zander McLane will anchor the inside. Colton Hill, Jack Fagan and Malachi Shockey will be the primary defensive ends.

“That’s probably going to be one of the strengths of the team is the depth we have on both lines of scrimmage,” Hollars said.

The linebacking corps will be anchored by senior Cole Hill, the team’s leading tackler in 2021 and named first-team all-region in 8-A Public. Colton Hill, Coleson Smith and Matthew Simpson will also contribute.

Cohen Thomason will start at corner along with fellow senior Caleb Lovin, who has experience with the Tigers at both corner and safety. Daniels will also contribute in the defensive secondary in addition to his star role at running back along with help from Hudson Thomason and Jackson Morris.

Commerce will be in Region 8-A Division I this year. It’s a small region with only three other teams, Rabun County, Elbert County and Athens Christian. Hollars said he expects it to be a tough region.

“It’s outstanding. Rabun County and Elbert County have great traditions and are very well-coached football teams,” Hollars said. “Having only four teams in the region makes it hard to schedule seven non-region games. I know the region’s going to be a dogfight.”

He said he likes what he’s seen from his team ahead of this season.

“The commitment from the kids has been very good. I think our senior leadership has been very steady and I feel that’s very important. They’re growing into the job. They get better with each experience,” Hollars said.