Football 2013: Towns Co. turning to Harrison for spark

HIAWASSEE -- Blair Harrison knows what it takes to build a program.<br /> <br /> Harrison guided Brookstone of Columbus from a 1-9 doormat in 2002 into a perennial playoff team.<br /> <br /> And now Harrison has set his sites on similar deeds with Towns County football.<br /> <br /> Harrison knows it won't be easy -- the Indians have just one winning campaign in their history (a 7-3 mark in 2008) -- but the East Tennessee native is excited to tackle the challenge and bring his process to Hiawassee.<br /> <br /> "It took us three years at Brookstone to turn things around, and I would love to do that here," Harrison said. "It was good timing for me to come here. I had been back at a school in east Tennessee (for one year after leaving Brookstone) and it wasn't a good fit for me, but I wanted to stay near the area. I also wanted to work for someone that appreciated hard work and going about it the right way. Towns County fit all of those needs perfectly."<br /> <br /> The Indians are coming off a 3-7 campaign and Harrison has liked what he's seen from the players within his new program.<br /> <br /> "The kids here are great, and they've done a great job helping me transition," Harrison said. "They have really bought in and want to be successful. And I like the atmosphere of knowing all the kids and their families and litearlly knowing where most of them live."<br /> <br /> Harrison will employ a wing-T attack on offense and a multiple defense capable of playing anywhere from eight to five men around the line of scrimmage.<br /> <br /> "I'm a traditional wing-T guy, have been all my career," Harrison said. "It's a great deceptive offense and will work for the type of players we have."<br /> <br /> The Indians' wing-T will be led by quarterback Jackson Noblet, one of five returning starters on both sides of the ball, and a versatile player that is a threat with his arm and his legs.<br /> <br /> "Jackson's a tough kid and has been a great leader for us so far," Harrison said. <br /> <br /> Noblet will be joined running backs Harrison Hobbs, Cruz Shook, Brett Barrett and Vonya Baldwin -- and Harrison is hoping one of the backs will step to the fore to become the go-to player in key situations.<br /> <br /> "It's a question of who is going to get us the yards when the play is tight out there," Harrison said. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Evan Keyes and Kyle Davis will anchor the offensive line at guard, along with center Jaryd Gurley.<br /> <br /> Defensively, the Indians will rely on many of the same players, with Keyes and Shook at linebacker, along with Garrett Bradshaw and Zach Sewell at outside linebacker. The defensive front will be led by Gurley, Davis, Kevin McConnell and Cody Canterbury.<br /> <br /> Baldwin and Barrett will man the cornerback spots.<br /> <br /> "We just want to get to a level of consistency," said Harrison, who says the building of Towns County football will follow a process. "You have to start with the little things and keep working every day."

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