Mount Ida eyes to repeat as state champions of Conference 2A but Foreman, Dierks, Lafayette County, Murfreesboro, Mineral Springs, Spring Hill or Mountain Pine may have something to say about that before its all said and done.
Mount Ida went 7-0 in conference play. Murfreesboro finished 6-1. Foreman and Dierks went 5-2. Lafayette County went 3-4. Mineral Springs and Spring Hill finished 1-6.
Murfreesboro and Foreman will look to senior leadership to dethrone the champions.
MOUNT IDA
The Lions return junior Jonathan Lagrange (6-1, 210) who led the team to not only a state championship but also in touchdowns with 28. Lagrange rushed for 1,414 yards in 2016.
Mount Ida head coach Michael White returns nine starters on offense and defense, which puts his veer offense and 4-4 in contention to repeat.
Junior quarterback Cade Jackson (5-9, 180) led the offense to scoring 30 points per game in 2016.
Junior defensive end Ethan Winkley (5-10, 220) will lead the Lions defensively.
#
FOREMAN
Mark King returns with the Gators option ground attack in 2017. Junior quarterback Kyren Batey (5-11, 190) rushed for 1,222 and 17 touchdowns for Foreman.
Senior tailback C.J. Green (5-10, 175) rushed for 379 yards and four touchdowns last fall. Sophomore Robbie Smith (5-8, 155) will step into a runningback role in 2017.
Senior defensive end Brandon Thomas (6-2, 205) finished with 36 tackles and will also split out at receiver on offense.
Junior Davin Cross (5-8, 215) will play noseguard after collecting 68 tackles for the Gators in 2016.
DIERKS
Jonathan Bates is optimistic in his first year leading the Dierks Outlaws football program. Bates brings a veer option attack, that he hopes to take 7-2A by storm.
Junior Colt Kuykendall (5-10, 185) and sophomore Chandler Lowery (6-0, 160) have competed in fall camp for the quarterback position, while both may split snaps in 2017.
Senior captain Jarrett Fox (6-5, 250) returns to lead the outlaws from his tight end and defensive end positions. Fox caught 23 passed for 498 yards and five touchdowns and 76 tackles defensively in 2016.
LAFAYETTE COUNTY
Bobby Clark is hoping his flexbone offense offers positive rewards for his Cougars in 2017.
Junior quarterback Mar'tavious Miller (5-7, 150) returns to lead Lafayette County after he passed for 617 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. Miller also rushed for 327 yards and seven touchdowns.
Junior Andrus Dedner (5-8, 145) and sophomore Damarion Hunter (6-0, 178) will split carries at the running back position for Lafayette County.
Dedner intercepted five passes at cornerback last fall.
MURFREESBORO
Marc McRae is keeping the same expectations as last season, the Rattlers finished tied for first in the conference. This is McRae's first year at Murfreesboro as the head coach and he as also implemented a spread style offense.
Senior J.C. Motley (6-1, 175) will make the move from receiver to quarterback to lead the Rattler offense in 2017. Motley also does the kicking and punting for Murfreesboro.
Senior Tyler Tomlinson (5-11, 160) returns to the backfield for the Rattlers, after his reserve role last fall. Senior Bryle Fatheree (6-0, 170) will lead the way for Murfreesboro at fullback.
Junior Jarrett Faulkner (6-2, 235) returns at defensive end for the Rattlers in 2017. Faulker finished last season with 55 tackles on defense and also plays receiver offensively.
MINERAL SPRINGS
Dave Bennett will to the helm as head football coach of the Hornets in his inaugural year at the school.
The Hornets return nine starters on offense and eight starters on defense in 2017.
Senior Octavion Ceasar (5-11, 175) will take the helm at quarterback this fall.
Mineral Springs returns senior Cameron Butler (6-6, 280) who has emerged at tackle offensively and defensively.
Spring Hill
Matt McBride seeks to capitalize after his current Spring Hill Bears have had a year in his system. The Bears went 2-8 overall in 2016.
Senior quarterback Payton Massanelli (6-0, 160) returns to lead Spring Hill under center after a season-ending injury in Week 2. Massanelli rushed 30 times for 146 yards and seven touchdowns in his only appearance of 2016.
Junior Keymonte Rhodes (5-10, 170) will provide a spark for Spring Hill on both sides of the ball in 2017.
Mountain Pine
Although the Red Devils were unable to get a win in 2016, Sam Counce expects his squad to exceed expectations in his second season as head football coach at Mountain Pine.
The Red Devils debuts sophomore quarterback Collin Smith (5-11, 170), who rushed for 1,200 yards on the junior high team last fall.
Senior Dafavioun Haywood (5-10, 158) transferred in from Lake Hamilton, where he rushed for 346 yards and totaled nine touchdowns on the season.