By Donovan Stewart
MaxPreps.com
Can Smyrna buck history and make another state title run in Class 5A?
The Bulldogs have won back-to-back state titles in the state’s highest classification and are trying to win a third straight title, something that has never been done in Class 5A.
Other contenders, such as Williamson county neighbors Franklin and Brentwood along with hated rival Riverdale, will try to derail the Bulldogs’ title hopes.
Preseason Top Five
1. Smyrna Bulldogs (12-3, defending 5A state champions)
Head Coach- Matt Williams
State Titles- 2, 2006, 2007
Top Players- Jeremiah Bryson, RB, So., Tyler Eady, OT/DT, Sr., Dakota Woods, OL/DT, Sr., Deon Meadows, LB, So., Drew Gardner, LB, Jr., Corey Cammon, SS, Sr., Andrew Jenkins, SS, Jr., Cody Hagar, WR/FS, Sr., Westley Cadena, OL/DT, Jr., Anthony Smith, DE, Sr., Nick Richardson, DE, Sr., Steve Wilson, QB, So., Kyle Freeman, QB, So.
Strengths- Playmakers. The Bulldogs have some major ones in sophomore stud Jeremiah Bryson at running back, fellow sophomore middle linebacker Deon Meadows, senior Cody Hagar and linemen Tyler Eady and Dakota Woods. Bryson ran for 1,200 yards as a freshman and will benefit behind Eady, who is one of the best offensive linemen in the state. The Bulldogs also return eight on the defensive side and with Meadows and junior Drew Gardner at linebacker, and huge defensive tackles Woods and Westley Cadena stopping up the middle, the Bulldogs should knock out opponents while the offense comes around.
Concerns- The loss of offensive stars. Losing eight on offense will be tough to overcome, especially replacing quarterback Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt baseball) and big-play receiver Rod Wilks (Tennessee) will be tough. The quarterback position is between two sophomores in Steve Wilson and Kyle Freeman, whoever wins the job will be handing off to Bryson until first-year head coach Matt Williams feels they are ready. The Bulldogs believe that Cody Hagar and company can get the job done in the passing game but can they be as productive as Wilks was the last two seasons?
2. Franklin Rebels (8-4, quarterfinalist)
Head Coach- Craig Clayton
State Titles- None
Top Players- Jamal Starnes, WR/S, Sr., Graham Nichols, QB, Sr., Jariel Eaton, WR, Sr., Keylo Lee, RB, Jr., Ramsey Sellers, WR/S, Sr., Eric Brown, DB, Sr., Cole Nathan, LB, Sr., Connor Walkup, OT, Sr., Andrew Combos, OG, Sr., Alex Ford, RB, Jr.
Strengths- Quarterback Graham Nichols will have tons of weapons at his disposal this year. Junior running back Keylo Lee will handle the running game while wide receivers Jamal Starnes, Jariel Eaton and Ramsey Sellers are fast targets in the passing game in Coach Craig Clayton’s wide open attack. Seniors Connor Walkup (tackle) and guard Andrew Combos will lead a revamped offensive line.
Concerns- The Rebels only bring back four starters on defense which makes defensive coordinator Donnie Webb’s job even more difficult. Although Starnes will be a weapon in the Rebel passing game, he will be most important as Franklin’s strong safety. The rest of the defense will take its cues from senior linebacker Cole Nathan and fellow senior Eric Brown who will be the leader in the secondary.
3. Riverdale Warriors (11-1, second round of playoffs)
Head Coach- Ron Adyelott
State Titles- 4, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2004
Top Players- Aaron Ebalarosa, LB/RB, Sr., Cody West, QB/FS, Jr., Alex Smithson, DT, Sr., Alex Farley, TE/DE, Sr., C.J. Overton, LB, Jr., Tyler Hunt, FB/LB, Sr., Chris Mayes, OT/DT, Jr., Charles Martin, C/ DT, Jr., Josh Davenport, DE, Sr., Chris McSwain, NG/FB, Jr., Trey Oliver, RB, Sr.
Strengths- The Warriors have won 12-straight region championships and 80 consecutive region games but they will be tested this season. Junior quarterback Cody West will run the Wing-T offense, but will put his arm to use unlike past Riverdale signal callers. Lavergne transfer Trey Oliver will be the main ball carrier for the Warriors while senior tight end Alex Farley will be a reliable target for West. Defensive tackle Alex Smithson and linebackers Aaron Ebalarosa and C.J. Overton will lead a Warrior defense that returns on four starters.
Concerns- Riverdale only returns three starters on offense and four on defense and Coach Ron Adyelott is concerned about his depth. Switching to the Wing-T has been a tough experiment for the Warriors when Adyelott came aboard three years and Riverdale has been bounced early in the playoffs both seasons.
4. Dobyns-Bennett Indians (8-4, second round of playoffs)
Head Coach- Graham Clark
State Titles- 9, (All before Tennessee had a playoff system, zero since the playoff system has been introduced)
Top Players- Chris Sensabaugh, RB, So., Jamie Crawford, QB, Sr., Zach Fleming DE, Sr., Ryan Church, OL, Sr., Will Bateman, DE, Sr., Justin Sylvester, WR/DB, Sr., James Templeton, TE/LB, Sr., Craig Mitchman, K, Sr., Jason Michael, LB, Jr.
Strengths- The Indians have a monster weapon in sophomore running back Chris Sensabaugh. As a freshman, he rushed for 850 yards and 15 touchdowns in just eight games and MaxPreps.com’s Stephen Spiewak listed him among the top 100 sophomores in the country. Senior quarterback Jamie Crawford will have good targets in Justin Sylvester and tight end James Templeton. Senior punter/kicker Craig Mitchman makes the Indian special teams very dangerous.
Concerns- Crawford will be starting at quarterback for the first time in his Indian career and his ability to spread the field will be critical because teams will load the line of scrimmage to stop Sensabaugh.
5. Brentwood Bruins (5-6 first round of playoffs)
Head Coach- Ron Crawford
State Titles- 1, 2002
Top Players- Cameron Mason, TE, Sr., Cole Tischer, LB, Sr., A.J. Krow, QB, Sr., Austin Johnson, DB, Jr., Reggie Farmer, WR/FS, Sr., Michael Regan, RB, Sr., Cameron Croy, LB, Jr., Alex Guth, OL, Jr., Taylor Valien, TE/OL/DL, Sr., Tate Mustin, LB, Sr.
Strengths- Seniors Cameron Mason (TE) and Cole Tischer (LB) are two of the best athletes in the state especially at their positions. Senior A.J. Krow will move from wide receiver to quarterback a move that coach Ron Crawford believes will truly help the Bruin offense. Junior Cameron Croy is a star in the making and compliments Tischer and Tate Mustin at linebacker
Concerns – Although Krow is a good athlete, moving from wide receiver to quarterback, especially in a region that is so tough with the likes of Franklin, Independence and Ravenwood in it, will be difficult. There is depth and injury concerns as well as both areas killed the Bruins last season as they limped into the playoffs.
Five More That Could Surprise- Oak Ridge, Knoxville Farragut, Ooltewah, Whitehaven, Jefferson County
Five Big 5A Questions
1. Can Smyrna make history with a first-year coach? Since 1969 when the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) made a playoff format, only three teams – Tennessee High (1971, 1972), Oak Ridge (1979, 1980) and Brentwood Academy (1995, 1996) – have tried for a three-peat and all have failed. Smyrna is going for three straight without some top players and its head coach Phillip Shadowens, but the Bulldogs have the weapons to make another run.
2. Will Riverdale continue its Region 4 supremacy? Riverdale enters the season with an 80-game region winning streak and 12-consecutive region titles which is an impressive feat but will it continue? Smyrna, Oakland, Lavergne, Siegel, Wilson Central and Lebanon pose threats to the streaks.
3. Who will win Region 2 this season? This region is very competitive with eight teams – four each from the Chattanooga and Knoxville areas. In the five years of the region, Oak Ridge has won the three times with Knoxville Farragut and Ooltewah both winning a region title as well. This season Ooltewah, Knoxville Farragut and Oak Ridge are the favorites, but that means very little.
4. Can a West team get to the finals and win a state championship? Since 1969, only three schools from the western half of the state have won a title in the state’s highest classification – Christian Brothers (1977), Germantown (1983, 2003) and Hillcrest (1985). Germantown was the last time to get to a final and the Red Devils beat Riverdale that season, but since then the West have taken a beating. Whitehaven has the best chance to get back to the finals, but it will have to beat the Region 6 survivor.
5. Who will survive Region 6? Since 2003, four teams in Brentwood (2003, 2004); Ravenwood (2005), Franklin (2006) and Independence (2007) have called themselves region champions. This season Franklin and Brentwood are the favorites but don’t count out Independence and Ravenwood, a team that wants to make up for a disappointing season last year.
Other Class 5A Superlatives
Best Coaching Hire- Thomas McDaniel, Oakland. McDaniel comes to Oakland after leading Moore County to a 7-4 record and a playoff berth in his only season there.
McDaniel brings toughness to a once proud Patriot program that has fell behind neighbor Riverdale.
Best Rivalries- Oak Ridge-Dobyns-Bennett, Riverdale-Oakland, Gallatin-Hendersonville, Franklin-Brentwood, Germantown-Houston.
Players Worth Price of Admission- Derrick Webb, LB, Whitehaven; Gene Robinson, DB, Whitehaven; Jeremiah Bryson, RB, Smyrna; DeMarcus Knight, LB, Morristown East; Will Jackson, OL, Knoxville Farragut; Alex Smithson, DT, Riverdale; Cole Lail, LB, William Blount; Cameron Mason, TE, Brentwood; Nathan Jolley, QB, Houston; Kevin Revis, OL, Rhea County; Cole Tischer, DE, Brentwood; Chris Sensabaugh, RB, Dobyns-Bennett
Most Competitive Region- With four different champions in the last five years, Region 6 has proven to be a rough-and-tumble affiliation.
Toughest Places to Play- Dobyns-Bennett, Oak Ridge, Lincoln County, Riverdale, Ridgeway, Franklin
Donovan Stewart can be reached via email at dstew4vu@yahoo.com
