SM-Tn Sports
Local high school football teams continue to work toward the 2021 season, with most wrapping up spring drills over the next couple of weeks – if not already.
Southern Middle Tennessee Sports reached out to coaches with each of the 11 programs in our coverage area to check on their progress as classes wind down and summer workouts approach, as well as update their new regions for the upcoming campaign, last year’s record and this year’s schedule.
COLUMBIA ACAD. (2-6 in 2020), Division II-A Middle
Coach: Charlie Lansdell (9th season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“Knowing we have the spring and summer to prepare for the upcoming season. We’ve had some great leadership in the offseason.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“Being able to bounce back from a tough season; working on our mental toughness; getting back to where CA football has been and should be.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“Work on fundamentals, see who is ready to compete, look for our quarterback.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“The quarterback (candidates) — Nick Brown, Connor Rosson and Reid McGrath.”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“Wraps up May 14; no spring game.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 @Davidson Acad.
8/27 Waverly
9/3 @Jackson Chr.
9/10 @Franklin Road Acad.
9/17 Donelson Chr.*
9/24 Boyd Buchanan
10/1 @Mt. Juliet Chr.*
10/15 Nashville Chr.*
10/22 @Clarksville Acad.*
10/29 Grace Chr.*
*region game
COLUMBIA CENTRAL (6-6 in 2020), Region 6-5A
Coach: Jason Hoath (6th season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“I like our overall team speed on defense. We will be undersized up front, but we will be quick off the ball. We are also returning four starters on the offensive line, our tight end and running backs.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“The biggest concern we have right now is who will be taking on the quarterback responsibilities. We will have three players competing for that spot and they have little to no varsity experience.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“We’re excited to see which players will step up to the challenge and compete for spots. We will have a chance to evaluate some new faces this spring and see what our potential will look like.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“Antwan Moore is a returning starter as a defensive end/linebacker. He was named to the (Tennessee Football Coaches Association) all-state team as a junior and (Region 5-5A defensive lineman of the year) in 2020. However, he has been sidelined this spring as a precaution from a previous injury. He will be ready to go this summer.”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
Columbia Central concluded spring drills with a Purple & White Game on May 7.
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 Marshall Co.
8/27 @Dickson Co.
9/3 Franklin Co.*
9/10 @Green Hill
9/17 Nolensville*
9/24 @Mt. Pleasant
10/1 @Page*
10/8 Giles Co.
10/15 Lincoln Co.*
10/29 @Spring Hill*
*region game
INDEPENDENCE (7-3 in 2020), Region 7-6A
Coach: Scott Blade (9th season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“Senior leadership; great attitudes.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“Offensive line depth; replacing our quarterback (U.S. Naval Academy signee, Class 6A Mr. Football semifinalist Jaxson Campbell).
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
”Installation of schemes, answer personnel questions.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“(2023) running back Tre Hartwell (666 rushing yards, seven TDs in 2020) and (2023) tight end Ty Lockwood (45 catches, 605 yards, three TDs in 2020).
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“May 14. No spring game.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 Christ Presbyerian Acad.
8/27 @Lipscomb Acad.
9/3 Centennial*
9/10 @Pope John Paul II
9/17 Franklin*
9/24 @East Nashville
10/1 Brentwood*
10/8 @Summit*
10/22 Page
10/29 @Ravenwood*
*region game
LAWRENCE CO. (4-5 in 2020), Region 5-4A
Coach: David Marston (19th season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“Returning two linebackers, two defensive tackles and both corners as well as a quarterback (Alex Carr) who has started four years.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“Addressing our offensive line, defensive end, safety, running back and tight end/split end.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
”Blocking, tackling, taking care of the football and being physical.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“Running backs, quarterback and young offensive line talent.”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“May 11, weather permitting. No spring game.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 Summertown
8/27 @Loretto
9/3 Montgomery Central*
9/10 Greenbrier*
9/17 @Pearl-Cohn*
9/24 @Glencliff*
10/1 @Marshall Co.*
10/15 Tullahoma*
10/22 Hillwood*
10/29 @Creek Wood*
*region game
LORETTO (5-6 in 2020), Region 5-2A
Coach: Barry Daniel (2nd season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“The simple fact that I have established a relationship with all of the players. I know them so much better than I did at this point last season. They know me, they know my expectations and they are doing their best to meet them.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“We are going to have several guys back with playing experience, but we are going to have to find some depth. Some of our guys have had an awesome offseason and could fill a starting role but who is the “next man up”? Some players will have to learn more than one spot on both sides of the ball to provide depth.
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“To teach the basics of our systems on offense and defense. If our guys can know our base formations and plays, we can gain reps over the summer.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“Offensive line: This group has had a great off season of weight training. Can they transfer it to the field? Secondary: Must replace two starters from this unit. Two great players return, but who will complete the unit?”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“Late in May. We are going to be short and sweet as many of our guys are still in baseball. No spring game.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 @Collinwood
8/27 Lawrence Co.
9/3 @Forrest
9/10 Wayne Co.
9/17 Mt. Pleasant
9/24 @Lewis Co.
10/1 @Summertown
10/8 @Moore Co.
10/15 Cascade
10/29 Richland
*region game
MT. PLEASANT (1-8 in 2020), Region 5-2A
Coach: Kit Hartsfield (1st season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“16 returning starters.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“(Installing) new systems on both sides of the ball and creating some depth.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“(Seeing) toughness, competitiveness, player development.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“The running back position with (Xavior) Davidson and (Keevan) Cooper shows a lot of potential. (Defensive end/tight end) Gavin Alderson has taken a giant step forward, enforcing his will. Several guys are doing good things. Jeffrey Williamson is turning heads at free safety.”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“May 13. We will play a spring game beginning at 6 p.m.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 East Hickman
8/27 @Scotts Hill
9/3 Cascade*
9/10 @Zion Chr.
9/17 @Loretto*
9/24 Columbia Central
10/1 Richland*
10/15 @Summertown*
10/22 Spring Hill
10/29 @Forrest*
*region game
RICHLAND (2-7 in 2020), Region 5-2A
Coach: Nick Patterson (4th season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“Offensive line! All returning, all had big-time gains this offseason. It’s my fourth year here, so expectations are clear.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“New region, new classification.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“To find high-motor guys who are fully engaged in the process of competing every day.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“Linebackers – who’s gonna step up and lead our defense?”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“We’ll have a spring game on May 21 to end practice.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/19 @Cornersville
8/27 Zion Chr.
9/3 @Summertown*
9/10 Hickman Co.
9/17 Cascade*
10/1 @Mt. Pleasant*
10/8 Collinwood
10/15 Forrest*
10/22 @East Hickman
10/29 @Loretto*
*region game
SPRING HILL (3-6 in 2020), Region 6-5A
Coach: Ben Martin (4th season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“I think we’ll have some strong senior leadership this season.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“Youth and game-time experience for most positions.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“Determine this year’s team identity; evaluate every position/player.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“I think Mac Richie (senior running back; 276 rushing yards, two TDs in 2020) will continue to be a solid player for us. Aiden St. Croix (seior receiver/defensive end) has really stepped his game up. Louis Alderette (senior receiver/defensive back) has outworked almost everyone in the offseason. I think it could be a breakout year for (junior running back) Kaiden Martin.”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“We will wrap up May 15 with our annual Maroon and White Game at Buford Gladney Stadium at 7 p.m.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 @Bowling Green (Ky.) Greenwood
8/27 Summit
9/3 @Page*
9/10 Lewis Co.
9/17 Lincoln Co.*
9/24 Coffee Co.
10/1 @Nolensville*
10/15 @Franklin Co.*
10/22 @Mt. Pleasant
10/29 Columbia Central*
*region game
SUMMERTOWN (3-6 in 2020), Region 5-2A
Coach: Dakota Crews (1st season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“Our senior leadership.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“Learning a new offensive and defensive system this spring and summer. Our guys have responded well, but we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“To get our guys to compete. They’ve done a great job in the weight room and it has carried over into our spring practice. We’re trying to establish a culture of compete, compete, compete. In every drill, every play, every rep, every test in school, we want our guys competing.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“It’s hard to pinpoint one player or one position. (Quarterback) Colton Shaffer, (running back/receiver) Javen Edmiston and (receiver) Michael Abbott are a couple of our senior skill players to watch, but we have so many guys stepping up.”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
Summertown concluded spring practice with an intrasquad scrimmage on May 6.
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 @Lawrence Co.
8/27 @Wayne Co.
9/3 Richland*
9/10 Collinwood
9/17 @Forrest*
9/24 @Zion Chr.
10/1 Loretto*
10/15 Mt. Pleasant*
10/22 Lewis Co.
10/29 @Cascade*
*region game
SUMMIT (14-1 in 2020), Region 7-6A
Coach: Brian Coleman (8th season)
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“There’s not much to be comfortable about when moving up to 6A and one of the best regions in the state.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“Durability, with the grueling schedule we have. We will need to develop depth.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“Getting back to basics – blocking and tackling technique, etc.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“All eyes are usually on the Wade twins (quarterback Destin, a Class 5A Mr. Football finalist in 2020, and linebacker/defensive end Keaten; both are Kentucky commits).”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“We will wrap up May 13, maybe with a Navy/White Game.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 @Henry Co.
8/27 @Spring Hill
9/3 @Brentwood*
9/10 Blackman
9/17 Centennial*
9/24 Beech
10/1 Ravenwood*
10/8 Independence*
10/22 @Shelbyville
10/29 @Franklin*
*region game
ZION CHR. (4-6 in 2020)
Coach: Jeff Jordan (1st season)
*Acting coach James Dickinson submitted responses prior to Jordan’s hiring on May 6
● What is your biggest comfort as you consider your 2021 team?
“As of now we have no comfort. Numbers will be down this fall. There’s a lot of praying and planning at this point.”
● What is your biggest concern as you consider your 2021 team?
“The number of players we have to play this fall are a full work in progress. Offensive line and defensive line are a very big concern. We lost a lot of great players up front from last season.”
● What is your primary objective for spring practice?
“Getting new players out, working with all grades from 4th all the way up to 12th. Getting kids that have not been playing to buy in and play.”
● “All eyes on … “ what player or position during spring practice?
“With limited numbers, all eyes are on every player. We all know (senior quarterback/linebacker) Luke Perko is the key – an outstanding young man and a true leader.”
● When does spring practice wrap up for your program? Do you have a spring game planned, and if so, when?
“We’ll finish up the last week of classes. (Final day of school is May 20.) There will be no spring game.”
● What is your 2021 schedule?
8/20 Grace Chr.
8/27 @Richland
9/10 Mt. Pleasant
9/17 Eagleville
9/24 Summertown
10/1 @First Assembly Chr.
10/15 @Grundy Co.
10/22 @Wayne Co.
10/29 Cornersville
