A short roster might not keep Mount Ida from going a long way.
The Lions have an 18-player roster due to a small group of seniors but expect a strong follow-up to last year's 8-4 showing, Seven of the wins, including a playoff victory over Murfreesboro, came consecutively.
"We're low on seniors. We only have three on the whole team," coach Mike White said, "but we've got a lot of returning starters."
A strong sophomore class led by quarterback/safety T.J. Wilson and receiver/cornerback Jess Lowery sparked the 2013 surge from a 1-3 start, and White has seen continued progress.
"We had a real good summer. ... We know what we're doing this year. They're not sophomores anymore."
Wilson sparkled in 2013, passing for 1,086 yards and nine touchdowns and rushing for 537 yards, and White said he's only gotten better.
"I would say he's gained a step in his speed and quickness, and he's throwing the ball better."
Lowery is joined at wide receiver by senior Tyler Rhoden and sophomore Austin McAdoo. Junior Caleb Jones is back at tight end.
"We've got the capability of really doing some damage this year, if it calls for it," White said of passing out of the ground-geared Veer. "We (pass) if we need to; we don't if we don't."
An upgraded passing attack will depend on "running good routes, not jogging (on) routes," White said.
The running game rolls on with junior running backs Austin Hickman and Cody Robertson. Hickman rushed for 865 yards in seven games last year, while Robertson split time at receiver. Lowery, who had 1,461 all-purpose yards (receiving, rushing, kick returns), and Rhoden will also get carries.
The key to rushing success, White said, is a line anchored by seniors Dakota Barrett and Jackie Hunter. Barrett (6-2, 265), an all-state selection last year, and sophomore Brett Cannon (6-2, 230) are at tackle, Hunter (5.9, 220) and junior Tyler Wingfield (5-11, 190) at guard and junior Michael Kesterson (5-10, 220) at center.
"We've got good size in our offensive line," White said. "They're young, but I feel like our offensive line has really progressed over the summer. They really know what they're doing. They're big and they all move pretty well."
Sophomores Logan Abernathy and Anthony Spurling add depth.
Barrett also returns at defensive end after making 13 sacks last year. Jones made a whopping 154 tackles and seven sacks at inside linebacker, where he teams with Robertson (73 tackles).
Spurling moves into the other end spot, and Abernathy and Cannon are the tackles.
"The defensive line is going to get a good push, and that's a good start on defense," White said. "We should be better everywhere, but I feel good about our defensive line -- especially after going to (summer) team camps."
Wingfield starts at outside linebacker, and Hickman and Rhoden have battled for the other outside slot.
Kesterson and sophomore Shawn Spurling add line depth, Wilson backs up at inside linebacker and sophomores Hayden Bishop and Trent Gasten on the outside. Bishop also is backup quarterback.
Wilson led the secondary last year with six interceptions and 60 tackles. Hickman or McAdoo will start at the corner opposite Lowery, and McAdoo also backs up Wilson.
Mount Ida might have been the 2A-5 favorite but moves back to the more rugged 2A-7. The Lions are picked to finish third by Hooten's Arkansas Football, Dierks and Gurdon taking the top spots. Murfreesboro is picked fourth, followed by Lafayette County and Spring Hill.
"Top to bottom, I feel like it's one of the toughest (2A) leagues in the state," White said. "You're going to see speed -- a lot of speed -- every week. You've got to play defense in that conference. You've got to be able to contain the speed.
The Lions open Friday at Magazine, then play Danville at home and at Mountain Pine before opening league play against Mineral Springs. They play Dierks Oct. 24 at home and at Gurdon the next week.
"I feel like we can complete with them," White said. "Our deal is to stay healthy, with our numbers."
Sports on 08/27/2014