The Upperman Bees are finishing preparations for the 2021 football season while preparing for a new region, classification and challenges.
Upperman head coach Adam Caine said he is pleased with the work his team put in during the offseason, but knows they have more work to do before the season starts.
“So far, as far as I can be, I’m pretty pleased,” said Caine. “We’ve got a long way to go. The thing we’ve focused hard on is our conditioning. Sooner or later, we’re going to be a pretty good football team, when that happens is all going to depend on how hard we’re willing to work.”
The Bees, who are coming off an 8-4 season and have won three straight region championships, are moving to the 4A classification in a region featuring Livingston Academy, Macon County, Dekalb County, Cumberland County and Stone Memorial.
Returning at quarterback for the Bees in 2021 is senior Ty Dutchess. Dutchess rushed for 1200 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2020 while adding 486 yards passing and three touchdowns while splitting time at the QB position.
Caine said he believes Dutchess being the full-time starter has helped him in preparation for the season.
“I’ve been pleased with Ty,” said Caine. “He wants to be the quarterback. He wants to be the leader. He wants to do well. We’re still a work in progress, but the thing about him is he’s a big-time threat with the ball in his hands.”
Dutchess will be complimented in the backfield by a host of backs. Junior tailback Terrance Dedmon leads the group after rushing for 903 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020. Sophomore Jaxson Rollins has also turned heads throughout the spring and appears poised to be an important part of the offense.
On the outside, senior wideout Daniel Metzgar and sophomore Carter Shanks will carry the load in the passing attack.
“We’ve got some guys who can make plays,” said Caine. “I think last year Terrance proved himself a little bit. Jaxson Rollins is a completely different type of back. He’s just got something different about him once he’s got the ball in his hand. Daniel at receiver can put up good numbers and has really progressed from the end of last year to now. You’re never going to be out of a football game when you’ve got talent who can do some things.”
Up front, the Bees’ offensive line features several returning starters. Names like Bo Harrell, Wes Boles, Alvin Gentry, Will Penland and Trey Stapleton anchor the line, and Caine said he likes how they have looked in camp.
“They’re very important,” said Caine. “They set the tone. They’re good dudes and they’re fun to coach. We’ve got some size to us. It’s exciting but we’re not there yet. We battle every single day.”
Perhaps the biggest strength of the Bees on paper is the defensive line. Senior defensive end Jyron McClellan has received collegiate offers, and sophomores Clayton Harris and Evan Briggs each impressed in their freshman seasons.
“Most days I’ve been very pleased with them,” said Caine. “They’re physically-imposing guys. When they gas it up they can be pretty good.”
The back half of the defense features Dedmon, Eli Randolph and Joseph Boehm at linebacker with Shanks, Metzgar, Dutchess and several others in the secondary.
“We’re looking for that guy who is really eager to have the play come their way,” said Caine on his defense.
The Bees will kickoff the season on Thursday night when they take on cross-county rival Cookeville at Tennessee Tech University’s Tucker Stadium at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the UCR Facebook page with Noah McKay and Justin Matheney on the call with pregame coverage starting at 6:50 p.m.