By Michael Lindsay
The first week of full-contact football practice for Clay County, Smith County and White County concluded with a 5-team scrimmage Friday morning Tennessee Tech University’s Tucker Stadium as the programs also faced off against Rockwood and Oneida.
“It’s a great opportunity to come out and compete against multiple teams,” said Smith County head coach Matt Dyer. “You get multiple looks; we’ve seen a spread, an under-center Wing-T and a power spread. Being a part of a 5-team scrimmage at a great facility here at Tucker Stadium is big. We’re gracious for Tech for allowing us to do this.”
Dyer’s Owls went 11-2 in 2022 and return a loaded roster despite replacing quarterback Kaden Powell, who transferred during the summer. The Owls will turn to a freshman to lead their offense in 2023.
“We’ve got Riley Martin back there,” Dyer said. “He’s a talented player and highly regarded baseball prospect with multiple SEC looks going into his freshman year. He’s got a heck of an arm and great touch. He’s athletic and mature.
“Peyton Hix has been our go-to guy on defense and has made a lot of plays the past two years,” Dyer added. “Ethan Madewell and Jaeden Evans have had a good day; they’ve been our bell cows at running back. Ryne Martin is another one who will make a lot of plays for us.”
Friday’s scrimmage capped off a week of full practice for Smith County.
“You get tired of hitting the same dudes in the same jerseys,” Dyer added. “Now we get an opportunity to hit against multiple teams and a plethora of looks. We’re playing a lot of guys today to develop some depth.”
White County entered Friday’s scrimmage with multiple new names in the starting lineup under first-year head coach Curtis Beaty. The Warriors went 9-3 last year, but lost more than 20 seniors to graduation.
“It’s going as expected,” Beaty said. “We’ve got some youth so we’ve had some busts, but we asked the kids to be physical today and run to the ball, and they’re doing that.
“Our kids were so fired up to just get to Monday, then they hit each other for four days,” Beaty added. “They were so excited to come down here and hit somebody else. That’s who we are; we’re a physical football team, and if we’re not then we can’t win.”
White County replaces nearly their entire starting lineup despite returning quarterback Tripp Pinion.
“The young offensive line really impressed me today,” Beaty added. “They’re doing what we’ve asked them to do; they’re firing off the ball and hitting people. Right now it’s not always right, but they’re hitting people. TJ Dodd, Dayman Conley and Max Baker did well. Our defensive backs are still learning a new scheme but they’re flying around. It’s not just one or two standing out because they’re all doing well.”
Along with White County and Smith County, the new-look Clay County Bulldogs represented the UC Friday morning in Cookeville. Clay County is fresh off a 13-2 season that included a Class 1A state runner-up finish and a Region 4-1A championship.
The Bulldogs are replacing 9 seniors from 2022.
“We see a lot of things we need to work on,” said Bulldog head coach Bruce Lamb. “When you lose 9 kids and 7 of them never came off the field, it’s a process and it’s going to take some time. I want them to compete. I want to see who’s going to get out there and get after it.”
New faces are in new positions across the board for Clay County.
“It’s almost the entire team,” Lamb said. “Nate Adams is at quarterback and Leighton Brown and Worm Smith are at running back. There’s a bunch of new guys and we have a lot of growing up to do really fast. We have to figure out what we’re doing. We’ve busted some plays, and those are unacceptable. We’ll fix that; I want to see them get after it.”
Each program has two more scrimmages before their respective regular seasons kick off. Smith County opens the 2023 football regular season on the Upper Cumberland on Thursday, Aug. 17, as they travel to Gordonsville. Clay County is set to open the regular season Friday, Aug. 18, at York Institute while White County travels to Silverdale Academy the same day.
