The football news is starting. The first paper out of the box is the Athens News Courier. If you missed Thursday's issue, you can pick up a hard copy at the newspaper office in Athens until Wednesday or until they sell out.
The Red Devils are working toward their first playoff appearance since 2011, and they will have to do it while competing in Class 4A for the first time in school history.
What Elkmont has on its side is experience, and lots of it. The Red Devils return 15 starters with more than two-dozen juniors and seniors who have played significant minutes on the depth chart.
“I feel like this year is going to be about the team, not about individuals,” said Elkmont head coach Sean Holt. “I expect them to step up because they are such an experienced group. They all have experience; even the guys not starting have played quite a bit.”
That experience starts with the offense, where eight players return with starting experience. Included among those returning starters is quarterback Jordan Nelson and four returning offensive lineman.
“The whole offense is experienced,” Holt said.
The Red Devils are working toward their first playoff appearance since 2011, and they will have to do it while competing in Class 4A for the first time in school history.
What Elkmont has on its side is experience, and lots of it. The Red Devils return 15 starters with more than two-dozen juniors and seniors who have played significant minutes on the depth chart.
“I feel like this year is going to be about the team, not about individuals,” said Elkmont head coach Sean Holt. “I expect them to step up because they are such an experienced group. They all have experience; even the guys not starting have played quite a bit.”
That experience starts with the offense, where eight players return with starting experience. Included among those returning starters is quarterback Jordan Nelson and four returning offensive lineman.
“The whole offense is experienced,” Holt said.
Elkmont will need that collective experience after unexpectedly moving up a classification from 3A to 4A during summer realignment. The Red Devils move into Class 4A, Region 8, with cross-county rivals West Limestone and three other teams that made the playoffs last season.
“They weren’t in shock and worry because we moved up to 4A,” Holt said. “It’s not that we don’t respect those teams. We’ve played good football teams over the past couple of years.”
Elkmont was previously in 3A, Region 8, with two-time defending champion Madison Academy and perennial powers Colbert County and Lauderdale County. Another 3A power, Deshler, also made the move up to 4A and into Elkmont’s region.
While the region opponents change, one thing has stayed the same for Elkmont — opening the season against rival Ardmore.
“It’s a big rivalry game for us,” Holt said. “It an important game. It’s become a nonregion game for quite a while. It’s tough for a team to bounce back from that opening season loss.”
Along with changing regions, the new format allows teams to begin playing games Aug. 22 with the option of a bye week during the season. Elkmont will kickoff the season at Ardmore on Aug. 29 and play 10 straight games. The team begins practice on Aug. 4.
“I would like to have a good, old-fashioned jamboree, but we weren’t able to find one,” Holt said. “We will have a scrimmage that first Friday. We want to get ourselves prepared for that first game. Our kids already have playing experience, so for us, it’s that important.”
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