BY THE NUMBERS4 - Starters returning for this year's Owls.7 - Ooltewah players who weigh over 200 pounds.64 - Yards that junior and new starting quarterback Brody Binder threw for as a backup last season.SCHEDULEAug. 17 at BrainerdAug. 24 at East HamiltonAug. 31 Cleveland*Sept. 7 SiegelSept. 14 McMinn County*Sept. 21 East RidgeSept. 28 Soddy-Daisy*Oct. 5 at Bradley Central*Oct. 12 at Rhea County*Oct. 26 at Walker Valley** District 5-AAA gameGames start at 7:30 p.m.
OOLTEWAH OWLS
Coach: Shannon Williams
Stadium: James N. Monroe Stadium
Stadium address: 6123 Mountain View Road, Ooltewah, TN 37363
RECENT HISTORY
The Owls finished 8-4 in 2011, falling to eventual state runner-up Knoxville Powell in the 5A playoffs. They were the only team in District 5-AAA to win a playoff game. Here's a look at the regular-season win total for the last five years:
Season 1 5 10
2011 -------(7)
2010 ----(4)
2009 ---------(9)
2008 ---------(9)
2007 ------(6)
THREE STRENGTHS
1) As expected, the Owls will be fast.
2) There is a lot of potential in the offensive and defensive skill positions.
3) Junior quarterback Brody Binder has shown glimpses that he could be a special player this season.
THREE CONCERNS
1) Where will the experience come from with only four starters returning from last season?
2) Who can provide depth, particularly in the front seven?
3) With fewer than 10 guys over 200 pounds, will the Owls have the size to compete?
THREE QUESTIONS WITH PHILLIP MCCLAIN
(Senior running back)
Q: Ooltewah had a large senior class last season. What did you learn playing behind those guys?
A: The biggest thing I learned about was leadership. I also learned how to pick up your teammates when you're down.
Q: How do you use what you learned last year and apply it to this season?
A: We just have to teach them to do the same things. They really taught us discipline and attitude. We've got the discipline part held down. That's one thing we focused on.
Q: You're going to be spending some time as a slot receiver this season. How has that adjustment been?
A: I've been working on it all preseason. I think I've got the receiver part, and now I'm working on the running back position. Honestly, I like running back better - I feel I'm better out of the backfield, plus it's what I know and I'm a lot more comfortable. I don't think it'll be a problem, though; I feel I've already grasped the new position.
ROSTER
5 Phillip McClain - Senior
6 Brody Binder - Junior
7 Adam Hubert - Senior
8 Mike J. Williams - Junior
9 Shawn Montgomery - Senior
10 Alex Crowe - Senior
12 Anthony Turner - Sophomore
13 Edward Hayes - Sophomore
15 Kelvin Leon - Sophomore
16 Anthony Stewart - Sophomore
17 Adrian Jones - Junior
18 Tyson Sylvester - Sophomore
19 Garrett Sealor - Senior
21 Brandon Byrd - Sophomore
22 Colin Self - Senior
23 Craig Thompson - Senior
24 Dan Reed - Senior
25 Andrew Ware - Senior
27 Logan Turner - Junior
28 Desmond Pittman - Junior
29 T.J. Davis - Senior
30 Alex Hughes - Junior
31 David Strickland - Junior
32 Chase Ray - Sophomore
33 John Coates - Junior
34 Jacob Wright - Senior
35 Alex Doss - Senior
36 Mack Fairley - Sophomore
37 Cameron Wallace - Sophomore
39 Alonzo Blackwell - Sophomore
40 Stuart Doss - Senior
42 John Morgan - Junior
43 Will Frisbee - Junior
44 Michael Ruebusch - Senior
47 Laszlo Toser - Sophomore
48 Jordan Hawthorne - Senior
50 Garrett Morrison - Senior
51 Tyler Palmgren - Sophomore
52 David Nobles - Junior
53 Armon Bell - Sophomore
54 Dalton Johnson - Junior
55 DeJaun McPherson - Junior
56 Eric Dunigan - Junior
57 Chris Dyess - Sophomore
58 Mike A. Williams - Junior
59 Dario Brkic - Junior
60 Jacob Keltch - Sophomore
62 Anthony Snead - Sophomore
64 Mark Harden - Senior
65 John Alfaro - Sophomore
68 Jackson McClain - Senior
69 Noah Bridges - Sophomore
70 Williams Sanders - Senior
71 Nick Herkley - Sophomore
73 Dennis Lyle - Sophomore
74 Caleb Rich - Junior
75 Quaterius Robinson - Senior
76 Kyle Duckett - Sophomore
77 Nathan Weber - Senior
78 Jacob Hammon - Junior
83 Hayden Bradley - Sophomore
84 Joey Sealor - Sophomore
85 Josh Brooks - Sophomore
87 Tre Sandefur - Junior
95 Alonzo Freeman - Sophomore
96 Jeremiah Jackson - Freshman