Friday, August 16, 2013
Ider Hornets
Coach: Brent Tinker (44-61 in 11 years here and overall)
Last year: 5-5, missed out on the playoffs unexpectedly
'13 dreams: The Hornets have several new faces in new places this season and will need each of them to step up if they are to return to the postseason. Those include two new offensive tackles, two new safeties and Caleb Higdon, who moves to quarterback after playing running back last season. But the large senior class should provide enough leadership to ensure that Ider is in the playoff mix.
13-for-13 contenders: Higdon (5-foot-9, 165) will be a dual threat at quarterback. He ran for 975 yards as a running back last season but now will share the workload with senior Matthew Collins (5-9, 175) in the backfield as well as senior receiver Wayne Hyler (5-10, 145). Senior Cody Swanson (6-2, 260) will anchor both lines, and classmate Ethan Durham (5-11, 210) is a solid two-year starter at center and defensive tackle.
Number of interest: 3 - the number of consecutive years the Hornets had made the playoffs before missing out last season. Ider had averaged eight wins per season during that streak.
Program superstition: Before every practice and game the team gathers to repeat a three-paragraph motto written by Coach Tinker about the opportunity to play the game and the effort they will give for their teammates.
1-through-3: Senior offensive lineman Cody Swanson, a three-year starter.
Q. What are your team goals and personal goal for this year?
A. As a team, we want to get back to the playoffs and go as far as we can. For me, I just want to help my team win as many games as possible as a senior.
Q. Coach Tinker played at UT-Chattanooga. How much does it help having a former college lineman as your head coach?
A. It's a really big help for us linemen because he knows what it takes to get the job done and he shows us how to do that. He also teaches us about how lessons we learn on the field carry over into life, and I like that about him.
Q. Who's your favorite college or pro athlete?
A. Tim Tebow because of his morals, what he stands for and how hard he plays all the time. He's just a great example.
2013 Schedule
Aug. 30 at Addison, 8
Sep. 6 at West End*, 8
Sep. 13 Westbrook Christian*, 8
Sep. 20 Fyffe*, 8
Sep. 27 Cherokee County, 8
Oct. 4 at Section*, 8
Oct. 11 North Sand Mountain*, 8
Oct. 18 at Gaston*, 8
Oct. 25 Sand Rock*, 8
Nov. 1 at Sylvania, 8
Roster
No. Name Class
1 Wayne Hyler Senior
2 Caleb Higdon Senior
3 Matthew Collins Senior
4 Dylan Giles Freshman
5 Tee Jay Upton Junior
6 Hayden Blevins Senior
7 Kyle Toney Sophomore
10 Dillon Read Junior
11 Jonathan Tipton Sophomore
12 Jacob Smith Freshman
13 Tyler Ogle Junior
14 Devin Dobbins Sophomore
15 Brent Meadows Freshman
20 Dylan McMahon Sophomore
22 Shawn Dunn Freshman
24 Seth Adams Junior
25 Tyler Downer Junior
28 Daniel Spurgin Jr. Freshman
29 Houston Ward Junior
30 Damen Payne Sophomore
32 Braxton Lassetter Freshman
40 Hunter Smith Freshman
44 Levi Goolesby Senior
45 Jarett Palmer Sophomore
50 Matthew Pike Freshman
52 Levi Durham Sophomore
53 Dakota Tolbert Senior
54 Zach Lancaster Senior
55 Ethan Durham Senior
56 Blake Colley Freshman
58 Tyler Still Senior
60 Jay Lea Freshman
65 Justin Bearden Junior
70 Logan Hutsell Freshman
71 Alex Gilbert Sophomore
74 Cody Swanson Senior
75 Adrian Lingerfelt Sophomore
77 Sawyer McKay Senior
88 Justin Fugate Junior