Lookout Valley senior Kendall Parham will be counted on to be a leader on the offensive and defensive lines as the Yellow Jackets make a run at a trip to the state playoffs.Lookout Valley Yellow Jackets
Coach: Tony Webb (54-44 in 10 years here and overall)
Last year: 5-6, lost to Copper Basin in the first round of the 1A playoffs
'13 dreams: The Yellow Jackets have reached the playoffs seven of the last eight seasons but will have to rely on an inexperienced offensive backfield growing up in a hurry to reach the postseason again. There is a lot of experience in the trenches, as four starters return to each side of the line. And while running back Jaylen Wynn will be in his first season as the primary offensive weapon, he did gain considerable varsity experience last year and has game-breaking speed.
13-for-13 contenders: Kendall Parham (6-foot-4, 280) is a four-year starter on the offensive line and will contribute on the defensive line as well. He's a college prospect and one of only two senior starters, along with tackle/linebacker Earth Reed (5-9, 175). Wynn (5-11, 170) is a junior who ran for more than 400 yards last season and also is a good receiver for freshman quarterback Evan Walker (6-1, 150). Walker already has coaches excited about his potential, and the plan is to let him throw the ball at least 15 times per game.
Number of interest: 10. The years Tony Webb has been the Yellow Jackets' head coach, making him the dean of District 6-A. Before Webb, Lookout Valley had not had a coach stay with the program longer than five years consecutively.
13 years ago: Led by all-state quarterback James Watkins, who was more dangerous as a runner, the Jackets had one of the most successful seasons in program history, reaching the second round of the state playoffs before losing a tough one at Charleston, 21-20, to finish 8-4 overall.
Program superstition: Although the team itself doesn't have any superstitions, Parham said he and many of his teammates do spend the minutes just before exiting the locker room to take the field sitting at their lockers and listening to music. "We like to listen to something that's going to get us psyched up - something with a loud beat and tempo that puts you in the mood to go play hard," Parham said.
1-through-3: Four-year starter Kendall Parham
Q. Now that it's your senior season, how are you approaching it differently than years past?
A. I feel like I have to go extra hard in practice and in games to help my team more. We're a small team so we have to win games by giving more effort, and as a senior I want to go out winning as many games as we can. It would be huge for me to help us get back into the playoffs again."
Q. How tough is it on a team that has so many guys who have to play both ways?
A. It's really tiring. We run a lot of extra sprints at practice just to be in better condition than the teams we play, because we know we have to be prepared. It can be tough, especially on us linemen, being out there for four quarters playing on both sides of the ball. But I love being out there. I love to hit. That's my favorite part of the game, so I want to be out there as much as I can.
Q. What's something about you, off the field, that not many people know?
A. My favorite subject is math, and I plan on becoming either an engineer or an accountant. I would love to play college football, and I dream about that already. I want to play for as long as I can, but once it's over I'll probably find a career that involves math.
2013 Schedule
Aug. 23 at Silverdale Academy
Aug. 30 at hattanooga Christian
Sep. 13 Grace Baptist Academy
Sep. 20 Marion County*
Sep. 27 Bledsoe County
Oct. 4 at Whitwell*, 8
Oct. 11 Meigs County
Oct. 18 at South Pittsburg*, 8
Oct. 25 at Copper Basin
Nov. 1 Sale Creek*
*District 6-A game
2012 Stats
Passing
C-A-I Pct. Yards TDs
Vann Scribner 61-99-4 61.6 883 8
Rushing
Att. Yards TDs
Jamal Jones 178-1,343 13
Vann Scribner 81-547 5
Jaylen Wynn 50-411 3
Receiving
No. Yards TDs
William Long 26-441 4
Roster
No. Name Class
7 Trevor Johnson Junior
11 Adrian Mcghee Junior
13 Austin Stansifer Sophomore
14 Evan Walker Freshman
20 Gavin Thacker Junior
21 Jaylen Wynn Junior
22 Javonte Epps Junior
32 Pascual Aranda Junior
34 Jaxon Holloway Freshman
40 Sean Kirk Senior
50 Kyle Smith Sophomore
51 Ben Lowrance Sophomore
54 Steven Elders Freshman
55 Kendall Parham Senior
60 Michael Minnick Sophomore
62 Hurley Wallace Junior
64 Peyton Cook Junior
65 Austin Yarbrough Junior
66 David Cromer Sophomore
70 Earth Reed Junior
72 Josh Jones Sophomore
76 Logan Alder Freshman
77 Preston Evers Sophomore