2013 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Friday, August 16, 2013

photo Notre Dame center Hunter Stolpmann anchors an experienced offensive front for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Coach: Charles Fant (9-3 in one year here and overall)

Last year: 9-3, reached the second round of the Class 4A playoffs before falling to Giles County

'13 dreams: With eight starters returning to their multiple I spread offense, the Irish have 97 percent of their yardage and point production back, including versatile Kareem Orr, running backs Auston Banks and Ricky Ballard and quarterback Alex Darras. There are six starters back on defense. If there is an Achilles' heel, it would be depth in both lines. The team cannot afford injuries up front. Joe Dossett is recognized as one of the top defenders in District 6-AA, and he appears healthy after breaking a couple of bones in his back in Notre Dame's loss to Giles County. Ballard and fellow sophomore Tyler Enos will be mainstays at linebacker.

13-for-13 contenders: Orr, a junior, caught the eyes of coaches at a Tennessee camp and the 6-foot, 185-pounder will have plenty of time to hone his football skills. In addition to returns, he'll line up at safety on defense and at both running back and wide receiver on the other side. Darras started last year as a freshman and got better as the season progressed.

Number of interest: They might be a year away, but the Irish would love to match or improve on the 13-1 record put up by the 2005 team that reached the state semifinals.

13 years ago: In Scott Shaver's final season as head coach, the 3-7 Irish got into the playoffs but lost their first postseason game to Memphis Briarcrest. A season highlight was a 14-7 victory over old rival Knoxville Catholic.

1-through-3: Junior tackle Joe Dossett

Q. How will Notre Dame fare in the district?

A. I plan on Notre Dame winning the district, and we can accomplish it if we keep up the hard work. We had a good year last year, but you have to live in the present. We want to do it again and do it even better.

Q. Who is Notre Dame's best athlete?

A. Kareem Orr. He's been playing football his whole life. He works at it, and hard work gets you places. He wants it.

Q. Did you go to any camps this summer>

A. Tennessee, Ohio State, Georgia Southern, Vanderbilt and UTC. It's good to get to camps because you get that coaching and you get to see other players, which lets you see where you stand.

2013 Schedule

Aug. 23 at Knox Catholic

Aug. 30 East Ridge

Sep. 6 Chattanooga Christian *

Sep. 13 at Boyd-Buchanan

Sep. 20 at Bledsoe County *

Sep. 27 Open

Oct. 4 at Signal Mountain *

Oct. 11 at Polk County

Oct. 18 Sequatchie County *

Oct. 2 Coalfield

Nov. 1 at Grundy County *

*District 7-AA game

2012 Stats

Passing C-A-I Pct. Yards TDs

Alex Darras 75-146-4 1012 11

Rushing Att. Yards TDs

Ricky Ballard 61 637 8

Auston Banks 47 392 5

Clay Heltzel 37 230 2

Receiving No. Yards TDs

Kareem Orr 21 377 6

Nick Chambers 28 257 4

Roster

No. Name Class

1 Kareem Orr Junior

2 Andrew Banks Freshman

3 Josh Russell Junior

4 Jared Andrews Junior

5 Ricky Ballard Sophomore

6 Auston Banks Junior

7 Clay Heltzel Senior

8 Anthony Flemister Junior

9 Chris Hornsby Junior

10 Jacory Elston Junior

11 Nick McGid Senior

12 Noah Bankston Sophomore

13 Joe Enos Junior

14 Alan Dunlay Sophomore

15 Alex Darras Sophomore

16 Nicholas Coronis Sophomore

17 Addison Hutton Sophomore

18 Davian Wheeler Sophomore

21 Michael Quatrano Sophomore

22 Brandon Harris Senior

25 Alex Buechler Sophomore

26 Calvin Sims Freshman

30 Aaron Marini Sophomore

32 Michael Flynn Junior

34 William Montgomery Junior

35 Jack White Sophomore

39 Spencer Sutton Sophomore

40 Quinn Summers Freshman

42 Patrick Johnson Freshman

43 Gehrig Johnson Sophomore

44 Kesley Green Junior

45 Tyler Enos Sophomore

50 Nick Caronis Junior

51 Zach Leach Sophomore

55 Joe Dossett Junior

60 Medaro Camacho Senior

61 Hunter Stolpmann Junior

63 Robert Murphy Sophomore

64 Robert Kidwell Senior

65 Kobe Bragg Freshman

67 John Tiller Sophomore

70 Hunter Whiting Junior

71 Thomas Kulik Freshman

73 T.J. McDonald Sophomore