Sequatchie County running back Blake Cates is expected to produce for the Indians offense as they look to improve on last year's two-win season.Sequatchie County Indians
Coach: Ken Colquette (first year here; 249-81 in 28 years overall)
Last year: 2-8, including losses to Notre Dame and Signal Mountain by a combined score of 102-7 to end the season.
'13 dreams: The Indians obviously want to improve on last year's showing and have turned to the veteran Colquette, who last served as a head coach from 2001 to '04 at Grundy County. Colquette is familiar to Sequatchie fans, though having won state championships and numerous playoff trips while coaching at neighboring Marion County. There are seven returning offensive starters, but the team is going split-back with a strong eye on option offense. Much of the offensive load figures to fall on running back Blake Cates and quarterback Dylan Harvey, both seniors. The coaching staff sees the offensive line and experienced depth as a plus.
13-for-13 contenders: Cates is a smaller speedster at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, but has been clocked at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. If he can stand up to the pounding that goes with a veer back, there will be more schools than the Coast Guard Academy looking. Harvey proved a year ago that he could throw the ball, and the Indians will pass often enough to keep defenses from keeping eight men in the box.
Number of interest: Colquette is the Dunlap school's 13th coach in 38 years, dating back to Jimmy Garren in 1975. The most successful of the previous 12 was Sid Fritts, who had four seasons with 10-plus wins and just one losing season. And then there was a string of two-year guys including Jay Davis, Mike Zeller, Kevin Saunders and B.J. Armstrong.
13 years ago: The Indians started this millennium with a winning record and a playoff showing. They went 6-4 with four shutouts but lost to Goodpasture in the first round of the playoffs. Colquette was in between jobs after spending three seasons at Vidalia in Georgia.
1-through-3: Tight end Scott McCarver
Q. What have you discovered about Coach Colquette?
A. You're not guaranteed a spot. He'll jerk you out of there at any time. But he's a good coach and he knows what he's talking about. I'd describe him as an old-school coach. He's hard to please, but that's what it takes to be a state championship team.
Q. How will Sequatchie do this year?
A. A lot better than we did last year. There was a failure of [senior] leadership last year. We have much better leadership this year, and we're a lot more physical. A lot of that is Coach Colquette. He's been separating the boys from the men and finding out who wants to play and who doesn't.
Q. Who's the best player on the team?
A. Blake Cates, who's my best friend. We've grown up together. He's an excellent player like his dad, Tony Cates, who played here.
2013 Schedule
Aug. 23 @Community
Sep. 6 Grundy County *
Sep. 13 @South Pittsburg
Sep. 20 @Chattanooga Christian *
Sep. 27 @Marion County
Oct. 4 Bledsoe County *
Oct. 11 Stone Memorial
Oct. 18 @Notre Dame *
Oct. 25 Boyd-Buchanan
Nov. 1 Signal Mountain *
*District 7-AA game
2012 Stats
Passing C-A-I Pct. Yards TDs
Dylan Harvey 10-29-3 192 0
Rushing Att. Yards TDs
Jake Pickett 32 291 2
Austin Lamb 31 130 3
Blake Cates 24 115 0
Keith Billingsley 20 70 0
Receiving No. Yards TDs
Madison Tucker 3 78 0
Blake Cates 1 43 0
Jake Pickett 2 43 0
Scott McCarver 3 31 0
Roster
No. Name Class
1 Keith Billingsley Senior
2 Hayden Hicks Junior
4 Stephan Hall Sophomore
5 Justin Parsons Senior
8 Brad Thompson Junior
9 Jarred Keener Sophomore
10 Dylan Harvey Senior
11 Troy Sanders Sophomore
12 Brandon Turner Junior
14 Jerrick Daniel Senior
15 Chris Beckwith Sophomore
16 Christian Payne Senior
17 Colby Reed Sophomore
20 Jackson Hamblen Senior
21 Brelyn Grant Sophomore
22 Blake Cates Senior
24 Austin Stevens Freshman
25 David Lujan Freshman
27 Scott McCarver Senior
28 Alex Turner Sophomore
29 Dylan Sanders Freshman
30 Daniel Bush Freshman
32 Jerimiah Barger Junior
33 Brayden Grant Freshman
35 Robbie Vandergriff Junior
37 Hunter Davenport Freshman
40 Kyle Cates Freshman
42 Josh Bailey Freshman
44 Dakota Silvers Senior
46 Archer Thompson Freshman
50 Tyler Teague Senior
51 Hayden Foster Junior
52 Billee Bush Sophomore
53 Deegan Marshall Junior
54 Zane Swanger Sophomore
55 Billy Morrison Sophomore
56 Jess Layne Freshman
57 Jacob Stewart Junior
58 Noah Smith Freshman
60 Alex Romero Junior
61 Jared Bass Junior
63 Chris McCormick Sophomore
64 Richard Daniels Junior
66 Kraig Bice Senior
67 Chandler Morrison Senior
68 Austin Miller Freshman
70 Wyatt Presto Junior
71 Peyton Tate Sophomore
73 Jon Boston Freshman
75 Ethan Pelfrey Freshman
76 Joseph Coulson Freshman
77 John Higgins Freshman
78 Brent Holland Junior
81 Daniel Marshal Sophomore
82 Jonah Adams Sophomore
84 Jared Hobbs Sophomore
85 Blake Ramsey Freshman
87 Matthew McDowell Junior
88 Garrett Daughtery Freshman