North Murray Mountaineers
Coach: David Gann (5-5 in one year here and overall)
Last year: 5-5, 2-5 in 5-AAA
'13 dreams: The Mountaineers in Gann's first year were an offensive juggernaut, scoring 25 or more points in eight games. Unfortunately, they allowed 35 or more points in seven games, including 70 to Adairsville. The bad news for Gann and crew is that nearly all the offensive points and yards graduated. New defensive coordinator Courtney Braswell has a solid linebacking corps to build around as he switches the Mountaineers to a 3-4 scheme.
13-for-13 contenders: Talented juniors Hinton McConkey and Peyton Swilling are battling for the quarterback spot, but whoever doesn't win the competition will start somewhere and each will be critical to the team's production. Three-year starting linebacker John Chastain, the team's leading tackler, returns to lead the defensive revival. Two athletic sophomores, Jordan Adams and Drake McCowan, likely will start both ways.
Number of interest: 5 - New defensive coaches hired by the Mountaineers, led by the aggressive Braswell.
13 years ago: The Mountaineers weren't around, but Gann was about to enter a new phase of his career. The 2000 season was his final year as offensive line coach at Northwest Whitfield, and he spent the next two years working under Phillip Fulmer as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee.
Program superstition: The program is too young to have developed any longtime superstitions, but the opening of a new fieldhouse will coincide with a new pregame entrance into the team's stadium and onto its state-of-the-art turf field.
1-through-3: Junior quarterback Hinton McConkey
Q. This team lost a lot of offense last year. Do you think that's causing people to overlook this team this year?
A. I think they are. Honestly, I think we'll be better this year. We lost a lot of seniors, but we do have a new coaching staff that's going to help us a lot.
Q. What will it take to for this team to reach that next level and make the playoffs?
A. We have to do the little things better. It's like last year. We were beating Cartersville at halftime and we came out in the second half and they killed us. We just couldn't finish games, but that will change this year because of our conditioning.
Q. Several teams in Region 5-AAA lost a lot to graduation last year. Can the Mountaineers be the best of that bunch and get a playoff spot?
A. I guarantee you we'll be there. We've worked too hard to not make it.
2013 Schedule
Aug. 30 at Southeast Whitfield
Sep. 6 Dade County
Sep. 13 Johnson, Gainesville
Sep. 20 at Cartersville*
Sep. 27 Sonoraville*
Oct. 4 at Adairsville*
Oct. 18 Ringgold*
Oct. 25 at Lakeview-F.O.*
Nov. 1 Coahulla Creek*
Nov. 8 at Gordon Central*
*Region 5-AAA game
2012 Stats
Passing C-A-I Pct. Yards TDs
Brady Swilling 95-175-7 54% 1,519 16
Rushing Att. Yards TDs
Brady Swilling 164 1,510 12
Jacob Mays 83 591 6
Christian Buckle 69 533 8
Receiving No. Yards TDs
Jacob Mays 28 450 9
Christian Buckle 17 264 2
Roster
1 Mathew Clayton Junior
2 Blake Davis Freshman
3 Jordan Adams Sophomore
4 Darius Towns Junior
5 Mason Pittman Junior
6 Christian Rangle Senior
7 Leonardo Lechuga Sophomore
9 J.T. Langford Freshman
10 Fernando Rangel Sophomore
11 Payton Swilling Junior
12 Ethan Payne Freshman
13 Kody Bryson Senior
14 Brody Frazier Freshman
15 Hinton McConkey Junior
16 Elisa Lechuga Senior
17 Brady Harper Freshman
18 Aaron Mendez Junior
19 Jasper Pierce Freshman
20 Tanner Deal Freshman
22 Ryan Nix Freshman
25 Lane Holsomback Junior
26 Michael Loughbridge Sophomore
27 Jose Delacruz Freshman
28 Trey Jackson Freshman
29 Drake McCowan Sophomore
30 Noah Allen Freshman
31 Levi Amos Junior
34 Jonathon Cain Junior
35 John Chastain Senior
36 Tanner Cockburn Senior
37 Javier Alfaro Sophomore
38 Tyler Baggett Freshman
39 Kevin Bogovich Freshman
41 Hunter McCurdy Freshman
45 Preston Bartley Freshman
46 Cody Ponders Freshman
47 Juan Salaises Sophomore
50 Wesley Sanford Sophomore
51 Caleb Campbell Junior
52 Brandon Adame Junior
53 Hunter Dunn Junior
54 Chris Townsend Senior
55 Dylan Sturgill Freshman
56 Aidan Noe Freshman
57 Blake Langham Junior
58 Emmanuel Jacobo Sophomore
59 Adrian Godfrey Freshman
60 Dawson Oliver Freshman
61 Dakota Owens Freshman
62 Hunter Martin Junior
63 Trey Williams Sophomore
65 Ethan Martin Freshman
66 Jordan Ray Senior
67 Layton Collins Junior
69 David Elrod Junior
70 Brandon Jackson Senior
71 Ethan Sampson Sophomore
72 Tristan Warnack Freshman
73 Justin Sisk Freshman
74 Tyler Serrano Junior
75 Tyson Taylor Junior
80 Justin Peacock Senior
81 Nathan Bradley Freshman
82 Fernando Pulido Freshman
83 Christian Pate Freshman
85 Justin Mathis Senior
86 Jordan Barnes Freshman
88 Uriel Carrillo Sophomore