Sardis transitions to 5A after a strong season

SARDIS CITY – For the first time in school history, Sardis is in Class 5A.

The Lions have a lot of momentum to carry over during their move up after winning the 4A, Region 7 title last season. Sardis started the season off 0-2, staring Madison Academy in the eyes for its third game of the year. The Lions ended up beating the Mustangs 18-17 and finished the season winning seven of their final eight to earn the region’s No. 1 seed.

Then one playoff game and the season was over.

Cherokee County ended Sardis’ season earlier than anticipated with a 21-14 victory. It still was a successful season and one the Lions will look to build from.

The Lions now join Etowah, Southside, Alexandria, Boaz, Douglas and Crossville in 5A, Region 7. Sardis will get to play more local teams than they have in years past. Despite being in the same county, it’ll be the first time the Lions have faced Etowah (who coach Gene Hill led from 2002-2008) since 1963 and Southside since 1977.

“That’s very exciting to us and I know to our fans,” Hill, who enters his eighth season with the Lions, said. “We’ve been traveling and playing teams like, for example, Westminster Christian. No one (around here) knows where that’s at. There’s no rivalry to that or anything going on. So all teams on our schedule, all our folks know where they are at and be able to travel to those games for the most part.”

The players also are excited.

“We will see a lot of people that we know,” Sardis senior linebacker Brandon Noblitt said. “That will be pretty fun.”

Though it'll better for Sardis’ pockets and traveling-wise for fans, there’s no doubt the competition will be tougher than in years past despite coming from a region that included Madison Academy, North Jackson, Madison County, etc.

“As far as competition, that has stepped up a notch or two,” Hill said. “So we are going to have to step it up a notch or two as far as that goes.”

That step will come with a new quarterback.

Logan Gaskin graduated after spending the last four years as the starter at the spot. In his place either will be senior Trent Presley or junior Jay Owens. The two are in a battle for the quarterback position. Hill said it will be ongoing until the first game, and both could see playing time when the Lions’ season kicks off at Sylvania on Aug. 31.

“Jay Owens was our JV quarterback; he was the (varsity) backup and played a few snaps,” Hill said. “… He really throws the football well. He’s got a really good arm. He’s really accurate throwing. He can run it some, but he’s not as fleet of foot as Trent is. He likes to play with his feet. He’s not going to stay in that pocket very much. He likes to make plays with his feet. … I’m excited about both of them and to see what they can do.”

Whether it’s Presley, Owens or both at quarterback, they will have experience returning around them.

Senior Drew Vaughn will return in the backfield along with senior Tristen Holcomb and juniors Josh Scales and Trey Dalrymple back on the offensive line. The quarterbacks likely will depend on juniors Mason Golden and Jacob Hopper at the receiver position. Juniors Temon Wilson and Luke Morris also will be featured in the backfield.

“It’s a little bit harder to play a green quarterback when they feel like they don’t have a lot around them and they feel like they have to do everything,” Hill said. “I don’t think that will be the case.”

Most of the guys on offense also will play on the defensive side.

Sardis returns a lot of guys up front, which should be a strength. They will be tested with several run-first offenses in Region 7.

“I just think that, overall, we should be perfect on the defensive line,” Holcomb said. “At linebacker, we have people returning and people stepping up. We should be set to stop the run game.”

Reaching the playoffs remains the goal for Sardis. And if the Lions make it back, it’ll be the first time since 2011-12 they reached the postseason in consecutive seasons. They certainly will have some tough games under their belt after going through Region 7 and a non-region schedule of Sylvania, Geraldine, Albertville and Hokes Bluff.

“Part of the thing that helps us looking at the schedule is if we make the playoffs, we should be battle-tested,” Hill said. “That should help us when we get to the playoffs then because we don’t have a week on the schedule we can let up.”