McMinn County

Head coach: Bo Cagle (95-68 here and overall)

Returning starters: 7 offensive; 7 defensive

Last year’s record: 8-4 overall, lost in Class 5A second round

Key players: Jayden Miller (6-1, 200) Sr. QB/FS, Landon Feggins (6-0, 195) Jr. LB, Caden Hester (6-1, 165) Sr. WR/DB, Aiden Wilson (6-0, 205) Sr. DE, Luke Chouinard (6-2, 250) Sr. OL, Luke Hensley (5-8, 155) Sr. WR/ DB, Cody Thompson (5-8, 145) Sr. RB, Ty Runyan (6-0, 170) Sr. WR/DB, Davion Evans (5-6, 135) Sr. RB, Josh Rouse (6-1, 195) Jr. LB

Season outlook: After starting last season 1-3, the Cherokees rallied to win seven straight games before their run ended against eventual state champion Powell.

Cagle returns nearly all of the playmakers from a team that rushed for 2,275 yards and threw for nearly 1,300.

Miller is in his third year at quarterback, and the dual threat totaled 30 touchdowns last year and was the team’s leading rusher with 932 yards. Two of his top targets are back in Hensley and Hester, who combined for 737 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

“We have to throw the ball more and get our offense going through the air even more,” said Hester, who also had 68 tackles (six for loss) and three interceptions in 2021. “I told Jayden he just has to trust us and let us make the plays for him when he throws it our way.”

Landon Feggins is one of the most talented linebackers in the region and had 117 tackles last season, while Aiden Wilson had 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.