Written by DJ Underwood

As the summer months drag on, certain things are guaranteed in the south. Burgers and hotdogs cover grills, lightning bugs dance through the yards and chase away the last slivers of sunlight and kids will squeeze every drop of freedom that summer brings with it before the tardy bell rings school back into session. However, while everyone else is hoping summer never ends, the boys of fall are counting the minutes until it is time to strap that helmet on under the lights again.

Coming off what was as far from a normal season of football as can be remembered, Copper Basin is chomping at the bit to get back to battle. Players and coaches alike cannot wait until it is time to get back between the lines and return life to normal. Though they are excited and anxious, this does not mean that this season will be a walk in the park. Some big shoes have to be filled this year with the exiting of last year’s seniors. They will need some young players to step up and fill vital roles.

Though Copper Basin graduated many key components to their success the last couple of seasons, they are by no means void of play makers. Joe Boggs, an upcoming senior,  will be expected to fill the role of General on offense. Though his style of quarterback play may be different, Boggs is by no means incapable of leading the Cougars to another successful season. Boggs will also return as the leader on the defensive side of the ball by holding down the strong side at linebacker. You can count on seeing Cade Dean put in some work at quarterback as well. Dean is young but has shown tons of growth and potential and he is looking for the chance to prove himself game-ready. Cade will also play an integral role as a receiver. The receiving corps will be ready to run with a plethora of options including Dean, Jonathan Johnson, and Cadan Williams who is poised to have a break-out year. 

Senior Sebastian Baliles will be returning to take some of the workload off of the quarterbacks and receivers. Baliles is one of the top running backs in the area and makes people regret judging him on his stature. Though Sebastian may be a little shorter than some others, he knows how to use his leverage to blow through would-be tacklers. He is also extremely shifty, nimble, and the strongest person on the team by far. He is fun to watch and should be ready to make an even bigger name for himself this season carrying the rock.

In the land of giants, Tucker Shroth, Brock Whitaker, Addison Hook, and Kade Foster will be called upon to contribute heavily. Shroth is currently set to take over the middle of the offensive line at center. Though he may be lacking in game time experience, he is not to be taken lightly. With a huge frame and outstanding work ethic, the Cougars will be well served with him in the middle of the big boys. Whitaker is expected to be the wrecking ball on the defensive side. He has taken a good number of snaps at this position already and is ready to step up and cause problems up front for the opposing teams run game. Hook and Foster are both veteran seniors with countless snaps under their belt. They both played key roles wreaking havoc on the defensive line this past season and Addison will be expected to do that again. Hook will also continue to be a leader on the offensive line where he has already proven himself valuable. Foster, however, will be beginning two new roles helping move the ball down field as he takes over the left tackle position on offense and making his home at middle linebacker on defense.

The Copper Basin Cougars will look slightly different this season but their productivity should continue to grow. They will be young at some spots but will have a large number of upperclassmen along with players that have been in battle after battle to help them come along quickly. Look for Baliles and Cadan Williams to show out this season on offense while Joe Boggs and the defensive line bring the stick with them to thwart offensive movement. You can get a glimpse of what may be to come this season as your Copper Basin Cougars head over to Hayesville, NC on Thursday, June 15th for the FYN 7-on-7 competitions and then at the jamboree on August 13th as they square off with McMinn Central.