Gridiron Football Preview-Elizabethton Star 2020 | Page 12

BY IVAN SANDERS STAR SPORTS EDITOR [email protected] Happy Valley Warrior head coach Jason Jarrett has been around the game of football long enough to know what wins and losses high school football games. Even with the delay of getting his program off and running this year, Jarrett just hopes that his team is ready to go to work deep in the trenches as football resumes in the most unique of circumstances with COVID-19 in 2020. “We are just excited first and foremost to get back out there to be together as a team,” Jarrett stated. “With the off-season that we have had, we really didn’t know what to expect especially this first game of the year but everybody is in the same boat. “We will get better as the year goes on. Ultimately, you want to be playing your best football at the end of the year and hopefully, we make it to the end of the year. “We are doing everything in our power to ensure that by wearing masks and following all the guidelines and safety is the most important thing,” the Happy Valley skipper added. “We have a really good senior class and they are a joy to be around and are fun to coach - just a great bunch of kids. We hope their leadership will hopefully lead us through to success.” While the offensive backfield and wide receivers receive the bulk of the Getting ready in the trenches… Warriors look to dominate on both sides of the football in 2020 Jason Jarrett Heach Coach press, Jarrett says that without his strong and battle-tested Warriors in the trenches those writers wouldn’t have a whole lot to write about. “It starts up in the trenches and that’s really where we return the most experience is upfront on both sides of the ball offensively and defensively,” he said. “We got some guys up there that can pave the way. That is where the games are won and lost and they know it, we know it, and everybody knows it. “But the guys that usually get all the credit behind them, we feel really confident in our quarterback Eli Ayers. He is a guy that throughout the years has had some experience. “He was forced into some playing time early and he started a few games for us here and there. We feel like his leadership and his management is 12 really going to help us offensively. “We are really excited about Matthew Bahn, Gabe Nickels, Andrew Little – those guys we feel can be some playmakers. Our tight ends and our fullbacks are going to be used in the running game and passing game as well. “It’s going to be a team effort,” added Jarrett. “We lost some quality skill players last year so it’s going to be running back by committee and receiver by committee. The guys up front have got to lead us.” One thing that Jarrett is extremely proud of is that his team has quickly found ways to gel due to missing out on so much time. The Warrior coach said that he and his coaches try to start that process of creating a family atmosphere when most players are still young before they even think about their high school experience. “It’s been extremely challenging,” Jarrett commented. “Most of the conversations have been through text messages and phone calls. There is merit to the off-season and building relationships. “Fortunately for us and our coaching staff here, we start that when they are young. “A lot of our older guys, we have already had those relationships thankfully. That has been a hard thing is getting the team together to bond. And that takes a little bit of time. “We saw some of that the last three 2020 HAPPY VALLEY SCHEDULE September 4—at Hampton* 11—UNICOI 18—COSBY* **Homecoming** 25—UNAKA October 2—Open 9—at Johnson County 16— SULLIVAN NORTH* 23—Open 30—SOUTH GREENE* **Senior Night** ALL CAPS denotes home games * denotes region games