Gridiron Football Preview-Elizabethton Star 2020 | Page 3

Table of Contents ELIZABETHTON Cyclones........................4-11 A football season to remember... Prep football like no other in 2020 HAPPY VALLEY Warriors.....................12-15 HAMPTON Bulldogs....................16-18 UNAKA Rangers......................20-23 CLOUDLAND Highlanders................24-27 JOHNSON COUNTY Longhorns..................28-30 On the Cover GRIDIRON Special publication of Elizabethton Newsmedia LLC Football Preview September 2020 Team Previews • Happy Valley • Elizabethton • Unaka • Cloudland • Hampton • Johnson County Photo by Ivan Sanders Friday Night Lights include several key elements including players and cheerleaders, Local schools are ready for another great season in 2020. Star Photos by: Ivan Sanders, Larry N. Souders Dawn Lambert Tim Chambers Layout/Design Robin Johnson BY IVAN SANDERS STAR SPORTS EDITOR [email protected] Before the local prep football teams even took to the field to begin getting ready for another season, 2020 had kicked an onside kick that no one saw coming - COVID-19. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months as schools closed, preseason workouts were shuttered for a time, 7-on-7 leagues were canceled as were scrimmages that are normally part of the prep football landscape. For a while, many didn’t even know if there would even be a fall football season as the Governor had issued executive orders against contact sports that forced the TSSAA to look at solutions should football be delayed or even canceled. But here we are - about a month later than what we wanted to be with our 2020 Gridiron Football Preview but thankful with hopes of a season to be played if COVID-19 can be evaded like a running back juking a defensive back. And while it doesn’t look the same, it’s still high school football as the Elizabethton Cyclones return to defend their 2019 Class 4-A State Championship while county teams like Unaka, Hampton, Happy Valley, and Cloudland along with Johnson County have visions of reaching the pinnacle just like the Cyclones did. With fans having to be kept to a minimum throughout the county at all ball games due to the pandemic, it still hasn’t changed the love and passion that each community that 3 bleeds orange, black, maroon, blue, gray, gold, or white has for its teams. For that reason, the Elizabethton Star values the opportunity that we have to present our community with a small preview of their team and cheerleaders along with respective rosters and schedules. This project is not done lightly as we realize how important it is for the players, cheerleaders, coaches, and their respective communities to have a keepsake that can be taken out from time to time over the upcoming years and read over and over again as you remember this unique season. Our appreciation is extended to each school administration, athletic director, head coach and coaches, football team, cheerleaders and sponsors, and those who helped make this publication a reality. It could not have been done without your full cooperation which is deeply appreciated. A special thanks to Tim Chambers and Dawn Lambert for their assistance in completing the project and to Robin Johnson for her masterful work of putting the publication together. And finally, thanks to all those who advertised with us this year to help make the Gridiron Football Preview come to reality for our community. Your support is deeply appreciated! Good luck to the Elizabethton Cyclones, Cloudland Highlanders, Unaka Rangers, Happy Valley Warriors, and Hampton Bulldogs in the 2020 season. You make Carter County proud! Also, best of luck to our neighboring Johnson County Longhorns. You will always be winners in our eyes!