Vikings were a bit of a mixed bag all season . In many games , the Vikings defense spotted opponents early deficits before buckling down and shutting teams down long enough for the offense to find its footing and climb back into games . In other games , the team would be hit with a bevy of big plays and the offense was tasked with having to save the day .
Despite their issues defensively , the Vikings won eight consecutive games and advanced all the way to the third round of the state playoffs before injuries to stars Jacurri Brown and Chase Belcher ultimately did them in a 49-7 loss to eventual state champion Collins Hill .
The biggest returner on offense for the Vikings is rising soon-to-be junior running back Jacarre “ Smoke ” Fleming .
The elusive and shifty Fleming emerged as a promising back last season , rushing for 726 yards with three 100 + yard efforts and nine touchdowns . Fleming also factored in to the Vikings ’ passing game with eight grabs for 80 yards and a touchdown .
While Grage is steadfast in his praise of Fleming and his talent , he has challenged his young running back to grow as the unquestioned leader of the team on the field – a role he ’ s working every day to master .
Finding depth behind Fleming is something Grage and his coaching staff are working to develop . Sophomores Aalim Brown and K ’ Len Flannigan , whom Grage praised for having a great spring and summer , will have the opportunity to get reps behind Fleming .
One ongoing storyline for Grage is a three-man quarterback battle between juniors Tate Sirmans and Brooks Best and sophomore Marvis Parrish .
While Sirmans , who also plays baseball for the Vikings , figures to be the starter at first glance , Grage likes what his other two quarterbacks bring to the table . In fact , Grage feels that Parrish may be a factor in the passing game as a receiver as the team has worked to get him reps under center and out wide this summer .
“ It ’ s really been awesome and kind of bittersweet ,” Grage said of the QB competition . “ Tate may have come out of that spring game as the frontrunner if we
Lowndes defensive lineman Shiloh Casey ( 42 ) brings down Tift County ’ s Damion Moate ( 20 ) during the second quarter of a spring game Friday , May 20 at Martin Stadium .
were trying to play a game that night . Tate Sirmans is an upcoming junior and he ’ s played so much baseball this summer . He hasn ’ t missed much a beat with football . Obviously , we ’ d love to have him everyday and keep him in tune with what ’ s going on , but him and Coach ( Shawn ) Sutton have a great relationship . Even when he was off in Atlanta or Fort Myers or wherever playing these baseball tournaments , him and Sutt would still talk and watch tape together and do things over the phone .
In addition to the departures of Brown and Belcher , the Vikings are having to replace significant production on offense with the graduation of senior pass-catchers Khris Thomas , Justin Barron and Tate McGee .
Perhaps the team ’ s most reliable receiver , Thomas led the team in receptions ( 45 ) and receiving yards ( 818 ) with five touchdowns last year .
Barron caught 21 balls for 313 yards and three touchdowns , while McGee had 20 catches for 237 yards and a touchdown .
Looking ahead to the fall , Kevis Thomas is one player Grage will call upon to step in and step up .
Thomas had 367 all-purpose yards last season – 301 coming on kick returns and another 40 coming on an interception .
Other than Thomas , Ronnie Davis has emerged as a playmaker on both sides of the ball in spring and summer camp . Davis , Grage said , “ really has come out of nowhere .”
Defensively , the Vikings allowed an uncharacteristic 27.9 points per game last season .
Of course , there are several reasons for the Concrete
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