Beech High’s football team has a couple of challenges ahead of it this season.
Junior Nelson Smith returns at quarterback for Beech, while head coach Anthony Crabtree begins his 12th season with the Buccaneers.
One of them is Region 6-5A’s schedule. The other one, which will determine the Buccaneers’ success within that schedule, is how Beech’s inexperienced players develop with significant playing time.
Beech has 63 players on the varsity roster, down from recent years, so head coach Anthony Crabtree is continually searching for starters on both sides of the ball. From there, it’s about developing depth.
“We’ve identified pretty much who we think can play on Friday nights, and people who we don’t think are ready,” Crabtree said. “You always have one or two who – they may not go from a third-string to a first-string guy – may work their way into getting eight or 10 reps on Fridays. Sometimes, injuries play a role in that.”
Considering that most of their Class 5A counterparts have more players, the Buccaneers will have to find a way to do more with less.
“The only thing I can attribute (the decrease in players) to is enrollment,” Crabtree said. “I don’t think there was any doubt that under the system we’ve been classified under with the Super 32 (in Class 6A), there was any doubt that we had 4A numbers right now. That’s the reason we’re down between 10-20 players on the team.”
Losing All-County Player of the Year Rodrick Napper and All-County Defensive Player of the Year Ian Hafner to graduation didn’t help, either.
Personnel
There are some experienced players returning for the Buccaneers, beginning with junior quarterback Nelson Smith. After taking over as the starter last season, Smith allowed Hafner to focus on being an outside threat.
With that threat gone, Smith will have to turn to classmate Ty Dean in the passing game. Other options at receiver include seniors Chris Peach, Michael Iacob and Keaton Allison, but none of them have much experience at those spots in varsity games.
The same can be said at running back, where senior Alex Vanzant figures to be the starter, replacing Napper. Vanzant did see limited carries last season, including a lead role in the second half of the Buccaneers’ 20-9 victory at Lincoln County in the opening round of the playoffs.
Beech High senior Chaz Williamson makes contact with classmate Michael Iacob before a pass arrives. Iacob blocked 12 kicks last season, setting a school record.
Junior Chaz Williamson is a another option, as is classmate Jahmal Robinson.
“There’s some things at running back that we have to get better at,” Crabtree said. “We saw some good things (in scrimmages), but we saw some things that we need to work on. We don’t have a guy that carried the ball more than 20-30 times in varsity games.”
Two seniors – center Tyriek Lee and left guard Brad Montgomery – anchor the offensive line, with junior Jordan Adams figuring to get more playing time as well. Beyond those three, Crabtree said starters haven’t emerged yet.
“From a maturity standpoint in playing time, we’ve got a lot of people that are playing and they’ve never had any extensive playing time in a varsity football game,” Crabtree said.
Junior Heath Crabtree played six games at tight end as a sophomore before a torn Achilles tendon ended his season. Senior Zack Taylor is his immediate backup, but hasn’t seen snaps at the tight end spot before this season.
Senior Latrell Owens returns as the starting fullback after playing extensively in that role last year.
Taylor and Montgomery started on the defensive line in the Buccaneers’ 3-4 scheme last season.
Iacob is a likely starter at one of the outside linebacker positions, while seniors Michael Hayes and Frank Adams will also fill an outside linebacker role.
Heath Crabtree and Keshawn Whitaker are expected to start at inside linebacker spots, giving the Buccaneers some experience in those roles.
In the secondary, Robinson and Peach look to be starters at cornerback, while Dean moves from cornerback to free safety. Junior Garrett Butler is the likely starter at strong safety, but will have to learn the position as a newcomer to that role.
“Ty Dean and Jahmal Robinson are really our only experienced defensive backs coming back,” Crabtree said. “Dean is the only experienced receiver that’s back. So we are playing a lot of – as (University of Tennessee head coach) Butch Jones would say – ‘young people.’ We’re playing a lot of juniors, and a lot of them have never played.”
Beech High junior Ty Dean rips the ball away from Macon County freshman Isaac Belton for an interception during 7-on-7 workouts. Dean is expected to start in the Buccaneer secondary.
Iacob blocked a school-record 12 kicks last season. In a bit of irony, he’ll also serve as the Buccaneers’ punter this year. Junior David Johnson is expected to fill the placekicking role.
Outlook
Beech went 2-2 in games decided by four points or less last season. The one loss that ultimately cost the Buccaneers a better playoff draw was their 21-17 loss to visiting Hillsboro in the final week of the regular season.
Wilson Central and Rossview provide tough non-region tests in the first two weeks of the season.
“I think it’s huge,” Crabtree said. “You can’t win them all if you don’t win the first one. That’s the goal. Last year, we were able to pull out a big win at Wilson Central and at the time, people weren’t sure how good they were. They were a quarterfinal team in Class 6A. That was a really good win for us.”
Provided the Buccaneers can pass those tests and take care of Glencliff in week three, Sept. 9’s showdown with Hendersonville will prove to be their best litmus test.
The schedule does not any easier, as an experienced and talented Cane Ridge team visits one week later.
“That’s probably the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in our region,” Crabtree said of Hendersonville and Cane Ridge. “That’s going to be tough.”
Back-to-back region games at Gallatin and Station Camp precede Beech’s bye week, coinciding with Sumner County’s fall break.
The regular season ends at Hillsboro, and it could be a game with a lot on the line for both teams.
“Closing at Hillsboro – it doesn’t get any better,” Crabtree said. “Our schedule’s pretty tough.”
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @CB_SumnerSports, and on Snapchat @cbrooksgne.
BEECH (8-4)
17…at Wilson Central…13
46…vs Rossview…48
48…vs Glencliff …0
16…at Hendersonville…30
31…at Cane Ridge…28
36…at Springfield…20
45…vs Gallatin…7
41…vs Station Camp…14
49…at Hunters Lane…8
17…vs Hillsboro…21
Class 5A Playoffs
20…vs Lincoln County…9
7…at Hillsboro…42
2016 SCHEDULE
August
Aug. 19 Wilson Central – 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 at Rossview – 7 p.m.
September
*Sept. 2 at Glencliff – 7 p.m.
*Sept. 9 Hendersonville – 7 p.m.
*Sept. 16 Cane Ridge – 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Springfield – 7 p.m.
*Sept. 30 at Gallatin – 7 p.m.
October
*Oct. 7 at Station Camp – 7 p.m.
*Oct. 21 Hunters Lane – 7 p.m.
*Oct. 28 at Hillsboro – 7 p.m.
* – denotes Region 6-5A game