[UNDECIDED]

Tates Creek looks to get back to its proud football tradition of winning District Titles and Playoff football.

Being around the Tates Creek Program over the summer and offseason there is a newfound buzz and energy coming from the program. You see it, hear it, and can definitely feel the positive vibes. How can that be, when Tates Creek has come off of back to back losing seasons at 3-8, then 4-7 last season ending in a bad loss to St. x in the Playoffs????

Start with the 23 returning Seniors. To go along with that is a JR. Class of the same size. Tates Creek has been a youth movement for the last couple of seasons, and looks to bear the fruits of those trials of being forced to playing a team of young players across the board. Along with the returning Seniors is 8 Starters on offense, and 9 starters on defense. 17 starters returning, and over 30 players returning with starting experience.

Offensive Outlook

Tates Creek brings back 8 starters from an already explosive offense. There are many weapons in the Tates Creek Offense, starting with returning (2x) All City SR. Standout 5'11 180 lb. (#19) RJ Taylor who finished in the Top 10 in 6A receiving with over 48 Catches and 700+ yards with 7 TDs. Taylor is a threat all over the field and will be used to exploit matchups in a variety of ways, Receiving, rushing, sweeps/screens, motions, a variety of ways. Complimenting Taylor on the opposite side is another major threat, 6'2 175 lb. Sr. (#8)WR TaVon Dunn who finished last season with over 30 catches and 500 yards receiving and 9 TDs. The 1-2 Punch of Taylor/Dunn is as good of a reciving combo as their is in the state. In the backfield, Creek will be returning Sr. (#21) Casey Grimes Who was the 2nd leading returning rusher behind the graduated 1st Team All Stater Dennis Oxendine. Also in the backfield, will be returning SR. FB (#44) Eamon Nasr who is a ground and pound rusher. More players on offense to watch will be JR. speedster RB/Slot (#26) Martavius Carter, and Sr. TE/Slot (#10) 6"2 215 Marshall Gant who is a big target caught a lot of balls last year and is a tough kid with nice hands.

And where some teams have question marks, Tates Creek has an overabundance at QB. The returners are both proven commodity's. The battle is between Jr. (#4) Graham Gordon that passed for over 2300 yards and 16 TDs years ago and Big SR. (#6) Jake Ryan, a poised SR. with a big arm and potential. Those 2, shared reps last year and will more than likely start this season the same way until a clear cut starter is named, my gut says it ends up being the JR. Gordon who is a dynamic playmaker and has great rapport with the receivers. But we will see. If its any indication, Graham Gordon has looked better in the summer 7 on 7 tournaments so far, and Creek has been very impressive as a group going 10-2 so far this summer. Tates Creek has a very capable 3rd String QB as well in Peyton Burke.

The skill postions will be behind a very experienced SR Laden offensive line. This group has played varsity snaps for the last 3 seasons. And will be a strength this season.

SR. #53 Deion Webb 6,2 263 lbs.
SR. #65 Jovan Blackburn 6'0 235 lbs.
SR. #52 Tanner Gill 6,2 260 lbs.
SR. #56 Tyler Sturgill 6'1 221 lbs.

Coach Mike Harmon's spread offense has always been explosive. This group will be one of his most explosive groups with Seniors and Juniors all across the the offensive lineup. Definitely a team strength. Playmakers, leadership, and SR Big guys in the trenches.

Defensive Outlook

The achilles heel to Tates Creek has been its defense the last couple of seasons, and more directly, stopping the ground game. Tates Creek has been a 3-4 defense the last couple of seasons and has not done the job against the run. This season, Tates Creek brings back its most veteran group. 9 returning starters on defense. Led by Tackling machine SR. MLB Eamon Nasr #44, Eamon is always around the ball and led the team in tackles last season. The D-Line will be anchored by some of the O Line names mentioned earlier, with some new names joining the line. SR DE (#18) 6'4 220 lb. Taiwan Hart can be unblockable at times, JR. DT CLint Boyte (#70) 5'11 240 lb. and (#78) 6 ft. 190 lb. Jacob Czarnecki will also provide D-Line presence. The interior of the defense should be pretty stout against the run, depth as Tates Creek does not platoon many players will be the question.

Linebackers will be SR. Led with SR. (#44) Eamon Nasr in the middle, SR. Ryan Betlach (#33) and SR. (#10) Marshall Gant will lineup outside of Nasr. This group is a physical group and looks to make plays downhill. Also, look for SO. (#31) Jaren Shelby to defnitely be in the mix, Jaren has looked very good this summer. He is the son of Ex Pro Baseball Player John Shelby and is a heck of a ball player and athlete. And JR. (#2) Max Sweet is a playmaker also at the postion and will play some Outisde backer/Rover. Another strong group, how will the infusion of the young athletes Shelby and Sweet mix into the plans.

Secondary will be led by SR. DB (#19) RJ Taylor, 2x DB of the Year/2x All City Member, and (#26) JR. Martavius Carter who led the team in Interceptions last season with 4. SR. (#21) Casey Grimes returns at safety as well and JR. DJ Mayfield returns as well at the Free Safety. The Tates Creek Secondary has been a strength for the past few seasons being 1 of the top passing defenses in the state and looks to be again. Plenty of depth as well as many players will contribute to play a lot of minutes. Look for players like SR. (#34) Wanya Brown, and JR.(#25) Malik Hartsfield , and SR. Gunnar Garten to provide plenty of support and play lots of minutes for the secondary. A strength of the team, can take away your primary receivers with their DB's and make you 1 dimensional.

Very experienced group, lots of athleticism, and a veteran group that has been through it all. Will they make the necessary scheme changes to put the players in the best postion to stop the run. Lots of speed, skill, and depth on this defense. The back 7 will be very difficult to pass on once again. Can Creek stop the run? that will be the question.

Schedule

Aug. 15 Scrimmage hosting Boyle County
Aug. 23 Paul Laurence Dunbar
Aug. 30 Louisville Moore
Sept. 6 @ Perry County Central
Sept. 13 @ Henry clay
Sept. 20 @ Rowan County
Sept. 27 Bryan Station
Oct. 4 @ Dixie Heights
Oct. 11 Madison Central
Oct. 18 @ George Rogers Clark
Oct. 25 Lafayette (Roy G. Walton Bowl)
Nov. 1 OPEN

Tates Creek has a very solid schedule this season. Road trips to Dixie Heights, Perry County Central, and Rowan county have Creek covering different areas of the state. Tates Creek will play the city teams again and looks to be the favorite in their district. A district with Lafayette, Madison Central, and Clark County. Tates Creek felt the loss of graduation the least of all the programs in the district and should be the favorite.

Season Outlook

Folks around the Tates Creek program have known for years that this particular class and group would be special when it is all said and done, and that this group that paid its dues as freshmen and sophomore's getting varsity playing time, will now be a SR group. Well, this season is that season, and it is time for Tates Creek to take the step into the playoffs and make noise. Also, Tates Creek drew the Lexington District in the playoffs and will have played each of them prior to the playoffs. And will have a BYE the last week of the season to prepare, heal up, and get ready for the playoff run. Tates Creek feels that they will be able to make a deep run in the playoffs this season, and with what they return, there isn't any reason that they shouldn't.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RJ Taylor - #19 (SR.) WR/DB/KR-PR Do everything player with multiple scholarship offers, plays both sides of the ball, return man, and even place holds and is a threat at all times to make a play. Will be one of the state's top receivers, and one of if not it's best Defensive Back. Rivals rated him as a 2 star DB in its most recent ratings. UK, WKU, Miami of OH, Ball State, and several others look to lead for his services. Was selected to play for the Cincinnati Bengals NAtional 7 on 7 Team. Current offers from Austin Peay, Army, and Furman.

TaVon Dunn - #8 (SR.) WR Dangerous receiver with big play potential. Very good length and even better hands. Runs very good routes and always seems to be open. Very tough around the red zone. Very good potential to play at the next level.

Eamon Nasr - #44 (SR.) MLB/FB Tough, gritty, hard nosed player that is always around the ball, and always giving 100%. Tackling machine. Is the physical presence of the team, plays 100%.

(SR.) Deion Webb #53 / (SR.) Jovan Blackburn #65 - OL/DL 2 Big physical interior linemen, their importance is hard to quantify. They will be counted on to anchor both sides of the line, with all the skill players Creek has at their disposal the holes these guys can open will be vital. Jovan won a national championship with the Cincinnati Bengal Lineman Challenge and Deion is a big physical force and was a 1st team All City selection last season.

JR. Graham Gordon #4 - QB Graham threw for over 2300 yards last season and 16 TDs. And should be able to eclipse those numbers with a year of maturity and experience under his belt. Graham has big timeplaymaking ability and as long as he minimizes turnovers and mistakes, can have a truly special JR season campaign, especially considering the system and playmakers at his disposal.

Potential Breakout Performers

#26 JR. Martavius Carter - Speedster that plays both sides of the ball and is a dangerous return man has the capability of really being a special player. Led the team in Interceptions last season. He will get his chances to shine this season. Watch for Carter to come out of the backfield and screens, can be very dangerous.

#21 SR. Casey Grimes - RB/S/LB - Returning starter and 2nd leading rusher from last season, will make a bunch of tackles and is a heck of a ball player. Has potential to be a break out player this year.

Tates Creek figures to be a major player this year in 6A.