Gordonsville Tigers 2018 Football Preview

August 14, 2018

When the Tigers take the field on August 17th they will be led by a new coach, Scott Clemons. Clemons became the head coach of the Tigers this offseason following the resignation of Ron Marshall.

Clemons and the Tigers will have a target on their backs following last season’s 6-0 run in Region 4-1A. While Gordonsville fell to Whitwell in the second round of the playoffs, there is a lot of skill and leadership returning for the Tigers that will give them hope for a deeper run this season.

The Murphy Fair Coaches Poll has the Gordonsville Tigers sitting just outside of the top 10 teams in 1A, as one of only two other teams to receive votes. The coaches within region 4-1A also predict the Tigers to repeat.

One player that the Tigers will look for big contributions from is 2017 Mr. Football finalist, Braxton Givens. The senior running back will be looking to improve on already impressive numbers from last season. ( 338 carries/ 2,269 yards / 23 touchdowns)

Senior Taylor Thaxton will be taking over as the quarterback, and will have a lot of returning talent to pass to this season. Senior Bill Washer is likely to be the top target for Thaxton after his performances last season.

With nearly 20 seniors on the roster, the Tigers will hope for the leadership and experience on both sides of the ball to help the team make a deep run in the playoffs.

Schedule

( * signifies Region 4-1A matchup)

August 17 Watertown

August 24 @ Smith County

August 31 @ Red Boiling Springs*

September 7 Trousdale County

September 14 RePublic*

September 28 @ Monterey*

October 5 Pickett County*

October 12 @ Jo Byrns*

October 19 @ Jackson County

October 26 Clay County*

Games to Watch

Watertown – August 17

The Tigers lost to Watertown 20-0 last season, but with more experience and a new head coach, expect this game to be a little bit closer this year. With both teams picked to be near the top of their respective regions, Gordonsville will be hoping to start the season off on the right foot, while also using this early test to look for any changes that may need to be made.

@ Smith County – August 24

This matchup is one that has had a lot of big moments for each team throughout the years, and there is no reason to expect this year to be any different. The “Carthage – Gordonsville game” is a game that draws out a lot of passion from both sides, which almost always evens the playing field.

@ Jo Byrns – October 12

Gordonsville was able to beat Jo Byrns last season 21-14, but this late season matchup could have implications towards where each team finishes in Region 4-1A. The Jo Byrns Red Devils finished last season second in 4-1A, going 4-2 in the region. With both teams relying on a large number of seniors as a foundation, don’t expect a blowout in this matchup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v4W-8syD70

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