of football. We need him. As for
Levi, he was one of the reasons
the JV’s finished 10-0 last season.
So we have two very good
running backs.”
Also, in the backfield, returns
junior starting quarterback Korey
Griffith. “Korey had a very good
off-season,” said Chappell. “He
got bigger, his weight is between
195 and 200 pounds, and his arm
strength has improved. He still
needs to get in sync with all his
receivers. Hopefully we can get
that done by the early weeks of
August camp.”
Fast, strong, experienced, dual
threats, skilled at blocking
downfield, excellent at running
routes and catching the football.
That’s how Chappell describes
his receivers. And he has no less
than seven Black Bears to choose
from, including Lockerson as a
tight end.
Leading this group will be seniors
Eric Robinson (wing), Keegan
Hudson (WR), Lockerson (TE),
Ryan Reynolds (WR), juniors Cain
Early (WR) and Devin Dodgin
(WR). Talk about an abundance
of riches.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior Wilson Moody, who was
the kicker on the undefeated
JV team in 2018, is the leading
candidate to be the varsity
placekicker. Shuford returns to
do all the long snapping, while
Reynolds, who backed up (Kam)
Walker as the punter last season,
is the leading candidate as camp
opens.
DEFENSE
How does Chappell replace
Brown, who was a two-time
Mountain Six Conference
Defensive Player of the Year?
He doesn’t.
“Those are huge shoes to fill,”
said Chappell. “You can’t replace
him. But we do have several
players who will do a great job
at filling the inside hole on the
defensive line.”
For his four-man front, Chappell
believes four juniors, (Neyland)
Walker, Bradford, Bryson Davis
and Warner Mull, will be the
best options because they are
excellent run stoppers and can
put pressure on the quarterback.
Depth at linebacker was a
concern for Pisgah last season.
But with the return of Cseledy,
Chappell’s defense has four topnotch
Black Bears to wreck havoc
on opposing offenses.
Joining Cseledy will be Cagle,
Lockerson and junior Jaxon
Jarrell, who Chappell described
as a “big hitter” on the 10-0 team.
Pisgah’s secondary should
be its strength on defense as
Hudson, a two year starter as the
“lockdown” cornerback, returns
for his final varsity season.
On the opposite side, Dodgin,Reynolds and junior Lucas
Whitted, will compete to be other corner.
“Whitted was a super player
on the junior varsity team last
season,” said Chappell.
The safeties will be senior Lane
Mease, a two-year starter, and
junior Cain Early.
SCHEDULE
Don’t mention “realignment
committee” in Canton. You
may get a very angry response,
especially this season, as Pisgah
couldn’t fill an opponent for
Week 7.
The Black Bears will play a
10-game schedule, open MSC
play in Week 8 (Oct 11) hosting
Smoky Mountain and have two
open dates (Sept. 13, Oct. 4).
“Playing in a six-team conference
makes it tough on scheduling
non-conference games,” said
Chappell. “When R-S Central
dropped us, we couldn’t find an
opponent for Week 7. But we will
play a 10-game schedule just for
this season because we filled the
opening beginning next season.”
The 2019 season, however, will
get off to a rockin’ start as Pisgah
travels to powerhouse and 2018
state 1-AA champion Murphy
Bulldogs, which its only loss last
season came in Canton at
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23
cont. on pg 24
photo by Mikell Clark Webb