Coach Derrick Davis said the expectations for this year’s team are the same as usual. “We expect them to compete and play the Polk County brand of ‘physical football’. We’re inexperienced but we will get better as the season goes on and we expect our players to be proud to wear the Polk County Jersey. Our objective is to advance to the playoffs and go from there” Davis concluded.

Polk will run the same offensive sets they have run in Davis’ 12 previous years, the Slotted T and Power I. A lot of the starting positions are still undecided but there will be a big number of two-way players so you will see a lot of players used throughout the games. Quarterback is one of the positions that has not been decided yet. Currently Duncan Coffey has the edge over Josh Sillas but regardless of who starts, they both will see lots of playing time either at QB or another position, possibly the slot back.

Zach Miller, a 225 pound junior, is the starter at fullback and his running mate will most likely be Justin Green at tailback. They both will be counted on to play on defense also. Christian Elliott will anchor the “O” line at center and will be flanked by guards Tanner Plemons and Michael Williams. The tackles will be Caleb Bramblett and Walker Hood. Matthew Hammons will see playing time at center and the tackle slots. Polk uses the tight ends and split ends as play carriers and the positions will be shared by Justin Brown, Aaron Caldwell, Gatlin Lanning, and Marcus Green. Playing the wing will be Devin Weber, Chris Wimberley, Josh Sillas, and Blake Cross.

Davis stated “we expect to run a lot of power football with the size and number of players we have available. We also expect to see more players involved as experience levels increase”.

On the defensive side, the DE positions playing time will be shared by Matthew Triplett, Lanning, and Hammons. Play at the tackle slots will be shared primarily by Plemons, Matthew Wilson, Jordan Senn, and Hood. The inside linebackers return quite a bit of experience with Green and Miller getting the starting nod and backed up by Amos Rogers. Rogers is expected to step up and see quite a bit of playing time. The outside LBs are versatile with Brown, Caldwell, Coffey, and Green splitting time on the field. Polk lost all of last years starter experience at the defensive  back slots. Expected to primarily share the playing time at the three positions are Weber, Wimberley, Sillas, and Cross.

“We expect to see playing time from more players on defense just like offense as time and experience increase” said Davis.

Justin Brown has been a good surprise at the kicking game and will probably handle the PATs, kickoffs, and probably the punting. The long snapper for the punting game is currently Flowers who has shown a lot of improvement according to Davis. Wimberley and Sillas will probably return most of the kicks with Coffey and Weber seeing some time in those slots.

 “We have a pretty unique situation here at Polk County with our coaching staff” said Davis. “Every man on the staff is not only a graduate of Polk County High but they have all participated in varsity athletics. This is a hard working group and they have a lot of pride in the program. I’m really proud to work with them” the coach concluded.

Polk opens up with Bradley, a 5A team, on Friday, Aug. 17 at home.