Posted 8:30 p.m. August 28, 2007 Fulton preview: Falcons have lots of skill players back By Mike Blackerby Editor@oakridgesports.com Oak Ridge is a Class 5-A school. Fulton is a Class 3-A school. If you think that gives the Wildcats any kind of advantage over the Falcons, guess again. That comes from no less an authority than Oak Ridge coach Stanton Stevens, whose team kicks off the 2007 high school football season at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Bob Black Field in Knoxville. “It’s not like we’re playing a team that hasn’t won at the highest level,” said Stevens, whose Wildcats are looking to rebound from a disappointing 5-5 campaign. Fulton finished 14-1 in 2006, taking the 3-A state championship for the third time in the last four seasons. “They are three-time state champions. If that’s not a good opponent, than I don’t know who is. If you match up athlete for athlete, they’ve got more than we do. When you’ve got an inner-city school like Fulton, they’re gonna have more athletes than Oak Ridge. They’ve got more speed than we do -- and nobody over there is going to be intimidated by us. We’ve got to find a way to beat them.” Although Fulton graduated Dennis Rogan -- the school’s all-time rushing and scoring leader -- the Falcons return the bulk of their skill people. Rogan, who is a freshman at Tennessee this season, put up staggering career numbers. He ran for 5,261 yards and scored 81 touchdowns despite starting just two seasons at running back. Terrance Cobb, a 203-pound senior, takes over for Rogan. With Rogan carrying almost all of the load, Cobb rushed for only 282 yards on 49 carries last season. Look for those numbers to increase significantly this fall. “Terrance has stepped up and is going to be a really good player,” said Fulton coach Buck Coatney. Cobb’s older brothers -- Reggie and Tyrone -- played at Central and Fulton, respectively. Terrance is more of a combination of the two. “Tyrone was bigger and stronger, but Terrance is faster,” said Coatney. “He’s our guy and we’re gonna have to count on him.” Stevens said Cobb’s lineage says it all. “You’re talking bloodlines. His oldest brother played in the NFL and his other brother was an all-stater.” If Fulton’s young and inexperienced offensive line can come through, the Falcons should have one of the area’s best -- and most-balanced offenses. Fulton graduated all five starters off its offensive line. Junior Jock Stinson (6-0, 177) is about to start for the third season at quarterback. Stinson hit on 65-of-112 passes for 10 scores in 2006. Stinson has three talented and dangerous wideouts to throw to in Vic Smith (22-413), Derrick Humphrey (10-211) and Ken Tyson (9-117). “Jock is a three-year starter for us. You can’t replace his experience,” said Coatney. “We’ll probably spread it out a little more than usual this year on offense.” Other than Alcoa’s Randall Cobb, Stevens said Stinson is probably the best dual-threat quarterback in East Tennessee. “It all starts with Stinson. He’s not gonna be back there making mistakes. He’ll make a play or two with his feet and arm. Other than the Cobb kid at Alcoa, he’s more dangerous than anybody we’ve played against.” Senior fullback Bubba Stokes (5-11, 232), who also doubles as the Falcons’ middle linebacker, gives Fulton another offensive weapon. “Stokes has had a real good preseason offensively,” said Coatney. The bottom line: Fulton presents a myriad of nightmares offensively. “They’re easily as dangerous as we are offensively,” offered Stevens. Defensively, Fulton features an aggressive secondary, a pair of quality defensive end and Stokes at middle linebacker. Holes, once again, can be found in the middle of the line where Fulton has been hit hard by graduation and preseason injuries. Cobb is a likely all-state choice at one defensive end. Cobb recorded 62 tackles a year ago, including 16 minus-yardage stops. Junior Antwan Hamilton (6-1, 221), another quality player, bookends him across the line. Stokes led the Falcons in tackles as a junior with 127, including 15 behind the line of scrimmage. In the secondary, Fulton is comparable to some of the old Murfreesboro Oakland and Riverdale teams that Oak Ridge faced. “When you’ve got three state championships, you play with a certain swagger and confidence,” said Stevens. “They’ll play us man in the secondary and put as many people in the box as they can. They’ll try and take away what we like to do. We have to be able to control the ball and make some plays on the ground.” |
