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Preseason All-District 8-AAA Team
Offense
WR - Eric Smith, LIC, 6-1, 185, Sr.
WR - Eric Belew, COL, 6-3, 180, Sr.
OL - Will Sharpton, TUL, 6-3, 250, Sr.
OL - Desmond Owens, COL, 6-1, 270, Jr.
OL - Blair Dukes, SHE, 6-1, 235, Sr.
OL - J.T. Spaulding, LIC, 6-2, 250, Sr.
OL - Tyler Kilburn, LAC, 6-3, 265, Sr.
RB - Layton Wells, FRC, 5-10, 170, Jr.
RB - Chris Martin, COL, 5-10, 190, Jr.
RB - Marquis Morton, SHE, 5-11, 180, Jr.
QB - Jared Davis, TUL, 6-3, 185, Sr.
PK - Chris Harris, COL, 5-11, 180, Sr.
Defense
DL - Allen Starks, TUL, 6-2, 215, Sr.
DL - Javon Bullock, COL, 5-11, 240, Sr.
DL - Marc Benford, SHE, 6-1, 270, Sr.
DL - Seth Frazier, LAC, 5-11, 275, Sr.
LB - Riley Bosheers, LAC, 6-1, 200, Jr.
LB - Cody Farr, TUL, 5-8, 190, Sr.
LB - John Harvey, COL, 6-0, 210, Sr.
DB - Andrew Mustin - LIC, 6-3, 185, Sr.
DB - Koleton Nunley, FRC - 5-10, 180, Jr.
DB - Shaquille Harris, TUL, 5-8, 150, Sr.
DB - Qua Allen, SHE, 5-11, 170, Sr.
P - Chris Harris, COL, 5-11, 180, Sr.
Turn the Page
Less than six weeks remain until the start of fall practice, so its time we begin to focus on the 2011 season. The single biggest story of the upcoming season is that District 8-AAA is the home of the defending Class 5A champion - Columbia.
The Lions have now played in the first two BlueCross Bowls since the TSSAA unveiled the reclassification in 2009, and they have to be considered the favorite to win the district during the upcoming campaign.
Don't be surprised if district coaches vote Tullahoma as the favorite to win the regular season title in the soon to be released Murphy Fair's Tennessee High School Football magazine, set for release in July.
With the departure of Tra'Darius Goff, Shaq Mason, and the rest of its outstanding senior class, the Lions are still loaded with talent but have some of the best players in school history to replace.
The Wildcats have their own challenges, including the first four games of the season being on the road and six total road games on the schedule. On the other hand, Tullahoma returns one of the best quarterbacks in the midstate in Jared Davis, who threw for over 2100 yards last year and 23 touchdowns.
Lincoln County came on strong at the end of last season and actually finished second in the district standings. With the retirement of Louis Thompson, the Falcons enter a new era under Don Thomas and must replace graduated QB Evan Pittenger. Eric Smith returns as the district's top receiver.
Lawrence County is coming off the two best back-to-back seasons in school history, with both years featuring multiple playoff rounds. Team leader Trent Garland has moved on to college, and like Tullahoma and Columbia the Wildcats have some big shoes to fill.
Shelbyville has some outstanding young skill position players returning, but the Golden Eagles will have to replace three-year starting QB Trey Stewart. The defense is normally the big question in Bedford County, and 2011 will probably not be an exception to that rule.
Franklin County brings back the two top running backs from last season in Layton Wells and Koleton Nunley, and the Rebels are the pick here to be better than expected. They may not win more games than last year, but they will be tougher.
So that gets us started with the coming season, kind of a wide ranging overall view. In the coming weeks we will break down each team, take a look at the top returning players, and announce our 2011 preseason all-district team. |
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2011 Standings
| Team | District | Overall |
| Columbia | 2-0 | 4-0 |
| Shelbyville | 1-0 | 4-0 |
| Lincoln Co. | 1-0 | 2-2 |
| Tullahoma | 0-1 | 2-2 |
| Franklin Co. | 0-1 | 1-3 |
| Lawrence Co. | 0-2 | 1-3 |
Leading Rushers
| Name | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD |
| M. Morton, SHE | 58 | 477 | 8.2 | 9 |
| K Nunley, FRC | 42 | 408 | 9.7 | 3 |
| T. Wilson, LAC | 46 | 336 | 7.3 | 2 |
| M. Berry, TUL | 33 | 284 | 8.6 | 4 |
| J. Brewer, LAC | 50 | 262 | 5.2 | 1 |
| T. Burks, TUL | 27 | 212 | 7.9 | 4 |
Leading Passers
| Name | COMP | ATT | YDS | YPG | TD |
| M. Markham, COL | 65 | 46 | 1036 | 259.0 | 7 |
| J. Davis, TUL | 89 | 51 | 567 | 141.8 | 2 |
| K. Victory, LIC | 96 | 40 | 553 | 138.3 | 6 |
| L. Faulk, SHE | 56 | 34 | 483 | 120.8 | 4 |
Leading Returning Receivers
| Name | CAT | YDS | YPC | TD |
| E Smith, LIC | 34 | 845 | 24.9 | 8 |
| J Sheffield, TUL | 59 | 831 | 16.6 | 10 |
| E Belew, COL | 22 | 326 | 14.8 | 3 |
| S Sparkman, LAC | 21 | 293 | 13.9 | 1 |
| C Gordon, SHE | 18 | 274 | 15.5 | 1 |
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