Crockett County
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Top 10 after Week 9
Here's a look at the latest top 10 in rural West Tennessee
Week 9 takeaways
What to take away from each result in rural West Tennessee in Week 9
Week 9 Blitz
Your guide to this week's games across rural West Tennessee.
Early look at playoff races in each region
Who's in the playoffs, who's not, who's in contention for region championships
Top 10 teams after Week 8
Here's a look at the latest top 10 in rural West Tennessee
Week 8 Blitz
Your guide to this week's games across rural West Tennessee.
West TN Blitz top 10 after Week 7
Here's a look at the latest top 10 in rural West Tennessee
Week 7 Takeaways
What to take away from each result in rural West Tennessee in Week 7
Week 7 Blitz
Your guide to this week's games across rural West Tennessee.
West TN Blitz top 10 after Week 6
Here's a look at the latest top 10 in rural West Tennessee
Week 6 Takeaways
What to take away from each result in rural West Tennessee in Week 6
Week 6 Blitz
Your guide to this week's games across rural West Tennessee.
Quick hits
The Cavaliers have 13 returning players off a team that won nine games including a playoff game and competed for a region championship last year.
Head coach Kevin Ward is going into his 16th season leading Crockett County and 24th year as a head coach overall. He says his coaching style has evolved over those years from where he wanted to run the ball on every down to being more balanced now. He still prefers to run the ball, but he’s confident in the Cavaliers’ passing game.
Senior receiver Kris Phillips is a vocal leader for the team that doesn’t just catch passes but is one of the main guys encouraging other players in practice and in the locker room before games. Ward also appreciates the fact that Phillips is usually the player leading the team prayers.
While expectations for the team may be a little higher this year, Ward said the team is focused on their Week 1 opponent, which is new this year. So their main focus throughout the preseason - if they’re not thinking about how to get better as a team - has been on Nashville Collegiate Prep.
D.K. Woods is back as one of the top bruising backs in the region that’s hard to bring down by one defensive player.
Position groups
Offensive line — This is an area where the coaching staff spent much of the summer figuring out who the starting lineup will be. Carson Bridger will be the center, while Sebastian Garduno, Jacob Howard, Nolan Turner, Ittai Frye and Grant Smallwood will be in the mix up front.
Backfield — D.K. Woods will be the starting running back, while Khalan Thomas will be the guy backing him up along with Chris Mann. Ben Burgess is in his third year starting at quarterback and has thrown for over 2,700 combined in two years, which is good enough for a scholarship offer from Middle Tennessee State. Kris Phillips will probably be the backup quarterback.
Receivers — There’s a number of players to use in this area. The senior group of Kris Phillips, Mason Dennis, Ian Greenberg, Squirt Pickens and Titus Luten should be a stable group to give Burgess plenty of targets to throw to.
Defensive line — Nolan Turner, Carson Bridger and Grant Smallwood are all returning starters, and Jacob Howard is a transfer from Haywood who brings added experience in. Garduno and Frye will add depth to this area.
Linebackers — Woods, D.J. Forrest, Brody Jones and Jalen Young will be the main guys stopping opposing backs.
Secondary — Brody Parlowe, Chris Mann, Ian Greenberg, Mason Dennis, Squirt Pickens and Khalan Thomas all have experience stopping some of the better passing attacks in West Tennessee in recent years.
Special teams — Noah Mayfield is the returning starter as kicker and punter. Jeremiah Young, Chris Mann, DK Woods, Titus Luten, Ian Greenberg, Chris Phillips and Mason Dennis could all see some time returning some kind of kicks.
2026 stats
No stats yet this season. They appear here once a game's book has been read and checked.