Special
PIGSKIN 2021 23
REGION 7AA
Coosa and Model hope to be two of the four teams who make the postseason out of Region 7AA.
Race for playoffs spots may be wild ride in Region 7AA
By Brandon Dyer
News-Tribune Sports Writer
Region 7AA came down to the wire
in 2020 and figures to be a similar
nailbiter this fall.
Fannin County, Pepperell, Model,
and Chattooga claimed the four Region
7AA playoff spots in the state
playoffs last season, and the competition
is starting to heat up within the
region as Coosa, Gordon Central, and
Dade County could all move up in the
standings in 2021.
In all, five teams will be fielding new
quarterbacks this season in the region:
Fannin County, Chattooga, Model,
Dade County, and Gordon Central.
After not posting a winning record
in 10 years, fourth-year head coach
Chad Cheatham was able to lead the
Fannin County Rebels to the 2020
Region 7AA title. The Rebels finished
perfect within the region, winning all
five games, but have some stiff competition
heading into the fall.
“(It’s) going to be a dogfight to get
three and four (the region’s final two
playoff positions),” Pepperell Dragons
head coach Rick Hurst said. “It just
depends on who can play with the
least amount of mistakes and who
can sustain a few injuries. To me,
that’s going to be who comes out of
this thing.”
That is the situation that the Dragons
found themselves in toward the
end of last season, winning their last
three games to clinch region runner
up and a No. 2 seed entering the playoffs.
The Dragons will return junior
running back D.J. Rogers, who had
1,422 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns
through 2020.
After back-to-back playoff appearances,
Model and third year head coach
Jeff Hunnicutt will try to rely on underclassmen
to step up this season, as
18 seniors graduated in the spring. The
Blue Devils will certainly be a team to
watch in the region, as they finished
4-2 in 2020 region competition, good
for third in the region.
Both the Coosa Eagles and Chattooga
Indians will look to second year
head coaches to lead their respective
teams after making strides of success
last season.
Chattooga made the playoffs for the
seventh year in a row, thanks in large
part to running back Lashaun Lester,
who finished second in the region in
rushing touchdowns. Head coach Sean
Peek said “We have 14 or 15 seniors
that we will rely on this season,” so
experience should be something that
the Indians have plenty of this season.
The Indians will, though, need
to find a replacement for Cash Allen
at the quarterback position.
Coosa also aims to lean on experience
this upcoming season, as 14 of
the 22 starters from last season return
to the team, including quarterback
Hayden McBurnett. Head coach
Joey Mathis will try to get the Eagles
past the .500 mark that they finished
at last season.
Gordon Central and Dade County
will feature new quarterbacks behind
center, as both teams look to turn a
corner.
Every team has something exciting
to work toward for the upcoming
football season, and the outlook
for the region appears to be
a great one.