Bears expected to finish near bottom

By Staff, 07/31/17 9:46 AM

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SPRING HILL – While fans of the Spring Hill Bears will be filling the stands this football season, a statewide publication is picking the team to finish near the bottom of the 7-AA.

According to the magazine, Mount Ida is tabbed to win the conference, followed by Foreman, Dierks, Lafayette County, Murfreesboro, Mineral Springs, Spring Hill and Mountain Pine. It must be remembered the publication is basing its prediction on what happened in the 2016 season, and the Bears lost starting quarterback Payton Massanelli in the second game of the season with a broken leg.

However, he will be returning this year and get help from Parker Freeman, a senior, for the 2017 campaign with Rusty Orr backing him up when he’s not playing receiver.

Spring Hill will see two backs returning for the 2017 season, as Keymonte Rhodes and Slade Cox will be in the backfield for the Bears. The Bears should also see improvement in the receiving corps as Cameron Middleton moves from outside to inside receiver. Hays Martin and Drake Kidd will also be helping out with the Spring Hill aerial attack, along with Lewis Chambers.

The Bears should have some size on the offensive line with Jonathan Loe moving from center to guard, while Matthew Kelesoma will be the other guard and Garrett Pauley moves to center.

Defensively, Loe will be the noseguard, with assistance from Pauley. Marshall Glover, Brady Whatley and Levi Kidd will see action as defense ends. Dustin Beck has played every linebacker spot, while Cox will be an outside linebacker, but can move to inside backer if needed. Cannon Saunders and Martin will also see action as linebackers, while Orr will work as a linebacker and safety.

Rhodes will also be a safety for the Bears, while Banno Middleton and Garrett Kirkpatrick man the corners. Chambers, Freeman and Ty Rosenbaum will also see action in the secondary.

Part of the problem for the Bears will be the lack of skill players and inexperienced linemen.

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