Hixson looks to sustain breakthrough success

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- The Hixson Wildcats football program struggled for several years.

They did not have a winning record between 2017 and 2022, with multiple winless seasons in the mix.

They had their first winning record last season since 2016 under the leadership of Nick Rivers III.

Coach Rivers said of the success, “We came out and we showed passion, we showed pride. We showed our Wildcat pride, and I think at the end of the day it helps out the community and us moving forward.”

The energy felt in Wildcat County is evident in how the team is growing their chemistry.

Adam Billingsley Jr., a linebacker and fullback for the Wildcats said, “We’re hanging out more with each other. Spending quality time, going out swimming, getting some work in by ourselves, getting to the field. We are just working harder to be a better team.”

The Wildcats 7-4 record last season was with a backup quarterback in Chase Barnard.

This year, Coach Rivers says Luke Finch will return behind center after an injury, something receiver and defensive back Ronald Suttles says is a focus of practice.

“We’ve been playing recently like 7 on 7 wise so I’ve been used to him throwing then, and then when he got hurt, we have to react to something else. So we had to bring in our QB from last year and it wasn’t nothing different really because we had some chemistry, so I mean, it was just getting that chemistry back from last year to now,” said Suttles. 

Billingsley Jr. has full confidence in the QB1 by saying, “He’s just a great player, great team leader, he communicates on the field, he helps when we’re down, he just leads the team. When we are down, he just has that energy to bring us up.”

Coach Rivers believes that the trenches with the offensive line will be a strength.

“I think we’ve been doing a great job since the summer started, kind of gelling together. Just kind of coming together, but that’s probably the difficult group to get together on the football field because it’s five on the field at the same time,” he said.

The team believes greater things are ahead. 

Suttles said, “I really just think our coaches, coaches that we got from the year before and last year to this year has been a whole flipping change. They just got us ready and prepared for what they need us to prepare for so we can go on to that next level.”