East Ridge Hoping to Cut Down on Mistakes and Penalties

East Ridge, TN-(WDEF-TV) Our 30-in-30 high school football series continues as we take a look at East Ridge.
Even though the Pioneers won only two games last season, they still carry plenty of confidence into the new fall campaign.

Know what you’ll find in Pioneer country this season?
Said quarterback Jermaine Blackstock:”We got dogs on the team. We got dogs on the team.”
Reporter:”What’s it mean in football when you call a guy a dog?”
Blackstock:” A dog? Tough. You’re like that mentally. It’s all in the mental and the heart. It’s everything.”
A good dog is also disciplined.
Said Blackstock:”No penalties. No penalties. Got to play as a team. Play together.”
Said head coach Chad Barger:”The penalties in the first half of the season really. Opening game against Silverdale I think we had 17. 17 penalties for almost 200 yards. You’re never going to win a football game with that kind of undisciplined play.”
Reporter:”Has that tape been burned?”
Said Barger:”Pretty much yeah.”
Said running back Javonte Pullom:”We’ve just got to come together. That’s all. Just come together. Come together. Be disciplined as a team. No turnovers. No penalties. Just come together.”
Reporter:”Your quarterback told me you may throw it a little bit more this year.”
Said Barger:”We might. Just depends on how he throws it. Right Jay? We’ll see how it goes. Yeah I mean we are. We’ve got some guys on the edges that catch it a little bit.”
East Ridge has always had speed.
Now they may have the size and depth up-front to battle harder.
Said lineman Cayden McCrary:”Most of our line have had to play both ways the past couple of years. But this year we are able to actually switch it up and give the line a little bit of a break.”
Said Barger:”We’ve got several offensive linemen back. Couple of them are four year starters so these guys are way more experienced. Lot bigger.”
Announcer:”30 schools in 30 days. Sponsored by Food City and Lee roofing.”