East Ridge ready to replace large graduating class
EAST RIDGE, Tenn. (WDEF)- Replacing a large graduating class can be a challenge.
That’s what head coach Chad Barger and the East Ridge Pioneers are facing this season.
However, they believe they can get back to the playoffs again for the second straight year in a row
It’s fun, we just here to work hard and have a good season.
For East Ridge, overcoming a young roster will be paramount to success.
Barger said, “Right now we have a very small senior class this year, we have five seniors, so we’re a little young, but some of these kids have played a little bit, so there’s a mix of some experience and a lot of youth. We’re excited about what we can do and we’ve got some good athletes and some good kids. Biggest thing is numbers are low, so depth might be an issue.”
Players like wide receiver and cornerback Marshon Usher have the responsibility to bridge this gap.
“It’s fun, we just here to work hard and have a good season,” said Usher. “Really, it’s, it’s just we be trying to step up in practice. We’re just trying to work hard. Our coaches tell us all the time, “Next man up, next man up!” So anybody could come up.”
The Pioneers will be breaking in a new quarterback as well.
Barger said, “Demarcus Scruggs is our quarterback, he’s our guy. He was our backup last year. He got limited minutes, but I mean he is a tall rangy kid, he’s going to be a junior this year. He has a good arm, he has a good head on his shoulders.”
“I mean, I’ve been knowing Demarcus for, since seventh grade, so our bond is pretty good, and then his bond with the receivers, we always be talking, always be hanging out. Be getting extra footwork outside of practice, so it’s good,” said Usher.
Barger believes East Ridge could be a no fly zone, something the players want to prove.
Barger said, “The secondary guys are pretty sharp right now. We’ve got a couple of starters back from the offensive line that played all year long last year and done a pretty good job. So we’ve got a couple of offensive linemen we can hang our hat on.”
“Last year, they was like our secondary is the weakest, so we’ve got something to prove this season,” said Usher.
The Pioneers are ready to grow both on and off the field.
Barger said, “We’ve got some leadership guys, even in the younger class has a couple of leadership type guys that can really step up and help us out in that department. But the biggest thing is how quickly we mature, and how quickly we understand what is going on.”
