Ringgold Must Replace Several Seniors To Find Success This Fall

Ringgold, GA-(WDEF-TV) Ringgold reached double digit victories last season for the first time since 2013. And in order to do it again this season, they’ll have to replace a lot of veteran players.

One reason Ringgold went 10-2 last year. They had over 20 talented seniors.

Said receiver Jacob Garnica: “We lost a lot of our athletes. We lost linemen too. With 22 seniors gone I think like 18 started.”

Said head coach Robert Akins: “In 40 years I don’t think I’ve had 12 out of 21 get scholarships. I mean that’s a great percentage.”

Reporter: “Do you think this team can carry on what was accomplished last year?”

Said receiver Bryson Bethune:”Oh yeah. 100 percent. I feel like if we stay as a team together, we can definitely do what we did last year.”

Said Akins:”I think a lot of times people will look at those 21 seniors, and they’ll say there’s no way you can be as good, but I think these seniors this year have come in with an attitude that they want to step up even from last year. So I feel real optimistic about what we can do this year.”

It’s also easy to be optimistic when you have speed.

Said Ganica:”I see the strength of this team in our skill players. I mean we’ve just got a lot of speed. A lot of talent on the outside. I mean we’ve just got to get the ball to our players and let them make plays.”

Said Akins:”With the skill people who can cover, they can cover a lot of man-to-man. If you can cover man-to-man and put pressure on offenses, then you can be better.”

The Tigers offense will see a new quarterback in Garrett Edger.

Said Garnica:”He’s a great guy. Great athlete. He can do it all. I’m just going to be honest. He’s got it down.”

Said Akins:”We will do a lot more RPO’s this year and those kind of things because Garrett is tremendously intelligent. He has got a good arm. He can throw the ball well. We are going to be more multi-faceted this year.”