H.S. FOOTBALL: Dresden ready to go at full speed

DRESDEN – The feeling among some fans of Dresden High football is they feel almost as if the Lions are at full speed this year compared to last year.

Head coach Derek Rang is in his second season and finishing up his first full offseason with the team.

Quarterback Dresser Winn, who’d transferred to Briarcrest Christian a year ago, is back with the team.

Quincy McDonald, who played quarterback in Winn’s absence, is back where he belongs at receiver and has been Winn’s favorite target when the Lions have competed at recent 7-on-7 camps.

Other key players like Dylan Yates, Brice Williams and Jordan Mitchell are all ready to go this season, too.

And that’s not just good news for this year. Considering every player mentioned will be a junior this season, that’s good news for 2016 season, too, if the group with the rest of the rising junior class stays intact.

“It’s definitely a good situation if they can play up to their potential,” Rang said. “And that’s a lot of potential they have.

“Dresser is a great athlete, and we’ve spent the summer getting him acclimated to how we do things now since I got here. I think Quincy is doing well because he’s back in his natural position, too.”

The athleticism, speed and talent in the backfield and on the perimeter make Dresden the trendy pick to challenge the assumed status quo of the new Region 7-1A with a pair of defending state champions in it. The popular thought is if any of the other seven teams in the league will challenge Union City and Peabody for the top two spots, it’s Dresden.

“I’m not sure about that yet, but I definitely know that’s our goal,” Rang said. “Union City and Peabody both were really good last year. That’s why they won state championships.

“But I also know they both have a lot coming back that we need to deal with. But right now, if we’re thinking about anybody but ourselves, that team needs to be Westview.”

The Lions will travel to Martin to play Westview at UT Martin’s Hardy Graham Stadium in Week 1 on Aug. 21.

Brandon Shields, 425-9751