Will Independence football make third straight title game with another new QB?

Colton Pouncy

USA Today Network - Tennessee

Independence QB Nathan Cisco makes a pass during the Titans 7-on-7 high school tournament held at Titans' practice facility. Wednesday July 12, 2017, in Nashville, TN

Nathan Cisco has huge cleats to fill.

After patiently waiting in the wings his freshman and sophomore seasons, the Independence junior is set to take over at starting quarterback for the Eagles in 2017.

Cisco will be the third starting quarterback in the past three seasons for a team that has made the last two Class 5A championship games. But at a 7-on-7 tournament hosted by the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday afternoon, Cisco was happy to finally have the opportunity.

"It's awesome," Cisco said. "I dressed my freshman year so I got to look up to Andrew (Bunch) and Brandon (Hines). I got to learn from their mistakes and also see what they did well."

Independence lost to Farragut 45-35 a year ago in the championship, ending a 29-game win streak. Hines threw for 3,574 yards with 40 touchdowns for the Eagles (14-1) for the season. He is a preferred walk-on at Tennessee.

In 2015, Bunch threw for 3,405 yards and 41 touchdowns to go along with just four interceptions in leading the Eagles to the Class 5A championship. He's now at Nebraska.

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Coach Scott Blade said it's always a challenge when you work in a new quarterback, but he likes what he's seen from the 6-foot-3 Cisco so far.

"Nathan Cisco has really worked hard," Blade said. "He's been in our program — this is his third year — so we're hoping he keeps on developing at the rate he's developing and hopefully have a breakthrough year with him."

Independence QB Nathan Cisco talks with a teammate on the sidelines during the Titans 7-on-7 high school tournament held at Titans' practice facility. Wednesday July 12, 2017, in Nashville, TN

At the 7-on-7, Cisco looked calm and collected. He threw down the field, hit receivers on intermediate routes and led his team to the final four in a field of 12 before losing to Brentwood Academy, which has won the last two Division II-AA championships.

Independence does return a pair of 4-star receiving prospects — Kendrell Scurry and T.J. Sheffield — who together accounted for 106 receptions for 1,862 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. Both are juniors who decommitted from Tennessee in May.

They'll also have an offensive line that should be "really good" this offseason, according to Blade.

"I've just got to stay focused and have confidence in myself," Cisco said. "That's it. I've got everything else, I've got the tools, I've just got to have confidence and stay focused."

Reach Colton Pouncy by email at cpouncy@tennessean.com or follow him on Twitter: @CTPSports