Hardin Valley, Aaron Dykes want to build off quarterfinal run

Dave Link
For the Knoxville News Sentinel
Hardin Valley's Aaron Dykes (3) rushed for 1,483 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

Hardin Valley Academy’s football team had a breakout season in 2016 with a run to the Class 6A state quarterfinals.

It was the first time the Hawks had hosted a playoff game and the first time they had won a playoff game in the program’s 10-year history.

The Hawks hope for a similar run this year.

“It was an awesome feeling,” senior running back Aaron Dykes said. “Once we won the first-round playoff game, it was like the weight was off our shoulders. In the second round, nobody thought we could play with Riverdale, and we shocked them (17-14). We’re just hoping to repeat and have another great year.”

Hardin Valley coach Wes Jones, who is 45-44 as the Hawks’ coach, knows a repeat performance won’t be easy. The Hawks (9-4) had 23 seniors on the 2016 team. Six starters return to the spread offense. Only four starters are back on defense as the Hawks must replace their front seven.

Hardin Valley coach Wes Jones looks on from the sideline during a 6A playoff game Nov. 11, 2016.

“We have to work a lot harder,” Jones said. “We’re really young. We only have 14 seniors. We’ll play a lot of juniors and sophomores, but they’re good football players.”

Hardin Valley will replace starting quarterback Gavin Greene, who threw for 1,422 yards and 10 touchdowns with seven interceptions as a senior last year. He completed 56.3 percent of his passes.

Freshman Zak Acuff (5-foot-11, 165 pounds), sophomore Jacob Smith (5-11, 150) and junior Grayson Vaughn (6-1, 185) are in the Hawks’ quarterback competition.

Acuff could be a quarterback of the future.

“Zak has an unbelievable arm,” Jones said. “He’s a big talent at Hardin Valley. He’s pretty dang good. His (lack of) experience stands in his way.”

Dykes (5-11, 190), who rushed for 1,483 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, is one of the PrepXtra area’s top running backs. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry and 114.1 yards per game.

His success in the backfield is important to Hardin Valley's season.

Hardin Valley Academy's Aaron Dykes

Jones said Dykes has “11 or 12” college offers, including Army, Holy Cross, Eastern Kentucky, and East Tennessee State.

“Aaron brings a big-play ability,” Jones said. “Last year he was our big-play threat. He’s an explosive player and a game-changer, and one of the top cornerbacks around. He’s started on and off since he was a freshman.”

Jones likes his receiver corps led by seniors Nolan Brown (5-11, 170) and E.J. Caldwell (5-11, 170) and juniors Luke Defur (6-3, 205) and Cartez Campbell (6-2, 180), a transfer from Karns.

Four of five starters from the 2016 offensive line are back: seniors Cameron Schofield (5-8, 245) and Colby Green (5-11, 205) and juniors Keenan Sloan (5-10, 235) and Dawson Hardesty (6-1, 230).

“We’ll have a target on our backs this season,” Dykes said. “With our region realigned, teams will be like, ‘Hardin Valley is a team to beat.’ We’ll have to bring it every week.”

Dave Link is a freelance contributor.