2017 Cannon County football: What you need to know

Cannon County started showing progress last year, winning two games after winning one total the previous two seasons and three total from 2010-15.

With seven starters returning on both sides of the ball, the Lions will hope to continue the upward swing in 2017, competing in  Region 4-3A.

Here is a preview of the 2017 Cannon County football team:

The skinny

Head coach: T.J. Daniel

Last season: 2-8 (0-6 in Region 4-3A)

Region: Region 4-3A

Notable

Scored 60 points combined in victories over Community and Red Boiling Springs but averaged less than six points in the eight losses ... Size should be a plus for the Lions, including 350-pound lineman Brian Washington ... Cannon County started 2-2 in 2016, and that included a 13-12 loss to Grundy County ... Haven't won a road game since 2013, but the positive is the Lions have four of their first five games at home.

Returning starters

Offense (7):  TB Cort Litchford, WR Pearson Hughes, C Cole Hill, G Brian Washington, T Remington James, T Noah Logsdon, G Alex Ramsey.

Defense (7):  CB Cort Litchford, DB Reese Smith, LB Dalton Morris, LB Brady Cunningham, S Pearson Hughes, DL Remington James, DE Cole Hill.

Inside the numbers

12: Losing streak the Lions snapped with a Week 1 win over Community last season.

Quotable

"(Offensive, defensive lines) are the heart and soul of our team. They have the most experience by far. We have our eyes on a bigger prize, but we're taking it one step at a time. Our goal is still to make the playoffs, no matter how many wins it takes to make it." — Coach T.J. Daniel.

Schedule

All games begin at 7 p.m.

Aug. 18 at Red Boiling Springs; Aug. 25 vs. Jackson Co.; *Sept. 1 vs. Sequatchie Co.; Sept. 8 vs. Moore Co.; *Sept. 15 vs. Upperman; Sept. 22 at DeKalb Co.; *Sept. 29 at Grundy Co.; *Oct. 13 at Smith Co.; Oct. 19 vs. Whitwell (at UT-Chattanooga); *Oct. 27 vs. York.

* - Region game