#PRZTN Regional Breakdown: Class 1A-Region 4

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clay Co. had a magical run last year, making it all the way to the Class 1A title game but can they repeat for the Fall football season? Gordonsville might have something to say about that! </h2>     Clay Co. Bulldogs (Celina, TN/Clay Co.)   HC: Bruce Lamb    ‘22 Record: 13-2 overall (3-0 Region) - Lost 1A Title Game to McKenzie   Top Returning Players: (LB) Austin Anderson, (DB) Weston Birdwell, (DB) Logan Jennings, ‘25 (QB/Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='1135175' first='Nate' last='Adams'], ‘26 (RB) Cole Eads    Team Outlook: Coming off possibly the best season ever in Clay Co. football history, the Bulldogs will have big expectations to put together another strong year this Fall but it will be a challenge as they must replace several key starters off last year's team while trying to live up to those expectations. What Coach Lamb and his staff have is a strong culture and a way of going about business in a consistent manner that will put these Bulldogs in contention for another region title.    The biggest transition for the Bulldogs this year will be on offense where new pieces will need to be implemented and excel. As things sit right now, it appears rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1135175' first='Nate' last='Adams'] will be the guy at quarterback with a nice young piece at running back in Cole Eads to hand it off to. Where the Bulldogs should be strong is over on defense where you have one of the best defenders in the 1A ranks roaming at linebacker in Austin Anderson. He is complemented by two good pieces in the secondary with seniors Weston Birdwell and Logan Jennings.    The offense will need time to develop and mature, so it will be on the defense to win games early while the other side of the ball learns on the fly. While time to develop will be needed for a lot of this Bulldogs team, I fully expect them to remain in contention for the region title and make their way back to the playoffs. They may not return to the 1A title game but another strong postseason run will maintain the consistency that this Mid-Tennessee program is building.    Early Season Prediction: Region Title Contender; Playoff Team    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/clayco.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-819013" width="345" height="283" /></figure>   ------------------   Gordonsville Tigers (Gordonsville, TN/Smith Co.)   HC: Stephen Jackson   ‘22 Record: 9-4 overall (2-1 Region) - Lost Quarterfinals to Clay Co.   Top Returning Players: (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='390598' first='Eli' last='Adams'], (WR/S) [player_tooltip player_id='610742' first='Brady' last='Gentry'], (LB) Canaan Musgrove, (OL) Jake Hill, ‘25 (OL) Braden Wood, ‘25 (OL) Bryce Gill, '25 (Ath) Nolan Cowden   Team Outlook: The 2022 season might have been just a warm up for this Tigers program as they could have been building for this Fall where Gordonsville looks like the team to beat for the region title and a team that could play themselves into the Class 1A title game. One of the more consistent programs in the Mid-Tennessee region, Gordonsville has a strong culture built within their program, so the Tigers are always in contention for a playoff spot but maybe the 2023 season will provide something bigger as pieces are in place, especially up front in the trenches to make a run at Chattanooga.    Under Coach Jackson and his staff, the Tigers like to play a physical brand of football that can overwhelm opponents on a consistent basis. They have the beef up front to do just that this Fall with senior Jake Hill leading the way up front along with two rising juniors in Braden Wood and Bryce Gill to compliment him. The Tigers like to run the ball and they should do just fine in that area with those three and others up front blocking. Over on defense, Gordonsville has one of the best college talents in the Class 1A ranks with senior D-lineman [player_tooltip player_id='390598' first='Eli' last='Adams']. This guy can be a force on the line that is hard to block and will be a key force this year in turning the Tigers defense into one of the best on their playing level. Several other pieces need to developed but the culture, line of scrimmage and senior leadership is there to take the Tigers on a deep playoff run and beyond.    Early Season Prediction: Region Title Contender; 1A Title Contender   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/04/eliadams.jpg?w=350" alt="" class="wp-image-797263" /></figure>   -----------------   Jo Byrns Red Devils (Cedar Hill, TN/Robertson Co.)   HC: Tom Adkins   ‘22 Record: 3-8 overall (1-2 Region) - Lost 1st Rd to Whitwell    Top Returning Players: (WR/S) Reed Blumel, (G/C) Caden Crawford, (OL) Brody Hajdu, ‘25 (QB/Ath) Bryant Tillman   Team Outlook: The 2022 season was supposed to be a breakthrough year for this Red Devils football program but that didn't come to be as it was another bottom region finish and an early exit in the playoffs. Moving forward, this Red Devils team will be playing with house money as nobody will expect them to make noise within the region this year, so they can play wild and free without expectations.    The makeup of this 2022 Red Devils team has a mix of veteran leadership along with some youthful talent being expected to take on bigger roles, so it's really unknown as to how this team will gel together. The strength of this team might be in the offensive front where you have veterans like Caden Crawford and Brody Hajdu leading the way. It's the skill positions and the defense that will need to be developed over these spring months and into the summer practice. It appears that rising junior Bryant Tillman could take over at quarterback and he will have a solid piece at receiver to throw to in senior Reed Blumel. It will be a struggle to get past Clay Co. or Gordonsville but another playoff appearance would be huge for the Red Devils football program.    Early Season Prediction: Bottom Two Finish; Possible Playoff Team    -----------------   Red Boiling Springs Bulldogs (Red Boiling Springs, TN/Macon Co.)   HC: Jeffrey Link    ‘22 Record: 3-9 overall (0-3 Region) - Lost 1st Rd to South Pittsburg   Top Returning Players: (QB/Ath) Aubrey Link, ‘25 (G/C) Micah Hackney, ‘25 (G/C) Jordan Ray, ‘26 (Ath) Houston Taylor   Team Outlook: Each season provides new hope for every high school football program across the state, including these Bulldogs, who have nowhere to go but up and maybe a youth movement is just what this program needs to start winning ball games. One veteran the Bulldogs coaching staff and roster will be leaning upon this year is senior quarterback Aubrey Link. The 6'2 two-way talent will be critical in the team's success this year as he is the team's best playmaker and the guy you can go to when you need something good to happen. What Link will need the most is protection up front and it looks like he may receive some of that this year.    The Bulldogs have two juniors up front in Micah Hackney and Jordan Ray that the staff is hoping makes a difference in the trenches and is able to keep their quarterback clean on a consistent basis. Where this team might struggle is with overall athleticism and skill as well as defensively. The numbers in depth just aren't there right now but maybe some unknown talent can step forward this season and help take this Bulldogs program into a positive direction.   Early Season Prediction: Bottom Two Finish; Possible Playoff Team   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/rbsprings.jpg?w=566" alt="" class="wp-image-819014" width="422" height="373" /></figure>