#TNHSFB Preview: Class 1A/Region 7

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">This region looks deep with multiple programs in contention to reach postseason play along with a few teams in play to take the region title. It's a competitive Region 7 that should be fun to follow throughout the season. </h2>     1A-Region 7   Dresden Lions    Location: Dresden, TN (Weakley Co.)   Head Coach: Justin Cruse    2024 Finish: 5-5 Overall (4-3 Region)   Top Returning Players: (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='284145' first='Jaqwan' last='Ellison'], (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='889094' first='Brody' last='Taylor'], (RB) Luke DiPietro, (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1690526' first='Cooper' last='Allman'], (OL/DT) Will Childs, ‘27 (QB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='932883' first='Bruce' last='Willis'], ‘27 (TE/DE) [player_tooltip player_id='932881' first='Jacoby' last='Sutton'], ‘27 (LB) Aiden Essary, ‘28 (S) [player_tooltip player_id='1088644' first='Tanner' last='Lamb'], ‘28 (OL) Wooden Browning   Team Overview: Keep eyes out for the Lions throughout the 2025 season as I could not only see them as a region title contender but also a sleeper team that could make their way to Chattanooga and compete for a 1A title. All that is contingent on the team's top guys performing at a high level along with the Lions talented underclassmen stepping up and contributing in a major way. The first thing I like about the Lions this year is the talent up front. [player_tooltip player_id='284145' first='Jaqwan' last='Ellison'] could be the best D-lineman from the 1A ranks this season. His work on defense will be key but so will his play on the O-line where he will be joined by [player_tooltip player_id='889094' first='Brody' last='Taylor'], Will Childs and rising sophomore Wooden Browning. Anytime you are good on the O-line in high school ball, you have a chance to put forth a very successful year.    The Lions also have a potent one-two punch in the backfield at running back with Luke DiPietro and [player_tooltip player_id='1690526' first='Cooper' last='Allman']. Those two along with a strong O-line may give Dresden one of the better rushing attacks on the 1A level this year. Finding depth is key. Guys like [player_tooltip player_id='932883' first='Bruce' last='Willis'], [player_tooltip player_id='932881' first='Jacoby' last='Sutton'], Aiden Essary and others will be critical towards the team's overall success this season. I do see areas within this squad that need development but I like the makeup of the Lions this year and their chance at winning a bunch of ball games and potentially coming away with some titles.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/ldipietro.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1688995" style="width:255px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Gleason Bulldogs   Location: Gleason, TN (Weakley Co.)   Head Coach: Noah Lampkins    2024 Finish: 3-7 Overall (0-7 Region)   Top Returning Players: (LB) Brody Sanders, (QB/Ath) Drake Lehmkuhl, ‘27 (OL) Benji Snider, ‘27 (OL) Tyler Earls    Team Overview: There are a lot of unknowns about the Bulldogs going into the 2025 season. Coming off a 3-7, winless season within the region, the only way to go is up for Gleason but at the time of writing this, I'm not sure what to expect from this West Tennessee program in the Fall. Looking through the roster, I don't see many standout players or competitive depth but that can certainly change as we go through the season. Clean, consistent, efficient football should be the answer for Gleason and their hopeful success. If the Bulldogs can establish a steady run game on offense while the defense plays sound up front, finding enough wins to reach postseason play is possible. Being strong in the trenches will be key, both on offense and defense. Keeping the turnover margin in their favor as well will be critical. Expectations won't be high for Gleason, so they should sit under the radar, which is probably a good thing for the Bulldogs.    - - - - -    Greenfield Yellow Jackets   Location: Greenfield, TN (Weakley Co.)   Head Coach: J.C. Hunsaker    2024 Finish: 5-5 Overall (2-5 Region)   Top Returning Players: (QB/LB) Easton Sullivan, (OL) Caden Sparkman, (DT/OL) Cevon McMullen, (TE/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1689478' first='Eric' last='Teague'], (WR/S) Eli Leach, ‘27 (RB/LB) Jerrick McMullen, ‘28 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1065915' first='Westin' last='Porter']    Team Overview: The Yellow Jackets could be the sleeper team within this region for the Fall season. This team returns a solid senior class that won five games in 2024 and will definitely be looking to build upon that this year. Depth will need to be found and playmakers will have to step forward but the veteran leadership inside the team should go a long way in helping the Yellow Jackets place among the top four within this region. The offensive backfield should be solid with Easton Sullivan and rising sophomore ball carrier [player_tooltip player_id='1065915' first='Westin' last='Porter']. The Jackets have two good pieces up front in Sparkman and McMullen. I expect the run game to be the focal point on offense this season and be the side of the ball that leads the way.    Defensively is where I must see the Jackets form together at the beginning of the year to see how good or bad they might be. McMullen at nose is a good start and the play of [player_tooltip player_id='1689478' first='Eric' last='Teague'] at linebacker may be critical. There is still much to learn about the 2025 Yellow Jackets, so while I'm bullish right now on this West Tennessee team, things could change as we inch through the season. I don't think Greenfield will compete for the region title but I do feel like they are a playoff caliber team that if all the pieces come together, the Jackets should have a successful 2025 season.    - - - - -    Humboldt Vikings    Location: Humboldt, TN (Gibson Co.)   Head Coach: Hayden Williams    2024 Finish: 3-7 Overall (1-5 Region)   Top Returning Players: (RB) Jeremiah Jones, (QB/Ath) K.D. Taylor, ‘27 (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1694865' first='Tyreke' last='Boykin'], ‘27 (OL/DT) Amarion Young, ‘27 (Ath) Braydon Guyton, ‘27 (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='933041' first='Darion' last='Taylor'], ‘27 (TE/DE) Kevon Scott, ‘27 (WR/LB) Tyon Campbell, ‘28 (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1597605' first='Tyland' last='Richmond'], ‘28 (Ath) Jaden Champion   Team Overview: Last year wasn't a successful year for the Vikings but the 2025 season may be quite different. Looking over the roster, Humboldt may have the most overall talent of any team throughout the region but that doesn't automatically mean they are the team to beat. Tons of pieces must come together and key players must step forward to produce at a high level but I like the makeup of the Vikings this year and their chances at winning the region title.    The Vikings return one of the top producing quarterbacks on the Class 1A level in K.D. Taylor. He is joined in the backfield by a power back in Jeremiah Jones, who could be in-store for a breakout senior year. One of the best sophomore receivers in the state resides here with [player_tooltip player_id='1597605' first='Tyland' last='Richmond']. The area that must be shored up for Humboldt to have an explosive offense is the offensive line. Amarion Young is a good start but he needs others around him to help the cause.    There are some good pieces on defense as well in the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='1694865' first='Tyreke' last='Boykin'], Young, Braydon Guyton, Tyon Campbell and Kevon Scott. What the Vikings may have over other teams in this region is athleticism. There are a lot of good athletes on this roster but they must develop to become major contributors. Even though Humboldt won three games last season, I do see a better year ahead for them with a playoff appearance while being a strong contender for the region title.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/humboldt.webp?w=782" alt="" class="wp-image-1689007" style="width:361px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Lake Co. Falcons   Location: Tiptonville, TN (Lake Co.)   Head Coach: Hunter Short    2024 Finish: 5-6 Overall (4-3 Region)   Top Returning Players: (LB) Ka'Devon Gross, (DB) Jataveion Ricks, ‘27 (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='932939' first='Nigel' last='Clark'], ‘27 (OL/DT) Mason Smith, ‘28 (QB/S) [player_tooltip player_id='1088102' first='Cade' last='Lanier']   Team Overview: It feels like the 2025 season could be a rebuilding campaign for the Falcons. This West Tennessee program lost a good deal of starters and college level players from last year's squad, so they must be replaced with new, unknown prospects that will be propelled into key roles. Offensively is where the most questions reside. It looks like Lanier will be stepping into the starting role at quarterback but right now, I don't see too much else around him. The Falcons should be solid. They may be young in the secondary but they do have three impact players in the front seven with Ka'Devon Gross and [player_tooltip player_id='932939' first='Nigel' last='Clark'] at linebacker and Mason Smith competing at tackle. I do feel that the defense will keep Lake Co. in ball games while the offense tries to gel together but if the Falcons want to return to the playoffs, both sides of the ball must find balance and a recipe that can lead to success.    - - - - -    South Fulton Red Devils    Location: South Fulton, TN (Obion Co.)   Head Coach: Cole Clanton    2024 Finish: 9-4 Overall (5-2 Region)   Top Returning Players: (TE/LB) Jonathan Doss, (OL/DT) Joseph Mathias, (WR/DB) Jayden Wilder, (K/P) Charles Mulcahy, ‘27 (OL/DT) Sam Sutherland, ‘27 (RB) Josh McKnight, ‘28 (WR/DB) Carson Choate, ‘28 (QB/S) Grant Joyner   Team Overview: The Red Devils had a banner season last Fall, where they finished with nine overall wins and a second place finish within the region. The 2025 football year might be a bit different for South Fulton as they are replacing several departing seniors but may return enough talent to fight for another postseason spot. Jonathan Doss and Joseph Mathias are two leaders, two key seniors that could help return the Red Devils to the playoffs. Joining Mathias up front is junior Sam Sutherland, which gives South Fulton two space eaters up front on both sides of the line.    The skill positions are where I see possible deficiencies. The Red Devils will be leaning on some new guys this year, expected to play big roles and hopefully contribute in a major way. Two guys to watch for are Josh McKnight and Grant Joyner, who should be the Red Devils main guys in the backfield. It will be interesting to follow this team early on in the year to see how they do as I could see the Red Devils having a playoff caliber team or step back season. I like their chances to gain five plus wins but there is much to learn moving forward.    - - - - -    West Carroll War Eagles    Location: Atwood, TN (Carroll Co.)   Head Coach: Jay Taylor    2024 Finish: 5-6 Overall (2-3 Region)   Top Returning Players: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1142007' first='Ben' last='Pruitt'], (DB/WR) Qumarion Patterson, (OL/DL) Amaire Kelley, (OL/DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1142003' first='Alijah' last='Darnes'], (DE/LB) Joseph Brogden, (DE) Nigel Miller, ‘27 (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='933039' first='Zac' last='Fowler'], ‘27 (G/C) Noah Cecchini, ‘28 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1088093' first='Mason' last='Taylor']    Team Overview: Last year didn't pan out the way the War Eagles wanted it to with a Mr. Football candidate running the ball but maybe the 2025 season could be different. Even with losing some key players, West Carroll returns a core, senior group this year that could help push them towards the top, competing for a region title. A strong point about the War Eagles is their talent in the trenches. They have a nice core of Kelley, Darnes, Brogden, Miller and Cecchini that set the tone on both sides of the ball and provide physicality up front that is hardly found on the 1A level. This team will also have one of the top returning 1A quarterbacks in [player_tooltip player_id='1142007' first='Ben' last='Pruitt'] along with an up and coming potential stud back in sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1088093' first='Mason' last='Taylor']. I see several pieces in place where the War Eagles could surprise many and play their way into the driver seat for a region championship.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/bpruitt-crop-481x316-1749576267.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1689020" style="width:292px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    #PRZTN Pre-season Predictions   Predicted Order of Finish   1. Dresden   2. Humboldt   3. West Carroll   4. South Fulton   5. Greenfield   6. Lake Co.    7. Gleason   - - - - -    Pre-season Regional Top Honors   Region POY: (DT/OL) [player_tooltip player_id='284145' first='Jaqwan' last='Ellison'] - Dresden   Offensive POY: (RB) Jeremiah Jones - Humboldt    Defensive POY: (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1694865' first='Tyreke' last='Boykin'] - Humboldt    Lineman POY: (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='889094' first='Brody' last='Taylor'] - Dresden   Coach of the Year: Justin Cruse - Dresden   Mr. Football Contenders: (DT/OL) [player_tooltip player_id='284145' first='Jaqwan' last='Ellison'] - Dresden, (RB) Jeremiah Jones - Humboldt, (QB) K.D. Taylor - Humboldt, (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1142007' first='Ben' last='Pruitt'] - West Carroll, ‘27 (RB) Luke DiPietro - Dresden, ‘28 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1088093' first='Mason' last='Taylor'] - West Carroll   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/kdtaylor.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1689023" style="width:279px;height:auto" /></figure>