Unless you're at De La Salle or Hoover, high school football programs rise and fall with the tide. Year to year dominance in rural areas is almost unheard of.

What's the formula? Is it the student athletes you have in the program or is it the coaching? Is it only a good program when you have good athletes? Can any good coach win with any system?

A good coach can make a lesser talented team better through discipline and fundamentals. They have the tendency to get the most out of their players and have instilled an outstanding work ethic. If that coach has been in place at one school for a considerable time, the program can be started at a young age to build continuity and tradition. The support of the community is essential.

The Fyffe Red Devils seem to have the formula.

The Red Devils are poised to roll through this season and are potentially a state title contender on day 1. I don't believe I have delusions of grandeur about  the Fyffe football program, I believe that Coach Paul Benefield has an actual recipe for grandeur.

It's difficult to find any high school football team that doesn't have players going both ways, but a 2A high school football team that doesn't have players going both ways is unheard of. The depth of this team is something I've never seen in DeKalb County.

"This is the first time I can remember having 22 kids that could start.

I'm really excited about this group."

- Coach Paul Benefield

I've been misled by coaches before. I used to ask Jeremy Pruitt to give me a scouting report before Hoover High School would play. He would say things like, "Boys, we just can't score" or "We're just not real good." Hoover would go on to win by 60 points...

Which makes it difficult to believe that a player like Trent Thrash, one of the defensive leaders from last season (10-0), won't be playing linebacker this year.

"It really caught me off guard when Coach Benefield told me I wouldn't be playing linebacker this season, but Tyler Ashley is a good player. We have a strong team, everyone has put in the work. We're just ready to go."

- Trent Thrash

      Height: 5'10"                                       40 Time:   4.59

      Weight: 195                                         Bench Press: 260

      Position: RB                                         Squat: 410

With Thrash just on the offensive side of the ball, he looks poised to be the lead workhorse of a three headed monster backfield which includes Levi Bates and Austin Stiefel.

The question mark for the Red Devils will be under center. The keys to the Ferrari have been handed to Freshman Quarterback Will Mashburn.

The "Diaper Dandy" definitely passes the eyeball test, but does he have the poise to manage the game when it gets tight.? Only time will tell.

The defense should remain solid, led by potential breakout players that will be stepping into leading roles this season: Tyler Ashley, Cade Carroll, and Graeham Hemphill.

Projected Starting Lineup:

OFFENSE:                                                 DEFENSE:

OL Pancho Perez                                    DL Graeham Hemphill

OL Ethan Jones                                       DL Blake Earl

OL Cole Hosch                                        DL Tyler Anthony

OL Hank Oliver                                       DL Jacob Owens

OL Drake Thrasher                                LB Tyler Ashley

TE Jacob Payne                                       LB Cade Carroll

WR Will Brown                                       LB Ryan Martin

RB Trent Thrash                                       DB Austin Stiefel

RB Levi Bates                                           DB Will Brown

RB Austin Stiefel                                      DB Cyle Collins

QB Will Mashburn                                  DB Austin Coots

Special Teams

K Russell Moses

Gameplan: The Red Devils will pound the ball 40+ times per game and throw 4-5 play action deep balls.

Season Prediction: The Red Devils will remain the wrecking ball of DeKalb County and contend for the 2A State Championship.