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SNEEDVILLE – Hancock County’s football program enters the 2023 season with a renewed sense of vigor.

Following a disappointing 0-9 2020 season, the Indians couldn’t field enough players in 2021 and 2022, and their varsity team was disband.

This year, head coach A.J. Arnold and the Indians look to turn a new leaf.

According to Arnold, he’s going to lean on his two senior leaders to do so.

“I’ve got two seniors this year, the only players I have that have played all four years, they’ve played three years under me, they’re my leaders of the team,” Arnold said. “One’s my quarterback, Chandler Parsons. The other one, Josh Collins, he’s just my athlete. He’s going to play anywhere and everywhere I need him. He’s going to be in the slot, he’s going to be a running back, I’ve even got some quarterback plays for him. I’m just going to let him play, let him do what he needs to do.”

The Indians are going to be on the smaller side on the offensive line this year, so they’ll be doing a lot of scheming to combat that.

This will involve a lot of zone-blocking schemes on the offensive line, and backs and receivers moving around before the snap to change the opposing defense’s alignments.

“The offense is going to be kind of a west coast spread,” said Arnold. “Josh (Collins) is going to be in the slot for the most part, so we’re going to use a lot of pre-snap motions and stuff like that to try and get linebackers out of place.”

On the defensive side, the Indians are going to play it more straight than they are on offense.

“We’re going to run a base 4-3 cover 3, that’ll be what we’re in a lot of the time,” Arnold said. “We’ll run an over front for the most part, but we’ll throw out an under front as well. As far as the secondary, we’ll run with one high safety and two corners dropping back for that cover 3. I think we’ll switch it up some, but that’s going to be our base.”

As far as the schedule for the Indians this season, they get things kicked off against Harlan at home. Following that, they’ll travel to Rye Cove before playing three straight home games against Cloudland, Claiborne and North Greene.

After North Greene comes their toughest stretch of the season. A four game road trip at Cosby, Happy Valley, Unaka and Twin Springs.

They finally return home to host their final game of the regular season against Jellico on October 26.

This season will be one of transition for Hancock County. Being their first year returning to competition at the varsity level, Arnold just wants effort from his guys when the home opener against Harlan rolls around on August 18.

“What I really want from us is just to play hard,” Arnold said. “From the very first whistle to the very last whistle. Play clean, play mean, just effort. I want 100% effort every single play, every single down, every single quarter, all the way to the end. That’s what I really want from them this year, and that’s what I expect I’ll get.”