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In the game of football, consistency isn’t always considered a positive.

Each of the last three seasons, Cocke County has finished the regular season with only one win in district play.

This year, after making the move from Region 2-5A to Region 1-5A, Scotty Dykes and the Fighting Cocks will look to change that.

When it comes to change, their offense will see a lot this season.

“We’ll be a multiple set offense, we’ll run a lot of shotgun,” Dykes said. “Our biggest question on offense is who’s going to replace Baylor Baxter from last year.”

Baxter, a three year starter and All-Region 2-5A quarterback last season, will leave a big hole in Cocke County’s offense behind center. As it stands, there are three guys vying for that starting spot.

“We’ve got two juniors, Donovan Ramsey and Ethan Fine, and a freshman Spencer Moore that are right now kind of splitting reps to see who’s going to be the starter,” Dykes said.

The passing game as a whole will be getting an overhaul this year, as they also lost three seniors at receiver.

“We’ve got a group of about six kids who are in the mix for those receiver spots that can play,” Dykes continued. “Once again, those guys have been splitting reps and it’s just about who goes out there and proves it.”

The continuity for Cocke County’s offense will lie in their running backs.

“In our running back spot, Oren Hazelwood has been a two-year starter there,” Dykes said. “Him and Daniel Price will lead the charge for us. I’m expecting big things from those two this year.”

As a result, the Fighting Cocks will rely a lot more on the running game this season than in years past.

“Daniel Price and Oren Hazelwood definitely give us a lot of confidence in the running game. Those guys will bring some explosive plays to the table,” Dykes said. “Oren is probably one of the best backs out of the backfield as far as receiving that I’ve been around, so he gives us some options to do some things that we haven’t had in the past. We’ll be moving him out to the slot some as well.”

As a run-heavy offense, Cocke County will be expecting a lot from their defense this year. They’ll be based out of a 4-3, and those guys in the box are going to be where their bread is buttered on that side this year.

“We’re expecting our defense to be the strength of the team this year. We’ve got a lot of returning starters back on the defense. Our front seven in particular will be really stout,” Dykes said. “Our defensive line, we’ve got three guys there that will be potential All-Conference players in Chris Flockhart, Ethan Fine and Jake Robertson. And then our linebackers Carson Devotie, Carson Hopson and Colton Sane are all physical, fast linebackers that we’re expecting to control the game for us.”

They’ll run a mix of coverages this year, but their primary set will be two high safeties. Eli Roberts will play a big part in the secondary, as well as Tucker Hembree, who has started two seasons at corner and will bring some experience to the defensive backfield.

Cocke County will open the season on August 18 in Rogersville against Cherokee.