Bobcats Readies for Long Playoff Run
New coaching staff along with athletes at the skill position gives Overton the top nod in District 12AAA
By McKinley Young Jr.
Play-by-Play Host WTNTribune Radio Metro Sports
SOUTH NASHVILLE- 2014 is primed to be a big year for the Overton Bobcats. The focus of this year team is to finish what they didn’t complete last season. After finishing 11-1 last season, the expectations are high at Overton this season. Former Blackman defensive coordinator and Overton alum Steve Williams replaces long time head coach Terry Anderson. Williams and his Bobcats have a strong senior class returning, led by Ole Miss commit Ugo Amadi, Nick Brown, and DeAngelo Holt. The trio has put in hard work during the off season to prepare them for the upcoming season. Amadi is the WTNTRribune Radio Sports top ranked preseason player.
Ole Miss Commit Ugo Amadi looks to lead his team back to the playoffs
“This job is one of the top 10 coaching positions in the state,” said Williams. “The athletes here compare to the athletes we had at Blackman. This has made the transition easier for both the staff and players. With the speed and athletes we have on defense, we will bring the same philosophy and toughness we had at Blackman.”
Overton Head Coach Steve Williams
Speed on defense could be a very important factor in the Bobcats push to win a state championship this season. The Bobcats boast a solid front seven and Amadi is one of the top defensive backs in the country. Also, Overton will also be explosive on the offensive side of the ball, with the return of running back Kim Lee North, and addition to former Cane Ridge running back Nick Fuqua, who rushed for 2,011 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. The trio will try to replace the production of District 12AAA WTNTribune Radio Sports Player of the Year Justin Martin. A make or break stretch of the season will be three consecutive road games in Weeks 3-5 versus district foes Hillsboro and Cane Ridge and an always tough Ravenwood team.
Overton’s Kim Lee North
“Kim Lee North, Tavarius Travis and Nick Fuqua gives us three really good tailbacks that will fit in good with our pro-style offense and we will showcase our quarterback Ugo Amadi by running a little spread to utilize our exceptional athletes to make us more difficult to defend,” said Williams.
With Hillsboro also having superior athletes, it made a difficult decision for the WTNTribune Sports Radio staff to make a decision on who would be tops in the District 12 AAA. One of the biggest intangibles was the hiring of former Pearl-Cohn Head Coach Maurice Fitzgerald to the staff. Coach Fitzgerald won two state championships with the Firebirds and will bring a plethora of knowledge and football savvy.
The future of the Bobcats looks bright for years to come under Coach Williams and the Bobcats hope to bring the gold ball back to the school when the season is over in December.
McKinley Young Jr. is a former three sports star at Pearl-Cohn High School. This will be Young’s first year doing football for WTNTribune Radio.
District 12AAA Pre-season Predictions
1. Overton (3)
2. Hillsboro (1)
3. Cane Ridge
4. McGavock
5. Antioch
6. Hillwood
7. Hunters Lane
8. Glencliff
(First place votes are in parenthesis)
Scott Wallace:
Offensive MVP: Michael Hughes Hillsboro
Defensive MVP: Kyle Phillips Hillsboro
Coach of the Year: Steve Williams Overton
Hillsboro defensive lineman Kyle Phillips is ranked in the 25 in the country
Jason Sales:
Offensive MVP: Hughes Hillsboro
Defensive MVP: Ugo Amadi Overton
Coach of the Year: Maurice Fitzgerald (Assistant) Overton
Hillsboro QB Michael Hughes
McKinley Young:
Offensive MVP: Nick Fuqua Overton/ Vincent Perry Hillsboro
Defensive MVP: Amadi Overton/ Phillips Hillsboro
Coach of the Year: Craig Clayton Hillsboro
JaQuan Johnson:
Offensive MVP: Nick Fuqua Overton
Defensive MVP: Ugo Amadi Overton
Coach of the Year: Scott Murray Hunters Lane
Key Matchups: Sept. 12 Overton at Hillsboro, Sept. 19 Overton at Cane Ridge, Sept. 26 Hillsboro at Cane Ridge
