Chad Cook was 10-2 last season, his first at Shannon. (Photo by Deste Lee)
I stopped by Shannon yesterday to chat with head coach Chad Cook, who’s entering his second season there. Last year, his Red Raiders went 10-2 and lost to Kosciusko in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Chad’s a talkative fellow, which is good for me. I want all the material I can get. We talked mostly about the four offensive starters he has returning, three of which are skill players: WR William Green, RB Keon McGaughy and QB Alex Thornton. Thornton played receiver last year, but he played quarterback in some big games the last two years when Michael Ledbetter was injured.
Though Green is a heck of a receiver, Thornton’s not the passer Ledbetter is, which means we’ll likely see Green run the ball a little more (he had 184 rushing yards to go with his 1,108 receiving yards last season). McGaughy will have to stay healthy (he had a nagging ankle injury last year). Some people think Shannon will be down this year because of its losses on offense, but defense wins championships, and the Red Raiders have nine back on that side.
I think Shannon will be pretty strong. Do you think they’re strong enough to be in my Top 5 preseason rankings?
6 Comments
August 6, 2008 at 2:13 pm
They are a bubble team on that Large School top five…
It’s hard to put them there, but on the same coin it’s hard not to put them there because Shannon is always a team to deal with…
Lafayette County and Tupelo are the only locks I have right now in your area on that Large School Top 5…
August 6, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Yeah, the thing is, it’s kind of a thin crop at the 4A/5A level this year (I could be wrong). Oxford lost a good bit, Tishomingo Co. still doesn’t scare too many people (tcfan might disagree), and I’m not sure what to make of Starkville this year.
August 6, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I would hope credit would be given to Tupelo who will have the best team in this area regardless of classification.
August 6, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I was thinking the same thing after I left you that comment…
Who really outside Lafayette and Tueplo other than Shannon would be the “team to reckon with” in the 4A/5A level?
Oxford is down, but as long as Coach Hill is on the sidelines you can never count them out of any game… Pontotoc might ring a few extra bells this season, but other than that – I don’t know…
August 6, 2008 at 9:27 pm
IAHS will be very strong. VERY strong. And don’t forget West Point.
August 6, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I didn’t know what IAHS would have coming back and West Point is just like Shannon – you can never count them out either… Better you than me having to come up with that Top 5… lol