Over the past four years, the Forrest Rockets have compiled a 29-16 record, making the playoffs in each of the seasons, but have come away with only one win, a 35-0 first-round shutout versus Houston County in 2011 at "The Rock" in Chapel Hill.

The Rockets lost at home to Marion County in 2009, at Dresden in 2010, the last second heartbreaker at Decatur County Riverside in 2011 and at Mt. Pleasant last season.

Since 1969, the Rockets' playoff record is 5-20 and Forrest has only made one quarterfinal appearance.

Coaching changes

The changes made during the off-season in Chapel Hill with the return of Forrest alums Brian Coleman as head coach and Brent Johns as offensive coordinator began the process of solidifying the Rocket football tradition.

Coleman added Lance Horton as wide receivers and defensive backs coach Matt Kriesky came on board to run the defense.

"There is a lot of experience here," said Coleman. "Coach Horton has been at Lewisburg a few years, coach Johns was under (Mac) McCurry at Lewisburg, and Coach 'K' is coming from Oakland that won a 6A championship, so that is a good mix of backgrounds that helps in drills and philosophies brought to the table that really helps a lot."

Kyle Stacey, who led the Rockets to a 64-53 mark in his nine-year stint that ended in 2011, was the icing on the cake for Coleman when he decided to come back as the offensive line coach.

"Coach Stacey is the eldest of the group and has been a head coach, so he knows what's going on," said Coleman. "And I have been around a lot of great head coaches like coach Mac, coach Stacey, and coach (Ron) Aydelotte."

Last season

The Rockets ran neck and neck with eventual champions Moore County the entire campaign last year, only to fall 28-7 to the Raiders at home in the last week of the regular season to finish in third place in District 9A.

One week later, in the playoff defeat at Mt. Pleasant, the Joe Moos (6-5) era ended after just one season when Moos left for Lincoln County, opening the search for a new head coach.

New style

Coleman's brand of football will feature a tough, stingy defense, solid special teams, and a grind it out style of offense that will not be afraid to go for the big play when the opportunity arises.

"I have grown up being a defensive coach and I love defense," said Coleman. "Offense wins games and puts people in the stands, but I think defense is very, very important."

In Coleman's 3-4 defensive scheme, the line backing corps will have to lead the way with the McClendon brothers in the spotlight.

Senior Tyler McClendon, juniors Zach McClendon and Logan Hollingsworth, along with sophomore Clay Watson will be the starters with Blake Leonard, Tanner Kerr, Alex Roheiller and Nolan Ferris, waiting in the wings.

Ready to go

"It's been fun and exciting, but I am ready to get the season started and get it rolling," said Kriesky. "I'm just trying to bring some of the philosophy over from Rutherford County. A tough physical defense that flies around the football and these kids have been working hard and doing everything we have asked them to do. These guys have been coming to work every day and I am proud of them."

Boone Sweeney, Austin Pickard and Tyler Hart, along with Hollingsworth and Zach McClendon, who will both be putting their hand on the ground at times, will staff the defensive line.

In the defensive backfield, Jacob Daughrity, Brandon Anderson, Austin Harmon, Thaddeus Reyes, and Cage Hargrove bring a lot of experience to the position.

Offense

Johns is an organized offensive mind, ready to establish his of run first, pass when needed scheme to go hand in hand with the low scoring defense.

"Everything has been good so far, we have worked hard since January and the kids seem to have bought in to what we are selling," said Johns. "We are going to try to take care of the football, take time off the clock, and be as conservative as possible."

Senior Thaddeus Reyes won the quarterback position in camp and has had a solid pre-season, giving the Rockets a versatile, athletic signal caller.

"We couldn't have asked anything more out of Thaddeus," said Johns. "He has been here every day and when we introduce a new play, he picks it up, right off the bat."

Backing up Reyes at the quarterback position is fellow classmate Trevor Wellisley and sophomore David Andrews.

"Reyes is going to play both ways and Trevor is the back-up quarterback, but he is not going to sit the bench," said Coleman. "He plays defense and he will play receiver and running back, he knows all the positions and is just a good athlete, and we have David, the younger guy for the future."

Backfield

Johns has a stable full of running backs to hand the rock to, including the McClendon brothers, Daughrity, Harmon, Anderson, and Wellisley.

Johns' receivers will be Cage Hargrove and the surprise of camp, senior Nolan Ferris, playing his first season the gridiron.

"Our big surprise from the soccer team is Nolan Ferris, who has had a great camp and Cage Hargrove always catches exactly the way coach Horton teaches it," said Johns. "He catches the ball with his hands, tucks it away and heads up the field."

Hollingsworth and Scotty Hardin will staff the tight end position on the Forrest offense.

On the line

The men up front on the line are the key to the offense as they have to play a grind it style of offense while still having to pass protect.

"To me, it is probably the best group to work with, I have coached all of it, but coaching those guys that really want to be out there, that don't get much paper time is great for me, so I would rather coach this group than any other," said Stacey. "We're very young across the board, so it will be a learning experience throughout the year. They are going to have to learn together, gel together and it is quite a challenge, but they have been working hard in practice and taking hold of it and running with it."

At the anchor position at center are Evan Morris and McQuiggan, while Sweeney, Pickard, and Tristen Sawyer are the group of tackles.

John Mark Blanchett and Neyland Darnell will be the two primary players at the guard spot for Stacey.

Prospects

If the Rockets can take advantage of three straight home games to begin the season and get off to a fast start before the schedule turns towards the road, Forrest will certainly earn another playoff berth.

If Coleman can get some luck with injuries to reduce the depth factor and the Rockets play with diligence in Coleman's scheme, the Rockets could increase last year's win total by at least three more notches in the win column.

2013 Forrest Schedule

Date Venue Opponent

8-23 Home Collingwood

8-30 Home Cascade

9-6 Home Moore County

9-13 Away Cornersville

9-20 Home Eagleville

9-27 Away Page

10-4 Home Huntland

10-11 Away Community

10-18 Bye

10-25 Away MTCS

11-1 Away Fayetteville City

2013 Forrest Rockets Roster

No. Name Class Position

1 Brandon Anderson 12 RB/DB

2 Logan Hollingsworth 11 TE/OLB

3 Branson Beech 9 RB/DB

4 Thaddeus Reyes 12 QB/DB

5 Chance Hargrove 11 RB/OLB

6 Zach McClendon 11 RB/OLB

7 Trevor Wellisley 12 QB/DB

8 Slayton Wild 9 TE/OLB

9 Jacob Daughrity 12 RB/DB

10 Austin Harmon 11 RB/DB

11 Tyler McClendon 12 RB/MLB

12 David Andrews 10 QB/DB

13 Nolan Ferris 12 WR/OLB

14 Chris Haggard 12 K/P

15 Scotty Hardin 12 TE/DB

16 Billy Clanton 9 TE/MLB

18 Anthony Kritz 9 WR/DB

19 Spencer Gray 9 WR/DB

20 Joseph Williams 10 WR/DB

21 Ben Chumbley 11 DL

22 Tanner Roberson 11 TE/OLB

23 Jordan Mills 11 RB/OLB

24 William Rorabaugh 9 WR/DB

25 Cage Hargrove 12 WR/DB

26 Dee Osborne 12 OL/DL

27 Dillon Booker 11 RB/OLB

28 Garrett Nevison 9 RB/OLB

31 Lorne Adams 11 RB/MLB

32 Tyler Lester 9 WR/DB

33 Gavin Adams 9 RB/MLB

34 Alex Roheller 12 RB/MLB

38 Clay Watson 10 RB/MLB

50 Blake Leonard 11 OL/MLB

51 Nik McQuiggan 10 OL/DL

58 Jacob Hicks 9 OL/DL

59 Logan Ray 11 OL/DL

60 John Blanchett 11 OL/DL

61 Neyland Darnell 10 OL/DL

62 Boone Sweeney 10 OL/DL

63 Daniel Johnson 9 OL/OLB

64 Zach Russell 9 OL/DL

65 Evan Morris 12 OL/DL

66 Nicholas Hunter 9 OL/DL

67 Tyler Beard 9 OL/DL

68 Austin Pickard 12 OL/DL

70 Caleb Perryman 10 OL/DL

72 Tristen Sawyer 10 OL/DL

73 Tanner Kerr 9 OL/MLB

76 Chaz Collingwood 9 OL/DL

78 Lucas Mashburn 10 OL/DL

79 Tyler Hart 12 OL/DL

82 Tucker Smith 9 TE/OLB

83 Peyton Sisk 10 WR/DB

84 Cooper McNair 10 K