Harris kicks off football season tonight

Harris runs through drills in hopes in speeding up their offense as they prepare for their season opener. (T-G Photo by Melissa Stacy) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Harris Middle coach Jim Dougherty and his team of coaches have prepared their football players for some tough competition this year.

It's time for the preseason work and successful scrimmage time to finally pay off as they head to the gridiron tonight at Tullahoma Middle at 6:30.

Despite being in his second year at the helm at Harris, plenty of fond memories are likely to pop into Dougherty's head when the Eagles take the field as he spent 10 years on the Tullahoma side of the field as a coach.

"I have a lot of friends in Tullahoma, including the coaches, and I know these players," he said. "This will be an emotional game for me."

Dougherty knows how to leave his emotions at the door and get down to the Xs and Os after walking the sidelines for 21 years, and over that period he's won 75 percent of the time.

He says he intends to only improve that win percentage going forward, and Harris certainly appears to have the team to take him there.

Dougherty pointed to the offensive line and the massive size up front as a definite strong suit on the roster.

The team consists of "great leaders" like Marquis Morton, Dougherty says.

Morton was believed by many to be one of the best backs in the Central Tennessee Conference last year. He'll pull double duty this year at both tailback and safety.

Dougherty boasts a very good group of seventh graders as well, which he says excites him for 2009.

Newcomer Jordan Beavers is expected to start at linebacker and fullback. Justin Watson will fill in at guard.

Dougherty said that he doesn't feel any pressure in preparing these young players for high school ball, only pressure to win.

"I feel that a local weakness for this area has not been with the athletes but in our inconsistency with coach retention and recruiting," he said. "The coach turnover has been too high in the past. But the administrators, school officials and parents have been very supportive to me and the team in an attempt to turn things around and it is very nice to be a part of trying to build something."

The coach made mention of how positive the attitudes have been thus far with the team and regardless of their final record, he expects a great season.

The Eagles finished with an impressive 6-2 record a year ago, with both losses coming to CTC bowl victor Franklin County South.

"This team deserves to win," Dougherty said. "And with great practice facilities, superb weather, no missed practices and no injuries, there are no excuses for not being successful."

The first home game for Harris is versus Coffee County on Sept. 2.