Outlook-The Raiders were another team whose season was greatly affected by the pandemic year losing three regular season games (cancelled) and were not able to develop much consistency. After playing four straight weeks, the Raiders lost nearly a month before playing their last game. Coach Chad Griffin would like to change this and will have some horses coming back along with a pretty up and coming freshman class as well.
The Keaton & Jordan Show. Griffin will not have to look very far to see the progress of the offense in 2021 than returning quarterback Keaton Walters and running back Jordan Bradley as well with the return of Dustin Butler. Walters completed 11-of-21 passes for 212-yards as a freshman and should be even better this year. Despite losing Julian Barbour, the Raiders will return sophomore back Jordan Bradley, who rushed for 345-yards and five scores, Dustin Butler who ran for 505 yards and behind a OL which should return all five starters, he should have a more productive year. Ethan Roten, Kase Trent, Kaden Trent, Jordan Atwell, and Jaren Gedda should help anchor the Line. Walters’ most productive receivers were Devin Roten, and Barbour. The only returning guys returning with catches are Jaxson Shoulders, so Griffin will have to find other receivers. Hart County scored only 121-points last season and should be much improved with a ten game schedule.
Getting more defensive in 2021. Despite giving up 157-points in just five games, the Raider defense should be much improved with plenty of returnees on this side of the ball. The DL should have Sr. Lucus Bell, Alex Ford, Kaden Trent and JD Crump. Three of the four are juniors and should help move the learning curve this year. The Linebackers have plenty of options Jaxson Shoulders, AD Milby and Hayden Cronister. The secondary will have SO. Konner Walters, Clark Rekroat, Chandler Hudgins, and Dustin Butler.
Kicking Game: With Ethan Chenoweth gone, Griffin may look for a replacement or possibly Ethan Roten could step in.
Summation. Griffin will look for any kind of improvement with this team and with several returnees in key positions, that should happen. Most likely, a favorable schedule should help as well and if they can get a few breaks along the way, an above .500 record will be possible.
Raiders should like this schedule. The 2021 season will kickoff for the Raiders on August 20th at home against Caverna (0-5) and then against McCreary Central (3-3) and Green County (1-7) as September opens up, then their first road trip at Campbellsville (3-3) and at Glasgow (7-3), before coming home to play Adair County (2-4) to end September. A road trip to Taylor County (7-2) to open October and then two straight home games against Casey County (1-5) and then Community TN before going on the road to finish the season against Grayson County (5-3). The Raiders will face only three in state teams with winning records and four in state with below .500 records. A great schedule to help a developing team.
