Coach Hill Ready for Challenges of 2021
August 16, 2021
Dayton, TN -- Coach Jeff Hill and the Dayton City School football team are ready for 2021 football season. The long hot days of summer have actually cooled over the weekend and maybe we may see more "football weather" for the opening game this week at home against Oakdale. Oakdale game was lost last year due to COVID-19. One thing you can count on with this team is effort and fan support. DCS has really put the community behind this team and coaching staff and recent success has been good to see for Dayton City.
Dayton City School is ready for another football season with 35 players on roster this year. They have a seven game slate and four of those are at home. On the road, the Sweatbees will play Rhea Middle, Sale Creek and Huntsville.
Dayton brings back a good returning line and a total of 19 eigth graders. Quarterback Bryce Garrison will be the starting quarterback with a start against Harriman in a win to propel the Sweatbees into the playoffs last year being his key experience.
Zack Davis and Bruce Spaudlin are assistaints for head coach Jeff Hill. Both are former Rhea County High School players with Zack Davis also playing at UT and Tennessee Chattanooga after high school. Zack Davis is lineman and defensive coach and Bruce also works with linemen.
Coach Hill took time to answer a few questions about the upcoming year.
Talk about this year's team.
"We have a good-sized team this year. I expect to be able to rotate several players in and out as we get those players ready for next year."
How has your coaching experience made you the coach we see in 2021?
"I never considered my self a good coach. I really lean on my assistants. I have been fortunate to surround myself with good people. We teach each other. The "Blue Nation" (parents, school administration and fans) make it easy to do this job."
Who do you look to for leadership this year?
"I expect Rylin Suttles and Bryce Garrison to be leaders on offense this year and Rylin and Trey McIntosh and Skiles will be looked to provide leadership on the defensive side of the ball."
How have you and team handled the heat during practices? Been really hot the last couple of weeks.
"We have followed the heat guidlines, which ensured we provided adequate water breaks to keep the players safe."
Talk about the effecct of COVID-19 on your team over the last 18 months.
"We follow all the prequations we need to follow in order to keep everyone safe. Last year we lost players to quarantine. We may lose some to quarantine this year. We will have to have kids step up when needed. The God Lord willing, we will get through it."
How exciting is it to watch your former players up at Rhea County High School?
"I love to go see our former players competing at Rhea County High School. They were good when they played here and they are playing well at the next level. I enjoy seeing not only our DCS players, but those from Rhea Middle and Spring City competing at Rhea County High School. The staff does a great job up there."
DCS 2021 Roster:
| First | Last | Number | Grade |
| Heith | Barnes | 7 | 7th |
| Caleb | Barton | 25 | 7th |
| Logan | Barton | 39 | 8th |
| Aliajah | Baxter | 28 | 6th |
| Jacob | Baxter | 32 | 6th |
| Braxton | Couch | 37 | 8th |
| Noah | Edwards | 2 | 8th |
| Bryce | Garrison | 16 | 8th |
| Parker | Garvett | 74 | 8th |
| Bill | Gothard | 68 | 6th |
| Landon | Hailman | 65 | 6th |
| Kam | Hixson | 78 | 7th |
| Daniel | Johnson | 63 | 8th |
| James | Johnson | 73 | 7th |
| Dimtri | Jordan | 3 | 8th |
| Parker | Kauffman | 26 | 7th |
| Jacob | Martinez | 10 | 7th |
| Quinten | Massengill | 11 | 7th |
| Ky | May | 66 | 8th |
| Trey | McIntosh | 72 | 8th |
| Eli | Mikel | 34 | 8th |
| Jake | Mikel | 38 | 8th |
| Dylan | Minerd | 64 | 8th |
| Connor | Mitchell | 75 | 8th |
| Om | Patel | 12 | 6th |
| Maanav | Patel | 70 | 6th |
| Michael | Ray | 33 | 8th |
| Hayden | Sharp | 1 | 6th |
| Jaxson | Skiles | 61 | 8th |
| Jackson | Suttles | 20 | 8th |
| Rylin | Suttles | 36 | 8th |
| Turner | Tharpe | 21 | 8th |
| Tyler | Walden | 13 | 8th |
| Zachery | Walker | 62 | 7th |
| Christan | Yearwood | 60 | 6th |
| DCS 2021 | Schedule | ||
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| 08/19/21 | Oakdale | Dayton | 07:00:00 PM |
| 08/26/21 | Rockwood | Dayton | 07:00:00 PM |
| 09/02/21 | Oliver Springs | Dayton | 07:00:00 PM |
| 09/09/21 | Huntsville | Huntsville | 07:00:00 PM |
| 09/16/21 | Sale Creek | Sale Creek | 07:00:00 PM |
| 09/23/21 | Harriman | Dayton | 07:00:00 PM |
| 09/30/21 | Rhea Middle | Rhea Middle | 07:00:00 PM |
| 08/23/21 | 8th Grade Night | Dayton | Before Game |