The Barnes Family Supporting the Blue(Photo:BarnesFamily)

Barnes Moves From Assistant Role to Head Coach for Dayton City School

Dayton, TN - 8/4/24 -- Lots of changes for Dayton City School football in 2024. Luke Barnes steps up to take the head coaching job for the Sweatbees. The Sweatbees will also be playing home games at Bill Horton field on the campus of Rhea County High School. Luke has assembled a four man staff of assistants as DCS plays an eight game schedule, with opening game on Saturday, August 17th at Rhea County High School. Dayton will field a roster of 25 players.

 Luke is married to Cathy Barnes, amd they have 4 boys. Luke graduated from Rhea County in 2002. While at Rhea County Luke played football for the Eagles with time spent playing quarterback and tight end.  In colleg, he graduated with BS (2006) and MS (2007) in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee.

Luke is a non-faculty coach, currently employed as an engineer. He previously coached as an assistant at Spring City Middle from 2011-2013 under Coach Mike Davis. Acted as Defensive Coordinator and offensive line coach for 2012 and 2013.  He came to Dayton City School as an assistant coach in 2022 under Zack Davis and primarily coached backs and special teams. 

Dayton City is coming off a 3-5 in the regular season, 4-6 overall in 2023=24.  DCS finished 2024 with a loss in the conference semi-finals to Oneida

Coach Barnes said, "The team has adopted a motto in practice of "Hustle, Hit, Never Quit.  We want those qualities to define who we are as a team.  Obviously, we want to win every game, but we want to continue to improve week to week and find ourselves peaking at playoff time.  Our end goal is to get to our conference championship game in Jacksboro and win a conference title.

DCS begins the season with 25 players on the roster with thirteen 8th graders.

Coach Barnes talked about his teams key players. " Offensively, we return 5 starting offensive linemen.  Two of them (Sam Walton, Jack Barnes) will transition to the backfield.  The remaining three, Collin Miller, Corbin Miller and Grayden Stepp will be the backbone of our offensive line.  All three will end up being 3 year starters on our offensive line and are the reason that offensive line play will be a strength for our team.  We have zero returning backs and receivers that played in the backfield last year.  Defensively, we return Raiden King (CB), Sam Walton (DE - also a three year starter), Collin (DT) and Corbin Miller (DT), Damien O'Rafferty (LB) and Jack Barnes (LB)".

The starting backfield at this time will be as follows: Tailback:  Sam Walton/Sammy Sanchez-Garcia, Fullback: Damien O'Rafferty,  Wing:  Raiden King, Quarterback:  Jack Barnes.  Dayton also expect Noah Noble (Wide Reciever) and Braxton Donofrio (TE) as other skill position starters. 

Returners from last year's team are:  (7) Sam Walton*, Raiden King, Corbin Miller*, Collin Miller*, Grayden Stepp*, Jack Barnes, Damien O'Rafferty     (*) indicates that player will be a 3 year starter at DCS.

Jake Miller (Defensive Coordinator) 3rd year.  Brent Rapson (offensive line coach), Montrae Jackson (backs and receivers), and Mikey Daniels (defensive line) are assistants for Dayton City School.

DCS will scrimmage Bledsoe Co Middle on August 8, with time yet to be determined.

Coach Barnes talked about the biggest rivalry for Dayton City. " Rockwood is the perennial team to beat in our division of the conference.  They are a well-coached, disciplined, hard-nosed football program.  In order to play for a championship in our conference, that road runs through Rockwood.  They have had our number for the past few seasons, and we have to change that.  As wise philosopher Richard Flair once said, "To be the man, you have to beat the man."  And right now, they're the man.  Outside of conference play, most current and former players would point to the Rhea Middle game at the end of the regular season against an in-county rival as the big game."

Sweatbees will run the  I-Formation with some spread looks on offense and the defense is around 4-4 base.

Coach Barnes talked about the strengths of this year's team. " On paper, the strength of this team would be offensive line play.  We return three linemen with two previous years of starting experience (Corbin Miller, Collin Miller and Grayden Stepp).  The thing that won't show up in a box score is the leadership displayed by our eighth graders.  We have a group of eighth graders that compete and push each other in practice and serve as an example for our underclassmen.  They consistently put in work outside of practice, whether it be in the weight room or organizing their teammates to run pass routes on our off days.  Their attitude sets the tone for this team."