Region 7-1A Football: Can Dresden return to No. 1 spot in region with Union City gone?
The Union City football team proved the team to beat in Region 7-1A last season as the Golden Tornadoes reached the Class 1A quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champions Memphis Academy of Science & Engineering.
Union City is now in Class 2A, so a new team will win the region title this season. Dresden was the region champion two years ago, and the Lions have the potential to rise back to the top of the region.
Union City and Halls left this region from last year, but West Carroll has been added in.
Predicted Order of Finish
- Dresden
- Humboldt
- Greenfield
- Lake County
- Gleason
- South Fulton
- West Carroll
Top region games
Humboldt at Greenfield (Week 7; Oct. 3) – Playoffs seeding will be on the line in some way for his game. One could be trying to earn a home playoff game, or one could be trying to earn a playoff game. This will also show how far Humboldt has come this season.
Lake County at Greenfield (Week 10; Oct. 24) – The Yellowjackets are hoping that a home playoff game will be on the line in this one – if everything works out – so this could be a big home finale for the season.
Lake County at Dresden (Week 11; Oct. 31) – The region championship could be up in the air until the final week of the regular season. Dresden played well in the second half of the 2024 season as coach Justin Cruse helped rebuild the program after a big graduating class.
15 players to watch
Cooper Allman (Dresden, Sr., RB/LB)
Gage Byington (Gleason, Jr., WR/DB)
Luke DiPietro (Dresen, Sr., RB/LB)
Jonathan Doss (South Fulton, Sr., TE/LB)
Jaqwan Ellison (Dresden, Sr., OL/DL)
Ka’Devon Gross (Lake County, Sr., LB/RB)
Jeremiah Jones (Humboldt, Sr., RB)
Drake Lehmkuhl (Gleason, Sr., QB/ATH)
Qumarion Patterson (West Carroll, Sr., WR/DB)
Westin Porter (Greenfield, So., RB/LB)
Jataveion Ricks (Lake County, Sr., DB/WR)
Easton Sullivan (Greenfield, Sr., QB/LB)
K.D. Taylor (Humboldt, Sr., QB/ATH)
Mason Taylor (West Carroll, So., RB/LB)
Jayden Wilder (South Fulton, Sr., WR/DB)
Team tidbits
Dresden
Mascot: Lions
2024 record: 5-5 (4-3 7-1A)
Coach: Justin Cruse (2nd season: 5-5)
What to know: While last year’s team went 5-5 and missed the playoffs, the Lions return the nucleus of that team with the ability to make some noise in Region 7-1A this year. Junior Bruce Willis is back at quarterback. But it is the duo returning at running back that will make this offense go. Senior Luke DiPietro rushed for 1,363 yards and 12 touchdowns, and senior Cooper Allman rushed for 281 yards and five touchdowns last season. Dresden will also boast one of the top offensive lines in Class A. Senior Jaqwan Ellison is going to be a force in the trenches on offense and defense., and he is joined by senior Brody Taylor, senior Will Childs and sophomore Wooden Browning. Being in the second season under Justin Cruse, the Lions should continue to develop as the season progresses and be ready for a postseason run.
Gleason
Mascot: Bulldogs
2024 record: 3-7 (0-7 7-1A)
Coach: Noah Lampkins (24th season: 80-155)
What to know: The Bulldogs started last season with three wins, but when region play started, they could get back in the win column. Gleason has some quality skill players, but they have got to develop a line and a defense. Junior Gage Byington is one of the top playmakers in the region. Last season, he had 36 receptions for 828 yards – which is 23 yards per reception – with 11 touchdowns, and he rushed the ball 87 times for 732 yards and six touchdowns. Senior Drake Lehmkuhl is back at quarterback, and his play on defense will be crucial to the success of the team. Senior Brody Sanders will be a central figure on the defense as he can play on the defensive line and at linebacker. Juniors Benji Snider and Tyler Earls are expected to be leaders on the line, but Gleason will need to find a couple more to fill in the gaps.
Greenfield
Mascot: Yellowjackets
2024 record: 5-5 (2-5 7-1A)
Coach: Don Pitt (13th season: 50-74)
What to know: The Yellowjackets have a solid starting lineup with good skill players and some quality linemen. The problem for Greenfield comes with depth. The positive for them is the fact that Union City and Halls – the top two teams from the region last season – moved up to 2A. Senior Easton Sullivan is back to lead the offense at quarterback, and his quick decision making will be key in the backfield. Sophomore Westin Porter had a breakout season last year, and he has gotten stronger and quicker in the offseason. Seniors Caden Sparkman and Cevon McMullen will anchor the offensive line to try to give Porter some holes to run through. Defensively, the Yellowjackets will rely on McMullen on the line. Senior Eric Teague will be one of the Yellowjackets’ linebackers and expectations are high for him.
Humboldt
Mascot: Vikings
2024 record: 3-7 (1-5 7-1A)
Coach: Hayden Williams (2nd season: 3-7)
What to know: While a three-win season might not sound great, the Vikings improved from the 2023 to the 2024 season. And players got some valuable experience on the field. The hope is that will translate into more wins this season. Humboldt has tons of skill players back. Senior quarterback KD Taylor completed 135-of-214 passes for 1,702 yards with 13 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 80 times for 361 yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back Jeremiah Jones rushed the ball for 1,028 yards and 15 touchdowns on 146 carries for 7.04 yards per carry. He also caught 32 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Tyland Richmond will be a go-to receiver for Taylor after a strong freshman season. Junior Darion Taylor will be a two-way player with the athleticism to turn any game around with one play.
Lake County
Mascot: Falcons
2024 record: 5-6 (4-3 7-1A)
Coach: Hunter Short (2nd season: 5-6)
What to know: The Falcons were hit hard by graduation following the 2024 season. So there are lots of unknowns about Lake County going into this season. Short has worked in the offseason to try and get the pieces to fall together, and the Falcons still have the potential for a strong season. Lake County will look to sophomore Cade Lanier to step into the quarterback position this fall, but the go-to running back and receiver is still up in the air. Junior Mason Smith is the leader on the offensive line, but he will need some pieces around him to give Lanier time in the pocket. Lake County does have some athleticism that was key on the defense last year, and these guys could be put in new roles offensively this year. Senior Ka’Devon Gross and Jataveion Ricks, along with junior Nigel Clark will be asked to step into new roles.
South Fulton
Mascot: Red Devils
2024 record: 9-4 (5-2 7-1A)
Coach: Cole Clanton (1st season)
What to know: Last year was one of the Red Devils’ best seasons in a while with a second-place finish in Region 7-1A. But South Fulton did lose some key skill players to graduation. The biggest loss being quarterback Brady McFarland. Sophomore Grant Joyner could be the guy leading the offense when Aug. 22 rolls around. Senior Joseph Mathias and junior Sam Sutherland will be the leaders on the offensive line, and they do have experience. Senior Jonathan Doss will also be called upon as a blocker, even though he is listed as a tight end.
West Carroll
Mascot: War Eagles
2024 record: 5-6 (2-3 6-1A)
Coach: Jay Taylor (1st season)
What to know: When Jayden Milton went down hurt last season, the War Eagles’ season took a downward turn because Milton was one of the top running backs in the country with his rushing yards. Milton has graduated, Jay Taylor has stepped in as the new head coach and players like Ben Pruitt and Zac Fowler have transferred. So Jay Taylor is going to have to find new guys to carry the program on their back. Sophomore Mason Taylor, a running back, has the potential to have Milton-line numbers this season, if he stays healthy. If the line stays together, that will be a huge asset for Jay Taylor. Seniors Amaire Kelley, Aliah Darnes, Joseph Brogden and NIgel Miller along with junior Noah Cecchini all played quality time on the line last season.
Michael Odom is the sports editor for the Mirror-Exchange, Weakley County Press, Brownsville States-Graphic and Fayette Falcon. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @GCSportsWriter. Reach him by email at michaelodom@milanmirrorexchange.com.
