HUNTSVILLE — When Scott High takes the field tomorrow (Friday) night against York Institute, it won’t take long for fans to realize that much has changed.

“Everything is going to be different, from our uniforms to our offensive and defensive philosophies,” first-year Head Coach David Gillium says. “The ball’s going to be in the air, and we’re not going to abandon it if we go out and struggle. We’re going to do what we do. The defense is going to be 3-3, with people blitzing a whole lot. Very seldom will we have a play where we’re not bringing a lot of heat.”

Gillium, who took over as head coach earlier this summer after Gary Sexton resigned to take on museum curator responsibilities at Scott High School, brings with him an offense that served him well at the collegiate level, and an attitude that if players put their head and heart into what they’re doing, they can be successful, even in the state’s toughest region.

“We’re going to try to fight harder than any team out there,” Gillium said. “If one of these teams (Austin-East, Fulton or Catholic) and aren’t playing their A-game, we’re going to have a chance because we’re playing harder. We hope that’s our philosophy. Our kids aren’t going to give up. And if they do, they aren’t going to be playing.”

That philosophy, Gillium said, starts with attitude.

“There’s more to this game than winning and losing; it’s competing,” he said. “The ‘S’ on that helmet has got to mean something. Playing for this school has got to mean something. That guy standing next to you has got to mean something. It’s integrity, and it’s in everything you do: Your life, your job and your marriage. And that’s what we’ve got to drill into them.”

The Highlanders will face plenty of challenges in 2006: If the fact that they’re playing in a region that has produced Tennessee’s Class 3A state champion for four years running wasn’t enough, this year’s Highlander squad features only four seniors. The underclassmen are talented, but largely inexperienced. And the Highlanders have to fill a lot of holes left by graduation, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines and the running game.

OFFENSE

If anyone in Huntsville followed Coach Gillium and new Offensive Coordinator Jonathan Chadwell during their coaching tenure at Pikeville (Kentucky) College, where Gillium was offensive coordinator and Chadwell was quarterbacks coach, they will be able to draw plenty of similarities between this year’s Highlander offensive scheme and the offensive scheme that produced one of the top offenses in the NAIA’s Mid-South Athletic Conference.

There will be some changes — at Pikeville, Gillium’s offense found the quarterback under center often, and used the run 60%-40% balance between the run and the pass.

At Scott High, quarterback Josh Terry (senior) will rarely not be in the shotgun formation this season. The Highlanders will go with a four-receiver set and one set back on most plays, and will throw as much as 70% of the time, Gillium said.

“The shotgun allows us to balance the defense out,” Gillium said. “Linebackers in general are going to flow slower any time you’re in the shotgun, and at the same time our run game is predicated on the quarterback recognizing the linebackers flowing too fast and keeping the ball. The philosophy is, if everything’s done right, getting huge gains.”

Timmy Massengale (senior) will anchor the offensive line at the center position. “Timmy’s the biggest guy we’ve got starting on either side of the ball,” Gillium said. “A lot of pressure’s falling on him right now, because every snap, we’re taking shotgun. He’s doing a great job, and scheme-wise, he knows what to do up front as good as anybody.”

The right guard position will be held by junior Craig Owens, who is “one of our best leaders, as far as work ethic,” according to Gillium. “If he does mess up, it never happens twice,” Gillium said.

The left guard position will find Kirland Worlety (junior) in the starting role. “Kirkland is a mirror image of Craig,” Gillium said. “He’s a little smaller, but he’s a strong point of the offensive line.”

The left tackle position will be held by Chase Slaven, a sophomore. “His coordination level is very good,” Gillium said. “He can throw with backs and receivers and look just as coordinated. He’ll have to get some reps to get used to the level he has to play against.”

The right tackle will be junior Roger Mason. Mason’s biggest challenge, Gillium says, will be “learning to trust his technique” rather than just physically overpowering his opponents.

When the Highlanders use a tight end, the position will be filled by Eric Bowling (sophomore), who Gillium says has “pretty good speed, great hands and great technique,” with youth being his biggest drawback.

When the Highlanders do not use a tight end, junior Josey Chambers will be on the field at wideout. Chambers, a first year player, has been a “great addition,” according to Gillium. “The more he plays, the better he gets,” Gillium said. “He could be the purest athlete on the team.”

Sophomore Jared Sexton will hold down another receiver position. “Jared’s probably the best athlete on the team,” Gillium said. “He’s 6-1 with good speed and can jump right out of the gym. Jared is going to be a great football player by the time he graduates if he stays healthy.”

Junior Joe Brooks will be Terry’s go-to receiver, and is the team’s “most polished receiver,” Gillium said. “When teams are in man, he’ll be the guy we go after,” Gillium added. “He works hard and is very coachable. He’s a role-model football player.”

Rounding out the starting receiving corps will be sophomore Bryan Golden, who Gillium says has “great hand-eye coordination. We’re expecting big things out of him. The biggest thing is that we have to get him more reps and better confidence.”

Terry is a three-year starter at the quarterback position, and Gillium is counting on big things out of his senior leader. “Josh is a special kid,” he said. “We will only go as far as JD takes us this year. We’ll have an above-average year if he is an all-state caliber player. If he’s an all-region caliber player, we’ll struggle.”

Junior Josh Jeffers will start at tailback. Jeffers has lost 15 pounds since last season and is better-conditioned, Gillium said. “He may have a big year if we’re able to block people up front,” Gillium added. “He’s gotten faster and stronger and he’s able to see the field very well.”

DEFENSE

The Highlanders will run a 3-3 defense, with two players in “dog” positions — a cross between linebacker and safety. Bill Hall makes the switch from offensive coordinator to defensive coordinator.

The noseguard position will be held down by Owens and by Cody Yancey, a junior who is a newcomer for the Highlanders. Yancey, Gillium said, “is built like a tailback. he’s a tough, strong kid that’s very quick and extremely aggressive. He gives the linemen fits trying to block.”

Travis Selvidge (senior) will start at one tackle position, while senior captain Matt Watson will hold down the other tackle position.

“Travis has worked hard the last couple of years,” Gillium said. “He’s worked real hard in the weight room and will do good things for us. Matt plays hard, and we’ll rely on him heavily.”

The linebackers will be juniors Steven Kries and Jake Buttram at two positions.

“Steven is the heart and sole of the defense,” Gillium said. “His integrity and mindset are the mindset we hope the rest of the players take on. He’s our leader on defense. The linebacker position is a new position (for Buttram) but he’s worked hard and I’m sure he’ll turn the corner for us any day.”

The other linebacker position, meanwhile, will see sophomores Jeff Phillips and Jesse Tussey split time until one of them wins it outright. “Jeff, pound for pound is one of the strongest guys on the team,” Gillium said. “Jesse plays extremely hard. He just has a little to learn.”

The “dog” positions will be held by Chambers and Brooks, while Sexton will start at free safety.

“The whole defense is designed to push everything back to the free safety, whether it’s run or pass,” Gillium said. “Jared is extremely aggressive and tackles well at that position.”

Three players are competing for the starting slots at cornerback, including junior Terry Hicks, who Gillium said was one of the Highlanders strongest skill players before suffering an ATV accident during the summer. “He is on his way back, he’s just not back up to the speed and strength he was, (but) he’ll probably wind up as one of the starting corners.”

Ryan Colden (sophomore) and Caleb Sexton (junior) will also compete for the corner positions.

“All three will play,” Gillium said. “Which two will actually step on the field first, we just aren’t sure right now.”

Overall, Gillium said that the team’s gameplans may give up some big plays, “(but) we’re going to try to make as many or more big plays. We think the only chance we have to compete with the bigger teams is to create big plays and turnovers. If we sit back and play base, it’ll be a slow death; the outcome (would be) inevitable.

“Mentality-wise,” he added, “we’re preaching to our guys to play hard for four quarters, whether we’re up 70-0 or down 70-0. We play some good teams this year, and hopefully, if the coaching staff is successful, we’re going to fight. If Catholic comes in here and lays it on us, they’ll leave here knowing they’ve been in a fight, and they’ll work as hard or harder in the fourth quarter than they did in the first quarter. That’s the most important thing: To fly 11 people to the football and hit hard, and not be anybody’s tackling dummy.”

Gillium says the team is progressing, but still has room to improve.

“Some things that have progressed tremendously have been the intensity and the desire to get out and hit somebody. Defensively, we put in a new system, so although they’re playing intense and flying to the football, we’re still not where we need to be there.”

As for the rest of the region, Gillium says that the traditional three powerhouses will once again be strong. “I’m not going to say something crazy and say we’re going to finish one,” he said. “We’ve got to earn anything we get and earn any respect we get.”

Gillium said that Austin-East, Catholic and Fulton are “head and shoulders” above the rest of the region, with Kingston in a position to be a potential dark horse in the region.

The Highlanders will open the season tomorrow against a York Institute team that is somewhat bigger and stronger than Scott High, but without as much speed.

“Last year (when Scott defeated York 46-20 in Jamestown), I didn’t leave there thinking we’re 30 points better than York. I left there thinking ‘thank God we got a good bounce early.’ They’re going to come out and try to pound us. Anytime you’ve got 18 seniors (as York does), you’re going to be good. They’re going to come out expecting to beat us, and at the same time, it’s one that we need desperately bad.”