Cloudland’s speed will be key factor in 2024 success

ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. (WJHL) – Last season the Highlanders were a perfect 5-0 in Region 1-1A. But, their trip to the postseason ended with a first round loss at home to Greenback, as the campaign concluded with a 6-5 overall record.

After some self-reflection in the offseason, the squad realized it needed to rededicate themselves to the gridiron – and double down in the weight room this winter.

“You’re only going to be as good as the time you put into that sport,” head coach Zac Benfield said. “I think that humbled us last year.”

Physicality has been a staple of the Cloudland program for decades, and will continue to be this season.

However, that strength, combined with a quick group of skill players could be the combination that gets the program back to the playoffs.

“We’ve worked ever since the offseason, at the end of last season,” senior lineman Matthew Baker said. “We went right into it and it’s already looking really good. We’re looking way better than we did last year.”

“We’re big on speed,” senior linebacker Jacob Stinnett added. “We’re working on agility, we’re big on that – and strength the most.”

“Having that discipline and that toughness here at Cloudland is always a very important aspect of what we try to add here,” Benfield explained. “We’ve got five or six kids that I’m confident in to each receive or run for 100 yards a game at any time.”

This speedier version of the Highlanders will open the season at Happy Valley on Friday, August 23.

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