Updated: 9:46 PM 16 starters return from a team that rumbled to a 7-4 record in 2010. Eight offensive linemen have started at least one game, and quarterback Andrew Lee is also back.

Updated: 3:16 PM WVLT's Countdown to Kickoff coverage continues with a look into the 2010 Halls high school football season.

Updated: 3:18 PM The Morristown East Hurricanes reached the playoffs last season, and they hope to build on that in 2011. The Hurricanes finished 5-6 overall and lost to Powell 41-0 in the first round of the postseason.

Posted: 10:35 PM A-E opens the season with games against West, Powell, Fulton and Alcoa. Throw in Brainerd, Gatlinburg-Pittman and Gibbs, and Robert Gilliard's team doesn't get many breathers.

Posted: 10:26 PM Anderson County quarterback Tanner Williams set multiple state passing records during his two years under center for the Mavericks. Now, he takes his talents to Tennessee Tech, and the Mavs must find a way to replace him.

Updated: 10:36 PM After what many would call the best season in school history, the CAK Warriors will look to the air to get into the 2011 postseason.

Posted: 9:58 PM Maryville quarterback Patton Robinette is "still committed" to North Carolina, despite the firing of head coach Butch Davis, according to his coach.

Posted: 10:52 PM WVLT's Countdown to Kickoff coverage continues with a look into the Farragut Admirals 2011 football season.

Updated: 9:03 AM WVLT's Countdown to Kickoff coverage continues with a look into the 2011 Bearden football season.

Posted: 12:27 PM WVLT's Countdown to Kickoff coverage continues with a look at the Catholic Irish.

Posted: 12:26 PM WVLT's Countdown to Kickoff continues with a look at Kings Academy.

Posted: 12:23 PM WVLT's Countdown to Kickoff continues with a look at the Karns Beavers upcoming football season.

Posted: 9:42 PM Riding high after winning the school's 12th state title last December, the Red Rebels bring a senior-laden squad to the field, which includes a quarterback who's already committed to play ball in the ACC.

Updated: 9:54 PM David Meske's team rolled to its second consecutive Division II-A title in 2010. This season, the Spartans are poised to take aim at a three-peat.

Updated: 10:06 PM Gary Rankin's team won its seventh consecutive state championship last season, and the Tornadoes are gunning for No. 8 in 2011.

Posted: 11:20 PM Cody Blanc: "I've been smiling all day."

Posted: 5:42 PM The investigative audit uncovered numerous problems with the collection and accounting of funds by the Riverdale High School Quarterback Club that appear to have led to thousands of dollars in missing or misspent fundraiser profits.

Posted: 8:12 PM Kurt Backstrom takes over a program that has won six state championships in the last ten years.

Posted: 11:29 PM Mike McKenry's first major league home run, a three-run shot in the eighth inning, lifted Pittsburgh to a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night and assured the Pirates of a winning record at the All-Star break for the first time in 19 years.

Updated: 7:49 PM Alcoa has a new head boys basketball coach and it's a familiar face. The Tornadoes have hired former Tennessee assistant Tony Jones to take the lead role in their boys basketball program.

Updated: 9:50 PM The former Vols assistant coach was Bruce Pearl's top assistant from 2005-2011.

Updated: 9:52 PM The former Alcoa and Kentucky star is staying busy as he rides out the NFL lockout. Saturday he was in Alcoa, signing autographs at the MLK Center.

Posted: 11:13 PM The 15-year old quarterback will soon head to the Elite 15 combine in Oklahoma.

Updated: 10:10 PM The Panther standout running back didn't play in the postseason last year because he was suspended for violating team rules.

Updated: 8:52 PM Some coaches are going to extreme lengths to distance themselves from the Tornadoes.