The Fayette

County Tigers football team is looking forward to the

2000 season.

The team

will return some key players, has seen some positive

strides from new players and players are genuinely

excited to face some old rivals thanks to the new

realignment.

Only six

starters are returning from last year's squad, but

several of those returning are integral to the team's

success. Foremost is quarterback Nathaniel Enloe. Enloe

is a battle-tested senior who led the region in passing

last year. According to Coach Clint Burton, he is

progressing well in practices.

One of

Enloe's main targets this year is sure to be wide

receiver T.J. Brandenburg. Brandenburg is a junior,

capable of making the big plays. He caught 18 passes last

year and does good things with the ball. Another starter

returning to the offense is offensive lineman Keith

Knowles, who started every game at offensive tackle last

year.

Other

players are looking sharp on the line in practice,

including Chris Falzone, a 6'3", 260-lb. player who

was injured all of last year, and James Bowie, a junior

guard, who stands at 6'0" and weighs about 280 lbs.

Senior tackle John Marshall is possibly the most pleasant

surprise of practice so far. He is 6'1" and 230 lbs.

and is showing impressive things each day.

The defense

is a little less experienced but more athletic than last

year's squad. Madkin Kelly, 5'11", 230 lbs, was

injured at the end of last season, but is a tough player

who plays on both sides of the ball. He has lots of

athletic ability and brings a certain intensity to the

game.

Brian Moore

played junior varsity last year but is one of the

quickest and strongest players on the team. He is about

six feet tall and 225 lbs. As Coach Burton says, "He

can really move." The defense also will be bolstered

Another

strong aspect of Fayette County this season will be the

kicking game, led by junior John Derraney. Derraney is an

excellent kicker and punter who placed 60 percent of his

kicks last year in the end zone.

Burton

believes he has good size this season and that his backs,

all juniors, will be able to compete. The backs are Zach

Baker at tailback and Corey Burton at fullback. Matt

Owens will be the tight end.

As for the

new schedule, Burton is eager to get started. "It's

like a homecoming for us," explains Burton. "We

used to play Clayton County teams a lot and we are

looking forward to it." Some of their new opponents

this season include Lovejoy, which returns close to 15

starters, and North Clayton, which has the number two

quarterback in the nation.

On playing

their county rivals, the McIntosh Chiefs, in the first

week of the season, Burton says it makes getting ready

for the season easier.

Fayette

County is certainly optimistic at the beginning of the

2000 season, with many reasons to be. It should be an

exciting season.