Andrews – It was a rainy Friday night in the Valley, but as the skies cleared the Andrews varsity football team kicked off their 2025 season with a scrimmage against Copper Basin, Tenn.
The scrimmage was originally set to take place at Copper Basin, but the game was moved to Andrews on Friday morning. On a muddy field, the Wildcats played their first preseason game with a new head coach, a new starting quarterback and many other new faces in new positions this season.
Junior Brady McLelland will be under center for the 2025 season after the graduation of Everett Tatham. Jason Johnson also coached his first game as head of the Wildcats during their first of two preseason scrimmages.
Johnson said his team played well against Copper Basin.
“I was proud of the kids’ effort. Of course, there’s always things we need to work on, but overall I was pleased, especially with our defense. The defense got lined up well, knew their assignments and got to the football,” he said.
Johnson named multiple players who showed up particularly well, including multiple players who are set to play both offense and defense this season for the Wildcats.
“Logan Shuler stood out to me both on offense and defense at wide receiver and defensive back. LaDannien Rattler stood out to me, I think he had a good scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Peanut Garrett, he stood out on defense, he played a good middle linebacker,” Johnson said.
“I think Phisher Baxter did well. And Kelby Waldroup and Brady McLelland, I think those guys all had a good day. Defensively, Cooper Orr had a good day, defensive end for us. And, of course, Gabe Aguilar on both sides of the ball.
“We had some good performances.”
One of the things they will work on heading into their second scrimmage against North Buncombe this Friday night will be tempo of their play moving forward.
“We’re going to work on picking up the tempo a little bit against North Buncombe. We’re going to try to do a better job of getting to the football,” Johnson said.
“We did a good job of getting to the football [against Copper Basin], we just need to be a little faster. We’re going to work on playing a little faster this coming Friday against North Buncombe.”
Johnson said he enjoyed his first game as head coach.
“It was fun, I was excited, the kids were excited. We’re looking to continue that excitement this week. It was a learning experience for me. It was the first time I’ve called plays in years, since I was the JV head coach here,” he said.
Johnson said he wants to thank the fans and all those involved in moving the scrimmage to Andrews on short notice.
“I just want to say thank you to the fans and the community here in Andrews, to Josh Schwarting and the school and Dr. (Principal Sheryl) Rogers for being able to move that scrimmage so fast on a days notice,” he said. “I just want to thank everybody that took part in that.”