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By JOSH STROPE
CAMERON -- Last season was one for the ages for Cameron football. But that was then.
This is a new team that is looking to take what was created in 2016 and build upon it this season.
"We started with what we feel is a pretty experienced group so we feel like we have a lot of kids that know where they are going already," Cameron coach Scott Holt said. "We expect to perform at a high level. How many wins that translates to, we will see from now until when we kick off."
The Dragons went 10-0 last season, completing the second perfect regular season in school history and earning the first home playoff game at Dragon Stadium.
That playoff run was short-lived, however, as Cameron was knocked off in the first round by Pendleton County.
"Our goal is to be a playoff team," Holt said. "We have the experience back and the kids have the talent to get back into that top 16. How many that takes to get in, we have an idea. Shooting for 10 wins is something that is certainly not out of the realm of possibility, but it is not first and foremost for us.
"When the (regular season finale) against Pocahontas County ended last year, we still had a playoff game to go and it almost seemed like that was an afterthought. This year, when you expect playoffs and you hope for playoffs, that then becomes the goal. The goal is to get there, and once we are there, we don't want it to be a situation where we are just happy to be there."
A big advantage Cameron may have comes under center in the form of quarterback Colby Brown.
The first team all-stater threw for 1,737 yards and 24 touchdowns, rushed for 446 yards and 15 scores and collected 17 2-point conversions last season.
"He is a three-year starter and the numbers he has been able to put up are fantastic, but his leadership ability, the trust you have with your receivers, you can't duplicate or fake the amount of experience and the time and reps you have with those guys," Holt said. "We certainly expect as big of a year from Colby, if not bigger. Colby is a really quiet guy, but he does have expectations of his teammates.
"He is not going to yell and scream in somebody's face, but when you see him back there and how hard he works in the offseason, it's hard not to have that rub off on teammates."
Running back Michael Starcher was another first-teamer for the Cameron last season, but he and his 1,557 yards and 18 touchdowns (as well as 111 tackles on defense) have graduated.
He will be a hard person to replace in the Dragons offense, but getting the first crack at carrying the ball will be Wyatt Wingrove (moving from the offensive line) and identical twins Matt and Andrew Ritchea.
"We might not have the one guy who can carry us to 1,600 or 1,700 yards on the ground, but if we get three or four that goes for 500, that might be good enough," Holt said. "Last year, the running game took pressure off Colby. This year, the passing game might take the pressure off our running backs.
"Last year we looked to run first and set something up for the passing game. This year, we might pass first to help our running game."
Brown is lucky to have his all his favorite targets back this season. Trey Scott, Travis Mickey and Robert Milliken all return, along with Trin Scott and Noah Neely.
"Ninety percent of our receiving yards and 100 percent of our passing yards are coming back," Holt said. "In a small school like ours, that is one area where you usually see a lot of turnover from year to year. We don't have that so that is one area where we feel really comfortable."
Along the offensive line, Logan Ritchea and Hayden Hoge return at guards. Aidan Lucey will be the center. Garrett Scott, Jacob Rogers and Colton Dobbs are vying for the tackle spots.
"We have some size, but we are not very big," Holt said. "It is a tale of big guys vs. small guys on the line and it is just going to be a matter of us making it work. We do a lot of trapping and pulling, so we are used to having a lot of smaller, more athletic offensive line."
The defensive line is Logan Ritchea at nose guard, Hoge at defensive end, with the other end spot up for grabs. Garrett Scott and Lucey are eyeing that spot, with the other bumping back to linebacker.
In the middle of the defense, Wingrove and Andrew Ritchea return at inside linebacker with Matt Ritchea also seeing playing time.
At outside linebacker will be Milliken and Brown.
All three defenders in the secondary return in Mickey, Trey Scott and Trin Scott.
"We are probably more athletic than we have ever been on defense and probably quicker than we have ever been on defense," Holt said. "What we need to do is take advantage of what we have, which is probably kids playing man-to-man and making plays on the ball."
After last season, the bullseye will clearly be on the Dragons this season and Holt and his staff know they get each team's best shot.
Holt is assisted by Eric James, Matt Burge, LJ Winland, Roger Cain and Gibbs Davidson.