The Chiefs are Back in Action

The Chiefs are back in black, and don’t you know they’re glad to be back.

Monday afternoon was the official start of practice for the varsity football team.

With 10 days left before the scrimmage against the Sequoyah football players are hitting the field for the first time in 2011.

The young team of 14 seniors and 23 juniors will have a strong defensive line and running backs, Coach James Teter said. Also, several colleges are looking at standout defensive lineman Mitchell Smith.

The Chiefs’ regular season begins with Hickory Flat’s biggest rivalry -- Sequoyah vs. on August 26 -- with a preseason scrimmage earlier.

“We try to handle each game as they come,” Teter said. “Right now we’re focused on Cherokee when they come here on the 12th.”

Last season, the Chiefs went 5-5 and had , including Smith who was recognized as the “defensive lineman of the year.”

was also on the for 2010.

The only setback may come from the heat.

As temperatures are set to reach 98 degrees for the rest of the week during peak practice hours, the county has the power to decide whether or not conditions are suitable for after-school practices.

“We’re going to follow the county guidelines,” Teter said. “If they say we can go out, we will.”