SHELLMAN — The Randolph Southern Patriots must make up for the loss of their starting running back and quarterback this season.

Suiting up 22 players this year, they believe it will come from an unlikely source.

“Depth,” second-year coach Tim Goodin said. “We don’t have but 22, but we are hoping to play at least 18 which is a lot for our league. If we can start 18 different kids and get a little bit out of last four, that will help us a lot.”

Such is the difference between wins and losses in GISA Region 3-A. While most teams in Southwest Georgia field more players than Randolph Southern — and most programs in the region — have in their entire school, a few less players forced to go both ways can make a difference in the fourth quarter.

While the Patriots finished 3-7 last season, the continuity provided by seven seniors and a strong core of skill players will only leave between two and five players going both ways, according to Goodin.

“We are deep,” senior linebacker Jamie McCook said. “We got a bunch of

underclassmen that play real good. It surprised me coming out and lifting weights and coming out here, these guys have improved. It has made a lot of difference.”

But the question around the high school with 75 total students is if this depth can produce the team’s first winning season in the program’s six-year history.

“Right now that is the goal,” senior free safety Cole Taylor said.

The daunting task of replacing 1,300 yard-rusher and leading tackler Brandon Beard along with four-year starting quarterback Matt Houston stands between the Patriots and their goal.

The quarterback role will fall into the hands of junior Loy DeVane. He acted as backup QB last year while starting at cornerback, but saw limited action under center.

“He’s got a ways to go, but he is coming along,” Goodin said. “He is going to be a good leader, I know that.”

The majority of the ball carrying duties in the option running attack will go to fullback Lee White. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior has developed the reputation of a bulldog in practice that his team knows will carry over into games.

“He’s got a grit about him,” McCook said. “He is going to get the best of you before you get the best of him.”

Juniors Owen Kimbrell and Dillon Thorpe are expected to be the speed backs racing to the corners to offset White’s inside

presence.

A softer non-region

schedule than in past years coupled with a region adding two teams the Patriots beat last season has Randolph Southern thinking about the postseason.

Nobody on this year’s team has ever played in a postseason game. The last time Randolph made the playoffs was 2004.

“I want to win region,” McCook said. “I think we got the team to do it this year.”