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By Tim Morse

DAWSON — During an “Oklahoma” drill in practice last week, Terrell Academy football coach Bill Murdock bent down, put his hands above his knees and eagerly watched his players tackle.

“That’s the way to hit,” Murdock tells a player, congratulating him by tapping the helmet.

“I’m glad to see you getting after it like that,” he tells another.

Murdock normally does a pretty good job of squashing his emotions. However, he let his excitement show just a little during the recent practice.

With a young team rebuilding in 2015, the Eagles took a beating in several games. However, most of that talent returns this fall, a year older and a little more mature. Terrell Academy is dropping back to Class AA after spending the past two seasons competing with the state’s largest schools in the Georgia Independent Schools Association’s Region 3-AAA.

That region featured last year’s state champion (Valwood) and the state runner-up (Deerfield-Windsor). Murdock says he is glad to be playing in a classification more suited to the school’s size.

“The kids played hard and they battled,” he said. “They played with the hand we were dealt. The guys battled every game, and they did the best they could.”

More than 35 players have been in practice, including a wealth of returning starters. And much of the team’s returning starters are seniors.

The offense has the ability to score plenty of points in its spread formation. The quarterback duties will be split among a pair of seniors — Reese Bell and Andrew White — and the pair have several experienced targets to throw to as seniors Zeb Waters and William Chambless return. Matthews Ivey returns after a promising freshman season, as well as junior Cole Marshall and senior Cody Lewis.

And Bell and White, whichever one isn’t playing quarterback, will also line up at receiver.

A pair of seniors will also handle the running back chores — Cameron Clements and Hunter Mathis.

But the position that has the skill players excited is on the offensive front, where four returners are back. Seniors Seth Hendley and Holton Hendricks anchor what should be a team strength.

“We feel good with those guys coming back,” Murdock said. “That’s where football games are won at.”

The defensive side isn’t as experienced, but the talent is there. Ivey, Marshall and Lewis return in the secondary, while senior Max Reeves and Mathis return at linebacker.

A pair of seniors — Tripp Lynch and Josh Williams — anchor the defensive front.

Specialist Jenna Cuff returns to handle the extra point and field goal duties.

“We didn’t really lose a whole lot,” Williams said. “We just have to go out and execute.”

Terrell hosts Brookwood to open its season on Aug. 19.

With a wealth of talent returning, said he Mathis believes chemistry will be important this season. He said the team has adopted the family theme.

“We love each and every one of our teammates,” he said. “We’re going to fight for the guy standing next to us.”

Which is a big reason Murdock is a little bit excited.

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TERRELL ACADEMY EAGLES

• REGION: GISA 3-AA

• 2016 RECORD: 4-6

• COACH: Bill Murdock (33rd season, 12th at Terrell)

• RETURNING STARTERS: WR Zeb Waters (Sr.); WR William Chambless (Sr.); WR/S Matthews Ivey (So.); RB Cameron Clements (Sr.); RB/LB Hunter Mathis (Sr.); OL Seth Hendley (Sr.); OL Covie Strickland (Jr.); OL Holton Hendricks (Sr.); OL Tyson Miller (Jr.); QB/WR Reese Bell (Sr.); QB/WR Andrew White (Sr.); WR/S Cole Marshall (Jr.); DL Tripp Lynch (Sr.); DL Josh Williams (Sr.); LB Max Reeves (Sr.); DB/WR Cody Lewis (Sr.)

• TOP NEWCOMERS: WR Jalin Wimberly (Sr.); LB Noah Whitcomb (Sr.); DB Matt Holbrook (Sr.); DB Logan Barfield (Jr.)

• 2016 SCHEDULE:

Aug. 19 — at Brookwood

Aug. 26 — Heritage

Sept. 2 — at Deerfield-Windsor

Sept. 9 — Southland

Sept. 16 — at Tiftarea

Sept. 23 — Flint River

Sept. 30 — at Bethlehem Temple

Oct. 7 — at Georgia Christian

Oct. 14 — Southwest Georgia

Oct. 21 — Westwood