By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

CEDAR BLUFF – Every weekday afternoon during the fall at Cedar Bluff School, when the bell rings around 1:18 p.m., the Tiger football players begin making their way through the hallways and downstairs to the weight room.

Along their path they pass the names of the Tiger football greats on the wall – those former players who have made all-county, all-state, and signed college scholarships.

There’s a high standard each Tiger team wants to live up to.

“I’ve been going to Cedar Bluff for a long time, and I’ve got to play on teams with a lot of great players and watched them growing up,” senior lineman Isaac Roberts said. “When you walk down and see all-state and all-county, to me it’s like I want to be that guy. You want to be known for your contributions.”

“We don’t want to just sit there and be good with just the standard,” junior lineman Cayden Garrett said. “My family lives and breathes Cedar Bluff. The roots run deep. Seeing those guys and family members on the wall makes me want to be better than them. It makes me want to be a better person, a better player. We want to be better than the standard.”

“I’ve always gone to Cedar Bluff and I remember those guys running on the football field and playing as hard as they could,” junior Sam Payne added. “They were setting that standard for me when I was younger and I want to hold up to what they set.”

Part of the standard set as a Cedar Bluff football player is making the state playoffs. The 2024 Tigers fell just short of that goal last season, which ended a 10-year playoff streak.

But that streak ending didn’t come without a fight.

Five of the Tigers’ games were decided by a touchdown or less. Three of those contests were by two points, including a pair of one-point heartbreaks in Class 2A, Region 7 to North Sand Mountain in overtime and at Pleasant Valley.

“It hurts to lose any game, but those close ones did a lot more,” Roberts said.

Finishing games, along with staying healthy, have been points of emphasis for the 2025 Tigers this season.

“We were about four or five points from being the two-seed from our region,” Garrett said. “We’re working on finishing our games, working in the weight room, getting those extra reps every time.”

“I really think experience is the greatest teacher,” third-year head coach Garrett Crane said. “Going back and looking at (last season), we had 17 out of 22 (players) out at some point. There was no you’re the starter. You were going to play. The opportunity is there. I think that could pay dividends this year, having experience with everyone.”

The 2025 Tigers have experience at most key positions, including along the offensive and defensive lines. Crane said he currently has seven guys for five spots in the trenches, including Garrett and Roberts, senior Hudson Smith, senior Johnny Shaw, junior Saw Jordan, senior Daylen Dobbins, and junior Noah Hutchinson.

Those seven will flip on the defensive side.

“They’re all interchangeable and will give us some kind of depth there,” Crane said.

Behind Jordan at center will be a quarterback rotation featuring senior Kuper Bradley, freshman Jeremiah Miller, and senior Kadien Tracy. Senior Bryson Teague is still on the mend following surgery.

“He will be big shoes to fill in terms of quarterback play and leadership,” Crane said of Teague.

Tracy is also expected to be a featured running back, along with Jeremiah Miller, Payne, senior Hayden Tucker, and freshman Jamison Miller. Tucker, Payne and sophomore Hunter Mobbs will be in the fullback/tight end position.

“They all bring something a little different in style and stature,” Crane said of the Tiger backs. “When we get into a ball game we’ll see how they react from that side.”

McDaniel, junior Zach Jones, senior Jonas Brown, sophomore Shon Gleen, junior Fischer Young, and sophomore Taylen Dixon are the Tiger receivers.

On defense, Jeremiah Miller, Tucker, Payne, Mobbs, Tracy, sophomore Bryant Gravley, and Young are the Tiger linebackers. Jamison Miller is at free safety. Corners are McDaniel, Brown, Gleen, and Jones.

Cedar Bluff hosts a jamboree against Fayetteville and Sylvania on Aug. 15. The Tigers kick off the season a week later by hosting Valley Head on Aug. 22.

“I can’t put into words how excited I am right now,” Garrett said. “We’ve been waiting since the Saturday after the (last) game (last year). This is the time I look forward to every year.”

“We want to win, and we’re going to bring that (mentality) every week,” Roberts said. “We’re going to be the more physical team out there. That’s the standard we’ve been brought up on and that’s how we’re going to play on Friday night.”

2025 Cedar Bluff Tigers Football Schedule

Aug. 22                 Valley Head
Aug. 28                 at Collinsville
Sept. 5                  Gaston
Sept. 12                at North Sand Mountain
Sept. 19                at Section
Sept. 26                at Spring Garden
Oct. 3                    Pleasant Valley
Oct. 10                  Pisgah
Oct. 17                  at Sand Rock
Oct. 24                  OPEN
Oct. 30                  Donoho