BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — In this week’s Countdown to Kickoff, we head to Bristol to catch up with the Tennessee High Vikings and fifth-year head coach Josh Holt. Last season, the Vikings showed plenty of that never-give-up attitude. After opening the season 0-3, Tennessee High battled back to finish 6-5 overall and, more importantly, 4-1 in region play. That strong finish earned the Vikings a spot in the state playoffs, where their season came to an end with a first-round loss to Knox Halls. The Vikings will have some new faces stepping into key roles on offense this season. Junior quarterback Knox Keesee takes over under center, replacing senior Jack Richardson. Behind him will be senior running back Elijah Plumbar, who also contributes on defense at cornerback. The defense could be one of Tennessee High’s most experienced units, and the Vikings are eager to get off to a better start this season. “If we play every play, give every play 100%, and stick to our game plan, I think we’re going to take the W,” Keesee said. “The way we’re able to run the ball on offense and, on defense, any offense that’s thrown at us, we pretty much know what to do with it,” senior defensive end/fullback Ben Stokes said. “As a 42-year-old last year, I was in a weird headspace. We played well, but we were 0-3, so that’s hard to justify. I know these 14- to 18-year-old kids felt the same way,” Holt said. “So what they did is they just kept coming to practice every day and getting better.” “Last year was a good year. We played some good teams. We played two state semifinalists, one in the regular season and one in the playoffs. So, we’re no stranger to good competition around here. We’re not going to run away from it either,” Holt said. Now, the Vikings are looking to build on last year’s success while avoiding another slow start. With an experienced defense, new leadership on offense and a group that knows how to battle through adversity, Tennessee High enters the season confident about what lies ahead. The Vikings will open the 2026 season at home on Aug. 21 when they welcome West Ridge to Bristol. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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