Just as the Glenn Hills football team had finished warming up for practice one day this week, a steady rain began to pelt the Spartans.

The group hollered with plenty of mischief as coach Ernest Tolbert barked plans for the team's amended schedule. They were aimed at Chris Washington, a junior who will start at quarterback.

Ideally, this is the way he hopes the season will go: 16 seniors taking cues from Washington.

Tolbert wants to trust the seniors to create a winning identity at a school that has made only one playoff appearance in almost 20 seasons. He believes they are mature enough to do things like listen to younger players. If this happens, he said, the team could surge toward its finest season in years.

In the new Richmond County and Columbia County Region 3-AAAA, where four area teams are assured of making the playoffs, the Spartans no longer have to deal with potent rivals Thomson and Washington County and are thus eyeing their first region title since 1983.

"I hope and dream we can come out No. 1, but we want to be in (the playoffs) somewhere," said Tolbert, who went 5-5 in his first two seasons as coach.

Most of this year's senior class delivered Tolbert a junior varsity championship in 2006, which he still treasures. While he said he knows that doesn't automatically translate into varsity-level success, it does give him cause for optimism.

The Spartans return eight starters on defense, including two-time All-State end Jerico Brown. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound senior has academically qualified for college and could attract interest from major programs .

"Our defense will smack you in the mouth," Tolbert said. "We need to develop that same type of attitude on offense -- that we're scoring no matter if we have to go 99 yards."

Washington was the JV quarterback the past two seasons and makes up for his size (5-6, 175) with confidence.

"He has a little pizzazz in him and believes he can take on the world," Tolbert said. "The kids believe in him, and that's something we haven't had in a while."

Washington will be handing off to the swift Collin Bing and the bruising Brown and throwing to three receivers who all saw valuable time last season. Wide receiver and running back Justin Lord, the region track champion in the 100 and 200, battled shoulder problems last season but could emerge as a significant offensive threat.

Lord has potential, just like the Spartans as a whole. Heading into this wide-open region, that's about all Tolbert says he needs.

"I feel very happy we have the opportunity to (play in this region)," Tolbert said. "The city schools could never send four teams to the playoffs. Now (they) can."