High School Football All-Stars

1C

C l a s s 1 A- 2 A , pa g e 2 E POY: Teddre Williams, Donoho

C l a s s 3 A , pa g e 3 E POY: Chris Strott, Piedmont

all-stars The Anniston Star

Editor: Lacie Pinyan, lpinyan@annistonstar.com • Sunday, January 15, 2012 • Page 1E

C l a s s 4 A- 6 A , pa g e 4 E POY: Troymaine Pope, Anniston

A l l - A r e a , pa g e 5 E POY: Bradley Bozeman, Handley

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Page 2E Sunday, January 15, 2012

bios Teddre Williams

Donoho Sr. 5-8, 165 QB Parents: Aundrea Swain THE STATS Williams rushed for 1,499 yards and 24 TDs and was 46 of 110 passing.

Christopher Carr Donoho So. 5-8, 155 DB Parents: Christopher and Lashundra Carr THE STATS Carr had 49 tackles and an interception.

Daylon Brackett

JCA Fr. 6-3, 170 DB Parents: Joelle and Michelle Brackett THE STATS Brackett showed promise with 22 solo tackles, six pass breakups and an INT.

Evan Ontiveros JCA Sr. 6-0, 225 OL Parents: Jeff and Daphne Wilson, Rudy Ontiveros THE STATS Ontiveros commanded the action, making all the calls up front for the Thunder.

Camron Bryant JCA Sr. 5-11, 174 RB Parents: Echols and Gina Bryant THE STATS Had nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards, including 758 rushing and and eight TDs.

Tyler Morales JCA So. 5-10, 140 LB Parents: Sheila Murray and Victor Morales THE STATS Morales had 29 tackles and a sack.

Damien Christen

Donoho Sr. 6-4, 200 DL Parents: Neil and Tracy Christen THE STATS Christen was a force with 75 tackles.

Matthew Overton

Donoho Sr. 5-10, 205 OL Parents: Dyron Overton THE STATS As a senior, Overton was the best OL on an offense that scored more than 50 TDs.

George McMillan Donoho Jr. 6-2, 160 WR Parents: Ken and Priscilla McMillan THE STATS McMillan averaged more than 12 yards per catch with 15 receptions for 194 yards and two TDs.

Walker Mason

Donoho Sr. 5-9, 158 RB Parents: Jeff and Jamie Mason THE STATS Mason gained 667 yards and scored 12 TDs on 126 carries.

Tate Thomas Donoho Sr. 6-0, 200 LB Parents: Julia Segars, Frank Segars, Joe Thomas THE STATS Thomas led the Falcons with 151 tackles.

Jackson Hodges Donoho Sr. 6-0, 166 LB Parents: Tim and Melissa Hodges THE STATS Hodges logged 117 tackles while forcing a fumble and recording an interception.

The Anniston Star

Class 1A-2A

▶ player of the year | Teddre Williams, Donoho

Jonathan Poole Ohatchee Jr. 5-11, 155 ATH Parents: Gregg and Lucretia Poole THE STATS Poole made his biggest impact at WR where he caught 15 balls for 259 yards and three TDs.

Justin Areno Ohatchee Sr. 5-11, 185 LB Parents: Michael and Julia Areno THE STATS Areno led the Indians with 71 stops.

Brady Kelley

Ohatchee Sr. 5-10, 230 OL Parents: Jeff and Rita Kelley THE STATS Kelley graded out at a respectable 74 percent.

Riley Allen

Ohatchee Jr. 5-7, 175 QB Parents: Jeremy and Tasha Allen THE STATS Allen completed 36 of 79 passes, for 500 yards.

Marshall Ghee Donoho Jr. 6-2, 185 K Parents: Doug and Brenda Ghee THE STATS Ghee nailed 41 of 51 attempts.

Chris Deerman Pleasant Valley Sr. 5-10, 175 DB Parents: Anna Holliday THE STATS Deerman was one of the Raiders’ leading tacklers.

Eddie Roe

Pleasant Valley Jr. 5-11, 165 WR Parents: Ed and Cerilla Roe THE STATS Led the Raiders in receiving, scoring four touchdowns.

Michael Roe

Pleasant Valley Sr. 6-0, 170 TE Parents: Ed and Cerilla Roe THE STATS Noted as an “outsanding leader” by coach Jeff Davis. Roe also came up with three interceptions.

Will Hamby Pleasant Valley Sr. 5-11, 155 DB Parents: Darren and LeAnne Hamby THE STATS Hamby led Pleasant Valley in rushing while playing on both sides of the ball.

Jonah Harmon

Pleasant Valley Sr. 5-11, 185 DL Parents: David and Melanie Harmon THE STATS Logged 15 tackles for loss.

Landon Gilmer Pleasant Valley Sr. 6-1, 230 OL THE STATS Gilmore’s size and athleticism made him a key component of the Raiders offense.

Bill Wilson/The Anniston Star/File

Donoho quarterback Teddre Williams tallied more than 2,000 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Dual threat Donoho’s Williams gets it done on, off field

By Nick Birdsong

yards and eight scores.

Williams said he’d done his research on Donoho and even took a tour of the school’s GoldTeddre Williams showed en Springs campus before telling he was a leader before he ever his parents of his desire to seek played a game at Donoho.

He was forced to sit out what a more challenging academic environment. would’ve been his junior seaThings were going fairly son, due to the Alabama High well in the classroom for WilSchool Athletic Association’s rule governing transfers when he liams through one semester as he made the adjustment from left Oxford to enroll at the small public to private school. Then, prep school. Though he wasn’t things got real. allowed to participate, he still “(During the first semester of attended practices, gaining the his junior year) things weren’t respect and trust of his teamas bad people were saying they mates along the way. were going to be,” Williams said.

Once he did step on the “I was like, ‘OK, I just need to field as a senior, the 5-foot-8, apply myself.’ Then in the second 165-pound quarterback led the semester, we had a lot of projects Falcons to an 11-2 record and a due at the same time and hometrip to the Class 1A state quarwork and tests on top of all that.” terfinals, matching the school’s Williams persevered and his deepest post-season run ever. coaches were understanding He led the Falcons with more when he did have to miss a practhan 2,000 all-purpose yards. tice here or there to give enough For his efforts, Williams was named The Star’s 2011 Class 1A- time to his studies.

And the time in the classroom 2A Calhoun County Player of the has paid off. Williams plans to Year by respective coaches. attend college next fall, be it for “I just try to be that leader,” his academic aptitude or his athhe said. “Whatever the coaches letic ability. need me to do, if they need me Williams said he plans to to make a play, I want to be that major in engineering wherever go-to guy.” he attends school and is considWilliams rushed for 1,499 yards and 24 touchdowns while ering colleges such as Auburn, going 46-for-110 passing for 676 Clemson, Duke and Howard nbirdsong@annistonstar.com

▶ coach of the year | Shannon Felder, Donoho

Felder’s formula pays off

BY NICK BIRDSONG nbirdsong@annistonstar.com

In all of his years in the coaching profession, Shannon Felder said he’s never witnessed a team make as much improvement as this year’s squad.

From this season’s summer camp to the Falcons’ 11-2 playoff finish, it was an impressive run as Donoho matched the 2006 squad for the deepest postseason run in school history.

For his efforts in leading them, Felder was chosen as The Star’s 2011 Class 1A-2A Calhoun County Coach of the Year by local coaches.

“We exceeded a lot of peoples’ expectations,” he said.

The Falcons were coming off an 8-3 season in 2010, which was preceded by a 1-19 stretch, but they were losing, among others, last year’s County Player of the Year, former quarterback Will Nunnelley. To make matters worse, two key starters sustained major injuries.

Nonetheless, the team perse-

vered, weathering that initial wave of setbacks and used their superior conditioning to outlast opponents along the way. felder Felder masterminded a training regiment consisting of tactics he learned from his days of playing at Alabama in the ’80s while also adding elements from previous stints in his career. The blend of both old- and newschool tactics prepared his team to endure the rigors of rarely leaving the field.

The Falcons lifted weights and ran just about every day and kicked things into high gear during their week-long preseason camp in Pisgah where they endured four-a-day practices.

Felder admitted to holding back on unleashing the brunt of the demanding routine on

Jared Colvin Pleasant Valley So. 5-11, 290 OL Parents: Nancy Colvin and Steve Lamons THE STATS A sophomore, he’s already started 31 games in his career.

Austin Tate

Pleasant Valley Jr. 6-4, 165 ATH Parents: Scott and Tammie Tate THE STATS A great edge rusher, Tate led the Raiders with eight quarterback sacks.

University in Washington, D.C. There also may be opportunities for him to continue to pursue his pigskin passions while working to become a professional. While he hasn’t been extended any formal offers, he has received interest from several small schools, including Birmingham Southern College.

Williams credited his success in the classroom to Donoho’s high scholastic standards and its faculty. He owes his success on the gridiron to coach Shannon Felder.

“He knows what every position on the field is supposed to be doing, from the defensive line to the quarterbacks, and he helps us a lot,” Williams said. “I know he works hard, too. There’s a lot of nights where he doesn’t go to sleep until 2 or 3 a.m. because he’s watching film.”

Looking back on the season Williams said it makes him and his teammates feel a little better, knowing they were defeated by the team that won it all.

“Teddre is a leader. He’s a smart football player,” Felder said. “Not only that, he’s also smart in the classroom.”

Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575. Follow him on Twitter @birds_word.

his players when he first arrived at Donoho. “It took a while for everyone to adjust to the conditioning in the beginning,” he said.

Donoho reaped the spoils of their toils throughout the season. Usually near the end of the second quarter, the Falcons would notice their opponents heads hung low while grasping for breath.

“I’d look at them and say, ‘They don’t have as much gas in their tank as you,’” Felder said.

“Sometimes, I wouldn’t even say it. They’d look at me and say, ‘Coach, these guys are tired. We can see it.’”

Felder said despite the setbacks his team faced in the preseason, he remained optimistic that they’d just be hitting their stride late in the season when most other squads had already reached their peak.

“I thought we had a chance to make it to Tuscaloosa,” he said.

Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. Follow him on Twitter @birds_word.

bios Dayton Boozer

Pleasant Valley Sr. 5-11, 140 K Parents: Randy and Donna Boozer THE STATS Boozer boomed the ball all season long for the Raiders, averaging 43.6 yards per punt, 37.1 net, on 52 attempts.

Zack Mitchell

Ohatchee Sr. 5-11, 185 DL Parents: Shane and Tammy Mitchell THE STATS Mitchell tallied 51 tackles, including a team-best seven for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Tristan Allen

Ohatchee So. 5-8, 160 RB Parents: Tasha Allen and Jeremy Allen THE STATS Allen was the Indians leading rusher with 583 yards and eight touchdowns on eight carries.

Jon Averette

JCA Sr. 6-3, 265 DL Parents: Eric and Stacy Averette THE STATS Averette finished the season with 48 solo tackles, five sacks and recovered two fumbles.

Honorable Mentions: Alec McCormack, Justin Foster, Zack Stelair (Donoho); Ethan Lamber, Dustin Andrews (Pleasant Valley); Hunter Longoria, Quinn Williams (Ohatchee); Cody Blum and Paul Cauldren (Jacksonville Christian).

11A Class 3A

The Anniston Star bios Chris Strott Piedmont Sr. 5-9, 170 QB Parents: Grace and George Strott THE STATS Strott threw for 1,059 yards and rushed for 834.

Justin Grier

Saks Sr. 5-11, 172 RB Parents: Rocky Grier and Monique Grier THE STATS Grier led Saks with 898 yards and eight TDs on 134 carries.

Logan Giddens White Plains Sr. 6-0, 190 LB Parents: Dawn and Michael Giddens THE STATS The lone firstteam selection for a White Plains team that didn’t pick up its first win until Week 8.

Chandler Fall Weaver Sr. 6-1, 195 OL Parents: Timothy Fall and Angel Morgan THE STATS Fall was third on the team with 65 tackles and seven sacks.

Brandell Massey

Weaver Jr. 5-11, 203 RB Parents: Ninia Massey and Adrain Sturkie THE STATS Massey led the Bearcats with 823 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on 101 carries.

Timothy Hawkins

Weaver So. 6-2, 165 WR Parents: Tim Hawkins and Stalitha Hawkins THE STATS Hawkins tallied nearly 1,000 allpurpose yards.

Chris English Weaver So. 5-9, 155 ATH Parents: Eurica Perkins and Dejuan Perkins THE STATS English racked up 1,727 all-purpose yards and had 24 TDs.

Clay Dent Piedmont 5-11, 195 LB Parents: Ira and Samantha Dent THE STATS

Dent led the Bulldogs with 164 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Dejuan Traylor Wellborn Sr. 6-2, 250 TE Parents: Felecia Traylor and Steve English THE STATS Traylor was a great blocking tight end and had 64 tackles and three sacks on defense.

Derek Key

Wellborn Sr. 5-10, 190 DB Parents: Mike and Cansi Key THE STATS Logged 34 starts in his career and had 69 tackles, two sacks and two INTs.

Mikey Scoggins

Saks Sr. 6-3, 250 OL Parents: Gerri Scoggins and George Scoggins THE STATS Scoggins graded out at 88 percent and registered a beasty 48 pancakes.

Jameson Trammell Piedmont Sr. 6-3, 285 OL Parents: Jimmy and Susan Trammell THE STATS

Trammell helped pave the way for a Piedmont team that compiled nearly 4,700 yards of offense, grading out a 88 percent and tallying 58 pancake blocks.

Chantz Goodman Wellborn So. 5-5, 160 RB Parents: Chris Goodman and Pam Goodman THE STATS Goodman rushed for 1,078 yards and 19 TDs on 170 carries.

Quinton Thomas Saks Sr. 6-3, 350 DL Parents: Brenda and Antonio Alexander THE STATS The big man had 40 tackles, including four for loss.

Judd Smith

Wellborn Jr. 5-8, 150 ATH Parents: Jeff and Lisa Smith THE STATS Smith completed 40 of 68 passing attempts for 706 yards and 14 TDs.

Chase Arnold Weaver Jr. 5-7, 150 P Parents: Mona Hardy and Darren Hardy THE STATS Arnold aided Weaver’s defense by averaging 41.4 yards per punt.

Adam O’Bryen Wellborn Sr. 5-11, 240 OL Parents: John and Teresa O’Bryen THE STATS The three-year starter graded out at 82 percent.

Malik Anderson Weaver Sr. 6-5, 220 DL Parents: Brian Rag THE STATS Anderson registered a team-high 17 QB hurries to go along with 28 tackles.

Joshua Reynolds Saks Sr. 5-9, 180 LB Parents: Tara and Tony Hunley THE STATS Reynolds led the Wildcats with 102 tackles, 11 for loss.

Chase Johnson Saks Jr. 6-0, 180 QB Parents: Diane and Tim Johnson THE STATS Johnson completed 112 of 215 attempts for 15 TDs.

Austin Bishop Piedmont Jr. 6-4, 260 OL Parents: Gayle and Ray Bishop THE STATS Bishop graded out at 85 percent while adding 51 pancake blocks.

Marquez Gamble

Piedmont Jr. 5-11, 280 DL Parents: JoAnna Gamble THE STATS Gamble finished with 68 tackles, including seven for loss.

Quadree Woods Piedmont Sr. 5-11, 237 DL Parents: April Prater and Darious Woods THE STATS Woods was fourth on the team with 78 tackles.

Dalton Screws Wellborn Sr. 5-11, 175 DB Parents: Keith and Kim Screws THE STATS Screws had 109 tackles and four INTs.

Bobby White

Wellborn Sr. 6-0, 210 LB Parents: Bobby and Cher White THE STATS White finished the season with 130 tackles.

Sunday, January 15, 2012 Page 3E

▶ player of the year | Chris Strott, Piedmont

Torch passed Strott takes over, shines in his time

By Al Muskewitz amuskewitz@annistonstar.com

Chris Strott had no problems being the next in line.

When it comes to the rites of succession in sports, it has often been said that it’s better to be the man who follows the man who follows The Man than be the one who immediately follows great success.

Strott, Piedmont’s senior quarterback, did just fine as the man who followed The Man. Tasked with keeping the Bulldogs on track after the graduation of the winningest quarterback in school history, Strott didn’t miss a beat.

Playing through pain and injury, he produced nearly 2,000 yards of offense and managed the team to a 12-win season for the second year in a row in his second year as the starting quarterback.

For all that, he is The Star’s Calhoun County Class 3A Player of the Year.

“He had some big shoes to fill, but like so many kids we have at Piedmont every year, I’m impressed with their work ethic and their ability to step in,” Bulldogs coach Steve Smith said. “They all know there’s an expectation when their number is called. They’re expected to produce and we have confidence in them.”

Strott replaced three-year starter Chase Childers, who won 33 games and the school’s firstever state championship in 2009, but continued the line of undersized but effective signal-callers who have punctuated Smith’s tenure at Piedmont.

It wasn’t as if Strott was just thrown in and had to learn to swim. He went into games as a sophomore once the Bulldogs had them in hand, and he learned well under Childers.

In his first year as the starter, Strott led the Bulldogs to a 12-2 season that ended in the state semifinals and felt like a letdown after wining it all the year before.

But taking those lessons, he took Piedmont to 12 straight wins this season before a run that was expected to end in a state

Trent Penny/The Anniston Star/File

Piedmont quarterback Chris Strott passed for 1,059 yards and rushed for 834 more as the Bulldogs won 12 games. title matchup with Handley was abruptly halted in the quarterfinals at Rogers.

“I learned from a good quarterback,” Strott said. “Throughout my years at Piedmont, I got to watch some good athletes come through. I stood there and learned what they were doing and listened to coach when he talked to Chase.

“Going into my (junior) year, I was just thinking coach counts on me, I have to perform.

In the beginning I didn’t have confidence. I was overwhelmed having all I had to learn; it was a shock. But once I settled in, I just kicked back and it was like, ‘Wow, it’s not what I thought it’d be.’ ... I tried my best to win all the games I could. Unfortunately, we didn’t win a state championship.”

But he always gave the Bulldogs a chance. For the season, he

completed 72 of 122 passes for 1,059 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 834 yards and six touchdowns on 112 carries.

It wasn’t without a toll, however. He played the first two games with a broken pinky on his throwing hand that he sustained in the jamboree — “the ball felt like it had a lump in it,” he said — and later in the year played through a high-ankle sprain.

“He’s a tough kid, one of those guys you pick first if you need someone to go with you in a battle,” Smith said. “He’s a competitor and that’s one of those traits we look for in a guy to lead our team. He may not be the most impressive kid when you see him walk off the bus, but there’s not anybody I’d trade him for.”

Al Muskewitz is a sports writer for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3577.

▶ coach of the year | Jeff Smith, Wellborn

Smith fixes yet another

BY NICK BIRDSONG nbirdsong@annistonstar.com

Jeff Smith had played the role of Mr. Fix-It before.

In 2001, he guided Ohatchee to its first 10-win season in 21 years after going .500 in his first season at the helm four seasons prior.

He led Class 5A Hueytown to a 10-2 record in 2002. The Gophers had gone winless two years in a row, including his first year on their sidelines in 2003.

The rebuilding project he decided to embark upon when he left the suburbs of Birmingham and came back to Calhoun County to take the head coaching position at Wellborn in 2009 was nearer and dearer to his heart. The Hill was home for the 1986 Wellborn alum, and the Panthers were coming off backto-back 1-9 finishes.

Three seasons later, he’s pulled off yet another extreme makeover, high school football edition. Following an 8-4 season

this past fall during which the Panthers won their first playoff game since 1995 while coping with the tragic death of senior Aaron “Toosmith tie” Harris, local coaches named Smith The Star’s Class 3A Calhoun County Coach of the Year.

“I just wanted our former players to be proud of our team,” Smith said. “When they come out every Friday night, I wanted them to be proud of the team coming out on the field. Putting on that black helmet and black jersey meant a lot to me, and I’m sure it does to them.”

Progress has been steady since Smith arrived. In his first season, the Panthers had a losing record but reached the playoffs with four region victories. The past two years, they’ve

defeated Marbury in their Class 3A, Region 3 finale to reach the playoffs. Their 6-5 finish in 2010 marked the first time they’d posted a winning record since 2006. This year’s senior class finished with an 18-16 record in three seasons.

“We went to work getting them to work hard, to be disciplined and to be accountable,” Smith said. “Those things, along with getting them to be highcharacter guys, happened at Wellborn faster than it did at Ohatchee and Hueytown.”

Next season, the Panthers will drop down to Class 2A, escaping a brutal region schedule that included Handley and Leeds, state champions three of the past four seasons, and perennial power Clay County.

“It might not happen next year or in two years,” Smith said “But our next goal is to play for a state championship.”

Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. Follow him on Twitter @birds_word.

bios Dillon Terry

Piedmont Jr. 6-0, 165 K Parents: Greg and Vanessa Terry THE STATS Terry nailed 42 of 46 extra-point attempts and connected on 5 of 8 field goals, including a long of 35 yards.

Landon Pruitt Piedmont Sr. 5-9, 165 DB Parents: Tim and Revonda Pruitt THE STATS

Pruitt had eight pass breakups, two INTs and 64 tackles.

Jamie Major Piedmont Jr. 6-1, 212 DB Parents: Marie Webb THE STATS

Major, already a two-time MaxPreps All-American, was third on the team with 98 tackles.

He had 760 yards rushing.

Sloan Garner Piedmont Sr. 6-7, 185 WR Parents: April Doss and Dewayne Garner THE STATS

Garner pulled in 36 catches for 597 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Honorable Mentions: Wellborn-Landon McChristie, Kevin Mixon, O.J. Pilot, James Dunn, A.J. Files, Jeramiah Farmer, Deontae Sturkie; Weaver-Tray Moore, Kalem Lawrence, Daniel Wilson, Jonathon Jones, Chris Troge, Phillip Peavy; White PlainsZach Burgess, David Gomez, Roderick Young, Dale Reddick; Piedmont-Chazz Gamble, Casey Moore, Collin Bradley, Laphonso Burroughs, Cade Bradley, Jaylan Johnson, Exavyer Johnson; Saks-Xavier Morgan, Marquis Townsend, Cordarius Cooper, Tre Smith, Josh Wilson, Mason McCune, Rashard Wiliams, Xavier Dennard.

Page 4E Sunday, January 15, 2012

bios Troymaine Pope

Anniston Sr. 5-9, 201 RB Parents: Tracey Pope and Fredrick Pope THE STATS Pope led the state in rushing with 2,539 yards and 31 TD on 241 carries.

Dontavius Blair Anniston Sr. 6-7, 280 OL Parents: Kim Blair and Lorenzo Swink THE STATS The big left tackle had a nearly flawless senior season, grading out at 93 percent on the year.

Trae Elston

Oxford Sr. 6-0, 187 ATH Parents: Shellah Elston THE STATS Elston hauled in 756 yards and 10 TDs while logging 106 tackles and seven INTs.

Josh Staples Jacksonville Sr. 5-8, 150 P Parents: Derek and Julie Staples THE STATS Staples excelled when taking over punting midseason.

Coty Spurling

Oxford Sr. 5-11, 180 WR Parents: Deborah Spurling THE STATS Spurling led Oxford with 55 catches for 909 yards and nine touchdowns.

Jackson Stephens

Oxford Sr. 6-4, 200 QB Parents: Jay and Tara Stephens THE STATS Stephens completing 185 of 347 passing attempts for 2,986 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Monte Bass Oxford Sr. 5-8, 168 DB Parents: Erica Chaney and Ramone Bass THE STATS Bass ended up with 52 tackles and four INTs.

Jarline Lee

Alexandria Jr. 5-7, 175 RB Parents: John Lee, Tangie Harris, Will Harris THE STATS Lee rushed for 1,945 yards and 27 TDs on 304 carries.

Taylor Watts

Alexandria Jr. 6-2, 245 OL Parents: Steve Watts and Angela Rogers THE STATS The two-year starter graded out at 92 percent.

Dominique Williams Oxford Sr. 6-2, 189 WR Parents: Kelvin and Soretta Williams THE STATS Williams had 39 catches for 515 yards and four TDs.

Ulric Jones

Oxford Jr. 6-7, 256 DL Parents: Sheldon and Shakira Jones THE STATS Jones had a breakout season with 51 tackles, five for loss and three sacks.

Trent Simpson

Oxford Jr. 6-5, 240 DL Parents: Mike and Dawn Simpson THE STATS Simpson was the Yellow Jackets’ most productive defensive lineman with 52 tackles, including nine for loss. and seven sacks.

The Anniston Star

class 4a-6a

▶ player of the year | Troymaine Pope, Anniston

Cordero Little Jacksonville Sr. 6-0, 198 RB Parents: Kimberly Little THE STATS Little played in nine games but still managed to rush for 938 yards and 11 TDs.

Coryell Elston Jacksonville Sr. 5-11, 220 DL Parents: Shujuanna Elston THE STATS Elston had 63 tackles and two sacks.

Tyler Ross

Jacksonville Sr. 6-2, 185 WR Parents: Willie and Caroline Ross THE STATS Ross used his speed to average more than 13 yards per catch.

Chance Smitherman Alexandria Jr. 6-1, 170 LB Parents: Rhonda and Rodney Smitherman THE STATS Smitherman had 74.5 tackles to lead all Valley Cub linebackers.

Wes Caldwell

Oxford So. 5-8, 185 LB Parents: Wayne and Sharon Caldwell THE STATS Caldwell made a name for himself with 119 tackles.

Calvin Baker

Oxford Sr. 6-3, 285 OL Parents: Wesley and Angie Baker THE STATS Baker graded out at 84 percent to go along with 36 pancakes.

Roderick Burke

Anniston Jr. 5-9, 230 DL Parents: Tawanda Jackson and Roderick Burke THE STATS Burke finished with 102 tackles, including nine for loss and three sacks.

Trent Penny/The Anniston Star/File

Anniston running back Troymaine Pope runs through the Jacksonville defense on his way to a long touchdown run against the Golden Eagles.

dynomite

Anniston’s Pope leads state with 2,500 yards

By Bran Strickland

garnered him a scholarship offer from Jacksonville State with a host of other schools interested It was about the shoes. It’s in his services. always about the shoes.

For Pope, he said, the gloves But as Troymaine Pope looked were fate with fingers. Playing at that perfect pair of kicks on around while running the ball at Nike.com, the Anniston running practice, he’d always say ‘boom’ back found something not even whenever contact was made. the rarest pair of Air Jordan could But more than that, Pope said of do for his game: serve as a perfect his style of running, he always punctuation mark. strives to be the person that “I saw them gloves, and I just brings the boom. had to have them,” he said.

“I don’t want to take contact,” Playing off a pose Alabama he said. “When I have to hit Heisman Trophy-winning runsomebody, I want to be the one ning back Mark Ingram made giving the contact.” famous (with a different design) At 5-foot-9 and a hair more — hands together, outstretched than 200 pounds, Pope’s stocky with palms out — the mitts build and low center of gravmade the statement Pope had ity makes him a handful for been made all last season with would-be tacklers — being quick 30 touchdowns. enough to get to him and then Right hand: B-O quick enough to get low enough Left hand: O-M in the process.

Pope went BOOM alright.

But his natural build isn’t the The Anniston senior led the state “God-given ability” that he attriin rushing with 2,539 yards and butes as the key to his success.

31 touchdowns on 241 carries He calls it his vision.

(10.5 yards per carry).

“You have to see the hole and For his efforts, he was voted the field,” he said, “and trust your The Star’s Class 4A-6A Player of line and be patient enough to the Year. His efforts have also wait for it open up.” bstrickland@annistonstar.com

And when it does, that’s when Pope becomes the most deadly.

He doesn’t always need a hole to break off a big gain — his ability to change direction gives him that. When the big hole does come, it basically turns into a footrace. And being electronically timed at a summer combine with 4.6-second, 40-yard dash speed, there were few instances where Pope was run down.

None of those came against Cleburne County on Sept. 2.

Pope finished with 19 carries for 326 yards and all seven of the Bulldogs’ touchdown in a 49-35 win. He scored on runs of 85, 56, 5, 46, 18 and 13 yards. His first touchdown came on a wideopen 30-yard reception.

While Pope found the gloves in the summer and had them in hand for the season opener, he didn’t debut them until that night: the region opener against rival Cleburne County.

“I guess it worked out,” he said. “I was pretty explosive.”

Bran Strickland is the Assistant Managing Editor for The Star. Follow him on Twitter @ bran_strickland.

Chadrick Anderson Anniston Sr. 6-0, 238 OL Parents: Contina Anderson THE STATS Anderson provided solidarity and graded out at 89 percent for the season.

Jamar Jones Anniston Jr. 5-11, 160 DB Parents: Johnny Smith THE STATS Jones led the Bulldogs with seven INTs.

Tyler Burr

Alexandria Sr. 6-1, 170 DB Parents: Kristi Stillwell and Keith Burr THE STATS Burr led the Cubs with 81 tackles, five forced fumbles and three INTs.

Frederick Jordan Anniston Sr. 6-1, 197 LB Parents: Ladreaka Moore and Frederick Jordan, Sr. THE STATS Jordan posted 103 tackles, six for loss.

▶ coach of the year | John Grass, Oxford

Grass planting place in 6A

BY NICK BIRDSONG

7 title after then-regular season leader OXFORD — The pecking Clay-Chalkville order to Alabama’s Class 6A was forced to football is no secret: Hoover and forfeit nine Prattville sit atop the list. games for playThose schoolshave combined ing an inelito win 10 state titles since 2000. gible player.

Prattville owns four state titles They garnered grass and Hoover has six in that span. playoff victoBut Oxford coach John ries against Grass is trying to breakup the Spain Park, Northridge and then monotonous monopoly. He led top-ranked Mountain Brook, in the Yellow Jackets to a magical triple overtime all at home.

12-2 run and a berth in the state In the semifinals, they held a semifinals this past season and 9-0 lead against Hoover before was named The Star’s Class 4Afalling 32-22 on the road to end 6A Calhoun County Coach of the the season.

Year.

And they did all this after one “We just want to be one of of the toughest regular-season those teams that you’re going to schedules in the state. have to go through year in and Grass said the confidence year out in the playoffs to make gained from winning a playoff it through north Alabama,” he game in 2010 and their tough said. non-region schedule primed his In his fourth season at the team to go deep in the playoffs helm, the 16-year veteran coach in 2011. guided the Yellow Jackets to “You’re playing very athletic their most successful season teams, very talented teams,” he ever, playing big-boy football. said. “I think it helps you in a They captured their first Region playoff setting to get to that level nbirdsong@annistonstar.com

that you want to play with the Prattvilles and the Hoovers.

Oxford also overcame a midseason injury to star linebacker Kwon Alexander, rated as the nation’s best at his position by ESPN. The Under Armour AllAmerican went out for the season with a torn ACL in a Week 4.

“You can’t replace a guy like that with one person,” Grass said. “ ... When you lose a guy like that, everyone’s got to step up. You’re offensive production has got to step up. You’re kicking game has got to step up.”

The Yellow Jackets will lose a slew of players from a talented senior class filled with All-American and All-State players. However, Grass said, making their way into the upper-echelon of elite football programs in Class 6A is still within their grasp.

“We’ve just got to continue to do the things we’re doing and building,” he said. “I think our program’s on a solid foundation.

We’re going to be competitive.”

Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. Follow him on Twitter @birds_word.

Denzel Roberts Anniston Sr. 6-2, 195 DB Parents: Cassandra Roberts and Demetric Roberts THE STATS Roberts logged 109 tackles from his free safety slot.

Sean Pettus Oxford Sr. 6-2, 155 K Parents: Neal Pettus THE STATS Connected on 35 extra-point attempts.

bios DeAngelo Thompson Justice Owens Oxford Jr. 5-8, 195 LB Parents: Danielle Thompson THE STATS Thompson was tied with Elston for second on the team in tackles with 106 stops. Also added five tackles for loss and a sack.

Alexandria Jr. 5-10, 165 ATH Parents: April Owens and John Moore THE STATS The speedy Owens rushed for 573 yards and 11 touchdowns on 87 carries and added 18 catches for 267 yards.

Racean Thomas

Oxford So. 5-11, 195 RB Parents: Frank and Ione Thomas THE STATS Thomas led the Yellow Jackets with 1,535 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns on 200 carries.

Michael Flint

Oxford Sr. 6-3, 297 OL Parents: Trisha Fowler and Roger Flint THE STATS Flint graded out at 85 percent, had 48 pancake blocks and allowed one sack.

Honorable Mentions: Anniston-Shaquale Ashford, Lafayette Ragland, Isaiah Riggins; Alexandria- Chance Heath, Zach Harper

11A all-area

The Anniston Star bios Bradley Bozeman Handley Jr. 6-4, 325 OL Parents: Barry and JoeAnne Bozeman THE STATS Bozeman led his team to a 15-0 record and a Class 3A state title.

Curt Brown

Woodland Sr. 5-10, 180 WR Parents: Chad and Debi Brown THE STATS Had 37 catches for 758 yards and 11 touchdowns.

DeAndre Wills

Clay County So. 6-3, 220 DL Parents: James Wills and Angela Simmons THE STATS Had 55 tackles, 10 for loss, and one sack.

Joseph Meek Clay County Sr. 6-1, 210 OL Parents: Terry and Caroline Meek THE STATS Anchored the Panthers’ line for the past two seasons.

Jamari Staples Clay County Jr. 6-4, 175 DB Parents: Dedrick and Jeanene Keith THE STATS Had a team-best nine interceptions and four pass breakups.

Demetrius Lindsey

Lineville Sr. 5-11, 170 QB Parents: Darlene and Regis Lindsey THE STATS Was 98 of 172 in passing attempts for 1,391 yards and 12 TDs. He also rushed for 1,047 yards.

Steven Henry Lineville Sr. 6-5, 214 DL Parents: Dainne Henry and James Henry THE STATS Henry had 63 tackles, including 56 solo, 16 for loss.

Trevon Bell Lineville Sr. 5-10, 200 OL Parents: Bobby Carter and Raquel Carter THE STATS Had 68 tackles, including 62 solos, nine for loss and four sacks.

Jamario Lyles

Shawncey Simmons

Clay County Sr. 6-1, 175 ATH Parents: Bessie Simmons and Jarry Garrett THE STATS Simmons had 17 rushing touchdowns and 1,086 yards on 151 carries.

He also completed 49 of 106 passes for 889 yards 10 TDs.

Jayland Ackles

Clay County Sr. 6-1, 278 OL Parents: Martin Ackles and Regina Thomas THE STATS The big burly lineman helped pave the way for Clay County’s offense.

Devin Gaddis

Clay County Jr. 5-8, 165 DB Parents: Sonia and Anthony Gaddis THE STATS Gaddis held his own with five interceptions and two pass breakups to go along with 34 tackles and a forced fumble.

Breyon Deberry Handley Sr. 5-8, 185 RB Parents: Wilma Williams THE STATS Led the Tigers with an 8.17 yards per carry average. Gained 1,144 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on 140 carries.

Chris Dillard

Handley Sr. 5-8, 190 LB Parents: William and Daffie Dillard THE STATS Dillard led the Tigers with 192 tackles.

Quay Hunter

Handley Sr. 5-10, 175 DB Parents: Beverly Hunter THE STATS Hunter was the Tigers’ leading rusher with 1,272 yards and 16 touchdowns on 168 carries.

Alex Lee

Cleburne County Sr. 6-3, 200 TE Parents: Eric and Rebecca Lee THE STATS The big target caught 18 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns.

Rocky Hayes

Lineville Jr. 5-9, 175 LB Parents: Pamela Lyles THE STATS Lineville’s leading tackler with 88 stops, including 78 solos and four for loss.

Cleburne County Sr. 6-0, 173 ATH Parents: Willie Hayes and Renee Hayes THE STATS Hayes rushed for 1,312 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 217 yards.

Lamar Jones

Tyrone Cosby

Clay County Sr. 5-11, 177 RB Parents: Lamarcus and Rita Jones THE STATS Jones rushed for 1,304 yards and 16 touchdowns on 143 carries.

Al Davis

Lineville Jr. 5-10, 171 WR Parents: Adrian and Vicky Odem THE STATS Cosby snagged 45 passes for 850 yards and nine TDs.

Michael Howard

Woodland Jr. 6-5, 250 OL Parents: Dan Davis and Carrie Davis THE STATS Davis could be a college signee next year, having already received interest from several schools.

Woodland Jr. 5-10, 210 RB Parents: Mary Jane and David Howard THE STATS Howard, a transfer from Clay County, had 1,602 yards and 19 touchdowns

Alan Taylor

T.J. Truss

Cleburne County Jr. 6-5, 245 OL Parents: Johnnie and Sharon Taylor THE STATS Taylor graded out at around 88 percent.

Colton McManus Woodland Sr. 6-0, 163 K Parents: Gayle and Allen McManus THE STATS McManus nailed 37 of 38 point after tries and all three of his field goal attempts.

Lincoln Sr. 6-1, 180 DB Parents: Shenevelyn Truss THE STATS Truss nabbed one interception and was a decent run stopper as well with 34 tackles.

David Dake

Ranburne Sr. 5-9, 205 DL Parents: Hollie and Robbie Char THE STATS Dake had 61 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.

Sunday, January 15, 2012 Page 5E

▶ player of the year | Bradley Bozeman, Handley

Even bigger Handley’s Bozeman takes home another accolade

By Robert Bozeman rbozeman@annistonstar.com

Handley lineman Bradley Bozeman has a list of accomplishments as long as his arm.

And that’s an even more considerable achievement given his massive size. Now it’s time to add another: The Star’s 2011 Area Football Player of the Year.

“Brad is a team player, make no mistake about that,” said Handley coach Mike Battles.

“Any individual honor he got, he knows that the whole team had a part in it.

“He’s anchored our offensive line even since playing for us as a ninth-grader, a 10th-grader and a junior, and we’ve still got another year to go. He’s really been just a rock out there on offense.”

Bozeman, the 6-foot-4 lineman, was the first 2013 commitment to Alabama, in addition to helping Handley win its first state championship, finishing with an undefeated 15-0 record.

He recorded more than 60 pancake blocks this year and added 51 tackles and three sacks on defense. He was one of 24 finalists nominated for the state’s Mr. Football award.

Oh, and he’s still only a junior.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Bozeman said about winning The Star’s 2011 Area Football Player of the Year. “Hopefully, things will follow in that path.”

Bozeman said he’s still working hard and focusing on high school life, despite all his accomplishments and accolades so far.

“If you want to be the best, you got to keep working like the best,” he said. “Keep working and running and doing your agilities.”

Battles, a veteran coach of 38 years, seconded that thought, citing Bozeman’s work ethic.

“He’s one of those guys that is the first one to practice, last one to leave,” he said. “He goes his hardest. Every drill, everything, he just thinks everything is important.”

Battles led Handley to its first state title this year, beating Madison Academy 20-14 in the AHSAA Class 3A state final at the Super 6. Battles won his first state title with Irwin County (Ga.) in 1975.

Bozeman had eight tackles in the Super 6 against Madison Academy.

Handley’s last opportunity came in 1977 in a 17-16 loss

Stephen Gross/The Anniston Star/File

Bradley Bozeman (78) has used his large frame to anchor Handley’s offensive line since his ninth-grade season. to Stevenson. Bozeman’s dad, Barry, was a lineman on that Handley team.

“My dad, he’s on the sidelines every game,” Bradley Bozeman said. “If I’m not doing it right, I’m going to hear about it, no doubt about it. And if I do good, I’ll hear it, too. He’s been a big push in my life.”

Bozeman said he first realized he could be a college football player after his ninth-grade year when he got invited to attend the ’09 A-Day game in Tuscaloosa.

“It’s been a really big dream in my life, and I always wanted to do it,” Bozeman said of playing for Alabama. “My dream came true. I’m very blessed.”

This past year, the Tigers averaged 310.4 rushing yards per game. Bozeman’s hard work up front at right tackle helped open

up the holes necessary to power Handley’s running attack. Handley featured two 1,000-plus-yard rushers in Quay Hunter and Breyon Deberry.

Battles called Bozeman one of the best offensive linemen he’s coached in his long career.

“With practice, we demand a lot, and he knows what’s expected,” said Battles. “It’s one of those things where he’s going to go out there and do the absolute best job that he can do, because he expects it of himself and we expect it of him.

“He’s got all the tools. He’s got the size, he’s got the feet, he’s got the desire, he’s got the aggression already built in, and he’s very smart. ... You can’t fool him.”

Bobby Bozeman is a staff writer for the Star.

“He’s one of those guys that is the first one to practice, last one to leave.”

— Handley coach Mike Battles on lineman Bradley Bozeman

▶ coach of the year | Charlie Dampeer, Lincoln

Dampeer turns it around

BY NICK BIRDSONG

“R” word. “I don’t know nbirdsong@annistonstar.com what you’re Everyone knows the choice supposed four and five-letter words that to rebuild shouldn’t be a part of their pro— the players? fessional vocabulary.

Seniors want Charlie Dampeer has a 10to win right letter word that he prefers not to now. They utter — rebuilding. can’t wait until dampeer The 29-year veteran doesn’t next year. That believe in the term and his track doesn’t make record is proof he doesn’t live it sense to me.” either.

But Dampeer didn’t take the A year after winning only one Golden Bears from ashy to classy game, the Mississippi native led in a matter of months with pop Lincoln to a 7-5 record and an psychology or Knute Rockness appearance in the second-round pep talks about pride and pasof the playoffs a year after the sion.

Golden Bears posted an abysmal “Understanding scheme and 1-9 mark. Dampeer, brought in getting players in the right posilast June, did so without the ben- tion is 95 percent of it,” Dampeer efit of guiding his team through said. “I think that motivation spring training like most new stuff is overrated. The lights hires. come on, people are in the For his efforts, Dampeer has stands and the band’s playing been named The Star’s 2011 Area every Friday night. If that doesn’t Football Coach of the Year. motivate them, what can I do?”

“I don’t think anybody even But there will be no curtain likes that when they say it,” call for Dampeer. He resigned Dampeer said of the dreaded from his position this past Mon-

day to move back to his home state to tend to his aging father, also named Charles, who’s Alzheimer’s has worsened in recent months.

It’s a decision he’d been contemplating for months and had spoken with Lincoln principal Terry Roller before Christmas.

“I’m the only male in my family,” he said. “He lives in a nursing home. My sister’s live far away.

I’ve got to be there. It’s just the right thing to do.”

Dampeer made the decision to come to Alabama to be closer to his son Brooks, an assistant at Pell City. Family drove him back to northeast Mississippi. Coaching football again came along afterward.

He’s accepted a position McNairy Central. Coincidentally, the Bobcats went 2-8 last season.

“I had to take on this responsibility,” he said. “That came before the job.”

Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3575. Follow him on Twitter @birds_word.

The Anniston Star

Page 6E Sunday, January 15, 2012

Bradley Bozeman Handley

Trae Elston Oxford

Dandy Dozen The Star’s

2011

Troymaine Pope Anniston

Coty Spurling Oxford

Rocky Hayes Cleburne County

Shawncey Simmons Clay County

Jarline Lee Alexandria

Dontavious Blair Anniston

Jackson Stephens Oxford

Michael Flint Oxford Jamie Major Piedmont

Chris Dillard Handley