2021 Franklin County Football

FRANKLIN COUNTY

FOOTBALL 2021

Good Luck Golden Tigers!

Working to improve our schools and the future of our children.

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Brooke Goar, M.D. 2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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STAFF EDITORIAL Alison James María Camp CONTRIBUTORS Bart Moss Brannon King SALES Shelley Ozbirn CUSTOMER SERVICE Sommer Morris

_______________ Franklin County Football is published annually by Franklin County Newspapers Inc., part of Tennessee Valley Media.

Copyright 2021 by Franklin County Newspapers Inc. P.O. Box 1088 Russellville, AL 35653 256-332-1881 www.franklincountytimes.com

CONTENTS 5 RUSSELLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 12 RED BAY HIGH SCHOOL 18 VINA HIGH SCHOOL 21 THARPTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 24 CAN’T-MISS GAMES OF 2021 25 PHIL CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL 30 ALL TEAMS SCHEDULE

ON THE COVER: Seniors Nathan Brockway, tight end, and Boots McCulloch, running back, will key to the Golden Tigers’ football program this season.

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP

Wishing All Franklin County Football Teams a Great Season!

Elected to Serve Dedicated to Excellence L to R: Chris Wallace, Jason Miller, Joseph Baldwin, David HesterSeated Barry Moore, Chairman and Probate Judge

Franklin County Commission

RUSSELLVILLE GOLDEN TIGERS

GOLDEN TIGERS LOOK TO BUILD ON REGION AND PLAY-OFF SUCCESS

T

he Russellville Golden Tigers are entering the 2021 season as defending Class 5A, Region 8 champions. RHS defeated Fairfield and Leeds in the playoffs this past season for the school’s first post-season victories since 2016. John Ritter is entering his fourth season as head coach of the Golden Tigers, and he has an onfield record of 26-7 at RHS. Q: How has the summer preparation for the 2021 season gone?

A: It’s been a great summer, and we’ve had outstanding attendance.

Anytime you lose a big senior class, there’s always that transition period of establishing the new leaders, and guys who might have been part-time leaders last year are full-time leaders this year.

That is really what summer is all about to me – establishing that leadership.

Q: Going into your fourth year at RHS, are you pleased with the growth and identity of the football program?

A: Yes, I think it speaks volumes that we had 92 on the team last year, and we have 85 on the team this year, and that was after graduating a class of almost 30. I think the numbers game speaks for itself. We are excited about the potential we have. We’re replacing a lot of guys defensively, but we’re replacing them with guys that have been in our system – some of them for four years, some of them for three years and some of them for two years – so they know what we expect, and they know how we do things. Now, it’s more about just fine-tuning, more than it is establishing that culture.

Q: How big was it to win the region and a couple of play-off games this past season? Is that something to build on?

A: I think it speaks to the foundation that we laid. Years one and two were about establishing the culture we want

to have and establishing our style of football, which is a little bit different than a lot of people. We want to play a rough, physical style on both sides of the ball, and I think it took three years to groom that into them. That’s really what you expect when you take a new job – in that third year, seeing that foundation of years one and two, and the fourth is a builder on year three.

I think our guys know what we expect and how we expect to play, and it’s just about getting people into the right spot and continuing to play at a high level.

Q: The defense lost a lot of experience to graduation. Which players will be trying to fill those roles?

A: At linebacker, Gavin Slay has played over 300 snaps for us over the past two years. While he hasn’t been a starter, he has played in almost every game and started some games as a sophomore and as a junior. He leads that linebacker corps with some senior experience. Karson Hyde is another senior who has played a lot, just hasn’t been a starter. Then, you throw in some youth with Nick Pounders, Devin Green and Martin Tomas to round out that linebacker group. We moved Banks Langston to corner, and he’s a guy that played in 11 games for us last year. Conner Warhurst has played safety in play-off games and in a lot of big-time moments. We’ve flipped him over from offense to be a full-time starter on defense. Emitt Green is another guy, and then Goose Thorpe – all of those guys have played, they just haven’t started.

Obviously, starting is different, but we have experience – we just don’t have starting experience. Defensive line is our inexperienced area because we’re going to start three guys who haven’t played a lot of snaps, but they’ve got a lot of ability. Jerrin Jackson is leading that group with Dallan Montgomery, who wasn’t with us last year but is this year, and they are going to

JOHN RITTER Head Coach

be expected to do a lot of things. Junior Baltazar and Eric Hernandez are rounding out that group, who we expect to play a lot of snaps.

Q: Who are some of the leaders and players to watch for on the offensive side?

A: We’ve got Boots McCulloch, our quarterback Gabe Amick, Nathan Brockway, Seth Franks and TJ King back, so we’ve got five starters who played in every ballgame and have played in a bunch of ballgames over two years. Taylor Crumpton is a guy at wideout who is going to play a lot more snaps than he has and has a ton of ability. We expect him to have a monster year because TJ is going to get a lot of attention on the other side. Warhurst will split some time at tailback too. So, you throw Amick into the mix, who started seven games for us last year to end the season, and we’ve got a lot of experience.

Grayson Murray is back at tight tackle, and Tilmon Baker played in three or four games at tight end for us last year.

Q&A by Brannon King / Photos contributed by Joseph Romans Photography.

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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RUSSELLVILLE GOLDEN TIGERS 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 19 Aug. 27 Sept. 3 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29

Decatur Deshler Mae Jemison* Brewer* Lawrence County* Hartselle Ardmore* (Open) East Limestone Lee-Huntsville* Madison Academy

*Denotes Region game

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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No. 1 TJ King

No. 3 Micco Selosa

No. 4 Boots McCulloch

No. 5 Jeremy Winston

No. 6 Conner Warhurst

No. 8 Gavin Slay

No. 9 Grayson Thorpe

No. 10 Carson Mele

No. 11 Gabe Amick

No. 12 Brock Reatherford

No. 13 Nicholas McSpadden

No. 14 Emitt Green

No. 15 Zaye Egglestone

No. 16 Ashton Boyd

No. 17 Nathan Brockway

No. 18 Jai Smith

No. 19 Ty Willis

No. 20 Martin Tomas

No. 21 Bralynn Vincent

No. 22 Michael Scofield

No. 23 Nicklaus Pounders

No. 24 Elliott Green

No. 25 Jah Williams

No. 26 Demontae Thornton

No. 27 Paxton Wray

No. 28 Taylor Crumpton

No. 29 Manny Martinez

No. 30 Karson Hyde

No. 31 Malachi Duncan

No. 32 Brennon Thorpe

No. 33 Aiden Marsh

No. 34 Nate Medley

No. 35 Joshua Reed

No. 36 Reece Carson

No. 37 Brayden Hill

No. 38 Cahlese Phillips

No. 40 River Richardson

No. 42 Tilmon Baker

No. 43 Shiloh Willis

No. 46 Yahir Salagado

No. 49 Matthew James

No. 50 Devin Green

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

No. 51 Jerome Jackson

No. 52 Juan Hernandez

No. 53 Juan Baltazar Jr.

No. 55 JC Cummings

No. 56 Gabe Herrera

No. 58 Devin Jones

No. 59 Bryan Ruiz

No. 60 Dallan Montgomery

No. 61 Maddux Parker

No. 62 Talton Hamilton

No. 63 Jerrin Jackson

No. 64 Kenwon Belue

No. 65 Seth Franks

No. 67 Jeramiah West

No. 66 Andrew McReynolds

No. 68 Weston Jackson

No. 69 Reed Hamilton

No. 70 Joshua Lindsey

No. 71 Emilio Diego

No. 72 Neyland Baker

No. 73 Eric Hernandez

No. 74 Logan Lindsey

No. 75 Conner Byars

No. 76 Hank Cartee

No. 77 Grayson Murray

No. 78 Gabrian Adcox-Wilson

No. 79 Fernado Acosto

No. 81 Ayden Boyd

No. 84 Javan Poss

No. 85 Gavin Hyde NOT PICTURED: No. 7 Banks Langston No. 54 Tait Barnes No. 57 Eddie Velasquez No. 82 Cade Parker No. 83 Edwin Jimenez No. 86 Louis Aquirre

No. 88 Richard Scott

No. 89 Conner Franks

No. 99 Javonte Hill

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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RUSSELLVILLE GOLDEN TIGERS

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

RUSSELLVILLE GOLDEN TIGERS

Russellville Golden Tiger cheerleaders are captain Ella Burcham, co-captain Tori Tiffin, Madeline Cooper, Sophie Hill, Emily Gipson, Silvie Miller, Sarah Morgan, Keslie Allen, Hailey Mitchell as Champ, Caylin Pinkard, Stella Hill, Maggie Bishop, Danica Graham, Chloe Sheffield, Kinsley Palmer and Annie Willis.

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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RED BAY TIGERS

TIGERS FACE 2021 UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

H

eath Childers enters his eighth year as a head coach and his first year as the Red Bay High School football coach. Red Bay competes in Class 2A, and the Tigers’ region opponents are Tharptown, Sheffield, Mars Hill, Lexington, Colbert County and Hatton.

Q: What have you learned from your head coaching experience that you think has made you a better coach?

A: One of the biggest things I’ve learned through years is things are never as bad as you think – and they are never as good, either. It is an important lesson to learn.If you think things are bad, you might over-coach and wear players and coaches out. If you think everything is great, you might grow complacent and lose your focus. The right balance keeps one from overreacting and under-reacting.

Q: What makes a good high school football team?

A: One, you need good players – not great athletes, necessarily, but good players. You need hard-working and selfless players. You also need good assistant coaches. Assistant coaches can make or break a head football coach. If you don’t have good help, it will put you behind the eight ball. You also need good team chemistry. Players and coaches need to all get along and understand we are all working toward one common goal. We all want to represent the football program in the right way.

Q: On the individual level, what makes a good high school football player?

A: A selfless individual that can be coached and is tough. You take a play-

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

er like that, and it equals a winner.

Football is a tough sport for tough guys.If you can put 11 of those guys on the field, you have a chance to be successful.

Q: Who has shown leadership for your team this summer and how?

A: I don’t really want to single out anyone right now. We have some guys who have really stood out, but they need to keep working. I want us to focus on being a team right now. The leadership will emerge in time.

Q: What are you looking for out of your offense this season? And who should fans keep an eye on?

A: Fans need to be patient. I know that’s asking a lot; this is an athletically-driven town. I think people can expect improvement every week.

That is what I expect. I pride myself on my offense’s improvement every week. My goal as a head coach is for us to improve each day. If we are improving, that means we are still fighting and making progress.

Q: What are you looking for out of your defense this season? And who should fans keep an eye on?

A: Again, the same thing. Improvement. Understanding the system and learning the system.

Q: What is the one intangible you are looking for in this team as you approach the new season?

A: Toughness. We want to be a tough and hard-nosed football team.

We want a roll-up-sleeve and lunch pail mentality. We are a blue collar county and blue collar town. Everybody can rally around that.

Q&A by Bart Moss / Photos contributed by Scotty Kennedy Photography.

HEATH CHILDERS Head Coach

Red Bay Tigers and To All Area Teams…

Have A Great Season!

Good Luck Red Bay Tigers!! 2020

City of Red Bay 203 4th Ave. SE Red Bay, AL 256 356 4473 256-356-4473 www.cityofredbay.org

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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No. 3 Brady Bolton

No. 4 Elijah Luster

No. 5 Kyler Watson

No. 6 Nathon Elrod

No. 7 Holdin Inman

No. 9 Eli Ferris

No. 11 Aiden Quinn

No. 13 Noah Hester

No. 15 Gage Edgmon

No. 17 Cody Carns

No. 18 Conner McNeil

No. 19 Brady Hardin

No. 21 Owen Terry

No. 22 Colby Jackson

No. 24

No. 26 Blake Nix

No. 27 Braiden Holcombe

No. 50 Will Weeks

No. 54 Levi Blanton

No. 56 Will West

No. 60 Aiden Vincent

No. 61 Dalton Faulkner

No. 64 Jack West

No. 66

NOT PICTURED:

No. 68 Andrew Massey

No. 74 Jacob Dillingham

No. 77

Good Luck Red Bay Tigers & To All Area Teams!

No. 88 Kadin Blansett

No. 2 Keeton Lanphere No. 8 Adam Rooker No. 10 Conner Humphries No. 12 Jeremiah Robinson No. 14 Breylan Holland No. 51 Wesley Faulkner No. 65 Rilen Wilson

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office “Working Hard to Keep Your Home Safe”

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Bill Weatherford R.Ph

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Sheriff’s Office 256-332-8811

Sheriff Shannon Oliver

Fax: 256-356-4045

Dispatch-24hr 256-332-8820

925 Golden Rd. NW, Red Bay, AL 35582 Email: redbaypharmacy811@att.net

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

RED BAY TIGERS 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 20 Aug. 27 Sept. 3 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29

Hamilton (Open) Lexington* (Open) Tharptown* Belmont Sheffield* Hatton* Mars Hill* Colbert County* Fayette County

Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away

*Denotes Region game

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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RED BAY TIGERS

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

RED BAY TIGERS

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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VINA RED DEVILS

VINA TARGETS GROWTH FOR FOOTBALL PROGRAM

L

uke Childers enters his fifth year as the Vina High School football coach. The Red Devils’ region includes Shoals Christian, Decatur Heritage, Waterloo, R.A. Hubbard, Cherokee, Hackleburg and Phillips.

Q: What have you learned from your head coaching experience that you think has made you a better coach?

A: Make sure each player knows how much you care about them and how excited you are that they are playing football.

Q: What makes a good high school football team?

A: All the kids wanting to win, believing in each other and putting the team before themselves.

Q: On the individual level, what makes a good high school football player?

A: Someone who will do whatever it takes to make the team better. A kid who shows up for summer workouts and makes sure other kids have a ride. A kids who is excited to play no matter the position he plays on the football field.

Q: Who has shown leadership for your team this summer and how?

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

A: I have two players who have shown up all summer and never complained once about conditioning or the workout we were doing. Those two players are Donald Garrett and Nate Stidham.

Q: What are you looking for out of your offense this season?

A: I’m looking for the offensive line to be what anchors the offense. If the offensive line can block, then we will move the ball and score some points.

Who should fans keep an eye on? The entire offensive line.

Q: What are you looking for out of your defense this season?

A: We struggled last year stopping the pass. So, I’m really hoping summer practice and the spring has helped us improve on pass coverage.

I also want to see us be more physical and have 11 kids running toward the ball and not taking plays off. Fans should keep an eye on our linebackers, Nate Stidham, Hunter Griffith and Trevor Baker; if they can make tackles and be physical, we will be a much better football team.

Q: What is the one intangible you are looking for in this team as you approach the new season?

A: Stick together all season and have confidence in each other.

LUKE CHILDERS Head Coach

VINA RED DEVILS 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 27

Marion County

Home

Sept. 3

Shoals Christian*

Away

Sept. 9

Decatur Heritage*

Away

Sept. 17

Waterloo*

Home

Sept. 24

Lynn

Home

Oct. 1

R.A. Hubbard*

Away

Oct. 8

Cherokee*

Away

Oct. 15

Hackleburg*

Home

Oct. 22

Phillips*

Home

Oct. 29

Tharptown

Away

*Denotes Region game

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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No. 2 Conner Davidson

No. 10 Cai Lawler

No. 11 Hunter Griffith

No. 17 Christian Purser

No. 19 Wyatt Kennedy

No. 21 Nate Stidham

No. 24 Manny Alatriste

No. 30 Malachi Fletcher

No. 42 Kevin Corado

No. 54 Trenton Alack

No. 55 Jason Eddins

No. 57 Buford Watson

No. 62 Trevor Baker

No. 65 Tristen Martello

No. 74 Cayden Lawler

Good Luck To All Of Our Local Teams!

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Good Luck Vina Red Devils

No. 75 Chris Blevins

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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THARPTOWN WILDCATS

THS TARGETS BUILDING ON FOUR-WIN SEASON

K

evin Lacey enters his sixth year as the Tharptown High School football coach. The Wildcats play in a region with Colbert County, Lexington, Red Bay, Sheffield, Hatton and Mars Hill.

Q: What have you learned from your head coaching experience that you think has made you a better coach?

A: Each year every team is different. Assess and work to master that group’s strengths while working to build off of those. Earlier in my coaching career, it was easy to get caught up in the possibilities of what could be done offensively/defensively – versus now, I just look at what our guys do well and put 99 percent of our time into just that.

Q: What makes a good high school football team?

A: An unselfish group of guys who buy into a common goal and work every day to better themselves individually, which leads to collective development. Goals are achieved or hurdles are presented that the team knows they will tackle together.

Q: On the individual level, what makes a good high school football player?

A: A good high school football player is a selfless guy who will block harder than he’s ever blocked so a guy that gets more carries than him can score a touchdown or a guy who fights as hard as he can to get through a block so the guy behind him can make the tackle. Eleven guys on each side of the ball with this mentality screams success.

Q: Who has shown leadership for your team this summer and how?

A: Senior Tyler Amos. Since seventh grade he has shown up every summer, every day, with a positive attitude, and this summer was no different. He does things the right way all the time and puts the team before himself. Subconsciously, the team feeds off of him and his quiet leadership style.

Q: What are you looking for out of your offense this season, and who should fans keep an eye on?

A: A hard-nose, hit-you-in-themouth style of offense. Sophomore Dawson Higgins will be our feature back, while senior Blake Daily and sophomore Dylan Dolley will carry the heavy load with their more “power” running styles.

KEVIN LACEY Head Coach

Q: What are you looking for out of your defense this season, and who should fans keep an eye on?

A: With seven starters returning, we are excited about building on the physical style defense our guys displayed this past season. Senior linebacker Blake Daily, senior defensive end Tyler Amos and sophomore Dawson Higgins were all at the top of the stat sheet a year ago, and we look forward to seeing these guys’ progression a year later.

Q: What is the one intangible you are looking for in this team as you approach the new season?

A: Confidence. Coming off a fourwin season. we are having to replace some key positions on offense and defense, but we have some very capable guys who are showing promise. There is a lot of buzz within the program, and we are looking at this group of seniors to lead with the confidence it takes to build off of what the group did a year ago.

Q&A and photos by Bart Moss.

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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THARPTOWN WILDCATS 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 20

Shoals Christian

Away

Aug. 27

Phillips

Away

Sept. 3

Colbert County*

Home

Sept. 10

Lexington*

Away

Sept. 17

Red Bay*

Away

Sept. 24

Cherokee

Home

Oct. 1

(Open)

Oct. 8

Sheffield*

Home

Oct. 15

Hatton*

Away

Oct. 22

Mars Hill*

Home

Oct. 29

Vina

Home

*Denotes Region game

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

No. 1 Connor Crowe

No. 2 Xavier Hubbard

No. 6 Luis Valdez

No. 7 Nikolas Chaney

No. 8 Hunter Reynolds

No. 9 Jacob Herring

No. 10 Dawson Higgins

No. 14 Adrian Banderas

No. 20 Joel Perez

No. 21 Dylan Dolley

No. 25 Josh Riley

No. 26 Ethan Clark

No. 30 Dawson Brown

No. 38 Blake Dailey

No. 50 Jacob Pointer

No. 52 Noah Capelton

No. 53 Austin Sutton

No. 55 Gabe Compton

No. 62 Carron Sears

No. 65 Christian Vasquez

No. 68 Tyler Amos

No. 70 Dekaiden Clark

No. 72 Shawn Lane

No. 74 Landon McClellan

No. 78 Bryson Poss

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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CAN’T-MISS GAMES OF 2021 Aug. 20 – Red Bay hosts Hamilton The Heath Childers era doesn’t get a honeymoon start.

Childers’ Red Bay Tigers open up versus the Hamilton Aggies, a team the Tigers have never beat; well, technically last year was a win for Red Bay, but it was a COVID forfeit game. The last time these two teams actually met on the gridiron was in 1983. Hamilton is 17-0 against the Tigers.

Aug. 20 – Tharptown at Shoals Christian The Tharptown Wildcats need to get their season off to a good start. Tharptown has struggled to get wins in region play, making non-region contests more critical. The Wildcats open their season in Florence at Shoals Christian.

Tharptown is 4-8 historically against the Flame, but the Wildcats have won the Past four meetings. Tharptown beat Shoals this past year 48-14.

Aug. 27 – Russellville hosts Deshler Russellville and Deshler have met 94 times in this old rivalry, and the series is tied, 45-45-4. RHS won in 2018, needing double-overtime, and in 2019 by a 27-21 score in one overtime. The 2020 game went to Russellville because of a pandemic forfeit by Deshler.

Sept. 3 Vina at Shoals Christian Shoals Christian is another early critical win for a county team. Vina meets the Flame in Week Two. The Red Devils are 4-15 historically against the Flame. This past year Vina lost to Shoals 20-8, but the year before the Red Devils beat the Flame 44-12.

Sept. 17 – Tharptown at Red Bay Tharptown and Red Bay has been one of the biggest mismatches in region play in recent years. The Tigers have outscored the Wildcats 402-35, and this past year they won 53-0.

Tharptown is 0-7 against Red Bay. In 2020 the senior-laden Tigers got off to a rough start against the Wildcats, but Red Bay lost 19 seniors. Does this give the Wildcats a chance to get their first region win in Class 2A? Time will tell.

Sept. 24 – Red Bay hosts Belmont Red Bay and Belmont is a classic mid-season rivalry game that brings big crowds for both schools. Red Bay has the edge in the state-line series, 33-21-1. Lately Red Bay has dominated this rivalry, winning eight of the past nine games. The Tigers won the past two meetings against the Cardinals 22-13 and 43-16.

Sept. 24 – Phil Campbell hosts Haleyville Phil Campbell and Haleyville is a rivalry that rekindled this past year. The Bobcats and the Lions played each other consecutively from 1984-2007, with Phil Campbell winning seven of those games. Three of those wins came in the Bobcats’ last run of dominant teams in 1999, 2000 and 2001. The Bobcats lost to the Lions this past year 38-21.

Oct. 28 – Phil Campbell hosts Hackleburg Phil Campbell versus Hackleburg is one of the longest-running rivalries in the area. In 2020 COVID ended a 73-year run of consecutive games that dated back to 1946.

The Bobcats are 35-49-1 against the Panthers.

Oct. 29 – Vina at Tharptown This intercounty rivalry has closed out the season for the Past few years. It has been a good game for both teams to end the season after grueling region opponents. Both teams want to go out on top. It has been a balanced rivalry, with Vina winning six of eight games; Tharptown, however, has had the edge recently, winning the past three in a row 47-0, 13-0 and 10-0.

Oct. 29 – Russellville at Madison Academy These two schools with rich athletic histories have never met on the football field. This past season’s game was canceled because of COVID-19. Russellville fans are familiar with MA head coach Bob Godsey from his many years in the same role at Hartselle High School.

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

PHIL CAMPBELL BOBCATS

K

BOBCATS WORK TOWARD COHESIVE PROGRAM

evin Barnwell enters his fourth year as the Phil Campbell High School football coach. The Bobcats compete in Class 3A in a region with Elkmont, Lauderdale County, Clements, Colbert Heights, East Lawrence and Danville.

Q: What have you learned from your head coaching experience that you think has made you a better coach?

A: From a talent situation and schematically, a tight end is better for what we do rather than spread. We have learned to be more multiple defensively and take what the offense gives you.

I’ve learned there are certain kids you can push hard, and some are different.

Kids are different, and you have to treat them differently.

Q: What makes a good high school football team?

A: First thing is grit. We have to instill grit and toughness in our guys.

To quote my dad, “You got to get in the gravel with them.” Toughness and grit help you deal with the adversity of the game. Cohesiveness is something we are really trying to work on now. Everyone needs to be on the same page and pulling in the same direction.

Q: On the individual level, what makes a good high school football player?

A: Grit, toughness and commitment – how committed a guy is to a team and the team’s goals.

Q: Who has shown leadership for your team this summer and how?

A: We need to have some guys step up. We have some really good players talentwise, but they need to step up and be leaders. We lost a lot of experienced guys, and it is time for these younger players to fill those gaps and step up.

Q: What are you looking for out of your offense this season, and who should fans keep an eye on?

A: Bryant Hyde has done some good things. He is dynamic, quick, and we need the ball in his hands. Isaac Hill has been a surprise. He’s a fast kid.

John Randle Herring, Andrew Green, Jacob Barnwell and Grant Rollins have all shown promise. We have to make positive plays and keep the chains moving. We need to shorten the game and keep our defense off the field.

KEVIN BARNWELL Head Coach

Q: What are you looking for out of your defense this season, and who should fans keep an eye on?

A: Gunner Hargett is a good linebacker. He’s smart and reads the offense really well. Boone Swinney has shown toughness. Jeff Traywick is another good player on the defensive side of the ball. Gage Baker can help on both sides of the ball. Defensively, we just have to play with more passion. We have got to do a better job of running to the football.

Q: What is the one intangible you are looking for in this team as you approach the new season?

A: I’m hoping to acquire some cohesiveness and togetherness. They need to come together.

Q&A and photos by Bart Moss.

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

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PHIL CAMPBELL BOBCATS 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 20

Phillips

Home

Aug. 27

Lamar County

Home

Sept. 3

Elkmont*

Away

Sept. 10

Clements*

Home

Sept. 17

(Open)

Sept. 24

Haleyville

Home

Oct. 1

Colbert Heights*

Away

Oct. 8

Lauderdale County*

Home

Oct. 15

East Lawrence*

Away

Oct. 22

Danville*

Home

Oct. 29

Hackleburg

Home

*Denotes Region game

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

No. 1 Bryant Hyde

No. 3 Kyle Pace

No. 5 Sage Raper

No. 6 Boone Swinney

No. 7 Jacob Barnwell

No. 8 John Randle Herring

No. 9 Cole Pace

No. 11 Andrew Pace

No. 12 Jeitt Traywick

No. 17 Clayton DeMartin

No. 18 Blain Goodson

No. 19 Brenen Misner

No. 20 Noah Raper

No. 24 Isac Hill

No. 26 Braxten Goodson

No. 27 Mason Weeks

No. 29 Gage Baker

No. 30 Austin Douthit

No. 35 Zy Traywick

No. 42 Colton Devaney

No. 50 Jackson Clark

No. 51 Grant Rollins

No. 52 Seth Varney

No. 54 Brayden Wilson

No. 55 Johan Vasquez

No. 60 Mason Mims

No. 63 Zeth Smith

No. 66 Nick William

No. 68 Seth Hutcheson

No. 70 Kanen Seale

No. 73 Tyler Osborn

No. 77 Cooper Riddle

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

27

PHIL CAMPBELL BOBCATS

Check out your School Spirit Tee's at

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

PHIL CAMPBELL BOBCATS

Phil Campbell cheerleaders are (front row) Rachel McCleese, Maddie Raper, Harley Cummings, Grace-lyn Habada, MaryKathryn Swinney, Emma Hutcheson, (back row) Aaliyah Prince, Macey Welborn, Raegen Misner, Abigail Bell and Tori Mather.

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

29

ALL-TEAMS SCHEDULE Aug. 20

Phil Campbell vs. Phillips Red Bay vs. Hamilton Tharptown at Shoals Christian Vina (OPEN) Russellville vs. Decatur (Aug. 19)

Aug. 27

Phil Campbell vs. Lamar County Red Bay (OPEN) Tharptown at Phillips Vina vs. Marion County Russellville vs. Deshler

Sept. 3

Phil Campbell at Elkmont* Red Bay at Lexington* Tharptown vs. Colbert County* Vina at Shoals Christian* Russellville vs. Mae Jemison*

Sept. 10

Phil Campbell vs. Clements* Red Bay (OPEN) Tharptown at Lexington* Vina at Decatur Heritage* (Sept. 9) Russellville at Brewer*

Sept. 17

Phil Campbell (OPEN) Red Bay vs. Tharptown* Tharptown at Red Bay* Vina vs. Waterloo* Russellville vs. Lawrence County*

Oct. 1

Phil Campbell at Colbert Heights* Red Bay at Sheffield* Tharptown (OPEN) Vina at R.A. Hubbard* Russellville vs. Ardmore*

Oct. 8

Phil Campbell vs. Lauderdale County* Red Bay vs. Hatton* Tharptown vs. Sheffield* Vina at Cherokee* Russellville (OPEN)

Oct. 15

Phil Campbell at East Lawrence* Red Bay at Mars Hill* Tharptown at Hatton* Vina vs. Hackleburg* Russellville at East Limestone

Oct. 22

Phil Campbell vs. Danville* Red Bay vs. Colbert County* Tharptown vs. Mars Hill* Vina vs. Phillips* Russellville vs. Lee-Huntsville*

Oct. 29

Phil Campbell vs. Hackleburg Red Bay at Fayette County Tharptown vs. Vina Vina at Tharptown Russellville at Madison Academy

Sept. 24

Phil Campbell vs. Haleyville Red Bay vs. Belmont Tharptown vs. Cherokee Vina vs. Lynn Russellville at Hartselle

30

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

*Denotes Region game

Everything Franklin County all year long CALL 256-332-1881

For information on how you can promote YOUR business in Franklin Living.

2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL

31

2045 Hwy 244 Russellville, AL 35654 256-768-3707

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2021 FRANKLIN COUNTY FOOTBALL