Morgan County Football 2023

Football 2023

CONTRIBUTORS

RUSSELL FRYE WRITER

Russell Frye is a freelance sportswriter for the Hartselle Enquirer. He covers sports for Hartselle, Danville, Falkville, Brewer, and Priceville High Schools. He is married to Tammie and has three children, two who are grown, and Nastia who is in the ninth grade.

CALEB SUGGS WRITER

Caleb Suggs is a sportswriter for the Decatur Daily and the sports editor for the Moulton Advertiser. A Hartselle High alum, he enjoys covering Morgan County high school sports online and in print. He is married to Callie and they have one son, Nash.

JERONIMO NISA PHOTOGRAPHER

Jeronimo Nisa, who is originally from Spain, has been a photojournalist with The Decatur Daily since 2008. He earned a master’s degree in photojournalism from the University of MissouriColumbia. He previously worked for radio and news agencies in Italy and South Africa. If he’s not taking pictures, he’ll probably be riding his bicycle.

TRISTAN HOLMES PHOTOGRAPHER

Tristan Holmes is a young freelance photographer who has contributed regularly to The Decatur Daily since his graduation from Priceville High School. He is a student at Calhoun Community College. He is pursuing a marketing degree with plans to transfer to the University of North Alabama. Holmes's "behind the lens moments" involve local high school sports, Elevate the Stage gymnastics, the Huntsville Havoc, and many community-wide events. Check out Holmes on Facebook at PrimePhotography.

ON THE COVER

(R to L): Connor Kirby, Brewer; Jalen Fletcher, West Morgan; Ri Fletcher, Hartselle

Photos by TRISTAN HOLMES

Concept by KRISTY JONES

STAFF

Managing Editor

REBEKAH YANCEY

Contributors

RUSSELL FRYE

CALEB SUGGS

MARIANN PARKER

SHAWNA OLIVER

JERONIMO NISA

JIM MEADOWS

TRISTAN HOLMES

KRISTY JONES

APRIL SHANEYFELT

JUSTIN POWELL

DANIEL JACOBS

Marketing

BARETTA TAYLOR

ANNA BAKER

SHELIA SMITH

TERRI HASTON

EDDIE JOHNS

BECKY SPIVEY

CONTACT US

Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

206 Cedar St. NW

P.O.Box 929

Hartselle, AL 35640

Phone: 256-773-6566

Copyright 2023 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

Wishes You Good Luck

Seated L-R: Board Vice Chairman Paul Holmes(Eva) - Tracie Turrentine(Superintendent)

- Board Chairman John Holley(Union Hill/Lacey’s Spring)

Standing L-R: Adam Glenn(Danville) - Mike Tarpley(Falkville) - Billy Rhodes(West Morgan) - Chris Humphries (Cotaco/Brewer/MCS Tech Park) - Jimmy Dobbs(Priceville/Sparkman)

The best 1A - 4A matchups for each week of the 2023 season

WEEK 0: WEST MORGAN AT RANDOLPH

AUG. 25

West Morgan travels to Randolph to open the 2023 season. The matchup features a Randolph team that advanced to the third round of the 4A playoffs last season and a Rebels team looking to make a deep run in the playoffs this season. West Morgan defeated Randolph 41-21 last season.

WEEK 1:

FAIRVIEW AT PRICEVILLE

SEPT. 1

Fairview comes to Priceville looking for a bit of revenge following the Bulldogs’ 54-47 win last season. Fairview bowed out in the first round of the 5A state playoffs, while Priceville advanced to the second round. After losing the first five, the Bulldogs have won the last two in the series.

WEEK 2:

VALLEY HEAD AT DECATUR HERITAGE

SEPT. 8

Decatur Heritage welcomes Valley Head to Rebels Stadium to open region play. The Tigers defeated the Eagles 57-35 last season. Decatur Heritage had won the previous two games in the series.

WEEK 3:

TANNER AT FALKVILLE

SEPT. 15

Falkville gets a visit from Tanner for the second week of region play. The Rattlers defeated the Blue Devils 27-20 last season. Tanner missed the playoffs last season, while Falkville advanced to the second round. The teams have split the previous four games in the series, which the Rattlers have dominated.

WEEK 4:

MADISON ACADEMY AT DANVILLE

SEPT. 22

Madison Academy travels to Danville for the third region game of the season. The Hawks are looking for a better performance than last season when the Mustangs defeated them 48-0. Danville advanced to the first round of the playoffs, while Madison Academy was upset in round two.

WEEK 5:

SCOTTSBORO AT PRICEVILLE

SEPT. 29

Scottsboro travels to Bulldogs Stadium for a rematch of the team’s close game last season, the first in the two school’s history. Priceville ground out a 28-21 that helped propel them to an undefeated season. Both teams advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season.

WEEK 6:

DESHLER AT WEST MORGAN

OCT. 6

West Morgan hosts Deshler in a battle of probable ranked teams with the 4A Region 7 championship on the line. The Tigers forced the Rebels into some uncharacteristic play as Deshler picked up a 21-6 win. Both teams will bring talented and experienced teams into this season’s matchup.

WEEK 7:

FALKVILLE AT RED BAY

OCT. 13

Red Bay has this game circled on their schedule after falling to Falkville last season 28-6. The game was very physical; the teams can expect the same this year. Both teams advanced to the 2A playoffs, with Falkville advancing to the second round while Red Bay lost in the opening round.

WEEK 8:

PRICEVILLE AT WESTMINSTER

CHRISTIAN

OCT. 20

Expect a battle between two well-coached teams late in the 2023 season. The Bulldogs scored 72 points in last season’s win over the Wildcats. This year’s Westminster team will have an explosive offense that will be difficult for the Bulldogs’ defense. Both teams advanced to the 4A playoffs, with Priceville advancing to the second round while Westminster lost in the opening round.

WEEK 9: RANDOLPH

OCT. 27

AT PRICEVILLE

Once again, this matchup could have region title implications when the two teams meet in the final region game of the season. Both teams suffered significant talent losses due to graduation. The team that can find its footing early in the season could have the upper hand in this matchup. Priceville used a solid second half to win 35-21 last season to clinch the first undefeated regular season in school history.

WEEK 10: DANVILLE AT

NOV. 3

BREWER

Danville will make the cross-county trek to Brewer to close out the 2023 season. Both teams could be preparing for the postseason heading into this matchup as they did last season. The Patriots picked up a 56-0 win over the Hawks last season.

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The best 5A - 7A matchups for each week of the 2023 season

WEEK 0: HARTSELLE AT AUSTIN

AUG. 25

The Tigers travel to Austin to open the season for the seventh consecutive season. Both teams were region champs last season. Austin comes into the game with the more experienced team. The teams have split the previous four games in this fiercely contested rivalry. The Tigers won last season 45-17 and lead the all-time series 32-23-1.

Black Bears have won seven of the last eight and lead the all-time series 9-8. The teams tied for the region last season, with Austin taking the top spot after defeating the Falcons 26-14.

WEEK 4:

LAWRENCE COUNTY AT BREWER

SEPT. 22

Lawrence County travels to Brewer for a region matchup. The Patriots have won three of the last four in the series following their 21-7 win last season. Brewer leads the all-time series 10-9.

implications for both teams. Austin scored late to pull out a 41-33 win on the road over the Jets last season. Austin leads the all-time series 5-4.

WEEK 8:

HARTSELLE AT DECATUR

OCT. 20

WEEK

1: AUSTIN AT DECATUR

SEPT. 1

The Black Bears make the short trip across town for the River City Showdown with Decatur and new coach Aairon Savage, who replaces longtime Decatur head coach Jere Adcock. The Red Raiders broke Austin’s seven-game win streak in the series with a 28-14 win last season. Decatur leads the series 37-23.

WEEK 5:

OXFORD AT HARTSELLE

SEPT. 29

Oxford travels to Hartselle in one of this season’s best non-region matchups. The Tigers dominated last season’s second half, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 38-7 in winning 69-21. Oxford plays in 6A Region 6 with perennial playoff contenders ClayChalkville and Pinson Valley. The Yellow Jackets lead the series 2-1.

Hartselle travels to Ogle Stadium for the first time since 2020 for a region matchup with Decatur and new coach Aairon Savage. The Tigers have won five straight in the series, which dates back to 1917 after Hartselle won 41-14 last season. Decatur leads the all-time series 59-30.

WEEK 9:

AUSTIN AT HUNTSVILLE

OCT. 27

WEEK

2: CULLMAN AT HARTSELLE

SEPT. 8

Hartselle and Cullman open region play for the fourth consecutive season. The matchup will be the 102nd in the series, which dates back to 1916. The Bearcats enter the season under new head coach Danny Stiff, who replaces Oscar Glasscock. This will be the first time Cullman has played at JP Cain Stadium since 2020. The Tigers won 34-3 last season and lead the all-time series 50-47-4.

WEEK 3:

FLORENCE AT AUSTIN

SEPT. 15

Austin and Florence meet for the 18th time on Austin’s home field for the first time since 2020. The

WEEK

6:

MUSCLE SHOALS AT HARTSELLE

OCT. 6

Last season’s matchup might have been one of the best games in all of Alabama High School football. The Tigers’ Ri Fletcher scored with less than a minute remaining to give Hartselle a 29-26 win and the 2022 region championship. This match has had significant playoff implications for both teams for the last few seasons. The Tigers have won four of the previous five matchups and lead the all-time series 17-11-1.

WEEK

7:

JAMES CLEMENS AT AUSTIN

OCT. 13

This week seven matchup should have playoff

Austin travels to Louis Crews Stadium on the campus of Alabama A&M for a region matchup with Huntsville. The Black Bears will have a chip on their shoulder heading into the game after the Panthers won 38-24 last season, ending Austin’s seven-game regular season win streak and the Black Bears’ six-game win streak in the series. Huntsville leads the series 23-15.

WEEK 10:

HARTSELLE AT BOB JONES

NOV. 3

Hartselle closes out the 2023 regular season with a matchup with 7A Bob Jones. The two teams battled back and forth last season, with the Tigers picking up a 38-31 win to complete Hartselle’s second consecutive undefeated regular season. The Tigers lead the all-time series 5-1.

HARTSELLE TIGERS

By RUSSELL FRYE

TThe Hartselle Tigers took their fans on a memorable ride last season, reaching the 6A state quarterfinals. Despite the loss to Mountain Brook, the Tigers left the field that night with a determination and resolve to return.

Going into 2023, Coach Bryan Moore and his staff are looking to reload instead of rebuild. Although this will be the least experienced team in terms of starts, the team returns plenty of game experience from the last couple of seasons.

Headlining the offense will be a four-year starter at running back Ri Fletcher. He is coming off a season where he compiled more than 2,000 yards of total offense.

Despite losses to graduation, the defense looks to be better than it was last season. Three-year starter Porter Simmons anchors a strong defensive line. Three-year starter Jake Haynes leads a linebacking unit that is the deepest position group on the team. The strength of the defense is the team’s secondary with returning starters Peyton Steele, Jakaleb Goodwin and Drake Borden. Steele and Goodwin are four-year starters while Borden is a three-year starter.

QUARTERBACKS

Senior Landon Blackwood takes over the quarterback position this season after serving as Jack Smith’s backup. Blackwood will be the fourth different starting quarterback for Hartselle since Moore arrived four years ago. Blackwood relies on accuracy as a passer, which is similar to his older brother JT who led the Tigers to a 10-1 season in 2021.

“Getting to see how my brother prepared for and handled the quarterback position has given me a roadmap to success this season,” Blackwood said.

Junior Noah Lee and sophomore Carter Lee will serve as backups.

RUNNING BACKS

Senior Ri Fletcher returns for his fourth season as a starter for the Tigers. He finished last season with 1,306 yards

rushing and 18 touchdowns while having 279 yards receiving and two touchdowns. He also had a combined 454 yards in kickoff and punt return yards with three touchdowns. He has a career total of 2,760 yards rushing and 40 touchdowns, with 670 yards receiving on 63 receptions and eight touchdowns.

“Heading into this season, I have had to step up as a leader which is different for me,” Fletcher said. “I am excited about seeing how we can continue to carry on the legacy that has been built by previous Hartselle teams.”

Seniors Lincoln Bryant, Gage Roberts and Gage Owenby with serve as Fletcher’s primary backups. Bryant ran for 376 yards and four touchdowns last season.

“Having Ri and Lincoln returning is tremendous for our offense,” Moore said. “Lincoln’s return allows us to do some different things with Ri offensively.

TEAM INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION

6A Region 7

2022 RECORD

12-1 (7-0)

HEAD COACH

Bryan Moore

RECORD

77-18 (9th year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Matt Praytor, Will Lang, J.D. Atkins, Jesse Perrin, Zach Fletcher, Gary Orr, Will Johnson, Zeke McHan, Bert Newton, Moose Cole, Jerry Fulks, Jerrett Holley, Waid Miller, Joe Hill, Schuyler Forman, John Hardin

LAST STATE TITLE 2011

LAST REGION TITLE 2022

LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2022

Ri FLETCHER

Senior Stinnett Hagemann and junior Chandler Keel will see time at fullback and tight end.

WIDE RECEIVERS

The Tigers are replacing graduates Izayah Fletcher, who signed with UNA, and Eli Tidwell who combined for 125 receptions for 1,921 yards and 17 touchdowns. Blackwood was the third-leading receiver, but he is taking over at quarterback.

The receiving position will look totally different than it has in the last few seasons. The Tigers have several juniors who will be stepping up into the starting roles this season. Noah Lee, Brady Holt, Jace Meadows and Trammel Hurley have had a good offseason in preparing for their new roles. Also joining them will be 6’7 junior Marcus Tapscott, who is returning to the team after sitting out last season. He will provide some length and the ability to go up and get jump balls.

“We have seen all of these receivers play ninth grade and JV ball the last couple of years,” Moore said. “We know what they are capable of doing and feel comfortable with their abilities.”

OFFENSIVE LINE

The major rebuilding project for this season will be on the offensive line, where the Tigers will be replacing all five starters from last season. Coach Matt Praytor and Coach Moore have a good group of players that are ready to step into starting roles, led by senior Scout Arp. Joining Arp will

be senior Elliot Hawes, juniors Jayden Shekell and Harrison Tapscott along with sophomore Jaylyn Grissom.

“This group of linemen had the best summer of any position group,” Moore said. “They started slowly back in the spring, but they have progressed each week of the offseason in preparing for the upcoming season.”

2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 25: @ Austin

Sept. 1: Jackson-Olin

Sept. 8: Cullman *

Sept. 15: @ Columbia *

Sept. 22: Gadsden City

Sept. 29: Oxford

Oct. 6: Muscle Shoals *

Oct. 13: Athens *

Oct. 20: @ Decatur *

Oct. 27: OPEN

Nov. 3: @ Bob Jones

2022 RESULTS

DEFENSE

“The defense will need to carry us early on as our offense will be learning the ropes to start the season,” Moore said. “I feel we have 20 to 22 players on the defensive side of the ball that is capable of being one of the best defenses we have seen in my four years.”

DEFENSIVE LINE

2022 STATS

Offense

Total Points: 537

Per Game: 41.3

County Rank: 2nd

Defense Points Allowed: 236

Per Game: 18.2

County Rank: 4th

5-YEAR WIN TREND

The defensive line will be anchored by junior defensive end Porter Simmons, who is going into his third year as a starter. Simmons had 62 tackles, including 16 for loss, two sacks and 24 quarterback pressures last season. James Clemens senior transfer Christian Baulding, who is 6’3, 295, and junior Andrew Carrol, a 6’4, 260-pound transfer from Cullman will join Simmons as starters. Sophomores Eli King and Auburn Hearring will provide depth on the line.

LINEBACKERS

Linebackers, which have been a strength for the Tigers the last couple of seasons, will again be a strength this season despite the losses to graduation. Despite their inexperience, they will be a very talented group. Leading the way will be senior middle linebacker Jake Haynes, who finished with 111 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks and four pass breakups

last season. Seeing playing time alongside Haynes will be Justin Metz, Jameson Falciani, Blayne Johnson, Austin Payne, Tucker Mayo and Noah Gibson. Falciani had a couple of starts last season and earned valuable experience.

SECONDARY

Four-year starter Peyton Steele returns at free safety to lead the secondary along with another four-year starter Jakaleb Goodwin, a cornerback. Joining the two will be threeyear starter, Drake Borden. Cole Miles, Saban Witt, Hudson Buckelew and Chris Hudson will challenge one another for the other two starting roles.

“We are blessed to have three returning starters this season in our secondary,” Moore said. “Those guys have played a lot of ball the last few years and they provide our defense with leadership and experience.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Special teams will be new at every position, especially in the kicking game. Noah Yates steps into the placekicking and punting roles that Crawford Lang and Eli Tidwell handled last season. They will be new starts at the long snapper and holder positions in the kicking game.

The return game will be led by Ri Fletcher on kickoffs and punts.

* Playoff game

*Region game

Jake HAYNES

BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

Once again, a senior is a candidate for a breakout season with senior Landon Blackwood stepping into the quarterback position. He has spent the last two seasons learning from his brother, JT, and Jack Smith. He is a different kind of quarterback than we have had the last couple of seasons.

“Blackwood is an accurate passer who can run if he needs to,” said Moore. “He has developed on and off the field to prepare him for this season in leading the offense.”

SCHEDULE

The Tigers face difficult non-region road games with 7A teams Austin and Bob Jones, who were both playoff participants last season. They also will have 6A teams Jackson-Olin, Gadsden City and Oxford coming to JP Cain this season. Gadsden City and Oxford return a lot of talent and will have a chip on their shoulder following losses to Hartselle last season.

Region play sees the Tigers facing off with two new coaches who are taking the helms at Cullman and Decatur. Athens and Columbia will provide another set of challenges for Hartselle. But the region game of the year starts and ends with Muscle Shoals, who will come to JP Can stadium for the first time since 2020.

“Our non-region opponents provide us with different challenges that prepare us for the postseason,” Moore said. “Having Muscle Shoals and Cullman at home for the first time since 2020 is big for us. Athens will be the most improved region team this season. Decatur will provide a tremendous test late in the season in a difficult atmosphere.”

SAY NO TO OPIOIDS

Don’t get sidelined. Make the RIGHT play. You are smarter and stronger than any substance.

Peyton STEELE, Jake HAYNES and Ri FLETCHER

WE ASKED − the players answered

By RUSSELL FRYE

FFor the first time, we asked players from area high schools a series of questions. Want to get to know the student-athletes in Morgan County we all will be cheering on this season? Take a look at their icebreaker questions and answers:

HOW WOULD YOUR COACHES AND TEAMMATES DESCRIBE YOU?

“A funny person to be around, a leader on and off the field, hardworking, passionate about the game of football, quiet kid.” ― Solomon Lyle, Austin

“A leader by example and a pretty quiet guy.” ― Jake Haynes, Hartselle

“A leader and a person who works hard and is humble.” ― Jalen Fletcher, West Morgan

“A leader and hard worker.” ― Brody Oliver, Priceville

“A hardworking person that gives his all to the team's success.” ― Jeremiah Carter, Austin

“Hard-working and determined.” ― Ja’kaleb Goodwin, Hartselle

“Leader and a person they can count on.” ― Nash Thomas, Priceville

WHAT ARE YOUR PREFERRED PRE-GAME, LOCKER ROOMAND POST-GAME ROUTINES?

“Before every game, I like to keep some form of liquid by my side and music in my ears. The locker room is time to get in the right mindset. Post-game is for recovery.” ― Brody Oliver, Priceville

“I have to listen to my music pre-game, and in the locker and post-game, I like to celebrate with the student section after a win.” ― Peyton Steele, Hartselle

“Pregame listen to music and lay down and post-game just hang out with family and friends.” ― Jaxon Thomas, Decatur Heritage

“Music with headphones and a chill area to get my mind right.” ― Jeremiah Carter, Austin

“Pre-game, I like to sleep and play music. I’m more locked in and around my teammates in the locker room. After the games, I go home and go to sleep.” ― Jalen Fletcher, West Morgan

“I like to try and calm everyone down before games and get all of the jitters out, and after games, I like going out and spending time with the team.” ― Blitz Clemons, Priceville

“Headphones in listening to old school music, stretching, doing my read steps, and getting my teammates hyped before the game.” ― Jeremiah Carter, Austin

“I usually walk on the field before the game and listen to music, we typically stretch and warm up in the locker room, and after the game, I usually go see family.” ― Cole Miles, Hartselle

Why are you so passionate about playing sports?

“I just started playing sports at a young age and fell in love with sports and the whole aspect of competition and the brotherhood that comes with sports.” ― Jackson Edmonson, Falkville

“I love competing under the bright lights in great atmospheres.” ― Judd Bailey, Austin

“My family and I have known nothing but sports. All my cousins and siblings played sports in college at a division one level. My sisters both played softball at UNA, so it’s like a standard to excel in sports.” ― Peyton Steele, Hartselle

‘My dad pretty much named me after a football play and keeps me working hard.” ― Blitz Clemons, Priceville

“Because some people wish they could play sports that can’t, I’m blessed to play, so that’s why I’m passionate about it.” ―

Jaxon Thomas, Decatur Heritage

“It’s been in my blood generations, and I’ve been playing since I was four and the “Flowers” are known at Danville for football.” ― Caden Flowers, Danville

“I have always loved sports ever since I was a kid growing up. Sports have always been in my life. My dad, brother, sister and I will always have on ESPN or have on an Alabama football game when they played.” ― Solomon Lyle, Austin

“I feel like football has helped me become a better man.” ― Jake Haynes, Hartselle

“Because I’ve been around it for so long seeing people be great at something that I want to be great in.” ― Jalen Fletcher, West Morgan

“I love the sports I play because it teaches me to step out of my comfort zone, work hard, and build relationships.” ― Brody Oliver, Priceville

WHAT DO YOU SEE YOURSELF ACCOMPLISHING IN FIVE TO 10 YEARS?

“Becoming successful in real estate and possibly photography.” ― Brody Oliver, Priceville

“I see myself hopefully being a great baseball player at Alabama, but if that doesn’t work out, going into mechanical engineering.” ― Peyton Steele, Hartselle

“Graduating college and becoming a sports broadcaster.” ― Judd Bailey, Austin

“I would like to be far along my trade job and would like to help or coach a little league team.” ― Jackson Edmonson, Falkville

“Completing college football and graduating college, getting ready for the next stage of my life ― Jeremiah Carter, Austin

“Becoming a good father and husband.” ― Caden Flowers, Danville

“Graduating from college and hopefully playing in the NFL.”

Jalen Fletcher, West Morgan

“Being in the NFL and living the dream.” ― Nash Thomas, Decatur Heritage

“Being a football trainer.” ― Ja’kaleb Goodwin, Hartselle

DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES OR INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF SPORTS?

“Playing the guitar and piano would be my favorite thing to do outside of football.” ― Brody Oliver, Priceville

“I like math and have an interest in law.” ― Cole Miles, Hartselle

“Working out, playing video games and skating.” ― Solomon Lyle, Austin

“If I’m not working out. I usually go hang out with my friends or my family.” ― Jackson Edmonson, Falkville

“Lawn Care, Activities with my church youth group.” ― Judd Bailey, Austin

“I like weightlifting and have given some thought to powerlifting.” ― Blitz Clemons, Priceville

“Hunting, fishing and coaching little league football for Danville.” ― Caden Flowers, Danville

WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'VE GAINED FROM YOUR COACHES?

“Always stay consisten.” t ― Nash Thomas, Decatur Heritage

“Never have to worry about your competition outworking you.” ― Jeremiah Carter, Austin

“If something good or bad happens, play the next play.” ― Jalen Fletcher, West Morgan

“Never let the pressure to play outweigh the pleasure of playing.” ― Peyton Steele, Hartselle

“Stay ready, and work hard. Be coachable and hold your family accountable.” ― Brody Oliver, Priceville

“No matter what happens, what you’re going through, and what you have been through is a standard. You keep going and don’t quit.” ― Jackson Edmonson, Falkville

“Just go out there and give 100 percent and don’t overthink, and go full speed at what you do all the time.” ― Jaxon Thomas, Decatur Heritage

“Control what you can control and let go of what you cant control.” ― Judd Bailey, Austin

“Worry about the things that I can control.” ― Jake Haynes, Hartselle

“Play every play like it’s your last.” ― Blitz Clemons, Priceville

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CAREER TO DATE?

“Caught back-to-back interceptions against Athens last year.” ― Ja’Kaleb Goodwin, Hartselle

“Winning the 2022 regional championship after starting the season off slow.” ― Jeremiah Carter, Austin

“Going 11-0 with my teammates that I have been playing with since I was four.” ― Blitz Clemons, Priceville

“Back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.” ― Peyton Steele, Hartselle

“Recovering a fumble against Decatur on punt team last year.” ― Judd Bailey, Austin

“I would say playing Hatton last year. It was one of my best games and just a fun game to play. We were just on it all game, and it just felt natural.” ― Jackson Edmonson, Falkville

“Making 2nd team all-state and all-region.” ― Jaxon Thomas, Decatur Heritage

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT FOOTBALL INFLUENCE?

“Coach Brandon Bell was my first coach back in Little League, and he made me fall in love with the game while also teaching great life lessons through the game of football.” ― Judd Bailey, Austin

“My dad. He played Hartselle football, so he knows the culture.” ― Jake Haynes, Hartselle

“I would have to say my PCRA coach Chuck Clemons. From the start, he taught us as young kids what it means to play football, love your brothers, and be a dog on the field.” ― Brody Oliver, Priceville

“I would say, Luke Fitzgerald. The way he played and the speed he did it was crazy to watch and learn from.” ― Jackson Edmonson, Falkville

“Coach Lamont Crittendon.” ― Solomon Lyle, Austin

“My grandfather.” ― Cole Miles, Hartselle

BREWER PATRIOTS

By RUSSELL FRYE

TThe Brewer Patriots, who made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2018, aim to return to the playoffs this season. They have shown improvement on and off the field and are excited about this season.

Coming off a 5-6 season, which was their first non-losing regular season since 2018, the Patriots know what they need to do this season to continue a winning trend.

Brewer will have a new quarterback but return several offensive starters, including receivers Walker Latham and DJ Burney. Middle linebacker Connor Kirby will lead the defense.

Fall camp will provide and answer to a couple of significant battles that will determine starters in a couple of key spots, especially on the offensive and defensive lines.

QUARTERBACKS

Junior Cason Oden takes over for Caden Childers, who graduated after last season. Oden, who is 6’4, pushed for the starting job last season before being beaten out by Childers. Oden has a big arm and an understanding of Plunkett’s offense.

“Our team has a lot of confidence in Cason,” said Plunkett. “Cason needs to trust his offensive line, and if he does that, he will have a big season..”

Senior DJ Burney will provide some depth for the Patriots.

RUNNING BACKS

The Patriots enter the 2023 season with more depth than Plunkett has had in his coaching career. CJ Watson will get a lot of carries as the lead back. Burney will see some time at running back to provide a different style than Watson or JJ Nicholson, who will also get carries. Each one played a lot during the offseason and compliment each other.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Walker Latham returns at receiver for his third year as a starter. Latham is a very versatile player who can do a lot for us. Senior Will Clemons and freshman Cam Ballinger will play one of the outside receiver positions.

Austyn Holmes will play another one of the slot receiver positions. Sophomore Hunter Knighten and Qumaine Anderson will also see time at receiver.

Connor Kirby and Landon Ferguson will play tight end.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line will be a strength for this year’s team. Senior Tim Hunter and sophomore Logan Duke return as starters for the Patriots. Sophomores Mason Lawrence, Isaiah Shackleford and Wayne Horton will step in as first-time starters. Jesus Gonzalez and Eli Howell will provide valuable depth this season.

“I believe this will be one of the best offensive lines that Brewer has ever had,” said Plunkett. “They are young, with four sophomores starting, but the more experience they get, the better they will be.”

DEFENSIVE LINE

The defensive line has two returning starters in Beau Yancey and Wayne Horton. Both will play defensive end for the Patriots. Hunter and Chandler Brown are battling for the nose guard position. Sophomores Phillip Howell and Dakota Crawford will provide immediate depth.

TEAM INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION

5A Region 8

2022 RECORD

5-6 (3-3)

HEAD COACH

Matt Plunkett

RECORD

58-48 (11th year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Jordan Miller, Chase Martin, Jake Lawrence, Matt Latham, Joey White

LAST REGION TITLE

1997

LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2022

2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 25: @ Hanceville

Sept. 1: @ Arab

Sept. 8: @ Ardmore *

Sept. 15: East Limestone *

Sept. 22: Lawrence County *

Sept. 29: @ Sardis

Oct. 6: Russellville *

Oct. 13: Fairview *

Oct. 20: OPEN

Oct. 27: @ West Point *

Nov. 3: Danville

*Region game

Walker LATHAM

“We have a lot of experience heading into the season despite having two starters that are sophomores,” Plunkett said.

LINEBACKERS

Senior Connor Kirby returns as the heart and soul of the Brewer defense at middle linebacker. He had a team-high 125 tackles last season. Kirby gives the Patriots a true leader who understands what the Patriots are doing on the field defensively. Joining him will be seniors Burney and Andres Avila, who will play outside linebacker. Watson, Nicholson, Landon Ferguson, and Derrick Correa will provide good depth for the linebacker unit. Kirby gives the Patriots a true leader who understands what the Patriots are doing on the field defensively.

SECONDARY

Senior Will Clemons will start at the safety position, while Micah Edwards has locked down one of the starting cornerback positions. Trent Cowley, Anderson and Holmes are battling for the other cornerback spot. Nicholson and Corbin Raines will also start as safeties/outside linebackers in the secondary. Hunter Knighten will provide depth at multiple positions.

2022 RESULTS

2022 STATS

WIN TREND

Providing Rental Equipment to North Alabama Since

2023 BREWER ROSTER

SPECIAL TEAMS

Sophomore David Perez will handle the place-kicking duties. According to Plunkett, Perez has a big leg and will become a valuable weapon for the Patriots. Burney and Hunter Knighten are battling for the punter position. Walker Latham will handle kickoff and punt returns. Kirby returns as the starting long snapper, while Latham will be the starting holder.

BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

Cason Oden has the potential to have a big season for the Patriots. He has a good command of the offense and knows where the ball needs to go in different situations. He has the arm to push the ball downfield and open up the offense.

SCHEDULE

The Patriots open the season with three games on the road, two non-region games at Hanceville, and rival Arab, who advanced to the 5A quarterfinals last season. Brewer travels to Sardis in week five, looking to have a better performance against the Lions this season after last season’s disappointing performance. The Patriots will close the season with a visit from cross-county rival Danville.

The first region game of the season is on the road at Ardmore. This game is an important one for the Patriots in reaching the playoffs. Brewer returns home with games against East Limestone and Lawrence County, both victories for the Patriots last season. The second half of region play sees powerhouses Russellville and Fairview come to Tucker Stadium. After the bye week, the Patriots will travel to West Point to close region

By RUSSELL FRYE

TThe Danville Hawks returned to the playoffs for the first time in three years in Coach Andro Williams’ second year at the helm.

This year’s team will be very young, with no seniors. Despite the team’s youth, he is excited about his team and how they can develop this season.

The Hawks picked up three region wins that put them in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the team’s inexperience showed in eight losses.

The Hawks are looking for improvement on both sides of the ball this season. Leading the way will be the offensive and defensive lines, which are the most experienced position groups on the team.

“Despite our youth and overall numbers, we have a bunch of guys who we feel can go out and be competitive,” Williams said.

QUARTERBACKS

Sophomore Jace Glenn moves into the starting role this season after serving as a backup last season. He saw time late in the season that gave him some valuable experience heading into this season. Eighthgrader Shaun Harris is pushing Glenn hard for playing time. Ben Ellenburg, last season’s starter, will serve as a backup at the position as well as seeing time at the receiver position.

RUNNING BACKS

The running backs will be inexperienced, but they are a group Coach Williams is high on heading into the season. Juniors Christian Rodriguez, Talan Cross, Cody Barber, and eighth grader Colby Reed will see time in the backfield. Rodriquez, who is playing after sitting out last season, gives the Hawks a powerful back, which they were missing last season. Look for Rodriquez to get the start against Lawrence County.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Ellenburg and Barber will see time as slot receivers. Avery Muhammed and Houston McClesky will see time on the outside, giving the Hawks’ quarterback some size to throw to this season.

Danville will also utilize their tight ends in their offense. Sophomore John Salvia and freshman Eli Shell will get the first reps at the position.

ATHLETE

Ben Ellenburg will be called on to play multiple positions on offense. According to Williams, he is one of the hardest-working players on the team, and we have to find a way to get the ball in his hand.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line will be the most experienced group on this year’s team. Four juniors return as starters this season. Caden and Cole Flowers, Ryder Reeves and Landon Hanserd, who has developed into the strongest guy on the team, lead the unit. Mitchell Owens and Gabriel Ocampo are working hard to be the fifth starter in the unit.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Several players will see playing time in the Hawks’ three-man defensive front. Landon Hanserd and Mitchell Owens return as starters, along with Frankie Aldridge. In addition, Caden Flowers, Reeves and Ocampo will provide some valuable depth.

CLASSIFICATION

3A Region 7

DANVILLE HAWKS TEAM INFORMATION

2022 RECORD

3-8 (3-3)

HEAD COACH

Andro Williams

RECORD

132-62 (17th Year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Cody Bowers, Justin Helms, Noah Armstrong, Buckley Williams, Landon Garner, Tim Hodson, Rod Gillott

LAST REGION TITLE 1995

LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2022

2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 25: Lawrence County

Sept. 1: Falkville

Sept. 8: @ Susan Moore *

Sept. 15: @ JB Pennington *

Sept. 22: Madison Academy *

Sept. 29: OPEN

Oct. 6: @ Shoals Christian

Oct. 13: Asbury *

Oct. 20: Vinemont *

Oct. 27: @ Brindlee Mountain *

Nov. 3: @ Brewer

*Region game

LINEBACKERS

Sophomore John Salvia and freshman Jordan Fetner will get the start at outside linebacker. According to Coach Williams, Fetner will be tough to keep off the field despite only being a freshman. Christian Rodriquez, Eli Shell and Matthew Tidwell will see time at the middle linebacker position.

2022 RESULTS

2022 STATS

Offense

Total Points: 174

Per Game: 15.8

County Rank: 9th

Defense Points Allowed: 381

Per Game: 34.6

County Rank: 9th

5-YEAR WIN TREND

SECONDARY

Ben Ellenburg returns as a starter at free safety. Jace Glenn and Shaun Harris will also see time at the safety spot. Avery Muhammed and Cody Barber will get the start at cornerbacks.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Freshman Edward Ocampo will get take the place-kicking duties. Another freshman, Junior Torres, will also see some time in the role. There is a battle between Cody Barber and Eli Shell for the punting position., who joined the team this offseason, will handle field goals and kickoffs.

BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

Christian Rodriguez has the potential to have a big season for the Hawks. According to Coach Williams, he has a tremendous football IQ and plays fast. Another player is freshman Jordan Fetner. He is learning what

it takes to be successful on the field and has the talent to be a good player for the Hawks this year and beyond.

SCHEDULE

The Hawks open the season with Lawrence County and rival Falkville at home, which is vital for Danville’s young team. After a bye week, the Hawks will travel to Shoals Christian before heading back into region play. Danville will close the season with a road trip across Morgan County to Brewer. Region play will open with road games at Susam Moore and JB Pennington before returning home for Madison Academy, who won the region last season. After Shoals Christian, the Hawks return home for games with Asbury and Vinemont before heading to Brindlee Mountain to close out region play. The Hawks picked up region wins over Susan Moore, Asbury and Brindlee Mountain last season.

2023 DANVILLE ROSTER

Coach Andro Williams and Ben Ellenburg

PRICEVILLE BULLDOGS TEAM

By RUSSELL FRYE

PPriceville accomplished another school record last season, finishing with their first undefeated season in school history.

The Bulldogs, winners of a school record 11 games last season, returned to the playoffs for the second time in three years. They opened with a big win over visiting Central Florence. Unfortunately, Priceville fell on the road at Oneonta in the second round.

The offensive line, a strength during the team’s rise over Coach Chris Foster’s first four years, will be the most experienced unit heading into the season. However, Priceville will replace all the skill positions, leading to some growing pains early in the season.

Blitz Clemons steps in for all-state Mason Cartee at running back. Finding a replacement for All-State Jake Langlois will be more challenging for the Bulldogs. He was the heart and soul of their defense the last three years, and it will be a significant loss felt throughout the season.

QUARTERBACKS

Jake England, a transfer from Hartselle, is stepping in for Jackson Prickett, who graduated after last season. England was primarily used on defense at Hartselle, so this will be his first snaps offensively since early on in his career. According to Coach Foster, England has shown outstanding leadership during his short time with us. He will not be called on to throw the ball often, but he has a strong arm and a good touch. Tyde Borden will serve as England’s backup.

RUNNING BACKS

Replacing all-state running back Mason Cartee will be Blitz Clemons. The senior ran for 804 yards and seven touchdowns on 61 carries last season.

“Clemons has put in a lot of work in the offense to prepare for this season,” Foster said. “He has put on some muscle and weight to help take the hits.”

Senior Riley Wagg will get some carries at the wingback position and serve as Clemons’ primary backup. Senior Reece Young will also see carries this season.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Wagg, Young and Clemons will see time at receiver in specific packages. Due to the run-heavy nature of the offense, the passing game is used sparingly. Brody Collins will be the starting tight end and has proven to be a tremendous blocker in the run game. He will also be able to help out in the passing game.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line returns three offensive linemen in seniors Brody Oliver, Isaiah Mendoza and Sam LeCroix. The position group has the most players of any position group on the team. Filling the final two starting positions and creating depth is essential to another successful season.

“We have a lot of guys who understand the system, so we are not having to make many changes,” Foster said. “This group is going to have to lead us early on.”

Jonathan Barrientos and Cole Oliver will get the first shot at filling the last two spots on the offensive line.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The defensive line will be the most experienced unit on the defensive side of the

INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION

4A Region 8

2022 RECORD

11-1 (7-0)

HEAD COACH

Chris Foster

RECORD

35-11 (5th year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Preston Potter, Austin Borden, Matt Morris, Mahlon LeCroix, Jonny Pool

LAST REGION TITLE 2022

LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2022 2023

SCHEDULE

Aug. 25: @ Plainview

Sept. 1: Fairview

Sept. 8: @ Madison County *

Sept. 15: @ DAR *

Sept. 22: New Hope *

Sept. 29: Scottsboro

Oct. 6: @ St. John Paul II *

Oct. 13: North Jackson *

Oct. 20: @ Westminster Christian *

Oct. 27: Randolph *

Nov. 3: OPEN

*Region game

Blitz CLEMONS

ball. Brody Oliver returns for his third year as a starter. Jaiden Gordon and Ryan Hanks also return for the defensive line. Isaiah Mendoza and Cole Oliver will provide depth heading into the season.

LINEBACKERS

Gone is all-state selection Jake Langlois, who led the team with 133 tackles last season. Also gone are Larson Speegle, Xander Gaines, Brody Maddox and Sage Smothers. Finding replacements at every position will be crucial to the defense’s success. Brody Collins will get the first look at middle linebacker after seeing some time there late in the season. Deacon Hall moves from defensive end to linebacker alongside Collins. Hanks and Bryce Carroll will get the first chance at starting.

SECONDARY

The Bulldogs will again have a new group of starters in the secondary. Clemons, Riley Wagg, Reece Young, Tyde Borden and Bronson Carroll will be battling for the four starting spots.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Freshman Landon Byer will take over the place-kicking duties for the Bulldogs. According to Foster, he has worked hard in

the offseason preparing for this role. Ryan Hanks will be the team’s punter. Look for Clemons and Wagg to anchor the returner positions.

BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

Blitz Clemons has had a good offseason in preparing for his new role, and Coach Foster expects Clemons to have a big season

2022 RESULTS

2022 STATS

Back Row: Councilman Patrick Dean, Councilman Melvin Duran III, Councilman Ashley England, Councilman Charles Black, Front Row: Councilman Tommy Perry, Mayor Sam Heflin

Brody OLIVER

2023 PRICEVILLE ROSTER

for Priceville. He had a good season last year, hopefully leading to big things this season. Another player that Foster expects to have a breakout season is Riley Wagg. He has had a good offseason and put himself in the position to help the team on both sides of the ball.

SCHEDULE

The Bulldogs open with two challenging non-region games to start the season. They will travel to Plainview to open the season. Then they get a rematch with Fairview coming to Bulldog Stadium in week two. The game with the Aggies was a high-scoring affair last season, with the Bulldogs winning in the final minute. 5A Scottsboro will be the final non-region game of the season. They will visit in week six and provide another difficult challenge.

Region play opens with road trips to Madison County and DAR before getting New Hope at home. Following the Scottsboro game, Priceville travels to St. John Paul II and receives a visit from North Jackson. Closing out the season will be the two most challenging region games for the Bulldogs, with a trip to Westminster Christian and a visit by Randolph. Westminster returns a lot of starters on offense and looks to be the class of the region this season. Randolph will be replacing some starters but will be well-coached and provide another challenge to close out the regular season.

By RUSSELL FRYE

TThe Falkville Blue Devils returned to the playoffs after missing them the previous season. They finished second in a challenging region. They were powered by a highoctane offense led by seniors Caden Burnett and Isaiah Warnick. Both have moved on following graduation, leaving Coach Seth Ward to reload the Blue Devils’ offense.

Warnick was named to the 2A first allstate team, while Burnett and Austin Melson were named to the 2A second all-state team. Replacing these starters will go a long way in helping Falkville return to the playoffs.

“I am excited about the upcoming season and seeing how we grow into the season,” Ward said. “We have a lot of players who have experience in game situations but need to learn on the fly when it comes to starting.”

QUARTERBACKS

Junior Landon Powers, who played primarily at wide receiver last season, takes over at quarterback for Falkville. He brings a different skill set to the Blue Devils' backfield. According to Coach Ward, Powers may be Falkville’s most explosive player.

“Landon has been preparing for his time as quarterback for the last two years,” Ward said. “We are not going to change what we do on offense, just how we will do it based on Landon’s ability.”

2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 25: Vinemont

Sept. 1: @ Danville

Sept. 8: @ Sheffield *

Sept. 15: Tanner *

Sept. 22: @ Hatton *

Sept. 29: OPEN

Oct. 6: Lexington *

Oct. 13: @ Red Bay *

Oct. 20: @ Addison

Oct. 27: @ Tharptown *

Nov. 3: Winston County

*Region game

His backup will be freshman Landon Jones along with senior Kole Fitzgerald.

RUNNING BACKS

Junior Denver Comstock leads a talented group of players in the running back room. Comstock, who went into last season as the starter, was injured in game one and didn’t return until the season's final week. Senior Malachi Collette, sophomore Brody Bennett and freshman Asher Lentz will join him.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Returning for the Blue Devils will be senior Kole Fitzgerald. Sophomore Ryan Childers and Logan Fowler will step into the lineup alongside Fitzgerald. Senior Jackson Edmonson has a chance to provide

CLASSIFICATION

2A Region 8

FALKVILLE BLUE DEVILS TEAM INFORMATION

2022 RECORD

7-5 (4-2)

HEAD COACH

Seth Ward

RECORD

11-11 (3rd year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Jace Wilemon, Billy Eason, Trace Donahoo, Tim Womack, Chance Ellsworth, Austin Bentley

LAST REGION TITLE

2018

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2022

a big body at the receiver slot. The good thing for us is that we have a lot of options going into the season. How they work through the growing pains will determine how far the offense can go.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Juniors Trey Hemming, Bryant Owens, and Jacob Jackson will lead the offensive line. According to Ward, these three have worked hard this offseason in preparing for their time as starters. Senior Jackson Dabbs, junior Mason Moore and freshman Kash Rowe will join them.

Jackson EDMONSON

2022 RESULTS

“The important thing for us going into the season is finding the right five players to make up our offensive line,” Ward said. “We have some game experience, just not starting experience.”.

“The line will be the strongest unit on the offense,” Ward said. “They have the experience to lead in tough situations.”

Tight ends Elijah Halbrooks and Cedric Beavers will provide additional blocking in the run game.

DEFENSIVE LINE

2022 STATS

Offense

Total Points: 370

Per Game: 30.8

County Rank: 5th

Defense Points Allowed: 246

Per Game: 20.5

County Rank: 5th

5-YEAR WIN TREND

The Blue Devils have been preparing players for the defensive line the last couple of seasons, knowing they would lose all three starters this season. Juniors Hemming, Owens and Jackson, and senior Beavers have plenty of game experience and will get the first look as starters.

LINEBACKERS

Jackson Edmonson returns as the leader of the linebacking unit. He is returning from a knee injury in the final regular season game, which forced him to miss the playoffs last season. Joining him will be Malachi Collett and Levi Lynn as starters. Comstock can step into the fourth position. Sophomores Cash Lawrimore, Thomas Williams and Bennett will provide additional depth.

“The strength of the defense will be our linebackers,” Ward said. “We have a lot of athletic ability in those positions.”

SECONDARY

Replacing Burnett and Warnick, who led the state with 12 interceptions, will be crucial to rebuilding the defensive backfield. Powers and Fitzgerald return to the secondary. Dawson Fowler, Jones, Bennett, Childers and Logan Fowler, and Estabon Rendon are battling for the other sports.

“The competition level in the secondary is really high for us heading into the season,” Ward said. “We have a lot of guys working hard to get one of those starting spots.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

Hemming took over placekicking duties last season and has been working hard to improve heading into this year. Dawson Fowler will handle the punting duties.

BREAKOUT POTENTIAL

Junior Landon Powers has a lot of talent, and now he gets to use those in his role as the Blue Devil’s new quarterback. Whether it is passing the ball or running, he will show off a different skill set than what teams saw last season.

Junior Jacob Jackson is another player who can have a breakout season on the offensive

Landon POWERS

line. He has worked to make himself a better player and become a starter for our offense.

SCHEDULE

The Blue Devils open the season with two rivalry games in Vinemont and Danville. They will provide Falkville with different challenges to prepare them for the early region games. Closing out the non-region schedule will be Addison and Winston County at home.

Region play opens with Sheffield, Tanner and Hatton. The Blue Devils must travel to Sheffield and Hatton while getting Tanner at home. The Blue Devils opened region play 2-1 last season, which included a big win over Hatton that propelled them in the region. The second half of regional play includes Lexington coming to Falkville, while the Blue Devils will have to travel to Red Bay and Tharptown.

Trey HEMMING

AUSTIN BLACK BEARS

By CALEB SUGGS

A

LAY OF THE LAND

Austin will be in Class 7A Region 4 with Albertville, Bob Jones, Florence, Grissom, Huntsville, James Clemens and Sparkman

HEAD COACH

Austin enters its 14th season under Jeremy Perkins. The Black Bears are 90-57 under Perkins with nine playoff appearances.

LAST SEASON

Austin (7-4, 6-1) finished first in Class 7A Region 4 and advanced to the 7A state playoffs.

WORDS TO GROW

"We have the potential to be really good," said Perkins. "We've got a lot of talent, now it's about just putting it together."

QUARTERBACK

Austin will have to replace two year starter De'Air Young. The Black Bears are down to senior Judd Bailey and Junior JL Davis, both of whom Perkins has a lot of confidence in. "Those guys have been getting equal reps all offseason," said Perkins. "We think we can win with both."

OFFENSE

Junior running backs Gavin Fuqua and Kenneth Joshua Jr. are back after contributing as sophomores. Under Perkins the Black Bears have spit out one stellar running back after another and the Fuqua/ Joshua duo has a chance to rank up there with best. "They stepped up last year and we expect them to have an even bigger role and greater impact for the offense this

TEAM INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION

7A Region 4

2022 RECORD

7-4 (6-1)

HEAD COACH

Jeremy Perkins

RECORD

90-57 (14th year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Kinte Welch, Lamont Crittendon, Matthew Humphries, Harold

Wisdom, Terrius Ashford, Steve

Kerby, Malieq Senior, Regan

Carpenter

LAST REGION TITLE

2022

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2022

2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 25: Hartselle

Sept. 1: @ Decatur

Sept. 8: @ Sparkman *

Sept. 15: Florence *

Sept. 22: Albertville *

Sept. 29: @ Gardendale

Oct. 6: @ Grissom *

Oct. 13: James Clemens *

Oct. 20: Bob Jones *

Oct. 27: @ Huntsville *

Nov. 3: OPEN

2022 RESULTS

year," said Perkins. The receiving corp will be led by senior Nick Crayton. Crayton has "racked up college offers" according to Perkins and has "improved in every aspect." Jaxon Potter is also back at receiver and will look to have an even bigger role in the offense. Maurice Jones, arguably the Black Bears' top receiver from last year, has moved to defensive back, but could still see some action on offense. Along the offensive line, Perkins said there's a lot of competition. Seniors Nigel Carter and Jamari Moody are returning starters, while junior Josiah Flood will step into a starting role. Freshman Jacobi Phillips is also expected to secure a starting role. The final spot is still up for grabs.Maddox Mitchell will return at the fullback position.

2022 STATS

Offense

Total points: 277

Per game: 25.2

County rank: 7th

Defense Points allowed: 284

Per game: 25.8

County rank: 7th

5-YEAR WIN TREND

*Region game

Coach Jeremy PERKINS

DEFENSE

Perkins said the defensive backfield, specifically cornerback, was a weakness a season ago, and the team has made moves to improve that. Senior Maurice Jones, a top receiver in 2022, has made the switch to cornerback in 2023. "He'll still play some receiver, but we're excited about what he can do for us at corner," said Perkins. Senior Ethan Wynn will play at the other corner spot. Wynn switched from offense to defense in the middle of last year and played a key role down the stretch.

Seniors Braylon Payton and Easton Palmer both return as starters at safety.

The defense will be led by linebacker

Solomon Lyle and defensive lineman Achillies Woods. Perkins said Lyle is "arguably our best defensive player", while Woods, like Crayton, has "also racked up college offers" this offseason. Jeremiah Carter and Kam'Ron Powell, both seniors, will play the other two linebacker spots.

Reco Willingham, Cortavious Mason and Nathan Taylor will play defensive line.

MUST SEE GAMES

Austin opens the season at home against rival Hartselle on Aug. 25 and then travels to Decatur a week later for the River City Rivalry.

FINAL WORD

Austin has found success within its region in Class 7A, but has still yet to defeat the teams out of Birmingham and advance past the first round of the playoffs. "The move to 7A wasn't a shock to us. When we were 6A, our non-region games were 7A teams that are now in our region," said Perkins. "Where we've had trouble making the adjustment is competing with the 7A region out of Birmingham." "They're our achilles heel right now. We've had some opportunities, but it's an obstacle we haven't been able to get past," Perkins added. "We've been doing everything we can to help us get over that hump and when we do, it's going to propel us."

2023 AUSTIN ROSTER

By CALEB SUGGS

LAY OF THE LAND

WWelcome to a season of change for the Red Raiders.It starts at the top with new head coach Aairon Savage. He follows Jere Adcock who retired after 27 seasons as head coach with 187 wins, 21 playoff appearances and seven region championships.

There will also be a lot of new faces on the field for Savage’s first team. Last year’s team was led by a big senior class that included 17 starters.

HEAD COACH

This is Savage’s first time as a head coach. The former Auburn player has been a college assistant coach at nine different schools. He was a high school assistant coach at Valdosta High in Georgia in 2013.

LAST SEASON

It was a huge bounce back season for the Red Raiders. After three seasons with a combined 8-23 record and one playoff game, Decatur went 9-3 and recorded its first playoff victory since 2018. The Red Raiders opened the season with six straight wins and were ranked at No. 8 in the state.

The three losses included region contests vs. Muscle Shoals and Hartselle and a playoff loss to Gardendale. Those three teams were a combined 32-7 and each team advanced to the third round of the Class 6A playoffs.

2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 19: @ Mae Jemison

Aug. 26: @ Austin

Sept. 2: Athens *

Sept. 9: @ Cullman *

Sept. 16: Hazel Green

Sept. 23: Bye week

Sept. 30: @ Columbia *

Oct. 7: Muscle Shoals *

Oct. 14: @ Hartselle *

Oct. 21: Buckhorn

Oct. 28: Scottsboro

*Region game

LAST THREE SEASONS

Decatur is 15-18 over the last three seasons with two trips to the playoffs (1-2).

WORDS TO GROW ON

“It’s really good to see these kids come in here every day and work hard to get better. I’m excited to play some football,” Savage said.”

QUARTERBACK

There has been a two-way battle to replace three-year starter Ellis Dickman. The Daily’s Class 5A-7A Player of the Year accounted for 2,423 yards and 27 touchdowns. The top candidates to replace Dickman are senior Bradin Dupper and junior Zayne Pointer.

OFFENSE

For the last several seasons the Red Raiders have lined up in the spread formation, but still featured a physical running attack. It’s difficult to imagine

CLASSIFICATION

6A Region 7

DECATUR RED RAIDERS TEAM INFORMATION

2022 RECORD

9-3 (3-2)

HEAD COACH

Aairon Savage

RECORD

0-0 (1st year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Damian Dorsey, Riley Adcock, Greg Willard, Zach Meadows, Kevin Lockhart, Tucker Dodd, Ryan Watson, Austin Dupper, Marquavious King, Ashley Muller-Lawrence

LAST STATE TITLE

1971

LAST REGION TITLE

2007

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2022

Devin HALEY

2022 RESULTS

2022 STATS

Offense

Total Points: 420

Per Game: 35.0 County Rank: 4th

Points Allowed: 228 Per Game: 19.0

Rank: 4th

the Red Raiders going in a new direction in Savage’s first season. When asked to describe his offense, Savage says “one that protects the football.” Look for ball security to play a big part in deciding if it will be Dupper or Pointer at quarterback.

5-YEAR WIN TREND

Senior Dayton Swoopes does give the Red Raiders some experience at running back. In the early part of the 2022 season, Swoopes became the starter when then-senior Ryan Kirk went down with an injury that cost him a handful of games before returning. Another senior playmaker to watch for is Wyatt Smith at receiver. He was a 6-foot-5 tight end last season. He could have more opportunities to line up at wide receiver this season. How well the Red Raiders

move the football depends on the offensive line. Experience returns in the line with seniors Crawford Fite, Reeves Hardin, Luke Bouchillon and sophomore Harris Penley.

The offensive coordinator duties will be split between new assistant head coach Damian Dorsey and Riley Adcock, Jere Adcock’s son. Tucker Dodd is the new offensive line coach.

Ryan Watson is coaching running backs and Austin Dupper coaches the tight ends.

DEFENSE

There are a lot of changes on this side of the ball for the Red Raiders. Start with new defensive coordinator Greg Willard, who comes over from Austin.

Last season’s depth chart featured seniors at all but two positions. The returning starters should be in the middle of the action based on their positions. Kolby Brown (Sr.) is back at nose guard. Tommy Cazier (Sr.) is the middle linebacker. Chandler Moore (Sr.) should also play a big role on defense.

Veteran Decatur assistant Kevin Lockhart is coaching the defensive line. Marquavious King is coaching the outside linebackers. Zach Meadows coaches the inside linebackers and is also the special teams coordinator.

MUST-SEE GAMES

Start with the season opener at Ogle Stadium vs. Mae Jemison. It will be the first season opener since 1995 without Adcock leading the Red Raiders. In 1995, Bill Clinton was President, the Atlanta Braves won the World Series and Nebraska won the college football national championship.

The second game of the season is a home game vs. cross-town rival Austin. Last season, Decatur beat Austin, 2814, to snap the Black Bears’ seven-game winning streak over the Red Raiders.

FINAL WORD

“I’m excited to see this team grow each day. We’re a young team with not a lot of experience," Savage said. "I feel like we have the pieces. We just need to figure out the best way to fit them together.”

2023 DECATUR ROSTER

Coach Aairon SAVAGE

DECATUR HERITAGE EAGLES

By CALEB SUGGS

LAY OF THE LAND

Decatur Heritage will be in Class 1A Region 7 with Appalachian, Cedar Bluff, Coosa Christian, Gaylesville, Valley Head and Woodville.

WHEAD COACH

Decatur Heritage enters its second season under Nikita Stover. The Eagles went 4-6 in 2022.

LAST SEASON

Decatur Heritage (4-6, 2-4) finished sixth in Class 1A Region 7.

WORDS TO GROW ON

Stover is entering his second season as head coach at Decatur Heritage. The Eagles went 4-6 in his first season, but the record can be misleading. The team,

which featured few seniors and a host of underclassmen, lost four games by 10 or less points.

"We had several games that came down to the last minute and 30 seconds," said Stover. "We were just such a young team that we struggled to finish."

"There's a sense of hunger to go out and prove ourselves this year," Stover added.

QUARTERBACK

The Eagles will have to replace Bo Solley, an honorable mention All-State player who threw for 1989 yards and 22 touchdowns last season and also ran for 522 yards and five scores. Nash Thomas, a sophomore, will be the new starter with

C O ME S E E U S

TEAM INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION

1A Region 7

2022 RECORD

4-6 (2-4)

HEAD COACH

Nikita Stover

RECORD

4-6 (2nd year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Desmond Richardson, Ethan Bates, TJ McGee, Dale Rock, Jacoby Moody, Chad Taylor

LAST REGION TITLE

2021

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2021

Jordan Davis, a freshman right behind. "Nash is our guy right now but we want to bring Jordan along because if he can play, that allows us to move Nash all over the field at other positions," said Stover.

OFFENSE

Among the numerous players coming back this year will be running back Savarius Evans who rushed for 825 yards and six touchdowns last season as an eighth grader. Stover said he believes Evans is "one of the better running backs in North Alabama."

Also back is the team's leading receiver Jaxon Thomas who caught 39 passes for 646 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for 422 yards and five touchdowns.

Daniel "Bubba" Taylor will also be back at running back, while Harrison Hardy will play receiver, Xavier Johnson and John Owen Vinson will play receiver. Connor Sivley will be a tight end Jake Belcher, Trey Letson will return along the offensive line. Jonathan Bowling and Sam Cochran will play as well.

2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 25: Section

Sept. 1: @ Carbon Hill

Sept. 8: Valley Head *

Sept. 15: @ Coosa Christian *

Sept. 22: Cedar Bluff *

Sept. 29: @ New Hope

Oct. 6: @ Appalachian *

Oct. 13: Woodville *

Oct. 20: Gaylesville *

Oct. 27: OPEN

Nov. 3: Colbert Heights

*Region game

DEFENSE

Sevarius Evans also returns on defense at linebacker where he recorded 62 tackles and two interceptions. Jaxon Thomas also returns in the secondary after recording 61 tackles. Jayden Cooper and Nash Thomas will play safety, while Dylan Germany and Ian Wickmire will play at linebacker. Luke McGee played offensive and defensive line

Coach Nikita STOVER

2022 RESULTS

2022 STATS

last year, but will play solely defense this year. Sam Cochran will split time on the offensive and defensive line, as will Jonathan Bowling.

MUST SEE GAMES

5-YEAR WIN TREND

Decatur Heritage plays Valley Head and Coosa Christian, last year's top two region teams, on Sept. 8 and Sept. 15 respectively.

FINAL WORD

"I feel like leadership was something that we struggled with last year," saod Stover.

"We've had some guys really step up this offseason. Guys like Jacob Belcher, Trey Letson and Jonathan Bowling are all working like they're seniors and I think it's going to make a big difference."

"We had a lot of young guys step up last year and that year of growth is so important," Stover said. "As I said before, we were young and we struggled to close out games. But we've been prioritizing finishing and once these guys figure that out, I think they're going to see how good they can be."

2023 DECATUR HERITAGE ROSTER

2 Jaxon Thomas WR/DB 12

3 Dalton Gay WR/DB 10

Ian WICKWIRE

By CALEB SUGGS

WLAY OF THE LAND

West Morgan will be in Class 4A Region 7 with Brooks, Central-Florence, Deshler, East Lawrence, Rogers, West Limestone and Wilson.

HEAD COACH

West Morgan enters its third season under Drew Phillips. The Rebels are 15-7 with a playoff appearance under Phillips.

LAST SEASON

West Morgan (10-2, 6-1) finished second in Class 4A Region 7 and advanced to the second round of the 4A state playoffs.

WORDS TO GROW ON

After a 5-5 season in Phillips' first year, West Morgan exploded for a 10-2 record in

2022. The Rebels return a lot of key players in 2023 and won't be flying under the radar like they were in 2022. "We just try to keep tunnel vision and not worry about the expectations of everyone around us," said Phillips. "We appreciate the support we have, but when it gets down to it, what matters is what's in the locker room."

QUARTERBACK

Quarterback Braxton Peters is back after being responsible for 18 total touchdowns. It will be Peters' third season as starter and Phillips said that the soon to be senior signal caller has improved dramatically as a passer. "He's really stepped up as a passer and I think that's going to help us open up our offense."

TEAM INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION

4A Region 7

2022 RECORD

10-2

HEAD COACH

Drew Phillips

RECORD

15-7 (3rd year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Caleb Graham, Cameron

Doerflinger, Spencer Davis, Russ Freeman, Bradley Willis, Bryan Styles, Philip Banks, Taylor Warren, DJ McGuire, Chuck Thompson

LAST REGION TITLE

2017

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2022

2023 SCHEDULE

Aug. 25: @ Randolph

Sept. 1: Ardmore

Sept. 8: @ Brooks *

Sept. 15: Central Florence *

Sept. 22: @ Rogers *

Sept. 29: OPEN

Oct. 6: Deshler *

Oct. 13: @ West Limestone *

Oct. 20: @ East Lawrence *

Oct. 27: Wilson *

Nov. 3: @ Haleyville *Region

2022 RESULTS

2022 STATS

Offense

Total Points: 500

Per Game: 41.7

County Rank: 1st

Defense Points Allowed: 155

Per Game: 12.9

County Rank: 1st

5-YEAR WIN TREND

OFFENSE

Senior running back Jalen Fletcher is back after a historic junior season. In 2022 the second-team Class 4A All-State selection had 2,107 all-purpose yards with 24 touchdowns. He rushed for 17 TDs, had four receiving, returned two punts for scores and one kickoff for a touchdown. He averaged 176 yards per game and 9.6 yards per touch.

Phillips said the team is working on moving him around this year between running back and receiver so he can be even more dangerous in the offense. Jeremy Strong, a talented player according to Phillips, will play running back and receiver as well. Ja'Maury Burgess is back at receiver as is Tiarrous Mosley. Kaylin Daniels will also play at receiver. Along the offensive line, Wiley Garrison will return at guard, Melvin Carrillo at center and Jacobie Fletcher.

The other spots could go to any number of guys that include Daniel Davis, Krishawn Goode, Maddox Maples, Easton Hutto, Connor Rikard and Zavian Martin.

DEFENSE

Along with his role at receiver, Ja'Maury Burgess will also start in the defensive back-

field. Wes Bradford, a starting safety a season ago, will also be back. Tyshon Tucker and Shone TapScott will fill roles in the secondary as well. Ty Jones is back at inside linebacker after an All-State season in 2022. Lou Segar returns at outside linebacker as does Sharmarvion Mosely. Many of the same guys that rotate along the offensive line, will play defensive line as well.

MUST SEE GAMES

West Morgan's game vs. Deshler decided the region in 2022 and will likely again in 2023. That game will take place on Oct. 6 at West Morgan. The Rebels will open region play at Brooks on Sept. 8.

FINAL WORD

After a breakout year that saw the Rebels win 10 games and narrowly lose to eventual state finalist Cherokee County in the playoffs, West Morgan is poised for an even bigger season in 2023. "What is benefitting us is we have a lot of guys that have played in some big games," said Phillips. "I feel like that's going to allow us to play fast, physical and disciplined."

* Playoff game

Jeremy STRONG

STATE RECORDS Morgan County

INDIVIDUALS

OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED, Game

52 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage vs Ragland, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED, Season

212 - Asa Martin, Austin, 2017

208 - Mason Cartee, Priceville, 2021

206 - Jerry Burton, Priceville, 2019

198 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWNS, Game

8 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage vs Ragland, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWNS, Season

34 - Jerry Burton, Priceville, 2019

33 - Mason Cartee, Priceville, 2021

30 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

OFFENSE - TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS ACCOUNTED FOR, Game

11 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage vs Ragland, 2021

8 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville vs J.B. Pennington, 2015

OFFENSE - TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS ACCOUNTED FOR, Season

68 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

52 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2015

OFFENSE - TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS ACCOUNTED FOR, Career

121 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2020-21

OFFENSE - MOST FIELD GOALS MADE, Game

5 - Josh Woodard, Decatur vs Grissom, 2001

4 - Chip Walters, Decatur vs Lee-Huntsville, 1997

OFFENSE - LONGEST FIELD GOAL MADE, Game

55 - Josh Woodard, Decatur vs Bob Jones, 2001

51 - Josh Woodard, Decatur vs Grissom, 2001

51 - Crawford Lang, Hartselle vs Briarwood, 2020

OFFENSE - MOST FIELD GOALS OVER 50 YARDS, Season

2 - Josh Woodard, Decatur, 2001

OFFENSE - MOST POINTS KICKING, Game

16 - Chip Walters, Decatur vs Lee-Huntsville, 1997

15 - Josh Woodard, Decatur vs Grissom, 2001

OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWNS RUSHING, Game

8 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage vs Ragland, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWNS RUSHING, Season

- Jerry Burton, Priceville, 2019

- Mason Cartee, Priceville, 2021

- Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RUSHING, Season

2,510 - Jerry Burton, Priceville, 2019

2,363 - Mason Cartee, Priceville, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RUSHING, Career

5,019 - Jerry Burton, Priceville, 2018-20

4,025 - Mason Cartee, Priceville, 2021-22

OFFENSE - HIGHEST YARDS PER CARRY, Season

14.2 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

11.8 - Ri Fletcher, Hartselle, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST RUSHING ATTEMPTS, Game

43 - Jerry Burton, Priceville vs North Jackson, 2019

42 - TC Lowe, Austin vs Bob Jones, 2015

40 - Jerry Burton, Priceville vs St. John Paul II, 2019

OFFENSE - MOST RUSHING ATTEMPTS, Season

347 - Jerry Burton, Priceville, 2019

296 - Mason Cartee, Priceville, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST RUSHING ATTEMPTS, Career

763 - Jerry Burton, Priceville, 2018-20

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS PASSING, Game

503 - Aaron Dove, Falkville vs Coosa Christian, 2018

489 - Chance Ellsworth, Priceville vs Danville, 2011

442 - Aaron Dove, Falkville vs Decatur Heritage, 2018

410 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville vs West Morgan, 2015

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS PASSING, Season

3,021 - Aaron Dove, Falkville, 2018

2,985 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

2,848 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2015

2,752 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2020

2,480 - Jack Smith, Hartselle, 2022

2,317 - Caden Burnett, Falkville, 2022

2,180 - JT Blackwood, Hartselle, 2021

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS PASSING, Career

6,666 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2012-15

6,394 - Chris Sparkman, Austin, 2010-13

5,737 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2020-21

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS PASSING BY 2 QBs IN SAME GAME

932 - Aaron Dove (503), Falkville & Caiden Lipscomb (429), Coosa Christian, 2018

OFFENSE - MOST PASSES ATTEMPTED, Career

739 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2012-15

OFFENSE - MOST PASSES COMPLETED, Game

31 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville vs J.B. Pennington, 2015

OFFENSE - MOST PASSES COMPLETED, Season

182 - Aaron Dove, Falkville, 2018

181 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2015

OFFENSE - MOST PASSES COMPLETED, Career

524 - Chris Sparkman, Austin, 2010-13

432 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2012-15

OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES THROWN, Game

8 - Aaron Dove, Falkville vs Coosa Christian, 2018

7 - Aaron Dove, Falkville vs Decatur Heritage, 2018

OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES THROWN, Season

46 - Aaron Dove, Falkville, 2018

38 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

34 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2020

31 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2015

OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES THROWN, Career

85 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2012-15

72 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2020-21

52 - Chris Sparkman, Austin, 2010-13

OFFENSE - PASS COMPLETION PCT. (Minimum 175 attempts), Season

70.3 - Aaron Dove, Falkville, 2018

OFFENSE - PASS COMPLETION PCT. (Minimum 500 attempts), Career

58.5 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2012-15

OFFENSE - MOST PASS RECEPTIONS, Game

16 - Martin Warren, Austin vs Hartselle, 2003

OFFENSE - MOST PASS RECEPTIONS, Season

86 - Martin Warren, Austin, 2003

71 - Izayah Fletcher, Hartselle, 2022

64 - Malieq Senior, Austin, 2016

60 - Noah Holmes, Falkville, 2018

OFFENSE - MOST PASS RECEPTIONS, Career

198 - Izayah Fletcher, Hartselle, 2019-22

172 - Martin Warren, Austin, 2001-03

OFFENSE - MOST PASS RECEPTIONS FOR TOUCHDOWNS, Game

4 - Christian Angulo, Falkville vs Coosa Christian, 2018

4 - Nick Bell, Priceville vs Danville, 2011

4 - Isaiah Warnick, Falkville vs Lexington, 2022

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RECEIVING, Game

303 - Isaiah Warnick, Falkville vs Lexington, 2022

246 - Noah Holmes, Falkville vs Decatur Heritage, 2018

246 - Herman Banks, Hartselle vs Austin, 1995

237 - Nick Bell, Priceville vs Danville, 2011

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RECEIVING, Season

1,217 - Isaiah Warnick, Falkville, 2022

1,188 - Martin Warren, Austin, 2003

1,125 - Noah Holmes, Falkville, 2018

1,112 - Tre Shackleford, Austin, 2020

1,064 - Malieq Senior, Austin, 2016

1,031 - John Hardin, Falkville, 1999

1,018 - Christian Angulo, Falkville, 2018

1,014 - Eli Tidwell, Hartselle, 2022

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RECEIVING, Career

2,971 - Izayah Fletcher, Hartselle, 2019-22

2,270 - Martin Warren, Austin, 2001-03

TOTAL OFFENSE (Rushing, Passing & Receiving), Game

629 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage vs Ragland, 2021

596 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville vs J.B. Pennington, 2015

585 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville vs West Morgan, 2015

527 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage vs Marion County, 2021

489 - Chance Ellsworth, Priceville vs Danville, 2011

450 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville vs Westminster Christian, 2015

TOTAL OFFENSE (Rushing, Passing & Receiving), Season

4,563 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

4,343 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2015

ALL-PURPOSE YARDS (Rushing, Passing, Receiving, KO & Punt Returns), Season

4,563 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2021

4,343 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2015

3,805 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2020

2,680 - Justin Youngblood, Hartselle, 2006

ALL-PURPOSE YARDS (Rushing, Passing, Receiving, KO & Punt Returns), Career

9,782 - Kaleb Barker, Priceville, 2012-15

8,368 - Brayden Kyle, Decatur Heritage, 2020-21

DEFENSE - MOST INTERCEPTIONS, Game

4 - Jerry Tomlin, Falkville vs Holly Pond, 1997

DEFENSE - LONGEST INTERCEPTION RECEPTION RETURNED FOR TOUCHDOWN

103 - Isaiah Warnick, Falkville vs Tanner, 2022

DEFENSE - MOST TACKLES, Game

27 - Josh Staggs, West Morgan vs Colbert Heights, 1999

LONGEST KICKOFF RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN, Game 99 - Jarraud Powers, Decatur vs Hartselle, 2004

TEAM

OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED (By Both Teams), Game

136 - Decatur Heritage (76) & Ragland (60), 2021

111 - West Morgan (57) & Brewer (54), 2019

111 - Falkville (70) & Decatur Heritage (41), 2018

109 - Priceville (68) & J.B. Pennington, 2015

101 - Priceville (58) & Rogers (43), 2021

OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED (By Losing Team), Game

54 - Brewer vs West Morgan, 2019

OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED, Season

591 - Austin, 2017

573 - Falkville, 2018

559 - Decatur Heritage, 2021

537 - Hartselle, 2022

535 - Decatur Heritage, 2015

509 - Hartselle, 2011

OFFENSE - MOST YARDS PASSING, Game 503 - Falkville vs Coosa Christian, 2018

OFFENSE - MOST PASSING YARDS, GAME (BOTH TEAMS)

932 - Falkville (503) vs Coosa Christian (429), 2018

OFFENSE - MOST COMPLETIONS, Game 31 - Priceville vs J.B. Pennington, 2015

OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES, Game 8 - Falkville vs Coosa Christian, 2018

8 - Falkville vs Decatur Heritage, 2018

OFFENSE - MOST FIELD GOALS, Game 5 - Decatur vs Grissom, 2001

DEFENSE - FEWEST FIRST DOWNS ALLOWED, Game 0 - Decatur vs Lee-Huntsville, 1995

COACHING

COACHING - MOST CAREER WINS (More than 50% in AHSAA)

253 - H.L. “Shorty” Ogle, 1929-63, Hanceville & Decatur, (253-77-17, .767)

210 - Bob Godsey, 1998-2021, Brooks, Hartselle & Madison Academy, (210-75, .737)

203 - Earl Webb, 1952-80, Falkville, Arab, Lanett & Decatur, (203-9214, 680)

178 - Jere Adcock, 1996-2022, Decatur, (187-120, .609)

COACHING - BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE (Minimum 100 Wins in AHSAA)

78.5 - Andro Williams, Linden, W.S. Neal, Danville (113-31)

78.5 - John Edward “Hot” O’Brien, Falkville, Tallapoosa Co., Tallassee (157-40-8)

75.9 - Hugh O’Shields, Hanceville, Decatur (244-73)

75.4 - H.L. “Shorty” Ogle, Hanceville, Decatur (253-77-17)

SUPER 7

INDIVIDUAL - LONGEST FIELD GOAL

47 YDS - Gavin Nash, 5A: Hartselle vs Vigor, 2011

TEAM - MOST FIELD GOALS

2 - 5A: Hartselle vs Vigor, 2011

TEAM - LONGEST FIELD GOAL

47 YDS - 5A: Hartselle vs Vigor, 2011