Lee-Scott Football Playing Next Man Up in Mission to Repeat Smiths Station Anticipates Year One Under Garrison

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE PBSERVER

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

OPELIKA ––

Lee-Scott football has the task of replacing last year’s senior class of 18, including AISA Back of the Year George Myers, in its search for a second consecutive state championship.

The Warriors have just seven seniors this year, but according to head coach Buster Daniel at iHeart Media Days last Wednesday, the seniors last year laid the groundwork for this team and future teams to be successful by setting the standard in a 13-0 season that ended with an AISA 3A State Championship.

The coaches made sure to have the future in mind last season and regularly gave underclassmen playing experience. That was, of course, made a little easier considering the Warriors won every game by double digits.

“We were lucky enough to get a lot of guys that start this year in games last year,” said defensive coordinator Jacob Ozment. “We’ve got a lot of guys with in-game experience from last season that weren’t necessarily starters but got 75+ snaps on the defensive side while scores were close.”

Pitching seven shutouts last season, Lee-Scott has a lot to replace on the defensive end. Ozment the goal of returning to the playoffs in 2023, Opelika, like any high school football program, will have to replace the talent lost from its 2022 roster. The graduation of 2022 All-Stars Brenton Williams (defensive end) and Tae Gay (linebacker) leaves a 450-pound-sized hole in the middle of the Bulldog defense. And the graduated Jakori Thornton and Caden Cooper vacate a large chunk of carries and receptions handled by the Bulldog’s offensive weapons in 2022.

While Speakman said the Bulldog’s senior class is “not as big,” he emphasized that “the quality is there.”

And with the return 20 players who Speakman said named several guys as key returners, including senior defensive back Miles Zachry, senior linebacker Jonathan Meyers and junior defensive back Tyler Kennedy.

Zachry is also going to be on the other side of the ball at receiver, but he’s also taken snaps at quarterback. He is versatile on the field, but when Daniel introduced him at media days, he introduced him as the first pilot he’s ever coached. Zachry has had his pilot license for about three years, and he’s not even out of high school. And this season, he’s trying to lift the Warriors to their first ever back-to-back state titles in football.

“Last year, we put in a ton of extra work to maintain those shutout games,” Zachry said. “Coach Oz and coach (Clay) Samford, they do a great job of getting us ready each week. I think if we just keep that up, we’ll have another good season.”

Under offensive coordinator Rick Wade, LeeScott set a school record, scoring 44 points a game last season. But it’s taking a team effort to make up for the losses on offense last season, too.

It will be tough to replace the production of last year’s AISA top running back with just one guy, so the Warriors have three guys rotating in the backfield: (Jonathan) Meyers, Kennedy and junior Banks played significant snaps last year, the head coach hopes Opelika will have an experience edge on some of its competition this season.

“We have some dogs on the team and we aren’t scared of anybody on the schedule,” said senior defensive back Jamarcus Phillips.

Along with Gagliano and Phillips, look for junior defensive linemen Malik Autry, E’Mauri Smiley, Allen Jackson and Jakii Lightfoot, junior athlete Makai Simpson and junior running back Calvin Hughley to make their presence known for Opelika in 2023.

“This group has done a great job in the offseason,” Speakman said. “We start back August 7, so at this point the focus now is on doing the little things right. Making sure we are here

Sims.

They also have the luxury of a returning quarterback, junior Pelzer Reeves, and Ozment said the starting job is his to lose.

The Warriors know they are the team to beat in AISA 3A this season after dominating everyone but Glenwood by more than 30 points, and defeating Glenwood twice — the latter time for a state championship.

“I think our guys know how important it is for them to step into so many roles that have been opened from guys that have left from last season,” Ozment said. “We’re fortunate that coach Daniel encourages us as coaches to keep challenging players each day to be proud of what all was accomplished last season but remember that last season, was last season. We’re going to get everyone’s best game each week. Who wouldn’t want to knock off the defending champions?”

LEE-SCOTT ACADEMY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:

- Aug. 17: vs. Chambers Academy

- Aug. 24: OPEN

- Sept. 1: vs. Monroe

- Sept. 8: vs. Morgan

- Sept. 15: @ Glenwood

- Sept. 22: vs. Macon-East

- Sept. 29: @ Autauga

- Oct. 6: vs. Bessemer

- Oct. 13: @ Valiant Cross

- Oct. 20: @ Fort Dale

- Oct. 27: @ Edgewood on time, acting right in the classroom, all the things we talk about as far as off the field that translates to success on the field. With this schedule, every week is a new challenge with a really good team in front of you, so we will focus on that, play it out on Friday(s) and start it over on Monday(s).”

OPELIKA FOOTBALL

SCHEDULE:

- Aug. 25 (neutral) vs.

Thompson

- Aug. 31 @ Jefferson

Davis

- Sept. 8 vs. Lee

- Sept. 15 @ Central Phenix City

- Sept. 22 vs. Prattville

- Sept. 29 @ Theodore

- Oct. 6 vs. Auburn

- Oct. 13 @ Smiths

Station

- Oct. 20 @ Enterprise

- Oct. 27 vs. Dothan

BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER

SMITHS STATION —

After taking the head coaching job of Smiths Station football in February, Bryant Garrison is paving a new path forward for the Panthers.

In a tough 7A Region 2 consisting of powerhouses like Central, Auburn and Opelika, Garrison wants to instill in his players a mindset that they can compete with even the toughest competition. He said he knows it will take time, though, as the Panthers went 1-9 last season and haven’t won multiple region games since 2018. They last defeated Auburn in 2013, while they last beat Central in 2008.

“The main thing I wanted to do when I come in, and the players can attest to this too, we wanted to change the culture and change the narrative about Smiths Station, who Smiths Station is and who Smiths Station is going to be going forward,” Garrison said at High School Media Days in Opelika on Wednesday, July 26.

Garrison knows a thing or two about programs rising to prominence. He saw it happen as a graduate assistant at the University of Alabama, and he’s looking to repeat that process at Smiths Station.

After graduating with a masters degree in kinesiology from Alabama, he became the equipment manager for the football team in 2004 under then-head coach Mike Shula. When Nick Saban took over in 2007,

GLENWOOD >> FROM B2

emphasis on physicality up front on both sides of the ball after he feels they got dominated in the run game by Lee-Scott, and they have the tools for it.

Returning on defense to bolster Glewnwood’s defense is R.J. Williams at defensive end, Marquel Robinson on the defensive line, Lamont Burton II at linebacker, Jaxson Griggs at corner and Thet Morris, who moved from receiver to safety.

Offensively, the Gators have three returning offensive lineman: Will Johnson at center, Wyatt Taylor at

Garrison was promoted to graduate assistant and worked with the defensive backs alongside Kirby Smart, where he got his passion for great defense.

That was before it became “cool” to go to Alabama, but he was there when the Tide won its first National Championship under Saban in 2009, too. He said he is able to take bits and pieces of what Saban did and apply it in his own way, but he was able to work with Smart a lot closer.

“Coach Smart really helped me as far as safety play,” Garrison said. “I’ve always been kind of a secondary guy, and especially with the safeties. But just learning how to build a program because I was there when Alabama really wasn’t Alabama the way it is today. That’s because of the foundation it built back in 2007.

“I think that [Saban] changed the culture there, too. That’s the first thing he did — the weight room, the work ethic and the attention to detail, not only from a football standpoint but just going about your day-to-day business you have that sense of urgency to always want to do your job and make sure you do it right.”

One way Garrison is instilling the value of hard work is by changing the work out routine.

Smiths Station built a new weight room in the offseason, and Garrison is preaching to his team the self-inflicted wounds that come from cutting corners in all areas of life — with the classroom translating to the weight room and vice guard and senior Wesley Graham rotating between guard and tackle. Graham is the latest of his family to have big expectations at Glenwood, following his brothers Ben and Will who formerly started on the Gators’ o-line.

“As I like to say, it’s time for him to dominate football games up front,” Nelson said of Graham.

In year two under Nelson, the Gators are confident in their leadership and look like a threat to make another run to the state championship. This time, it’s about finding out how to win it.

“We’re not changing a whole lot,” Nelson said. “If

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE PBSERVER

versa. The new weight room also appeals to the players, who’s faces lit up on stage at High School Media Day at the mention of it.

With Garrison’s leadership, the Panthers look forward to seeing the product of their work on the field starting in August.

“I think we have a lot of maturity on the defensive side of the ball,” said senior linebacker Lance Peterson. “Offensively, we’re getting a new system and a new offensive coordinator, and we’ve really embraced his schemes. We’ve got a taste of what it’s like to be elite this year, and I think it’s safe to say we’re definitely striving toward that and we’re expecting good results.”

Smiths Station’s sole win last year was a 30-21 defeat of region foe Prattville in week three, which the Panthers are looking to build off of this year.

“The way we’ve been working all summer, I don’t think nobody in our area works harder than us,” said junior running back Quenton Brooks. “I will say that this year, we’ll have a much better season than last year.”

SMITHS STATION FOOTBALL

SCHEDULE:

- Aug. 25: vs. Pleasant Grove

- Sept. 1: @ Central - Sept. 8: @ Prattville

- Sept. 15: vs. Enterprise

- Sept. 22: @ Dothan

- Sept. 29: vs. Benjamin Russell

- Oct. 6: OPEN

- Oct. 13: vs. Opelika

- Oct. 20: vs. Jefferson Davis

- Oct. 28: @ Lee

Nov. 3: vs. Auburn it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

So, you know, we’re just going to work and try to make this 2023 team the best team that we can possibly make. The goal hasn’t changed. We’re trying to win it all.”

GLENWOOD FOOTBALL

SCHEDULE:

- Aug. 18: vs. St.

Anne-Pacelli

- Aug. 25: @ Brookstone

- Sept. 1: @ Fort Dale

- Sept. 8: @ Bessemer

- Sept. 15: vs. Lee-Scott

- Sept. 22: OPEN

- Sept. 29: vs. Valiant

Cross

- Oct. 6: @ Monroe

- Oct. 13: vs. Autauga

- Oct. 20: vs. Morgan

- Oct. 27: @ Chambers

WORLD SERIES >>

the stage for the young athletes.

Amidst rain delays on both Friday and Saturday and enduring scorching heats, these dedicated young men gave it their all on the field. Despite the challenges, they left it all behind — dirty, sweaty and exhausted — but filled with cherished memories of a week spent competing at the highest level.