FASHION

Members of the 2021 Mountain Brook High School varsity football team are: Wilder Hines, John Mcmillan, Davis Peterson, Trent Wright, Jake Thompson, Braxton Dean, Mac Mccowan, George Cain, Jones Beavers, Adair Wade, Benjamin Parrott, Kaleb Osborn, Michael Lorino, John Colvin, Reed Harradine, Grady Breland, Jacob Rosenthal, Palin Wilkinson, Jackson Beatty, Coleman Clay, Rob Gillespie, Mac Palmer, Sims Brown, Wells Marks, John Cooper, Joseph Kunze, Will Waldrop, Cole Gamble, Will McIlvaine, Clyde Beavers, Clark Sanderson, Duncan Hulsey, Drew Widener, Evan Bibb, Jackson Burwell, JB Cook, Heath Griffin, Quinn Thomas, Jack King, Alexander Horn, Hudson Young, Slate Sokol, Laurence Barringer, Elliott Bloomston, George Lloyd, Tucker Crawford, Sam Edmunds, JC Adams, Simms Sledge, Gri Cashio, Jack Currie, Charlie Elliott, William Halsey, Ward Holt, Richard Crommelin, Jack Donahue, Vaughn Frost, Glen Hale, Ham Mandell, Sellers Neuendorf, Andrew Naftel, Pete Fruin, Pelham Comer, Carter Kelley, Jackson Short, Sam Hunt, Will Cain, Charlie Comer, Trent Hirn, Joe Green, Billy Radney, William-Grier McDuffie, Ben Burkhart, Wil Lucas, Luke Christopher, John Littleton, Wyatt Brooks, Henry Boehme, Richard Kinsaul, Will Brower, Mac Smith, William Courtenay, Sam Mcpherson, Campbell Miller, Charles Smith, Tompkins Richardson, Watts Alexander, John Abele, Nelson Crawford, Carter Colvin, Rickey Whitworth, John Hendry, Will Troiano, William Tomlin, Drew Bodnar, Nathan Krueger, Will Monroe, Rudy Harrison, Geoffrey Cook, Benjamin Payne, James Hard, Alex Abele, David Miller, Andrew Marks, Ethan Wint, Edward Barze, Jack Windle, Gray Doster, Parker Avery, Grant Johnson, Carl Evans, Max Baltz, Carter Drew, Billy Hoyt, Fields Mendelsohn and Hart James.

Inexperienced Spartans Embracing the Challenge

By RuBin E. GRant mountain brook KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

If ever a coach could say his team is in a rebuilding mode, it’s Mountain Brook’s Chris Yeager.

The Spartans graduated 36 seniors from their team that went 12-2 and reached the Class 6A semifinals in 2020.

But Yeager isn’t feeling sorry for himself going into the 2021 season. He’s just the opposite, embracing the challenge ahead.

“We’re going to have a lot of new faces, but that’s fun to me, to see guys get excited about competing and about playing,” Yeager said. “It’s exciting to see a bunch of guys who hadn’t experienced what it’s like to play on Friday nights get excited about it. It’s also exciting to see who are going to be the new leaders to emerge.”

The Spartans will have more than 30 seniors again this season, but they are not as seasoned as the seniors from last season.

“We’re going to have some new guys who have to step up,” Yeager said.

Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the 2021 Spartans:

Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

2021 SCHEDULE

Aug. 20 Vestavia 33 - 3 (W) Aug. 27 @Huntsville Sept. 2 Woodlawn* Sept. 10 Huffman* Sept. 17 @Shades Valley* Sept. 24 Thompson Oct. 7 Briarwood* Oct. 14 @Homewood* Oct. 22 @Chelsea* Oct. 28 Austin

*Conference game

mountain brook

AT A GLANCE

Head Coach: Chris Yeager 2020 Record: 12-2 Region: Class 6A Region 5: Homewood, Chelsea, Shades Valley, Huffman, Briarwood and Woodlawn. Stadium: Spartan Stadium (4,500) OFFENSE

Quarterback

The Spartans have to replace Strother Gibbs, a multi-dimensional three-year starter, at quarterback.

Junior John Colvin has emerged as the starter, ahead of junior Benjamin Parrott and sophomore John Cooper on the depth chart.

“John (Colvin) is very cerebral,” Yeager said. “He’s a great processor of what we’re doing and he makes good decisions.”

Parrott and Cooper are capable backups, according to Yeager.

“Ben is a good runner and good athlete,” he said. “John is a mixture of the two. We’ve got to get him prepared to play at this level.”

Running Back

Sophomore Cole Gamble figures to be the Spartans’ primary ball carrier in the running game.

“He’s a little different from running backs we’ve had in the past,” Yeager said. “He’s got a burst. He’s got great straight-ahead speed. He’s very talented.”

Juniors Will Waldrop, Heath Griffin and Evan Bibb are also in the mix. Seniors George Cain and