SHELBY COUNT Y
2024
ROAD TO THE TOP
Helena’s JT Alvis leads talent across the county reaching for glory
BEHIND THE LIGHTS
Breaking down all 14 teams
NEWBOY ON THE BLOCK Auburn commit Fegans ready to lead Thompson
Thompson’s Anquon Fegans goes deep on what makes him one of the nation’s best
Romello Cooper’s college football dreams lead to rapid ascent and leadership role with Chelsea
The 10 best matchups for the 2024 season
STAFF
EDITORIAL
Anna Grace Moore
Donald Mottern
Rachel Raiford
Mackenzee Simms
Andrew Simonson
Noah Wortham
PRODUCTION
Sydney Allen
Jamie Dawkins
Rowan Futrell
Connor Martin-Lively
MARKETING
Octavia Campbell
Evann Campbell
Michaela Bankston
Rachel Henderson
Rhett McCreight
Viridiana Romero
ADMINISTRATIVE
Alec Etheredge
Stacey Meadows
Mary Jo Eskridge
Lauren Morris
Kayla Reeves
Leslie Reeves
Brittany Schofield
SCNI
Shelby County Newsmedia, Inc.
This is a publication of Shelby County Newspapers, Inc. P.O. Box 947 115 North Main Street Columbiana, AL 35051 phone: 205.669.3131 advertise@shelbycountyreporter.com
AS A KID, I VIVIDLY REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I WAS EVER EXPOSED TO THE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS.
Somewhere on a football field in Huntersville, North Carolina, my 12-year-old self sat in a lawn chair in the corner of the end zone and quickly found himself mere feet away from his school’s star receiver scoring a touchdown.
Little did I know that 12 years later, some 400 miles away from my alma mater of SouthLake Christian Academy, I would be entering my fifth season covering high school football in one of the sport’s hotbeds of central Alabama and my second as sports editor of the Shelby County Reporter.
and get to know the faces and teams you’ll be following for the next three-and-a-half months. Countless hours spent with coaches and players helped make this magazine as definitive of a resource as possible, and I hope it makes you a smarter fan going into the season.
I’m as excited for this season as any of the five that I’ve covered for the Shelby County Reporter. While much of that starts from a pair of reigning state champions in Evangel and Cornerstone and a state runner-up in Thompson, this year may have the most talented teams top to bottom in my time here.
A lot has changed in that decade-plus, both in my life and in the sport that we all love, but so much is the same. Football season in Alabama is a time unlike anything else. 10 weeks of action-packed Fridays filled with unforgettable plays amidst boisterous atmospheres give way to a month-long sprint to the finish to decide who calls themselves champions.
Then, all of a sudden, when the lights shut off after the Super 7, it ends. And we get ready to do it again in eight months.
The hype around high school football never stops, even with a plethora of other phenomenal sports to follow throughout the rest of the year. Every week brings new talk of title contenders, rising stars and dark horses in sports bars, social media posts and athletic facilities.
And then, every May in an office in Columbiana, the first word is written for our time-honored annual contribution to the preseason hype cycle: the Shelby County Football magazine.
Our hope every year is that this magazine helps you cut through the noise
Spain Park, Helena, Briarwood and Vincent all enter the season with high expectations after entering the top 10 last season, and Chelsea, Pelham, Montevallo, Calera, Oak Mountain, Shelby County and Coosa Valley all aspire to make some noise in their own ways.
No matter what happens, we’ll be here to cover it all. You can catch up on the best moments every week with our comprehensive Friday night coverage on Shelbycountyreporter.com and in print every weekend.
Even though a lot has changed since that first time high school football made my eyes widen, deep down inside me, there’s still a 12-year-old kid from Charlotte whose jaw drops every time a phenomenal play gets made. Now, I’m just blessed to have witnessed those moments at Bryant-Denny Stadium and every high school stadium in between.
This year, I hope you can rediscover that love too, whether through the school you call home or someone else entirely. It’s that wide-eyed passion that makes this sport so unique.
Andrew Simonson, Sports Editor Andrew.Simonson@ShelbyCountyReporter.com
Newboy on the block
Thompson’s Anquon Fegans goes deep on what makes him one of the nation’s best
Written by ANDREW SIMONSON | Photos by JEREMY RAINES AND FILE
WWith time winding down in the 2023 Class 7A semifinals against Hewitt-Trussville, Anquon Fegans found himself in a big situation for the Thompson Warriors.
Up 21-10 and facing fourth down with 1:55 to go against one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Peyton Floyd, a conversion and scoring drive would put the result and Thompson’s state title streak in jeopardy. However, a stop would assure them of reaching their sixth straight Super 7.
In the face of that pressure, Fegans went up for the ball and came down with the interception, sealing the win and sending the Warriors to BryantDenny Stadium.
It’s moments like those that many fans in Alabaster and beyond know Fegans for. Big-time interceptions like the one against Hewitt have thrilled the fans in the Warrior Stadium stands for the last three years and popped up on social media
highlights that rose his stock nationwide to becoming the ninth-ranked safety in the Class of 2025 according to 247Sports.
However, not as many know the person he is off the field. The man they call “Newboy” is a lifelong student of the game and one of Thompson’s hardest workers. He is also one of the brightest faces in the Warriors’ locker room and trusted as a key leader.
“He’s a tremendous person,” Thompson head football coach Mark Freeman said. “He’s always smiling. He’s always happy-go-lucky. Just a great teammate. Great leader. He’s a pleasant, pleasant human being to be around every day.”
FAMILY TIES
For Fegans, football is a family affair. His love for the game comes from his father Antwon, who put him in the sport at a very young age.
Once he started playing football though, it quickly became apparent just how naturally gifted and skilled he was.
“Really, how I got into football, it was really all because of my dad,” Anquon said. “He made me start playing at like four and then once I started playing, I always played up. I played with my older brothers and then I feel like those guys got me ready.”
While he was initially on the offensive side of the ball as a wide receiver, his father encouraged him to switch over to the secondary as he moved from eighth grade to high school.
That flipped a switch for Anquon that set him on the path to becoming the player he is now where he was named to the All-State team in both 2022 and 2023. He also had a massive junior season in 2023 that saw him earn Class 7A Back of the Year finalist honors as a safety.
Throughout the journey, his family has been by his side. Antwon coached his boys through youth football, and his brothers proved to be skilled players in their own right.
Tre’Quan also played in the Thompson secondary and earned Class 7A AllState First Team honors in 2021 before going on to play for Alabama and now USC in college, and Antwon Jr. recently committed to Auburn for football.
Anquon said the experiences that football gave them have brought them even closer together as a family.
“The journey with my dad and my brothers, the bond’s always been there,” Anquon said. “We all grew up together, my brothers and then also with my dad coaching the youth football team. That kind of made us even tighter and made us make connections with people we never thought we would,
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and that connection has been very great.”
It’s a bond that’s apparent to people around them, including Freeman. He said that the Fegans family is a tight-knit group that has been a great help to their program throughout the last few years and they enjoy being together.
“They’re just very supportive people, a very supportive family,” Freeman said. “They’re a very close family. They travel a lot, and they all travel together. They do a lot of family time together and I think they’re a wonderful family. I think they love being around each other.”
CHANGES IN LATITUDES, CHANGES IN ATTITUDES
However, the Fegans weren’t always part of the Warriors’ family.
After growing up in nearby Oxford, Anquon transferred to Thompson when he was a freshman. That brought about a wave of changes for him as he not only adjusted to a new team and coaching staff, but a whole new school and city.
Anquon, though, adapted well to his new home and quickly ingrained himself at Thompson.
“It was kind of new because it was people that I really never grew up with,” he said. “But then, after a month or so, I was able to adjust and get right.”
Ever since, he has grown closer to his teammates and built friendships that led to success both on and off the field. In the process, they have worked hard to improve to face the challenges that Class 7A football brings.
“I’ve been bonding with them very well,” Anquon said. “We’ve been growing and getting better each and every day. A lot of people are doubting us but we’re still going to keep our head on straight.”
That on-field progress has coincided with great personal growth for Anquon as he has come into his own as a person during his time playing high school football.
He credits Thompson for helping foster that growth by showing him a new
way to approach the game by looking beyond the game.
“It’s been great playing for Thompson,” he said. “Coming here changed my way of looking at football and expanded my knowledge. It helped me grow as not only a player, but as a person and it just made me realize that it’s bigger than ball here.”
One of those areas of growth that has extended beyond football is in his leadership. Over time, Anquon has grown into one of the team’s big leaders, earning the trust of Freeman, his coaches and his teammates.
Being a leader wasn’t easy at first for Anquon and was something he had to grow into. However, that quickly changed and he began to lead his teammates more naturally.
“I would quite frankly say it was kind of hard at first, but as you really get going
into it, once you figure out everything about everybody, it really starts to get easy,” Anquon said. “So, it wasn’t really that that much of a change.”
Freeman knows that leadership isn’t for everyone and it’s difficult to be that voice for the team, but he’s seen Anquon do everything that he needed to do to be one and grow into that role over time.
“It’s hard to be a leader,” Freeman said. “He performed everything he’s got to do in order to be a leader. I think over the years he’s become comfortable being a leader for us.”
Now as a senior, Anquon has grown leaps and bounds into a stellar player on the field and an effective leader in the locker room after taking that leap his freshman year to come to Thompson.
His playmaking ability, combined with his leadership, makes him naturally valuable to the Warriors in Freeman’s eyes.
“The way that he just plays football and the leader that he is, I think he brings a lot of value to himself by just being who he is as a person,” Freeman said.
STILL COMING OUT STRONG
While Anquon has brought a lot of value to Thompson during his time on the field, his career at Warrior Stadium is drawing to an end. However, he’s determined to make the most of these next few months before he graduates.
His drive as a player is what has made him one of the top players around, even when faced with stiff competition.
Last season, he drew tough assignments against top teams like Hewitt-Trussville, Vestavia Hills and ClayChalkville, and he finished off the season by going toeto-toe with the top receiver in the Class of 2024, current Auburn wideout Cam Coleman of CentralPhenix City.
His desire to be on top is something that Freeman has seen time and again. He believes that, combined with his natural abilities, make him truly special.
“Regardless of who’s out there, he wants to be the best player on the field,” Freeman said. “He’s got a great vertical jump, he’s got great speed, he’s got great leverage. He’s just got a lot of intangibles that people don’t have.”
While Anquon has a desire for himself to be the best, he also wants the same success for his team.
Just like the rest of his teammates, Anquon is motivated by last year’s loss in the state championship to Central, which robbed him of his third state title. He’s determined to prove the Warriors are still top dogs in Class 7A and reclaim their crown.
“We use that as a motivation because we feel like that we let somebody come in and take what was ours, and we just want them guys to know that Thompson is still Thompson,” he said. “And no matter what year it is, what day, what month, what time, Thompson is still going to be Thompson and we’re still getting back to our goal this year.”
With all of that in mind, it’s no surprise what goals Anquon wants to achieve in 2024. He wants to continue honing his craft as a player while leading the Warriors to glory once again.
“What I hope to get out of my senior season is one, a state championship, and two, just to just to get some goals that I wasn’t able to achieve last year achieve those this year and just work on my weaknesses,” he said. “That’s my main goal this year, so that’s what I want to focus on.”
With Anquon determined to continue improving and go out on top, the Warriors certainly feel privileged to have a man like him back for one more run.
“We’ve never had any problems with him,” Freeman said. “He’s a wonderful person and we thank God we’ve got another year with him.”
COOPER’S CALLING
Romello Cooper’s college football dreams lead to rapid ascent and leadership role with
Chelsea
AWritten by TYLER RALEY | Photos by DAWN HARRISON AND FILE
Armed with the true sting of a hornet, Chelsea defensive end Romello Cooper is prepared to have a stellar senior campaign and leave his mark in the blue and white.
For a player who has not been playing the sport for long, Cooper’s performance at Chelsea High School has been a sight to behold. He now believes that he can achieve bigger things this season.
As a leader, the quick and dynamic playmaker enters every practice and every game wanting to get better and improve on his craft and be a key voice on the field. He hopes his hard work will help him fulfill his dream—playing at the collegiate level with some of the best athletes in the country.
LATE BLOOMER
When talking about a player that has potential to play football after high school, most might
automatically assume that the player has been involved with the sport for most of his life. That assumption, however, is not the same when talking about Cooper.
Cooper did not pick up football until later in his childhood. How late is “late” you ask? Cooper did not really develop an interest in getting on the gridiron until his freshman year of high school. Even then, it was not until his sophomore year that he got on the field to make plays.
So much of his journey has required tough development, something that Cooper has stepped up for without much question.
Many of those who guided him to the performance level that he is at today were players who have already gone through the Hornets’ program, including Emmanuel Waller, Jaeden Bennett and Jackson Laughlin, who all taught him lessons that he carries with him to this day.
“I learned, I grew,” Cooper said. “I just took that and I grew from that in the words. I used that and I applied that to my life and I started going from there.”
The growth that Cooper has taken on over the years has done wonders both on and off the field, and he does not just credit it to the players that he has shared the field with. He instead makes a major point to credit how much he has changed as a result of what this Chelsea program has done as a whole.
“I’ve progressed a lot,” Cooper said. “I used to be 6-foot, 190 (pounds). I’m 6-foot-3, 222 (pounds) now. They have a good weight program. I got bigger, stronger and faster, and my trainer, coach L ,got me right with football workouts with d-line sessions and I went up from there.”
Much of that rise stems from the coaches, who have thought very highly of him ever since he
stepped foot in the program.
COACH’S CHARM
It is not often that a coach gets a player in high school that has not played a single down of true football but yet has the coachability and passion of a veteran athlete. Chelsea head football coach Todd Cassity got exactly that when he stepped into the program for the 2022 season.
What he has seen out of Cooper in his time at the front of the program has been nothing short of exceptional, and Cassity has been pleased to see what Cooper has developed into since he got on the gridiron.
“When I met Romello two years ago, he was very raw,” Cassity said. “Over the past two years, he has put in a lot of work in the weightroom, on the field,
in the classroom, doing things the right way. He’s matured so much. I’m so proud of how far he’s come.”
Cooper entered the program wanting to be a running back, but Cassity quickly told him that he needed to change positions if he wanted to be as successful as he could be.
“When I met him, it was basically like his first year ever playing football,” Cassity said. “Once he bought into it, he blossomed, and we’re expecting big things out of him this year.”
Part of that growth has turned into Cooper’s desire to be a leader on the field. Cassity describes his defensive star as being a coach on the field, something he is glad to see and something he hopes is
part of Cooper’s legacy.
“It’s always a big help,” Cassity said. “From a coach’s perspective, sometimes the guys become deaf to coaches getting on them, and when they hear a teammate and one of the seniors get on them, a lot of times they hear that a lot easier than they do us old coaches yelling at them. So I think it’s always a big help to coaches.”
GROWING UP
Playing sports in high school is a process that comes with its ups and downs. A lot of that has to do with growing up, and Cooper has been taking large leaps in that category ever since he started playing.
Even though he goes through the same process of working on his craft every day, he has become a better player because of it, which brought along his role as a leader.
“It just came naturally,” Cooper said. “I’ll try and help if someone doesn’t know what they’re doing, I’ll try and help teach them on the field, I’ll be competitive and I’ll be getting them up after every play.”
Cooper remembers that he was in the position of his younger teammates a couple of years ago. Now that he is a senior, he knows those guys look up to him and are following the steps he is taking so that they can be ready when their time comes. When he realized that, it was a big step up in his development.
“It’s just maturity,” Cooper said. “We all got to grow up some time. It just hit me, ‘I’ve just got to grow up and be that leader and act my age, act like an adult to set an example and lead by example,’”
Cooper said.
His first plays on the field really helped him grow up as they coincided with Chelsea’s rise up to Class 7A, Region 3. Now that he has played through a gauntlet of a schedule for two years, he believes he is a better athlete because of it, which will help him this year and beyond.
“It was extremely hard,” Cooper said. “I got a lot of, ‘Welcome to high school football’ moments,” but that helped me grow and I think that it’s going to help a lot this season. I know what I’m doing. I’m going to be able to get to the quarterback a lot, I’m going to be able to help our team out in any way possible, even in coverage, going to offense, doing anything. I’m going to be that player.”
With his senior season now in the present, Cooper hopes that he finishes his career as a Hornet in the best way possible. While short, he knows football was meant for him.
GAMES TO WATCH
The 10 best matchups for the 2024 season
1. THOMPSON VS. HOOVER
OCT. 18
Two of the area’s most storied programs will square off once again in Bucs coach Drew Gilmer’s first taste of a rivalry that has decided the region championship in years past.
3. HELENA VS. PELHAM
OCT. 11
One of the most intense rivalries in the state will be renewed during the home stretch of region play as the Panthers look for their first on-field win over the Huskies since 2018.
2. SPAIN PARK AT HOOVER
AUG. 30
Last year, Spain Park got within a touchdown of beating the Bucs for the first time since 2015, and this year’s contest promises to be another great rivalry battle between a pair of teams with high preseason expectations.
4.
SEPT. 13
VS. SPAIN PARK
Both programs enter 2024 with dreams of a deep run in November after reaching the top 10 of their respective classifications last season, and it should shape up as a physical battle with deep ties for both coaches.
5. THOMPSON VS. CLAY-CHALKVILLE
SEPT. 27
It’s a battle of the Class 7A runner-up and the Class 6A State Champion, and after their last two meetings generated fireworks, expect the Warriors to come motivated to avenge their lone regular season loss in 2023.
6. MONTEVALLO VS. SHELBY COUNTY
OCT. 11
Montevallo and Shelby County’s recent matchups have always delivered, and this year’s battle has region stakes for the first time since 2003. The Bulldogs hope to win the rivalry back-to-back times for the first time since 2019 after a 13-10 win last year.
HELENA
7. CHELSEA VS. PELHAM
SEPT. 6
The perennial rivals will share a region in 2024 after four years of non-region battles, and with a new look for both sides this year, this region opener for both the Hornets and Panthers may just set the tone for each team’s season.
9. OAK MOUNTAIN VS. CHELSEA NOV. 1
It’s not just about chicken. After a wild battle last year in region play that saw the Hornets win a one-score game for the second straight year, the Eagles will seek revenge in the final week of the regular season.
8. THOMPSON VS. GRAYSON
AUG. 22 (THURSDAY ON ESPN2)
The Warriors will be back in the national spotlight at home as Mark Freeman’s squad starts its 2024 campaign with a big test against a Class 7A semifinalist out of Georgia.
10. BRIARWOOD AT HOMEWOOD AUG. 30
This rivalry will continue during the second week of the season as an experienced Homewood team hosts a new group of Lions. A good showing from Briarwood bodes well for region play.
BRIARWOOD
LIONS
After proving they could hold their own against some of the top teams in Class 6A, the Lions are on the move down to their historic home of Class 5A for a new slate of opportunities.
Head coach Matthew Forester will have a swath of positions to fill after multiple key contributors graduated, but in Briarwood’s grand tradition of reloading, he and his staff are confident in the players they have coming into those roles.
Even with a sea of changes, multiple All-County players are back from last season including breakout two-way star Luke Reynolds and the heavily recruited Garrett Witherington to lead a veteran team complete with 26 seniors.
Those veterans have gotten to learn from a coaching staff that is unchanged for the first time in the Forester era, and that continuity and experienced depth will be strengths for the Lions to lean on as they rekindle old rivalries and aim to make a mark in a new classification.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
Once again, the Lions have two quarterbacks competing this summer for the starting job. Forester and his staff will have to decide between 6-foot-6, 207-pound senior transfer Brayden Robertson and 5-foot-9 junior Charles Dedmon. Despite their size differences, they’re both similar quarterbacks who will be more pocket passers than Josh Thompson was last season. Both of them have solid pocket presence and can make all the throws that they are asked to while presenting a run threat as well. Forester isn’t rushing the decision and will let Robertson and Dedmon fight hard as they have been all summer before a starter is declared.
RUNNING BACK
Luke Reynolds worked his way into the Lions’ main back role, and he’ll continue there this year in that spot with his powerful and dynamic playstyle. Forester hopes to use Reynolds as the primary back in two of their four packages while splitting the remaining two packages with Eli Thompson and Gavin Curtis, two players who stepped up during the spring. Briarwood’s deep running back room extends to Jackson Reyer, a sophomore with great vision and tons of potential. Forester knows the Lions need to rely on a power run game inside, but they need to find multiple ways to get onto the perimeter without staying there as well.
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 5A, Region 5
2023 RECORD
6-6 (4-2 Class 6A, Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Matthew Forester
RECORD
39-20 (Sixth year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Mike Bautista, Lance Coggins, Daniel Forester, Shane Harmon, Colin Hutto, Tony Johnson, Bobby Kerley, Jay Matthews, Brent Reese, Kyle Tatum, Jay Wise, Bob Blake
LAST REGION TITLE 2019
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2023
RECEIVER
The coaching staff believes this unit has gotten a lot better, and that starts with a pair of experienced receivers stepping into bigger roles. John Paul Harbor has become versatile enough to play any spot thanks to his high-football IQ. He’s also become a key leader who challenges his teammates to get better alongside him. Last year was Britt Wagoner’s first season of football in a while, and he will step up as a senior after playing a rotation role last year. Garrett Cooper, Chance Freeman and Tram Walker will all factor into the rotation alongside promising juniors Dane Whitehead and David Campbell. Ben McNulty will eventually be back in the mix once he returns from a torn ACL.
OFFENSIVE LINE
This is a unit that will especially be called upon in the run game as the Lions seek to set the tone on the inside. Carter Fountain is moving over to left tackle to step in for the departing Luke Schultz. Knox Jones will take the other end of the line at right tackle, and Forester expects a big senior jump from him along with the man flanking him at right guard, Tanner Hutson, after both right side spots were held by graduating seniors last year. Barnabas Karanja will be back and in a starting spot after playing a role last year.
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23, @ Oak Mountain
Aug. 30, @ Homewood
Sept. 6, Ramsay*
Sept. 13, @ Carver-Birmingham*
Sept. 20, Wenonah*
Sept. 27, Leeds
Oct. 4, @ Corner*
Oct. 11, John Carroll*
Oct. 18, Bye
Oct. 25, @ Hayden*
Nov. 1, vs. McAdory
*Region game
Hank Freeman had an encouraging spring and is expected to be a key contributor after his return from injury. Other rotation pieces include junior Chris Davis and sophomore Hudson Parker as well as the underclassmen underneath them.
DEFENSIVE LINE
This position group suffered heavy losses over the offseason with four graduating seniors, but the Lions are confident in what they have and it starts with Garrett Witherington. After taking on a big role as a sophomore and becoming an All-County talent, Forester expects another big jump from him as he moves to the interior. Will Clark was a backup quarterback last year but is
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Garrett Witherington, DT
With multiple SEC offers to his name, Witherington is a game-wrecker along the defensive line and will be one of the key playmakers on defense.
Luke Reynolds, RB/DB Reynolds had a breakout year in the backfield last year, and he’ll tote the rock once again while transitioning back to the secondary where he shined as a sophomore.
John Paul Harbor, WR
The coaching staff expects a big senior jump from Harbor as he steps into the top target role with his great football IQ and versatility.
Asa Harris, LB Harris will lead a linebacker group that is always a key part of the Lions’ defense under Matthew Forester.
KEY LOSSES
Jack Cornish, LB Forester dubbed Cornish as one of the best players he’s ever coached, and with his 133 tackles as a senior, his talent was easy to see.
Josh Thompson, QB Thompson stepped up into the quarterback spot last season and thrived as a dual-threat quarterback, and his dynamic athleticism will leave a hole in the offense.
Luke Dickinson, DL
The All-State Honorable Mention made big plays along the defensive line and paired well alongside Garrett Witherington.
Luke Schultz, OL Schultz was the backbone of the Briarwood front and earned the opportunity to play Division I football for his excellence in pass protection and run blocking.
QUICK HITS
UNDER CENTER No matter whether it’s Brayden Robertson or Charles Dedmon in the starting quarterback role, this will be back-to-back seasons with a new signal caller under center for the Lions. Christopher Vizzina blessed Briarwood with multiple seasons of certainty in the quarterback spot, but after a great year from Josh Thompson, Forester’s staff has another decision to make. While each quarterback has brought different skills to the table, the Lions offense has been able to adapt to their strengths, so expect the same as Briarwood shifts to accommodate its new starter.
FAMILIAR TERRITORY After four seasons in Class 6A, Briarwood is on the move back down to Class 5A. The Lions have a long history of success in the classification, winning a state title in 2003 and reaching two more championship games in their initial stint from 2000-2013. In their last stay from 2016-2019, they won at least nine games a season, took three region titles, reached the semifinals three times and were runners-up in 2017. While success is never given, Briarwood’s results against some of Class 6A’s best last year bode well for its move to a smaller classification.
THE GRASS WITHERS No Briarwood player enters the season more highly touted than Garrett Witherington. The three-star, 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman enters his junior year with multiple major offers from Notre Dame, Miami and Georgia Tech. Last year, he grew into a key leadership role as a sophomore, and his leadership is one of the traits that Forester values most. His competitiveness is something else that has only grown by facing the top offenses that Class 6A and 7A have to offer, and Briarwood anticipates big things from him as he makes the upperclassman leap, especially as he moves into what Forester believes is his most natural position on the interior.
2024 Briarwood Roster
now over at defensive end and he had a great showing in spring in his new position. Eli Stubbs will be another player stepping up into a bigger starting role as a senior after being a rotation piece a year ago. Zeke Turner and Brogan Summers are currently battling out for the fourth starting spot on Briarwood’s base four-man front with junior Jackson Bunn and sophomores Grant Skinner and Brooks Robertson behind them as backups.
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (6-4)
It’s practically an annual tradition for Briarwood to enter a season with multiple key holes to fill ahead of a challenging schedule. That remains the case here even with a move down to Class 5A thanks to a tough non-region slate. Even with multiple All-County talents gone over on defense, I expect the unit to largely pick up where they left off and continue to be a strength. The big question is whether the offense can take advantage of those opportunities that the defense gives it with a new quarterback and reworked offensive line. Six wins is admittedly a conservative regular season prediction for a region that Briarwood has an excellent chance of reaching the playoffs out of, and I expect that the quality opposition that they face in both region and non-region play will prepare them for another solid playoff run.
LINEBACKER
Multiple players are moving into the linebacker spot with Jack Cornish graduating and Luke Reynolds headed back to the secondary. Asa Harris is making the move to Mike linebacker in the middle, and Rylan Hamm is switching from the secondary to Sam linebacker. Many of Briarwood’s linebackers have made that transition from the secondary to the strong side, including Reynolds just last year, and Hamm’s mix of fluid runs and toughness should make him a great fit. Junior Brooks Allred will round out the trio on the weak side at Will linebacker. Braiden Klamer and senior Griffin Albright will both compete for reps as well.
SECONDARY
Luke Reynolds is back in the secondary where he started as a sophomore, and he will look to bring the same dynamic playmaking that he had as a linebacker and running back last year into the safety spot. He’ll join returning starter Wes Burgess,
who’s the other safety, with fellow seniors Parrish Prickett and Jon Jobes right behind them to make up a four-man senior rotation at safety. At corner, it’s a four-way battle for two spots between Patrick Wilson, Will Werchanowskyj, Rocco Valentinni and Sam Canale.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Garrett Heinemann is back and taking all three duties once again. The Lions are still looking for a long snapper, punt returner and kickoff players after losing those players.
CALERA
EAGLES
Last season didn’t bring many bright spots for the Calera Eagles as they finished the year winless. However, it’s the dawn of a new day and the program has reason to hope that a return to winning ways is in the near future.
Scott Rials joined Calera in December after a pair of seasons at Baldwin County and a lengthy coaching career that includes a state championship with Elba. His goal has been to develop a winning mentality among his players and foster unity in order to channel the program’s mission statement: “Fly as One.”
It won’t be easy with a competitive Region 3 on their hands, but with key pieces back on the offense and as much athleticism as ever, the Eagles are ready to show their offseason progress on the field and live up to their tradition of success.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
AJ Johnson will return as the starter for the second straight year. While his first year as a starter was rough, he showed a lot of potential as a potent dual threat quarterback. Rials says he has grown both mentally and physically since last season, getting leaner and stronger while also becoming more mature ahead of his senior year. The results are showing in Johnson’s arm strength and mobility as he now acclimates to Rials’ offense to set up big things to come.
RUNNING BACK
Demetrius Davis stepped up in a big way in the running game last year as a junior, and he is poised to be the primary back this year. Davis is a multi-tool back with great receiving capabilities and the ability to block in pass protection should the need arise. He will be backed up by a pair of juniors in JD Henderson and last
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
0-10 (0-6 Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Scott Rials
RECORD
First Year (140-88 in his career)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Reid Rials, Blake Bradley, Marcus Dowdell, Wade Hyde, AJ Ward, Dustin Darby, Hugh Pate, Austin Ford
LAST REGION
year’s between-the-tackles option Camarien Yow.
RECEIVER
With so many talented players taking after Calera’s tradition of developing great pass-catchers, Rials believes his receivers are one of his team’s strengths this season. It starts with KD Young who is now entering his third season as a starter and brings physicality and plenty of other skills to the slot. Cameron Hagler will flank Young on the outside, and DJ Haynes
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: Northridge
Aug. 30: @ Central-Tuscaloosa
Sept. 6: @ Benjamin Russell*
Sept. 13: Pelham*
Sept. 20: @ Chelsea*
Sept. 27: Bye
Oct. 4: @ Brookwood
Oct. 11: Chilton County*
Oct. 18: @ Spain Park*
Oct. 25: Helena*
Nov. 1: Stanhope Elmore
*Region Game
PLAYERS TO WATCH
AJ Johnson, QB Johnson flashed his potential last season with his arm strength and athleticism, and now he will get a chance to grow in a new offense.
KD Young, WR Young will bring the physicality into the slot position, but his diverse skillset will make him a key weapon for Johnson to utilize.
Demetrius Davis, RB Davis is a multi-skilled back who can impact the game as a pass-catcher and blocker in addition to his abilities as a runner.
DJ White, DL
A three-sport talent, White has the athleticism and ceiling to become another top defensive line prospect for the Eagles.
Kade Mitchell, G Mitchell is an experienced senior leader who will anchor an offensive line that is a mix of veterans and young faces.
KEY DEPARTURES
Solomon Moore, DL Calera will look to replace multiple players along the defensive line including Moore, who was a big presence up front last year.
TJ Hernandez, K
The Eagles will have a new kicker for the first time in multiple seasons after losing Hernandez’s big leg and appetite for tackles.
2023 STATS
Offense
Total Points: 92 Per Game: 9.2
County Rank: 11
Defense Points Allowed: 433 Per Game: 43.3
County Rank: 11
2024 Calera Roster
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION: (3-7)
There’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the direction that Scott Rials is taking the Calera program. He has already helped the Eagles continue to close the off-the-field gap between them and their Class 6A counterparts and has a team full of raw talent united under a com
mon vision to help them better reach their potential. Potential was one thing Calera showed plenty of despite failing to compete in many games last year, including one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the region in AJ Johnson and speedy options at running back and receiver including KD Young and Demetrius Davis. With a new offensive vision and another year of experience, I expect them to take a big step in the right direction, especially with a veteran offensive line. However, it’s the defense, particularly the run protection, which concerns me with their lack of size. While I’ve never been one to discount the Eagles’ athleticism, they’ll need plenty of speed and aggression to give their offense a chance to compete. I expect Calera to be much more competitive this season and even pick up a few wins against a schedule it is better suited for than last year’s gauntlet, laying the foundation for a bright future to come if everything goes to plan.
will handle duties in the other slot. Braxton Brooks and Cayden Specks will also bring their basketball skillset to the football field as key receivers. Expect Haston Hogge and Jaylon Moore to factor into the rotation as well.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Calera has plenty of experience up front this year to provide a solid foundation for its run game and pass protections. Kade Mitchell returns at center and will be a key senior leader for the offense. He will have another senior along the left end with William Harris entering his senior season at left tackle. The other three positions will be filled by juniors, including Raejon Hill at left guard, Joshua Stewart at right guard and Jayden Massey at right tackle. Rials also said he has plenty of other players behind them competing to break into the
rotation, providing some depth to a key unit.
DEFENSIVE LINE
This will be one of the key positions to watch as the Eagles replaced much of their front this offseason. Rials is optimistic about DJ White, a threesport athlete who he believes has potential to be one of the team’s best players. Jaylon Lee returns as a junior to bring some experience back to the unit. Senior Arlin Seay will complete the three-man base front that will look to bring speed and pressure to opposing offenses. Ka’Marion Smith will factor in at defensive end as a senior member of a very young rotation behind the starters.
LINEBACKER
Much like the rest of the defense, expect a unit that uses its speed to
Photo by Andrew Simonson
2023 RESULTS
Spain Park L 0-55
@ Chelsea L 24-38
Benjamin Russell* L 7-57
Homewood* L 21-43
@ Chilton County* L 3-37
Bye
@ Pelham* L 6-35
Briarwood* L 0-38
@ Helena* L 0-49
@ Gadsden City L 0-46
McAdory L 31-35
*Region Game
make up for a size difference as they look to be an aggressive group. Austin Shamburger will be a key senior presence in the room, while Jeremiah Pouncey is on the opposite end of the experience spectrum as he looks to start and contribute as a sophomore. The other two starters will be names that Eagles’ fans will recognize from last year’s running back room. Camarien Yow will play both ways as a linebacker and running back this season, while
KEY NUMBERS
3
Scott Rials is now Calera’s third new coach in four seasons, but crucially, he is the first of those three to come in before summer practices start. Rials has worked with the Eagles since his arrival in January to assemble his coaching staff and make changes to the system in order to help the team evolve and solidify its identity before the season begins.
2021
Despite all of the lows that last season brought for Calera, this program doesn’t have to look far to find success. The Eagles last had a winning season in 2021, posting a 7-4 record that was the first of back-toback playoff appearances. While many of the pieces from those playoff teams are now gone, Calera has a new generation of athletes in the same mold as its past stars hoping to leave their own mark on the program.
sophomore Joshua Littleton will also factor into the mix now that he’s back from injury.
SECONDARY
Rials believes the secondary is the strength of his defense, and with the skill and depth at each position, it’s easy to see why. Jerrin McCain will start at cornerback, and he excels in coverage while not being afraid to get in and get physical. He’s a dynamic player who Rials expects to use
10
For the first time in a number of years, all 10 of Calera’s opponents for the next two seasons will be Class 6A schools. After facing two Class 7A opponents in 2022 and 2023, the Eagles filled out their slate with Northridge, Central-Tuscaloosa, Brookwood and former region foe Stanhope Elmore. That was an intentional decision on Rials’ part to give his team experience against similarly sized and skilled teams, and he hopes the competitiveness of those matchups will lead to growth and success.
Demetrius davis
Braxton brooks
QUICK HITS
WHERE THE RIAL THINGS ARE
Scott Rials’ impact on Calera has been evident from the moment he stepped into the doors. He said upon arrival that he knew the program had a ton of potential with their rise up the classifications over the past two decades and the talented athletes he had heard about from local coaches. In the past few months, he has worked to change the culture and unite the team. A new weight room has helped symbolize the progress they have taken on and off the field, helping the program close the gap with its rivals in both facilities and game strength. Now, it’s up to Rials to carry those gains onto the field in a tough Class 6A, Region 3.
SPEED KILLS If there’s one thing Calera has always been known for, it’s athleticism. Look no further than Bryant-Denny Stadium to find that on display right now with Kobe Prentice lighting up the SEC as one of Jalen Milroe’s top targets, or Akron track with Braylyn Farrington who came after Prentice. This crop of Calera players is no different, and Rials wants to use that to his team’s advantage. His goal is for the offense to be fast and high-scoring and the defense to play aggressively and make up for their lack of size with pure speed. The hope is that with the Eagles playing to their strengths in a system made for them, they will see success.
STARTING STRONG One of the biggest struggles for Calera last season was its inability to start games strong. The Eagles eventually found their rhythm in many of their games, but that typically came after their opponents had already scored multiple times and took their star players out of the game. This season, Rials hopes that Calera can quickly identify opposing schemes and adapt to what their opponent presents. If the Eagles can play at a consistently high level for 60 minutes, that could go a long way in closing the gap on the scoreboard.
occasionally at nickel and jack, which means Jordan Rouse will take his spot in the secondary. Carlos Whisenhunt is another returning junior who will start at the other cornerback position, and he will be backed up by Kenyon Russell, a sophomore who has a high ceiling in his coach’s eyes. LeShond Boone is back at safety after he earned lots of experience last year, and the tall and long Darian Hamilton will start alongside him to fill out the secondary. JB Brown will look to gain
experience as a backup safety, and while Jacob Gunn may shift around due to his solid skillset, the senior is expected to factor in as another backup safety as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
After losing TJ Hernandez to graduation, Koby Burris will step in as the starting kicker. The senior will also likely take punting duties, but Rials has multiple options behind him at both positions should the need arise.
DJ white
CHELSEA
HORNETS
After a challenging two years in Class 7A, Chelsea is back in Class 6A with a new set of expectations.
Head coach Todd Cassity’s goal is to compete in every game, and with a cutthroat Class 6A, Region 3 on their hands, the Hornets will need to in order to get back to the playoffs.
This is a very young Chelsea side with some holes left by a talented senior class that need to be filled, but what they lack in age they make up for in numbers and competitive drive. This has a chance to be one of the deepest Hornets teams in recent memory with competition brewing at almost every spot.
Now, it’s time for Chelsea to put its 7A experience and all of the excitement around the program to use and establish themselves as a competitive force in a new classification and region.
MEET THE TEAM TEAM
QUARTERBACK
Chelsea pivoted in the spring to Miller Bauman as its new starting quarterback, and he’s come a long way since switching to quarterback in July 2023. Cassity said he is a student of the game, working hard to improve himself both on the field and in the weight room, and is extremely smart. He showed out with three touchdowns in the spring game, and the players are already gravitating to him as a leader. Cassity hopes to start speeding up the game for Bauman so he can make calls on the field and lead a more up-tempo offense. Grant Propst will serve as the backup should anything happen to Bauman.
RUNNING BACK
The Hornets will go with a two-back set this year with Chase Stracener and Morgan Barnes. Cassity views both juniors as starters, and both will present a bit of a different style than Emerson Russell did. They’re both big, physical and weigh more than 200 pounds and will use that size to try and run over defenders. That doesn’t mean they’re limited to running between the tackles though as both can make runs outside. Stracener has the speed to hit the edge and showed that during his appearances last year, while Barnes can make catches as well.
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
2-8 (1-6 Class 7A, Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Todd Cassity
RECORD
3-17 (Third Year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Scott Lowery, PJ Wright, Cole Corkren, Colby Harris, David Collins, Stuart Morrison, Payton Holmes, Matt Norris, Jamie Scruggs, Lee Miller
LAST REGION TITLE 2006
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021
Behind them is Ethan Reed, a sophomore who is built a lot more like Russell and will eventually fill that role once he learns the offense more.
RECEIVER
Chelsea will use the summer to dwindle down its 10 receivers into the regular season rotation. CJ Durbin, Turner Simpson and Aiden Hughes are three of the projected starters. Durbin is the most experienced option and one of the best route-runners on the team. Hughes comes from the baseball team and has shown a lot of potential with his athleticism and three-catch performance in the spring game but is still learning the game. Caden Summers and Jack Flowers were both key receivers in the spring, while Ty Handley was another
Aug. 23: Mobile Christian
Aug. 30: Wetumpka
Sep. 6: @ Pelham*
Sep. 13: Bye
Sep. 20: Calera*
Sep. 27: @ Paul W. Bryant
Oct. 4: Chilton County*
Oct. 10: @ Spain Park*#
Oct. 18: Helena*
Oct. 25: @ Benjamin Russell*
Nov. 1: @ Oak Mountain
*Region game
#Thursday game
breakout from the spring who will contribute. Adam Wheeler will take Sloan DeWeese’s role as a hybrid fullback whose speed can be used in both the run and pass games.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Romello Cooper, DE Cooper’s stock has risen throughout his Hornets career, and he stands to be a game-wrecker along the line if he reaches his potential.
Chase Stracener, RB
After featuring in the backfield last year, Stracener’s mix of power and perimeter speed will be relied on even more as one of Chelsea’s featured backs.
Ethan Prickett, LB Prickett will be one of the leaders of the defense and use his experience to help the Hornets operate smoothly on the defensive side of the ball.
Miller Bauman, QB Bauman may be relatively new to the quarterback position, but his football IQ and progression as a leader has helped him quickly become a solid starter.
KEY DEPARTURES
Emerson Russell, RB
A multi-year All-County back and one of the most versatile athletes around, Russell became one of Chelsea’s best running backs ever and will be missed this year.
Jaxon Shuttlesworth, WR Shuttlesworth worked his way into becoming the Hornets’ top target with his height and playmaking ability on deep balls.
Anderson Brooks, LB Brooks was one of the top defensive players last season and an anchor for the linebacker group with his 104 tackles, four sacks and two picks.
2024 SCHEDULE Kenny wesley
2024 Chelsea Roster
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (5-5)
After a pair of challenging years, it feels like this is the moment of truth for Chelsea to prove it is heading in the right direction against a slate of more evenly matched opponents in and out of region play. To do that though, the Hornets’ new starters will have to quickly prove that they can fill the holes left behind by a talented group of exiting players, including many offensive playmakers and defensive leaders. Chelsea’s new crop has impressed in the times it saw the field last season and in the spring, but now it’s about translating that potential into on-field success. However, the Hornets have two things going for them: a favorable early season schedule and a deep roster. Chelsea won’t have to face the likely top three teams in Class 6A, Region 3 in Helena, Spain Park and Benjamin Russell until the final three weeks of region play, meaning they can use non-region play and the early part of the region slate to gain momentum and challenge for one of the remaining playoff spots. Their depth should also keep them fresh as they hit that challenging stretch run should injuries arise. I think there are plenty of opportunities for this roster to secure wins throughout the year and get back in the playoff conversation, but regardless of if they fall short of that goal this year, I believe they will take a positive step towards a better future.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Cassity views this unit as a strength thanks to its experience. The Hornets starting guards will have experience back with Will Pohlmann as a twoyear starter and Kale Hughes working his way into a starting guard spot. Jackson Reynolds and Brooks Dixon will fill out the tackle spots after getting some previous snaps in games, while Adam Brooks is the new center after coming over from guard. Kevin Madrid and Lawson Williamson will both feature in the rotation.
DEFENSIVE LINE
All four starters bring back a good amount of experience and athleticism to make it the strength of the defense in Cassity’s eyes. Romello Cooper will feature along the line again as he continues his progression as a player. Cassity believes he has a very high ceiling, and he’ll need to reach it to help the defense succeed. Aidyn Young will play alongside him at the other end, while Gavin Hailstock and Sam Trout will start at tackle to round out the front four. As for the others
2023 RESULTS
2023 STATS
Photo by Andrew Simonson
QUICK HITS
FORGED BY FIRE After a two-year stay in Class 7A, the Hornets are back down in Class 6A where they have spent much of the past decade. The past two seasons have seen Chelsea match up against some of the top teams in the state in Thompson, Hoover and Hewitt-Trussville, and while those matchups are gone from the schedule this year, the lessons gained from playing them remain. Cassity knows that they won’t play anybody as skilled this year, but the experience last year’s players had in those high-pressure matchups will help prepare them for another difficult Region 3 slate.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS The excitement around the Chelsea program is palpable, and it’s showing in the droves of students who want to play for the Hornets. Cassity said in June that they had 115 players. That makes the loss of last year’s senior class easier to handle with multiple options at key positions. Those players aren’t just future contributors but are challenging for snaps today, as Cassity believes he may have two starting-level players at each position. That mix of depth and talent could come in handy later as breakout players emerge and injuries occur.
MEASURE OF A MAN
When looking at how his roster stacks up against the rest of Class 6A, Region 3, Cassity knows many of the teams Chelsea will face will be bigger and stronger than them. That means the Hornets are looking to develop their athleticism as a way to counter that. Chelsea has traditionally had fast players on both sides of the ball, including last year with Emerson Russell and Anderson Brooks. With plenty of promising players developing and an up-tempo offensive system, expect a fun style of play from the Hornets this season.
Romello COOPER
rotating in, Parker Yates will be a backup along the edges, while Cristian Madrid and Will Decker will play on the inside.
LINEBACKER
Ethan Prickett will lead a deep group of linebackers, and his experience and leadership skills have made him one of the players other kids look to on defense. Porter Schott is another example of a great wrestler making use of his skills on the gridiron as he uses his hands well and gets below blocks. Gabe Pendley will fill out the other starting spot, while those three will have three others behind them. Briston Hardy made the move to varsity this year after a standout JV season where he averaged more than 10 tackles a game, and his strength is a key piece of his game. Luke Beavers is another one of those players who will play a key role, as will Le’Mel Martinear.
SECONDARY
Kenny Wesley and Grant Evans both return as starters, and now that they are upperclassmen, they’re stronger and faster. Those improvements showed in the spring
game when they didn’t allow a completion. Sam Parrish is another player who is much different physically than he was a year ago after he grew 4 inches and put on about 40 pounds. He’s recovering from a knee injury but will be back in the fall. The secondary will also have the player Cassity called the most athletic on the team in John Leith. Like the rest of the defense though, the players are interchangeable and are two deep at nearly every position, including John Jackson and Grant Willingham in the rotation.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Chelsea will have some continuity in special teams with Luke Miller returning as kicker and punter. After a recordsetting soccer season in the spring, the junior will look to continue moving up the ranks as one of the best kickers in the county. John Leith can also kick if needed. The Hornets are also blessed with not one, but two quality long snappers. Jackson Kalnoske will handle snapping for punts, while Tyler Kirkland is responsible for kicks.
COOSA VALLEY
REBELS
The Coosa Valley Rebels will have many changes going into 2024, but no change is bigger than the move to compete in 8-man football in the AISA.
Longtime head coach Vince DiLorenzo hopes that the change helps the Rebels compete better with the number of players that they have while still giving the fans an exciting, fast-paced style of football.
Plenty of players will be back from injury as just two full-season players return from last year’s team, and DiLorenzo has seen progression from last season as the players grow bigger, stronger and more comfortable with their roles on the field.
While they’ll play with three less players between the hashmarks, 8-man football still comes down to blocking, tackling and who wants to win more. DiLorenzo believes this batch has all of that and will show more on-field gains this season.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
The Rebels will have a new man under center this year in junior Jake McArthur. He is a solid dual threat option for the offense, presenting both the arm strength needed to make plays in the air and the speed and toughness required to be a running threat. DiLorenzo said his speed will help him fit within their offensive scheme this year. He’s also one of the leaders on the team and did a great job of learning in his first-ever season of football last year, and the hope is that the game starts slowing down for him now that he’s been through tough challenges.
RUNNING BACK
Coosa Valley is taking advantage of the versatility of its offensive skill players to use them across the offense. That means many of the receivers will be able to drop into the backfield and help out McArthur in the run game and vice versa, opening up options for DiLorenzo and assistant coach Reece Donahoo. Those players include one of the team’s most athletic players in Jordin Rogers along with Ethan Hollingsworth,
CLASSIFICATION
AISA 8-Man
2023 RECORD
2-8 (0-4 AISA Class A, Region 1)
HEAD COACH
Vince DiLorenzo
RECORD 7-24 (Fourth year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Reece Donahoo
LAST REGION TITLE 2010
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021
Photo by Andrew Simonson
Colton Smith, Kellen Smith, Rhett Johnson and Kyler Ferguson.
RECEIVER
While these players will likely shift between different receiving positions, Jordin Rogers, Ethan Hollingsworth, Colton Smith and Kellen Smith can be used on the outside while Rhett Johnson and Kyler Ferguson are the main inside receivers. Look for Andrew Weaver to also come over from the offensive line as a tight end option as he can both catch and block well, making him an important option in the 8-man game.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Kai Santiago is back for his second year as a starter after taking the field as an eighth grader last year, and he’s recovered from an injury that forced him to miss the back half of the 2023 season. Andrew Weaver will help block up front as well, and Brooks Klinner is back after playing last year. They’ll hope to use their athleticism to block, offer pass protection and help with screen passes in a way that suits the 8-man style of play.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Just like the offense, all rotation players are interchangeable across positions and the Rebels could present a multitude of different looks during the year. That said, Brooks Klinner and Kai Santiago will feature along the interior of defensive front as well as the offensive line. Rhett Johnson is an absolute workhorse who featured heavily on all three phases last year and will play up
front as well. The other option at defensive end is Colton Smith, another promising young option who DiLorenzo believes has the athletic skills to be a difference-maker down the road.
LINEBACKER
Ethan Hollingsworth is another one of Rebels who picked up football last year and has developed into a much more complete athlete with time. He’ll be able to play either inside or outside, and Andrew Weaver will feature alongside him when he is inside. As for the other outside linebacker spot, that will likely either be Rhett Johnson or Colton Smith depending on who is playing on the defensive line as the two players will swap duties when needed.
SECONDARY
With no true corners at least to start with, Coosa Valley has three safeties that it feels good about. Jordin Rogers brings the same athleticism that makes him an offensive threat over to the secondary. Kyler Ferguson is a first-year player who has shown a lot of toughness and grown a lot skill-wise through offseason drills ever since he started focusing on football. Kellen Smith will be behind Ferguson as another option at safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Nothing is set on special teams yet as the team weighs their fourth-down strategy. Many 8-man teams don’t use a punter, meaning they wouldn’t be alone here in going for it. However, they will need a kicker for kickoffs, and that is up in the air as well.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jake McArthur, QB A year removed from starting to play football, McArthur has grown into an upperclassman leader, showing his ability to adapt to any challenge thrown his way while using his dual-threat skillset.
Rhett Johnson, WR/DL Johnson is the other full-time starter back from last season and will also be a key leader for the Rebels this season in just his second season playing football.
Andrew Weaver, OL/LB Weaver is a versatile option who can both block and catch passes well, and he’ll be used in multiple ways on the offense as well as at all defensive positions.
Ethan Hollingsworth, WR/LB Hollingsworth is a player who has made great strides as an athlete and looks to make an even bigger impact than he did last season as he enters his second year of football.
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: Bye
Aug. 30: Southern Prep*
Sept. 6: @ North River*
Sept. 13: @ East Central
Sept. 20: @ Springwood*
Sept. 27: Evangel-Montgomery*
Oct. 4: @ Cornerstone*
Oct. 11: Hope*
Oct. 18: Heritage*
Oct. 25: @ Meadowview*
*Region Game
CORNERSTONE
CHARGERS
The Cornerstone Chargers made history in 2023, running the table in 8-man play to win their school’s first state championship.
How do they plan to follow it up in 2024? By running it back.
That goal appears to be within reach as all but two players from last year’s state title team are back, including dynamic playmakers Zeke Adams, Noah Schober and Malachi Adams to build off last year’s chemistry and aggressive style on both sides of the ball by expanding the playbook.
It won’t be easy as the Chargers will welcome four new region members into an already difficult schedule, but the expectation for this tight-knit team is the same: get back to Montgomery and win a second straight state title.
CLASSIFICATION
AISA 8-Man
2023 RECORD
QUARTERBACK
Zeke Adams showed his electric dual threat skills once again during Cornerstone’s state championship winning season, rushing for 2,167 yards and passing for 1,683 more. He’s made big physical strides since last season, putting on nearly 20 pounds of muscle.
RUNNING BACK
Lee calls the running back room a three-headed monster between Cohen Hewitt, Drake Dunning and Jackson Moore. Each brings different skills to the table. Hewitt is the pass-catcher, Dunning has a shifty run style and Moore is more of a downhill threat.
RECEIVER
Noah Schober will feature heavily once again after scoring 16 times in 2023, as well as Keaton Keef who scored on a fourth of his receptions. Seth Dillard
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2023 TEAM
11-1 (5-0) AISA 8-Man State Champions
HEAD COACH
James Lee RECORD 31-41 (Eighth year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Sam Adams, Nick Simmons, Dane Reece, Alan Keef, Xavier Harris, Justus Adams, Erik Brechin
LAST REGION TITLE 2023
rounds out the dynamic trio of returning receivers, which includes two new faces in Mason Hoehn and Hatim Woods.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Chargers offensive continuity carries over to the front three. Landon Alexander, Malachi Adams and Gave Allman all played key roles in Cornerstone’s dynamic dual-threat attack. and will lead up front again.
DEFENSIVE LINE
It’s the same lineup from offense flipped over to the defense as the Chargers return their big playmakers. Malachi Adams was a one-man wrecking crew with 68 solo tackles in 2023. Landon Alexander similarly excelled on his own with 55 of solo tackles, and Gave Allman is another key playmaker back.
LINEBACKER
Cornerstone brings back its top tackler from last season in Zeke Adams, as his 102 total tackles and 95 solo tackles made a huge impact throughout the year. Malachi Adams and Hampton Etheredge will both add to a deep unit.
SECONDARY
Zeke Adams and Noah Schober both return after they each finished the season with four interceptions. Like last season, the position group will be mainly wide receivers with Mason Howen and Keaton Keef playing important roles, and Collin Keef will join his brother in the secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
With Jackson Waugh gone, Noah Schober will either kick or long snap, while Malachi Adams is another potential long snapper.
2024 CORNERSTONE Roster
1 Collin Keef WR/DB 9 2 Jadon Dixon WR/DB 9 3 Hampton Etheredge WR/DB 12
4 Tristan Weldon RB/LB 8
5 Grant Gibson TE/WR/DB 9
6 Jacob Merkl RB/LB 9
7 Nathan McKnight WR/QB/DB 10
8 Hatim Woods WR 12
9 Cole Bookwalter OL/DL 9
10 Noah Schober WR/DB 12
11 Grant Standifer WR/DB 9
12 Zeke Adams QB/DB 12
Keaton
11
Seth Graham
Drake Dunning
10
12
Cohan Hewitt LB/RB 12
Seth Dillard TE/DE 12
Tivet Nolasco OL/DL 12
Jay Davenport TE/DB 11 44 Jackson Moore OL/DL/RB 11 50 Cash Causey OL/DL 12
Jadia Dixon
Malachi Adams
Stephen Fanning
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Zeke Adams, QB/DB/LB
One of the most dynamic athletes in 8-man football is back for his final round at Cornerstone after his arm strength and athleticism were key to a state championship.
Noah Shober, WR/DB
Shober was Adams’ top target last year and came up with plenty of big catches throughout the season while racking up defensive tackles and return yardage.
Landon Alexander, DL/OL Alexander has become a mainstay on both sides of the defensive line, using his size to open gaps for his own rushers and to terrorize opposing backfields.
Hampton Etheredge, DE/LB
Etheredge will be a diverse piece of the defense as his playmaking potential will be utilized both along the edge and in the linebacker role.
KEY DEPARTURES
Jackson Waugh, WR/DB/K Waugh’s kicking and punting were a key part of the Chargers’ success, and his ability to play on offense and defense as well made him a versatile tool.
Holden Morris, OL/DL/RB Morris was the only other senior to graduate last year and played a role on either side of the line as well as in the backfield as a veteran part of a state title team.
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: @ Lighthouse
Aug. 30: @ North River*
Sep. 6: Meadowview*
Sep. 13: Springwood*
Sep. 20: Southern Prep*
Sep. 27: Bye
Oct. 4: Coosa Valley*
Oct. 11: @ Lakeside
Oct. 18: @ Evangel-Montgomery*
Oct. 25: @ Trinity
10
10
10 68 Landon Alexander
12 75 Gave Allman
*Region Game
10 80 Mason Hoehn
12
Photo by Andrew Simonson
EVANGEL
LIGHTING
After winning a sixth-straight NHSA 8-man national championship, the Lightning hope to fill some big shoes to make another run at glory. Evangel lost all eight of its defensive starters plus their top two bench players as part of their 16 graduating seniors, meaning new faces will need to step into the roles of some very successful former stars.
However, the offense looks as dynamic as ever with Kemp Swords back under center, looking to utilize a deep receiver room and continue his key role in the run game as a dual threat.
It’s a year that will look a little different for Evangel fans as the team will face Abbeville Christian, Banks, Franklin Christian and Chambers in 11-man football, but the goal remains the same: continue their legacy of 8-man dominance.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
Kemp Swords burst onto the scene last year as an incredibly dynamic dual-threat quarterback. He’ll be looking to improve even more on his gaudy totals, most of which came while playing just one half a game. Smith complimented Swords’ leadership and said he’s grown as a quiet leader and a better player.
RUNNING BACK
This is the biggest question mark for the Lightning to answer this year after Caeleb Austin’s graduation and offseason injury problems upended the position. It’ll be running back by committee this season with linebacker Nick Cloud adding some snaps in the backfield to assist Will Welch and Eli Black.
RECEIVER
Leading receiver Cade Joiner is back after earning 405 yards in just eight games, and Will Welch will return alongside him. Christopher Staniscavage at his athleticism and pass-catching ability. Eli Black will rotate in along with Kye Gray, who has the speed to make an impact once he learns the system.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Ethan Stallings is battling the 6-foot, 285-pound Emerson Dollins for the center position, and Reed Castleberry will also return along the line as a senior.
CLASSIFICATION
ACSC
2023 RECORD 14-0 (4-0) National Champions
HEAD COACH
Tim Smith RECORD 75-11 (Eighth year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Hagan Joiner, Clay Romano, Andrew Welch, Brian Wolfe, Marty Black
LAST REGION TITLE 2023
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2023
by Barry Stephenson
Sophomore James Wolf is catching eyes in the weight room, and 6-foot-3, 215-pound transfer Joseph Grantham will also make an impact.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive line will look much like its offensive counterpart once again with Ethan Stallings and Reed Castleberry playing the two defensive end spots and Emerson Dollins taking the nose guard spot. Those positions are not solidified though with muliple players battling.
LINEBACKER
Nick Cloud is ready for the spotlight
as the key linebacker. Eli Black will get some time here, and Kemp Swords will even get to flash his athleticism on the defense as a member of the group.
SECONDARY
Many of the receivers will slide over to the secondary this year with Will Welch, Cade Joiner and Christopher Staniscavage expected to take the field.
SPECIAL TEAMS
All four positions are set with Kye Gray kicking field goals, Christopher Staniscavage will continue to kick off, Will Welch will punt and Eli Black is the deep snapper.
2024 Evangel Roster
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kemp Swords, QB/LB/DB
With nearly 3,200 all-purpose yards and 53 touchdowns to his name, Swords burst onto the 8-man football scene as a dynamic dual threat and looks to do the same as a senior while adding in defensive snaps as well.
Cade Joiner, WR/DB
Joiner found the end zone 25 percent of the times he caught the ball last season, and he will be an essential weapon in the passing game for Swords again this year.
Will Welch, WR/DB
The Lightning are excited to utilize Welch in the passing game and in the secondary after factoring in around the field last season.
Reed Castleberry, OL/DE Castleberry will be a key reliable piece of both the offensive and defensive lines as he brings his skill and experience on either side.
KEY DEPARTURES
Hayden Black, LB Last year’s Mr. Football in the ACSC, his 86 tackles made up a big part of the Lightning defense.
Caeleb Austin, RB Austin provided a dynamic option in the backfield with 852 yards and 17 touchdowns, leaving a hole in the lineup that will be one of the biggest for Tim Smith to fill.
Carson Donovan, OL Donovan was the long-time anchor for the Lightning offensive line, and his four years of starting experience will be missed this season.
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 10: Arendell Parrott (NC, at Gatlinburg)
Aug. 23: Abbeville Christian (at Larry Simmons Stadium, 11-man)
Aug. 30: @ Banks (11-man)
Sept. 6: @ Franklin Christian (TN, 11-man)
Sep. 13: Freedom
Sep. 20: Ezekiel*
Sep. 27: @ Lighthouse*
Oct. 4: @ Chambers (11-man)
Oct. 11: Southern Christian*
Oct. 18: East Central*
Photo
HELENA
HUSKIES
Last year marked another successful year for the Helena Huskies as they earned their third nine-win season in the last five years, cracked the top 10 in Class 6A, came within a win of a region championship and reached the second round of the playoffs.
Many of those players who helped them reach those heights like Jordan Washington, Carson Acker, Nate Thomason and Hunter Hale are gone, but the Huskies have plenty of rising stars ready to rise to the standard set by the class of 2024.
Head coach Richie Busby’s next-man-up philosophy will once again show itself with an exciting crop of new starters and emerging veterans ready to take the reins of a familiar system–a dynamic, run-first offense paired with a 4-3 defense focused on neutralizing every aspect of the opposing attack.
The other thing that will be the same? Their expectations. This is a Helena team that once again expects to compete with the best teams in Class 6A, Region 3 and beyond, and once the pieces fall into place, they’ll be poised to do just that.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
After serving as Carson Acker’s backup last season, Nate Ferguson is the likely Week 1 starter. His great work ethic, positive attitude and coolness under pressure have made him one of the team leaders. He presents a dual threat with his rushing and passing abilities, while he is an overall strong athlete as shown by his basketball and track background, much more than his size would suggest. Right behind him at his heels and challenging for the spot is KJ Underwood, a sophomore who has already caught the eyes of recruiters and was invited to the prestigious Top Gun camp in June.
RUNNING BACK
While the loss of reigning Shelby County Player of the Year Jordan Washington will be keenly felt, the
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
9-3 (5-1 Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Richie Busby
RECORD
44-22 (Seventh year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Jim Elgin, Keith Maple, Don Dover, Ryan Dudchock, Adam Bice, Jonathan Mincey, David Lee, Neal Chambers, Nick Malantis, Eli Bealle, Clif Naron
LAST REGION TITLE 2021
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2023
Huskies’ backfield should weather his departure well with the options they have. Jeremy Spratling shined bright before suffering a midseason injury, but now, the Huskies are looking for big things from him and to keep him healthy. He excels between the tackles and, in Busby’s eyes, he has the best straight-line speed on the team. Backing him up is junior Domynyck Santiago who excels both carrying the ball and catching it, making him the team’s best three-down back according to Busby. Expect Jacoby Studimire to have a strong season as well.
RECEIVER
Busby believes Helena’s trio of Torrey Ward, Nathan Jones and Chris Brown are as strong as any the program has had. Ward showed out last season as his speed helped him run great routes for a 6-foot-3 receiver, while he uses that height and strong pass-catching ability to high point the ball and come down with it. Expect him to also block in the run game along with h-back tight ends Connor Guida, Morgan Turner and Jacob Kryzkalski. Brown can block as well since he is strong
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: Bye
Aug. 30: @ McAdory
Sept. 6: @ Chilton County*
Sept. 13: Spain Park*
Sept. 20: Moody
Sept. 27: Oxford
Oct. 4: Benjamin Russell*
Oct. 11: Pelham*
Oct. 18: @ Chelsea*
Oct. 25: @ Calera*
Nov. 1: Bye
*Region Game
and has a length of 6-foot-2, but once he adjusts to the Huskies offense after returning to Helena and improves his route-running, he’ll play an even bigger role in the offense. Jones brings a lot of versatility to the group and excels at running routes. The hard-working Gavin Franks and smart, versatile baseball star Davis Kelly will also factor into the rotation.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Huskies have three starters back
PLAYERS TO WATCH
JT Alvis, S
Alvis has proved to be an athletic and versatile part of the secondary, and as he enters his fourth year as a starter, he’ll be called on as even more of a leader.
Jonathan Roberto, LB
Roberto burst onto the scene last year thanks to his ability to get to the ball quickly and has displayed a football IQ well beyond his years.
Torrey Ward, WR
Expect Ward to be the top target this year as his great hands pair with his speed to make a formidable opponent for any defensive back.
Jeremy Spratling, RB
Last year’s breakout talent in the backfield is ready for a full-season in the spotlight as the main back with explosive runs between the tackles.
Nate Ferguson, QB
While Ferguson is the Huskies’ third different quarterback in three seasons, his ability to both pass and run the ball effectively under pressure have him poised for a stellar senior season.
KEY DEPARTURES
Jordan Washington, RB Washington used a full season of work to put up Shelby County Player of the Year numbers and carry the load in Helena’s biggest moments.
Hunter Hale, WR
The Huskies will be without one of their most versatile weapons as Hale will take his pass-catching, returning and defensive skills to Memphis.
Nate Thomason, LB
Another Helena star bound for Memphis, Thomason was a one-man demolition crew with 96 solo tackles out of his county-leading 140 total tackles.
Jonathan roberto
2024 Helena Roster
from last year in Josue McNeal, Grant Vines and Eli Berry. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior Vines has a ton of experience to his name at right guard. Berry stepped up in a big way as a freshman starter in all 12 games last year. Busby believes the 6-foot-3, 275-pound sophomore has the skills to be one of Helena’s best linemen ever. He’ll hold down the right tackle position, while the 6-foot-2, 260-pound McNeal will likely take the left guard spot once he returns from injury after he stepped in for a great season last year. That leaves the center and left tackle positions to fill, and Busby is confident that Jonah Chand, Cam Barnett, James Washington or Gavin Vansandt can take over those spots.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Brett Barry returns as a starter along the four-man base defensive front, and the three-year man can play both inside and outside. Other experienced players back include Brock Wise, Fred Grooms and Austin Acosta. Brody
Haitcock moved over from the offensive line to give the defense some size, and at 6-foot-3, 330 pounds, he’ll do just that. DJ Williams has the potential to start as well after the 6-foot-5, 230-pound sophomore impressed coaches. Look for Jayden Harris to play a role as well with juniors Aiden Zepp and Ryan Spann.
LINEBACKER
Jonathan Roberto is the lone player back from last year, but he broke out in
5-YEAR WIN TREND
2023 RESULTS
EDITOR’S 2024
PREDICTION (7-3)
While Helena lost its major playmakers from last year’s group that nearly ran the table in region play, the Huskies are no strangers to reloading. We’re talking about a team that has flourished with new quarterbacks in each of the last two seasons and a defense that remains stout even when losing college football players every year. The DNA that made those past teams special is here with this bunch with a winning formula on both sides of the ball and talented playmakers. The key is helping the defensive depth pieces beyond veterans like JT Alvis, Jonathan Roberto, Kevin Pinkard and Brett Barry develop into more capable players who can make the unit more complete. The offense has big play potential at both receiver and running back even with last year’s All-County players absent, and Nate Ferguson has shown every sign that he can take command of the offense. As for the schedule, it’s one that Helena should be favored to reach the playoffs with even while facing a tough returning Benjamin Russell team and a highly-touted Spain Park side. Expect business as usual for the Huskies: another winning season and the chance to make some noise come November.
his freshman year as the smart, athletic, hard-nosed player Helena needs. Lane Harris and Grayson Owens are battling to take another spot, while the Huskies will also have a senior back in Josh Morris. Logan Horstead and Russ Daniels will also factor into the mix, and whoever winds up as the third string running back will likely join them.
SECONDARY
A pair of talented players are returning in the secondary in JT Alvis and Kevin Pinkard. Alvis covers space well and poses as much of a tackling threat as he does a coverage threat, making him an option at corner, safety and nickel. Kevin Pinkard has become a mainstay in the secondary and will bring his basketball skillset to the safety spot once again. Other than that, it’s a crowded group with DeAndre Gray, Bryce Banks, Khai Coleman, Nathan Jones and Josiah Ray. Busby said that the group is working on their coverage schemes and they’ll have more clarity after 7-on-7’s finish.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Austin Lewis will handle kickoff, punts and field goals for the Huskies in his senior year. He has progressed greatly this summer and Busby believes he has a Power 4 future. They’ll need to fill other spots in special teams with James Vakakes, nephew of Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes, likely to start at long snapper and Isaiah Jones and multiple defensive backs vying to replace Hunter Hale to return kicks and punts.
JT alvis
Road to the top
Helena’s JT Alvis looks back on unconventional journey to leading on and off the field
Written by ANDREW SIMONSON | Photos by JEREMY RAINES
FFrom his origins as a baseball star to returning to his football roots in middle school to becoming one of the Helena Huskies’ top talents while balancing his life as a homeschooler, Alvis has broken the mold of a typical football player.
Now, as he finishes with the Huskies ahead of a likely future in high-level college football, he hopes to make his mark once more.
A RAPID RISE
After playing football early on, Alvis took years off to focus on baseball. While he exceled at the sport, he returned to football in seventh grade.
Alvis caught varsity head coach Richie Busby’s eye in middle school, and before his freshman year, he started working out with the varsity team. He began the summer as a receiver, working his way to getting second team reps.
However, the coaches soon switched him over to defense, and two weeks later, he earned a starting cornerback role for offseason 7-on-7 games and never
let go.
Alvis succeeded from his first year as a starter, and by the end of his freshman year, he got his first offer from UAB. That flipped the switch for Alvis to go all-in on football, and he now boasts eight Power 4 offers and a three-star rating.
He believes that his early starting experience helped him quickly adapt to the speed of 6A varsity football.
“I think me coming in as a freshman, it showed me fast how real high school football will be a big transition from middle school and I think that helped me and it made me grow into the player I am today,” Alvis said.
He credits his work ethic on the field and in the weight room with helping him close the gap between him and other more experienced players.
“You’ll see me at the fields almost every day with the guys up there,” Alvis said “So, I’m always working and I’ll just think my work speaks for itself.”
LEADING THE WAY
While Alvis has ascended on the field, he has also
grown greatly off the field as a leader. He has gone from a freshman with big expectations to a vocal senior.
“I think my role has grown a lot,” Alvis said. “I still feel like I have to keep everybody in check and just lead the whole team and make sure we’re always going right so we can do big things this season.”
Alvis is homeschooled but still makes time to build bonds with his teammates, getting together with his fellow defensive backs to hang out and train or do something outside of football, including meals with his position group.
Busby has seen how he’s built relationships, and he now trusts Alvis as one of the players who will tell him how the team is doing.
“I’ve seen it just more so in the building, the way he’s interacting with the guys and mainly the way he’s interacting with us,” Busby said. “He was always real quiet and sometimes you need players to come to you and go, ‘Coach, this is what’s going on, this is kind of the temperature of the team,’”
Busby has seen the growth in Alvis and believes his gains will help him thrive in life.
“He’s more vocal now,” Busby said. “All the things that we challenged him to do that we thought would help him at the next level, he’s done every bit of
that. I think he knows it’s his time. It’s his last go around as a senior.”
GOING OUT STRONG
Alvis has continued working hard in preparation for his final go-around as a Husky. His work overall has led to big improvements both physically and mentally.
While his college decision will obviously be an important moment in the next few months, Alvis is focused on making the most of his final season at Helena.
He’s not just focused on his on-field performance as he wants to become an example for the kids around Helena and show them how to do things the right way while also becoming an All-State talent.
“Off the field, I just want to become a mentor to the kids in Helena,” Alvis said. “I want kids to come and ask me for advice. I just want to be a role model for the kids around me and set a good example for this town of Helena, this small town. On the field, I want to make First Team All-County, All-State, all those things like that, show people that I’m an all-around player,” Alvis said.
Overall, Alvis wants to leave a legacy in everything he does and represent Helena well both at Husky Stadium and the next level.
MONTEVALLO
BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs came heartbreakingly close to a playoff spot in 2023, missing out on the playoffs with a 7-3 record because of a tiebreaker. Now, they’re motivated to get back under the November lights, even with lots of changes on deck.
No change is bigger than Montevallo’s move up to Class 5A in all sports, a move that will give the Bulldogs a chance to prove themselves against a brand-new slate of foes in Class 5A, Region 3.
They will also have a new man in charge, but one who is familiar to the program. After Blake Boren departed in April, defensive coordinator Garrett Langer took the reins after four seasons as an assistant. The players have rallied around Langer and look to continue building on that progress.
While they’ll need to fill the hole left by impactful seniors like Javon Rogers, Charlie Adams and Braxton King, returning stars Razareo Conwell, Dee Cutts, Keiston Ross and Nylan Hill-Goode are primed to step up and help the Bulldogs adjust to a new reality.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
With Braxton King gone after multiple years in the pocket, Langer currently plans to turn the keys of the offense over to junior Jordan Ward. Like King, Ward is a dual threat quarterback, but he leans more toward the power run with his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame and can go between the tackles if needed. Langer and offensive coordinator Jim King plan to primarily use him as a runner while still taking advantage of the Bulldogs’ talented receiving corps.
RUNNING BACK
Razareo Conwell burst onto the scene last year with 1,221 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, and he enters his senior season with big expectations from both fans and his coaches. He has been hard at work to live up to those, hitting the weight room and coming out bigger, faster and stronger in Langer’s eyes. His coach believes last year’s success mainly came off raw skill, which means he could be in for a massive senior year after a long offseason of training. Expect sophomore Caleb Meriweather to back him up and Chris McMiller to potentially get a few snaps as well.
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 5A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
7-3 (4-3 Class 4A, Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Garrett Langer
RECORD
First Year
ASSISTANT COACHES
Jim King, Charlie Boren, Chris Stano, Daryl Burnes, Houston Daniel
LAST REGION TITLE 1995
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021
Razareo conwell
RECEIVER
While the loss of Javon Rogers will definitely be big, the Bulldogs got a preview of life without him late last season and liked what they saw from this year’s seniors. Dee Cutts stepped into Rogers’ role with barely any dropoff, and his one-on-one ability should lead to great success with deep balls thanks to his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame. The 6-foot-2 Jaylen Ray is another key name to look out for after a strong offseason of work, while Ethan Juarez rounds out the unit with his baseball background. Najhear Russell will factor into the mix after he saw great success at the JV level and has now grown up to the point that the Bulldogs expect a breakout junior year from him.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Langer believes that the offensive line is one of his strengths because of the experienced players he has back and how the core players make each other better. In all, the Bulldogs have five players up front returning from last season. It starts with K’Erius Cockrum, who fills the left tackle slot with his athletic 6-foot-5, 275-pound build. Expect another big year from him as he enters his senior year. A 6-foot-3, 295-pound junior, Kyler Mitchell contributed to the line as a sophomore and is back as an upperclassman in the center spot. An All-County lineman and the highest graded on the team last year, Derek Diaz returns for his junior season alongside AJ Guizar. Kelston Hodges
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Razareo Conwell, RB/DB Conwell had a breakout season last year in the backfield and looks to take an even bigger leap this year.
Dee Cutts, WR/DB Cutts will be a top target for new quarterback Jordan Ward after stepping up in a big way last season, and he will also be a ballhawk presence in the secondary.
Keiston Ross, WR/S
After leading the region with six interceptions a year ago, Ross looks to have another big year both in coverage and as a route-runner.
Nylan Hill-Goode, DE Hill-Goode was another player who came into his own last year and will be the star of the defensive front.
K’Erius Cockrum, LT/DL
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound returning starter will anchor a strong offensive line while also playing a key role on the other side of the ball.
KEY DEPARTURES
Braxton King, QB King excelled in the quarterback spot with his athleticism, causing problems in multiple ways for defenses while being a strong leader.
Javon Rogers, WR/DB Rogers fulfilled his goal of playing Division-I football after becoming one
Keiston ross
QUICK HITS
LIVE AT FIVE Montevallo’s growth as a city means the Bulldogs are on the move up to Class 5A, a transition that Langer and the team are looking forward to. Langer knows that it will be a big move to go up a classification, but he believes their new region is a good fit. While Demopolis is the perennial king of Class 5A, Region 3, much of the rest of the region is full of unknowns in his eyes, and he believes they could capitalize even though no team is an easy out. At the end of the day, playoffs are still the expectation, but Montevallo likes its chances.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY As a result of Garrett Langer’s promotion from defensive coordinator to head coach, multiple assistants from Boren’s staff stayed on, including offensive coordinator Jim King. Langer will also continue to lead a defense that ranked second-best in the county behind only Thompson in 2023. Langer believes that keeping the same faces in the building will ensure a seamless transition for his players going into the year, and they’re already seeing the fruits of that in summer.
TWO-A-WAYS Even though Montevallo is growing and on the move up a classification, fans can expect many of the players to start on both sides of the ball. Langer views that as a blessing and a curse: a positive because it makes the most use of their best athletes, but a negative because they don’t have as much depth to replace one injured player at two positions. The Bulldogs have succeeded with this approach in the past, from linemen like Keirus Cockrum, Kelston Hodges and AJ Guizar playing both sides of the line to Javon Rogers’ excellence in pass defense that has also shown in Keiston Ross and Dee Cutts. If Montevallo can stay healthy, it may see similar results this year.
2024 Montevallo Roster
KEY NUMBERS
3
Moving up to a new classification and region doesn’t mean the Bulldogs will face completely new opponents this year. Three opponents from last year’s schedule are on their 2024 slate, including former region-mate Sipsey Valley, local rival Shelby County and Jemison as well, and all three were decided by three points or less. The hope is that having some familiar foes on the schedule helps the coaches know what to expect in the new region.
Class 4A, Region 3’s top two interception leaders are no longer terrorizing that region’s quarterbacks. Keiston Ross led the region with six interceptions and Dee Cutts was right behind him with five. Both are back in the Bulldogs secondary this season and are working to continue that form while facing a new lineup of offenses in Class 5A.
rounds out a tight-knit group that will be heavily leaned on in the run game.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Nylan Hill-Goode is the centerpiece of the defensive front after a strong season last year, and
he’ll grow even more into his strong side defensive end role with Charlie Adams gone. Other than him, many of the names along the line are similar to its offensive counterpart, including K’Erius Cockrum, Kyler Mitchell and AJ Guizar. Langer hopes that Kimani Thomas will step up into a bigger role
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: Tarrant
Aug. 30: @ Sylacauga
Sept. 6: Northside*
Sept. 13: @ Demopolis*
Sept. 20: Bye
Sept. 27: John Carroll
Oct. 4: Selma*
Oct. 11: @ Shelby County*
Oct. 18: Sipsey Valley*
Oct. 25: @ Jemison*
Nov. 1: @ Vincent
*Region Game
2023 RESULTS
Photo by Andrew Simonson
up front as well. Expect the Bulldogs to be multiple and able to present three, four or five-man fronts depending on what the opposing offense presents.
LINEBACKER
The leader of the unit will be Brannon Hudson, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound returning senior who will be the man in the middle at middle linebacker. K’erin Ross will also play a key factor at linebacker. Caleb Merriweather rounds out a key position group for the Bulldogs.
SECONDARY
Safety will be one of the most stacked positions on this team as both Dee Cutts and Keiston Ross make a return. Cutts led the region with six interceptions and excels in every aspect of the position, from coverage to tackling and causing turnovers. Ross is a similar ballhawk with five interceptions to his name from 2023. Over at corner, four names are in the mix for those spots, including Jaylen Ray, Razareo Conwell, Bryce Smith and Chris McMiller.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Bulldogs will replace a three-year starter at kicker and punter in Ben Locks, but Langer already has a kicker lined up in Arturo Alverenga. Like Locks did, Alverenga comes in as a sophomore, and Langer believes he has Division-I potential down the road. The punter and long snapper jobs are up for grabs, and the Bulldogs will turn to the speed of Razareo Conwell and Chris McMiller in the return game.
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (7-3)
Even with a new classification and coach, I think the Bulldogs w ill pick up right where they left off last year. Langer has done a great job at ensuring continuity from last year’s team and will in particular help the defense to continue to be a strong suit. Montevallo has the tools to excel both in the pass rush and in coverage with many pieces back. They also have the tools to be multi-facete d on offense with a strong offensive line and two rushing options behind them in Razareo Conwell and new quarterback Jordan Ward as well as an experienced and proven top target in Dee Cutts. How Ward and the new receivers adjust to in-game action will say a lot about their ceiling on that side of the ball. While everyone will have to adjust to Class 5A competition, Region 3 is decidedly less of a gauntlet than Montevallo’s old region, which should prevent tiebreaks or anything else from keeping the Dawgs out of the postseason.
OAK MOUNTAIN
EAGLES
There’s no getting around that last year was a disappointing season for the Eagles.
Oak Mountain’s 1-9 record in 2023 was the worst in school history, but as second-year coach Shane McComb’s rebuild continues, the hope internally is that they are building towards a brighter future.
It’s still a young team with mainly sophomores and juniors led by just 13 seniors for the second straight season, but with a full offseason, new coaches and systems that better fit the players’ strong suits are some of the many changes from last year’s team.
Their goal is to be competitive in every game to get the respect that they didn’t get last season, win the games they’re supposed to and be physical and sound in the process. Time will tell if expectations turn into reality, but with growth on all fronts, they aim to take the next step toward their long-term goals.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
Three is the magic number for Will O’Dell as he is back for his third and final year as Oak Mountain’s starting quarterback, and he’ll have to prepare for his third different offense in as many seasons. McComb said that he has picked new offensive coordinator Jerad Holder’s offense up well and it fits him and his personnel better. While O’Dell also plays basketball and baseball for OMHS, he has remained dedicated to improving at football, gaining arm strength and getting more athletic as shown by his 4.5 40-yard dash time, while remaining one of the team leaders. The Eagles are preparing for life without O’Dell next season with Andrew Bourland as his backup.
RUNNING BACK
After featuring as the main back last year, Marty Myricks will tote the rock once again, and he’s made strides since last season. He’ll fight between the tackles for every yard, but he also excels at blocking and catching to make him a more complete player. A big part of that success on all of those fronts is his great field vision that allows him to make plays and get extra yards. Judson Sachs will also rotate for backup reps.
RECEIVER
One of the most exciting developments of the
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 7A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
1-9 (0-7 Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Shane McComb
RECORD
1-9 (Second year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Jerad Holder, Clay Machen, Ryan Brewer, Spencer White, Chase Trotter, John Harrellson, John Rodgers
LAST REGION TITLE
None
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021
offseason has been Sean Ray’s move from cornerback to receiver. Any size difference between him and the other receivers is more than made up for in his electric playmaking and excellent routerunning abilities. Zach Fitzgerald also runs routes very well and will play a big role.
Walker Shook is an intriguing athlete as he brings a high jump background and a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame to the receiver room. He also blocks well to add another dimension to his game. New face Boston Brewer has already made an impression with his great catching skills. Jacob Moore moved from receiver to a blocking tight end role and has stepped up well in that spot. Expect Kennedy Silas to rotate into the lineup as well as Joey Carbonie and
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: Briarwood
Aug. 30: @ Pelham
Sept. 6: Prattville*
Sept. 13: @ Thompson*
Sept. 20: Tuscaloosa County*
Sept. 27: Bye
Oct. 4: @ Hoover*
Oct. 11: Vestavia Hills*
Oct. 18: @ Hewitt-Trussville*
Oct. 25: Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa*
Nov. 1: Chelsea
*Region Game
tight ends Will Burgess and Dylan Dawson.
OFFENSIVE LINE
McComb admits they don’t have as
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Will O’Dell, QB O’Dell got valuable experience in his first season as a starting quarterback, and he will be in the mix to return as the starter this year.
Caleb Jaworski, DL Heading into his senior season, Jaworski will be the clear leader on the defensive line and will be relied upon to get into opposing backfields.
Marty Myricks, RB Myricks steps into the starting running back role after getting some key reps last year and is due for a breakout season.
Sean Ray, WR After playing as a defensive back for the last three seasons, Ray is moving to the slot receiver position where his athleticism will do wonders in the passing game.
KEY DEPARTURES
Sawyer Smith, WR Smith was a crucial weapon on the receiving end of passes, making for a great option on a week-to-week basis.
Jacob Porco, LB Porco was a massive leader on the defensive side of the ball with outstanding athleticism to make big tackles.
James Whatley, K/P Whatley’s reliability on special teams was big for the Eagles last season, giving them room to work with on field goals and putting opposing offenses in bad positions on punts.
Tristan Vardaman, WR Vardaman was another senior member of the Eagles receiving corps that will be missed as they adjust to a new group of pass-catchers.
Marty Myricks
2024 Oak Mountain Roster
2023 STATS
Offense
Total Points: 140
Per Game: 14.0
County Rank: 10
Defense Points Allowed: 384
Per Game: 38.4
County Rank: 10
2023 RESULTS
@ Northridge W 38-30
@ Pelham L 21-24
Hewitt-Trussville* L 7-42
@ Chelsea* L 13-21
Tuscaloosa County* L 23-24
@ Briarwood L 0-21
@ Hoover* L 14-62 Thompson* L 7-68
@ Vestavia Hills* L 0-50
Spain Park* L 17-42
Bye
*Region Game
much depth here as they’d like, but it’s a young group with plenty of potential. Of the seven players in their rotation, he says five have made drastic improvements since last year. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Brad Haizlip will hold down the left tackle spot. On the opposite side of the line will be the 6-foot, 230-pound Colton Cason. The guard spots will be filled out by 6-foot3, 280-pound Barron Meadors and 6-foot, 245-pound John Whatley, while last year’s freshman team center Luke Kelly will slide into the starting role on varsity with his 6-foot, 220-pound frame. A 6-foot, 270-pound guard, Braxton Nettles will factor into the rotation along with Evan Smith, the latter of whom comes from the wrestling team and has plenty of raw talent.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The entirety of the defensive line group contains just two seniors, making for a great crop of sophomores
and juniors led by a pair of veteran leaders. Niko Varvoutis has evolved into a great player on the edge with his football IQ, while Caleb Jaworski brings lots of speed and strength up front. Dailan Gantt has come along nicely and been a pleasant surprise after coming from the freshman team. Joey Lewis and Jordan PierceHarris will fill out the inside, and McComb knows he needs to stay fresh for the team to succeed. Standing at 6-foot-3, Ethan Walton presents a lengthy option for McComb to utilize. Peyton Gamble, Brooks Braswell and Joseph Alonzo will rotate between the front and linebacker spots as Leo backs.
LINEBACKER
While Jacob Porco was a big loss for this group, the Eagles look to have a great pair of linebackers with Colton Moore and William Yoder. Moore is moving to the middle to use his rushing ability in the run defense.
KEY NUMBERS
3
A big focus that McComb has emphasized this year is to win the games that the team is supposed to and to finish in close contests. The Eagles went 1-3 in games that were decided by one possession last year, with their only win coming in week one against Northridge. All four of those games came within the first five weeks of the season last year, and was a big determining factor in how the season went for Oak Mountain. Turning those results around this year can do wonders for this squad.
14
With just 14 seniors on the roster this year, the Eagles do not have much in the way of experience for the future. For the second year in a row, the team graduates less than 20 seniors. While that raises some concern on how much talent is returning to the field, it means that the years following this season will have a plethora of game action to build off of, which Oak Mountain hopes will build success long-term.
120
Oak Mountain has one of the smaller roster sizes in all of Class 7A, creating a lack of depth and position competition throughout the team. In McComb’s second year, the program is finally back well above 100 players across all teams, sitting at 120 for the upcoming season. McComb understands that the rebuilding process will take a few years, but is optimistic that the program is going to continually increase in competition with a significant rise in numbers coming again in 2025.
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (3-7)
While I am very optimistic for the future of Oak Mountain and the energy that Shane McComb will bring to the program, that doesn’t change the present much. This is year one of a rebuild, and the beginning is always difficult. Almost every team around the Eagles in the region is getting better, and Oak Mountain just has too many questions to answer for me to have confidence that they will improve on last year’s result. This is arguably one of the hardest regions to rebuilt in because the standard of play is so high that not only will the Eagles face teams that are lightyears ahead of them while they rebuild, but because the bar that they have to clear in order for the Eagles to make the playoffs and contend for a regional championship is so high.
GOOD LUCK eagles!
Photo by Iron City Studios
Photo by Iron City Studios
QUICK HITS
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
Over recent seasons there has been a lot of turnover in the Eagles’ program. New faces have constantly been coming and going, and the same is true for this year amongst the coordinators. McComb has hired Jared Holder from Calera as his offensive coordinator and has retained John Rodgers as his co-defensive coordinator. Over the offseason, McComb has been developing strong relationships with both of them, building a solid basis of communication and helping them spread that to the entire coaching staff. That communication has led to a change in the look that Oak Mountain will have on the field. The coaches all agree that the team needed a scheme that fit the players they have. As a result, the Eagles will look very balanced on offense and will have a very even mix of play calls from week to week. The big key in that will be to utilize their big three on offense in Will O’Dell, Marty Myricks and Sean Ray as best they can due to the lack of depth the team has on the offensive line. Everybody has seemed to agree on that, and it is what they will roll with this fall.
RAY’S NEW ROLE
Sean Ray was a key piece of the Oak Mountain defense last year in the secondary. He makes plays with his quickness and raw talent, constantly looking for ways to help the team out each week. This year, his role will look a little different. McComb made the decision to move Ray into the slot receiver spot on offense, trying to utilize his speed and agility in the passing game. McComb feels that the talents Ray possesses fit perfectly in this position and will give Will O’Dell another option to throw to. The hope is that Ray can create big gains when he gets his hands on the ball. McComb has harped on the fact that as Ray goes, the team will go. The senior talent will see the ball a lot this year, using his knowledge from the defensive side to make quick decisions in the receiving role.
Yoder is a talented sophomore who shoots gaps well and makes them count with tackles for loss. Both can cover well and will be used in that role as well as the run game. As for the Leo backers, Peyton Gamble brings a lot of size and speed to the stunt game with his 6-foot, 220-pound frame, Brooks Braswell is a traditional hard-nosed player who succeeds in that role and Joseph Alonzo rounds out the group. Nolan Lawson will provide depth at the Will linebacker spot.
SECONDARY
Just like the defensive line, only two players out of this group are seniors and the rest are sophomores and juniors, which should lead to a deep group next season as well. Last year’s breakout star, Jayden AparicioBailey, is coming off hamstring surgery, and since he’s just a sophomore, McComb isn’t rushing him back to preserve his future health and will only put him back in when he’s game ready. As for the for sure Week 1 guys, Robert Yoder has made big strides at the Nickel spot, while the versatile defensive captain Cole Kelly is back to impact as a tackler and
coverage threat. Colby King was thrown into the fire as a freshman starting cornerback, and he succeeded in coverage against some of Class 7A, Region 3’s top receivers. He’ll play a combo of free safety and cornerback to maximize his ability to cover the field and tackle. The Silas brothers, Blake and Kennedy, present two different types of defensive backs as Kennedy is a lengthy corner at 6-foot-3 and Blake is shorter and more athletic. McComb is also looking to find ways to get Clay Mills and JC Schwender on the field since both have been working hard.
SPECIAL TEAMS
It’s a competition at both kicker and punter this year between sophomores Josh Renfro and Gavin Stone. McComb said that both kickers can hit from 45 yards and are consistent from within 40 yards. It’s likely that whichever one shows the ability to reach the end zone on kickoffs will get the nod there to avoid returns. The Eagles prefer to get a linebacker-type player at long snapper, so Colton Cason, William Yoder and Colten Moore are working out there until a frontrunner emerges.
Sean Ray
PELHAM
PANTHERS
It’ll be a youth movement for the Pelham Panthers in 2024 as they look to rebound from last year’s disappointment and reestablish themselves as a playoff contender in Class 6A, Region 3.
The Class of 2024 was incredibly impactful for the Panthers, led by Clayton Mains, Will Felton, Bishop Rellah and Tyler Mason. With those players and more off to play college athletics, it’s up to the next generation that they helped train to take their place.
Head coach Mike Vickery will have to fill a starting spot in just about every position group, but with just 12 seniors this year, he and the Panthers will have an opportunity to build for both now and the future, using the same Pelham Way that guided their initial rise.
The good news for the Panthers is that there will be no shortage of athletes to pair with a coaching staff that typically has the players schematically prepared. If they can play smart, avoiding penalties and turnovers, the defense should remain physical and athletic in space, while the offense has potential to be as balanced as ever.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
With Clayton Mains gone, it’s a two-man battle between Dylan Smith and Logan Strunk to replace him, and both potential starters have unique skillsets. Smith valiantly stepped up mid-game in Pelham’s region finale against Chilton County for an injured Mains, and he performed well enough to take the reins the next week at Spain Park as well. He has an athletic 205-pound build and loves getting tough yards on his feet, while he’s already established himself as a well-respected leader. As for Strunk, he has a strong arm and has grown nearly a foot in the past two years, both of which put him in the conversation for the job. Vickery said he’s been willing
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
5-5 (2-4 Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Mike Vickery
RECORD 11-11 (Third year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Craig Hall, Ryan Dobbs, Nathan Fordham, Brian Maner, Josef Lauderale, Ronnie Clemens, Kevin LaSuer, David White, Jody Colvin, Nathan Collins, Eric Gibbons, Kyle Elsberry, Greg Dickinson, Jeremy Satcher, Mitchell Bennefield LAST REGION TITLE
to ask questions and do what it takes to get better. Both quarterbacks will run the same basic offense, but they’ll have different packages based on who starts.
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: Pell City
Aug. 30: Oak Mountain
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kalib Porter, RB
Now that Mike Grayson is gone, Porter is stepping into the primary running back role and will use his athleticism to turn small gains into big plays.
Jake Garner, K/P/WR
The specialist is a reliable tool each Friday night and is getting looks from college programs, while also playing receiver when needed.
Marcus Arnold, WR
Just one of the many young talents on this team, Arnold is just a sophomore with a big development year ahead of him.
Jacob Gibbs, WR
Gibbs is a portion of a very young receiving corps with a lot of potential and will be someone that Vickery utilizes often.
Javian Gee, DB
KEY DEPARTURES Jacob
RUNNING BACK
Kalib Porter split time in the backfield with Mike Grayson last year, but with Grayson gone, it’s Porter’s show now. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound back has gotten more physical, is one of the fastest players on the team and can even catch the ball. The Panthers expect big things from him as his stock continues to rise. Expect Pelham to play multiple backs as usual with the small but gritty sophomore Cam Winfield catching balls out of the
Sept. 6: Chelsea*
Sept. 13: @ Calera*
Sept. 20: @ Chilton County*
Sept. 27: Bye
Oct. 4: Spain Park*
Oct. 11: @ Helena*
Oct. 18: Benjamin Russell*
Oct. 25: @ Leeds
Nov. 1: Fort Payne
*Region game
backfield and Micah Bland returning to football after previously featuring on the basketball team.
A senior, Gee is a cornerback who has become one of the leaders in the secondary and will play a key part in how the defense does this season.
Hunter Drawhorn, LB
With the departure of Bishop Rellah and Will Felton, Drawhorn will be aggressive and hit the gaps quickly, trying to stuff plays as quick as he can.
Clayton Mains, QB
Mains’ leadership was unmatched across the Pelham offense, helping him improve greatly over his time as the starting quarterback.
Will Felton, LB
Dynamic tackling was the name of Felton’s game, which did wonders for the Pelham defense in limiting big plays throughout each game.
Bishop Rellah, LB
Rellah stood tall as part of a strong linebacker group for the Panthers, being one of the most physical players on defense.
2024 Pelham Roster
RECEIVER
Vickery believes this group will be one of their strengths as some of last year’s younger starters grow more into their roles. Jacob Gibbs’ season was cut short by an injury, but he’s back for his second year as a starter with a shifty style that plays into his smaller build and
basketball background. Marcus Arnold is another basketball player making his return as a starter after he started every game as a freshman last year. He made an impact last season for the way he used his lengthy frame to make big plays. Tristan Darden came into his own as the season went on last year, developing into
a physical player who excels both in route running and pass catching. The Panthers also have a pair of versatile options in transfer TJ Copeland and Owen Hoar, the latter of whom is the lone senior receiver and will be a leader. He uses his football IQ to run great routes while excelling in traffic.
Photo by Belmont
QUICK HITS
LINE OF SUCCESSION
The Pelham quarterback race is wide open now that Clayton Mains has concluded his time as a Panther. Right now, that race is between two young sophomores in Dylan Smith and Logan Strunk. Neither of them are super experienced, but all that they have learned from those before them will benefit them in the future, no matter who gets the job. The line of quarterback success goes back. The two athletes were mentored by Mains while he was having success as the starting quarterback over the last two years. Mains learned his stuff from Will Langford, who also was a dominant player. With any luck, the sophomores will be just fine.
YOUTH OF THE NATION
Pelham graduated many seniors from last year’s team, having to rebuild about 25% of their roster with new faces. Couple that with the fact that this year’s squad has 52 players that are either sophomores and juniors, and you ultimately see a team that is very young and lacks much experience in starting roles. Despite that, it gives the chance for many younger athletes to prove themselves, and that is a positive that the Panthers are looking at this season.
BLOCKING OUT THE NOISE
Following a season where it played many local teams around them, Pelham added some newer squads to its schedule for 2024, ones that are not necessarily located within a 20 to 30 minute radius of their campus. The Panthers non-region schedule features three non-local teams in Pell City, Leeds and Fort Payne, along with Oak Mountain. That focus was strengthened with the addition of Chelsea and Spain Park as region foes, as they were on the slate as non-region competition last year.
OFFENSIVE LINE
With multiple starters graduating, this is the least experienced position group. Lacking the size and strength of 2023, the unit does have athleticism in spots. The 6-foot-1, 250-pound senior Rylan Hoyett is the lone senior on the line, and Vickery knows that they’ll need big things from the two-year starter. He’s also confident that returner William Murphy will turn heads with his athletic 6-foot-2, 255-pound build. Griffin Marshall will anchor the center spot and the 6-foot, 250-pounder used a great offseason to battle his way to becoming a solid player. Sophomores Elijah Gillylen at 5-foot-10, 240 pounds and Sawyer Sullivan at 6-foot-3, 270
pounds round out the group.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Pelham will run a base three-man front and have solid options at each of those starting spots. Uriah Barginere was an offand-on starter last year, but the junior will have a bigger starting role this season after developing a high motor and football smarts. Another key junior is Jacob Armstead, a player Vickery believes has high upside on the inside. Jaylyn Bonner will split his time between the defensive line and linebacker as the jack after playing inside linebacker last year. The Panthers also have younger players developing behind them to give them some
Kalib PORTER
KEY NUMBERS
22
A big focus that is constantly on every coach’s mind is how many seniors the team will graduate each season, giving them a partial idea as to what the team will look like in the future. The Panthers graduated 22 seniors from their football program in the spring, meaning roughly a quarter of the team is being replaced for the upcoming year. The amount of experience that left the team will bring on unique challenges in 2024, something Pelham will have to get by quickly.
4
After so many seniors graduated, especially at skill positions, a lot of position rooms are being rebuilt with young talent that Vickery hopes will prove beneficial in the future. This upcoming season, the wide receiver group will be very new, with four receivers that played in the spring game having been rising sophomores. Vickery understands that with this many new starters will come mistakes, but he enjoys the process of teaching and looks forward to seeing what they can do.
2023 RESULTS
@ Jackson-Olin W 21-6
Oak Mountain W 24-21 Bye @ Briarwood* L 21-28
L 14-35
Chelsea W 27-7 Calera* W 35-6
@ Benjamin Russell* L 14-41
@ Homewood* L 21-31
Chilton County* W 34-28
@ Spain Park L 0-39
*Region game
2023 STATS
Offense
Points: 211 Per Game: 21.1 County Rank: 6
Defense Points Allowed: 242 Per Game: 24.2
County Rank: 7
105
If you want to talk about dominance on the defensive side of the football, you have to mention Will Felton’s performance in 2023. Felton racked up 105 over the course of last season, making for a forceful senior campaign. He combined those tackles with six tackles-for-loss and five sacks prove why the Pelham star is heading to play at South Alabama. That along with his leadership have helped him leave a memorable legacy.
Javian GEE
depth and allow them to mix up their front.
LINEBACKER
The linebacker spot is all about movement as the three main featuring players are all coming over from different positions either within the position group or from the other side of the ball.
Joe Hampton was the starting h-back last year, but the junior has had a great offseason in his switch over to the defense and will make an impact. Hunter Drawhorn has plenty of experience as one of three seniors on the defense, including last season as a starting outside linebacker and safety hybrid. He’ll move to the inside linebacker spot
for his final varsity season. Benji Augsburger joined Hampton in moving over from the offense and will rotate in as both an inside and outside player.
SECONDARY
The Panthers have multiple players who will make an impact in the secondary this season, but whether they will feature
It’s A great Day to Be A
Jacob gibbs
Jake GARNER
at safety or cornerback is up in the air. Senior Javian Gee started at corner last year, but he’s become more than just a speedster as he has gotten stronger and more mature. Kam May filled a starting hole last year at corner after previously playing receiver, and he’ll be back after developing well last year. Former special teamer Chim Ajinwo has big expectations no matter which he ends up playing. Noah Bell brings more senior experience to the unit after moving from receiver, and he’ll have a
chance to start.
SPECIAL TEAMS
All-County talent Jake Garner will handle field goal, punting and kickoff duties. He can now hit field goals from more than 50 yards, saw great strides as a punter and has a goal of going from getting kickoffs to the end zone 95% of the time, up from 80% last year. Drew Martin will now take sole long snapping duties after previously splitting with his now-graduated brother Brody.
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (4-6)
All signs point to this being a rebuilding year for Pelham. With multiple big spots to fill and a plethora of youth taking those spots, the Panthers will need to mature quickly on the field. The good news is the defense has multiple proven players leading that side of the ball who can make plays and bring along the younger players, and over on offense, there’s plenty of potential at each of the skill positions. Dylan Smith, Kalib Porter, Marcus Arnold and Tristan Darden succeeded after being thrown into the fire last season and should reap the reward of an improved season this year alongside the returning Jacob Gibbs. There are plenty of opportunities for victories on their schedule this season, but with the top end of the region getting even better, the margin of error for making the playoffs is thin. Much of their chances will depend on how they handle the stretch before their final three region games against Spain Park, Helena and Benjamin Russell. The future definitely looks bright for the Panthers and it will be up to the players to maximize their potential in hopes of realizing their playoff dreams sooner.
Porter to the house
Pelham’s Kalib Porter overcomes adversity to follow in family’s footsteps as running back
Written by ANDREW SIMONSON | Photos by JEREMY RAINES
KKalib Porter had a simple start to his football career, playing linebacker just out of passion for the game.
“I just loved the game, and I played linebacker first throughout middle school because I like the physicality and I just love running people over,” Porter said.
However, a broken leg in eighth grade forever altered Porter’s football journey, and with it came painful complications. The sport he loved so much had left him hurting in return.
The injury put him on a long and painful road to get back to doing what he loved: simply running people over.
But after a years-long road to recovery, he returned, and five years after that injury, he’s entering his third season running over the best of Class 6A with the Pelham Panthers, now in a new position but still chasing down his family legacy and his dream of playing on Saturdays.
LONG ROAD BACK
Porter’s football journey started early on when his dad put him in the sport in elementary school. While he played running back a little bit in elementary and middle school, it wasn’t his first love. That would be the linebacker position that he loved and gravitated toward as he discovered his passion for the game in middle school.
But then, he broke the tibia bone in his leg during his eighth grade season, and the game he loved was stolen from him.
It was an extremely painful injury for Porter to deal with, especially with the complications that happened up front with it.
“At first, it was real horrible because I had to take like a whole lot of medicine and it made me feel real sick for a little bit,” Porter said.
He took a two-year break from football because of the broken leg and faced a long road back to playing the game that he loved.
However, he received encouragement from the man who encouraged him to play in the first place: his dad. And from there, he fought to get back on the field.
“My dad really gave me the motivation to keep playing and once I got hurt, I got right back to therapy and trying to get my leg even stronger,” Porter said.
After two years passed, Porter rejoined the football team as a sophomore and test the waters with his rehabbed leg. His leg was at 100 percent and hasn’t stopped him since.
There was one final twist in his journey back, though. He tried his hand at the other position he played as a child: running back, and he easily slipped back into it.
“I felt really excited, and once I started getting back into the hang of things at running back, I felt that I could be way better at the position, and I just stuck to that position,” Porter said.
LEARNING FROM THE BEST
Porter’s move to running back made him another one of many family members to play the position. It also brought him closer to one of best running backs
to come out of Shelby County and someone he didn’t know was a member of that family heritage: Jordan Washington.
Many football fans in the area know Washington as a former Helena running back who eventually became the Shelby County Player of the Year and an All-State selection in 2023.
For a while, that’s how Porter knew him too. But in 2022, they discovered they were cousins. Since they learned of their family ties, they’ve made up for lost time and built a strong friendship around the game.
Washington has helped Porter grow on the field as a running back, including by referring Porter to Washington’s trainer Mike McCoy at Maximum Performance Institute in Bessemer to further his development.
Porter and Washington share similarities on and off the field, and Porter now looks up to Washington in many ways.
“I really learn from him because I like his way of playing and we both have like similar personalities, wearing 34, and having the same skin color and just looking real identical,” Porter said. “I just like the way he plays the game and I learn from it.”
The two cousins did get to share the field once during their careers. In September 2023, the pair of backs battled in one of the most heated rivalries in the state: Pelham vs. Helena.
In the end, Washington got the better of his cousin, but Porter felt grateful that he got to share the field with part of his family and a close friend.
“It was a real cool experience just getting to play against the other half of me, but just way bigger and better. It was a real cool experience playing on the same field as him for one time before he left to go to college.”
Washington is just one of many members of Porter’s family who play sports, including multiple college athletes and even NFL players.
“That’s what also motivates me to play football because I want to keep the legacy of my athletic family going on through the future,” Porter said.
ALWAYS IMPROVING
With Porter poised to be Pelham’s main running
GOOD LUCK Panthers!
back this year, he’s motivated to keep working and become the best player he can be.
Over the offseason, he’s been working on and off the field to improve. He has continued to work with McCoy to train outside of practice, and he’s also hit the weight room to become even stronger.
Porter is confident in the improvements that he’s made and where they will take him this season.
“This summer and spring off-season has really been helping me get bigger and stronger,” Porter said. “I feel like I’ve really improved over the summer, and I feel like I’m having my breakout season this year.”
That work has not gone unnoticed by Pelham’s coaching staff, including head football coach Mike Vickery.
“I think having to sit and watch and some of the successes of people in front of him really motivated him to change his body, get stronger, get faster and really want to kind of prove that he was as good as those guys that came in front of him,” Vickery said.
While Porter isn’t lacking in internal motivation, he also finds some from other coaches, particularly the college football coaches recruiting him as he hopes to play at the next level.
His dream for years has been to play collegiately, and while he is a bit of a late bloomer, he wants to
make up for lost time and live up to the lofty expectations that coaches have for him.
“What motivates me is I have college coaches that really think that they see more in me and they look forward to recruiting me, offering me, and coach Vick, he really motivates me because he pays attention to a lot of things I do and really thinks I can be a potentially really great athlete in my future, and he sees a lot in me,” Porter said.
Porter also expects big things out of himself both on and off the field as he hopes to go out with a bang to open up even more doors for him when he leaves Pelham High School.
“My goal is to hit at least 1,500 yards and just have a real breakout season, have good grades, have scholarships, offers coming in from these colleges cause a lot of them want a little bit more out of me this season and expect more,” Porter said. “I just hope the best and just to have a breakout season.”
Porter wasn’t always assured he would get a chance to have that breakout season. The adversity and injuries that he faced put those dreams into question.
However, that’s all in the past. With those challenges in the rearview mirror, he has a chance to accomplish those lifelong goals by doing what he’s always loved: running people over.
SHELBY COUNTY
WILDCATS
Turning things around will be the name of the game for the Shelby County Wildcats in year four under head coach Zeb Ellison, trying to make a return to the playoffs, but this time, with more optimism.
The Wildcats enter the 2024 season coming off of a 2-9 year in 2023, but now have some experienced players on the team and a small senior class. With that upside in their back pocket, they now look to try and be competitive in a tough Class 5A, Region 3, searching for their first winning season since 2020.
Despite that, the defense will have some major questions to answer this season even though it returns its two major leaders in Cooper Pennington and Eli Holliman. Shelby County gave up 30.8 points per game last year, placing the team eighth among the county’s defenses. Offensively, it will be the Ryan Sipes show for a third year. As he goes, the offense will go, which will be a key determinant in how the Wildcats fare on the scoreboard. Outside of him, there are many shoes to fill, so who will step up as the season progresses?
The standard is set though, and Shelby County looks to raise the bar with another playoff appearance this year.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
After two straight seasons of Ryan Sipes under center, the Wildcats now have a quarterback competition between him and Presley Duke. Ellison said that Sipes has thrown the ball as well as he ever has in the offseason, but Duke has worked his way into the conversation and forced a battle for the job. Both present similar characteristics, so the differentiator for who gets to start will be just like it was when Sipes won the job in 2022, whoever the team gravitates toward as a leader. Should Sipes start, he also should have some consistency under his belt in year two under offensive coordinator Chris Bell, which could be a major strength in his development this season.
RUNNING BACK
The running back room has been a key portion of the Shelby County offense historically. While that is not changing, there are big shoes to fill with the departure of veteran Bradley Horton. The duties are now set to be taken up by junior Devan Alexander, who will carry a bulk of the workload and have high expectations. After lurking behind Horton last season, Alexander is returning as a stronger version of himself with a lot of
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 5A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
2-9 (2-3 Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Zeb Ellison
RECORD
11-20 (Fourth year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Chris Bell, Joel Miller, Lee Hibbs, Edmond Buie, Shannon Jones, Chase Cornelius, Austin Barnhill
LAST REGION TITLE 2008
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2023
Ryan Sipes
work in the weight room. Behind him will be by committee, as multiple players have opportunities ahead.
RECEIVER
Ellison has high belief in the potential that his receiving corps has this year, bringing a mostly veteran group to the field that is hard-working. That squad is led by senior Anthony Palmieri, who is returning with the most receiving yards in the group. Outside of him, Ethan Hall steps back out onto the field with some promise for this season in his junior year, along with Dominic Woods. Eli Holliman will also hope to make some noise, trying to help provide a spark in this offense.
OFFENSIVE LINE
While the offensive line returns some experience, Ellison has completely restructured his front five to be a group that he can count on and that is the heart and soul of the team. That starts with Ethan Burnette, who has been a two-year
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: @ Lincoln
Aug. 30: Holtville
Sept. 6: @ Sipsey Valley*
Sept. 13: @ Jemison*
Sept. 20: Northside*
Sept. 27: St. Clair County
Oct. 4: Demopolis*
Oct. 11: Montevallo*
Oct. 18: Selma*
Oct. 26: Bye
Nov. 1: @ East Limestone
*Region game
starter and is due for a breakout season. He is joined by Hunter Brown, who has faced season-ending injuries the last two seasons and is looking to stay healthy. Hunter King will lead the group at center and also hopes to stay healthy this year, along with Jonavon Smith. Ellison also believes in senior Lucas Ewing and junior Anderson Jacobs, who he has come really far in the offseason. The challenge though, will be avoiding injuries.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cooper Pennington, LB Pennington is making the most of his time as a Shelby County linebacker, and the young star is going to be a continual force this season after last year’s Second Team All-County performance.
Ryan Sipes, QB
Sipes enters his third season as quarterback of the Wildcats with the mindset of being a better player than he has been in his first two years, being due for a big year.
Dominic Woods, WR
With his strong physical form and elite quickness, Woods is searching for a breakout year in his junior campaign and make a mark in the receiving corps.
Eli Holliman, CB
After being a First Team All-County selection last season, Holliman hopes to have another big campaign in the secondary to help lead this Shelby County defense.
KEY DEPARTURES
Bradley Horton, RB/LB
The electric athlete on both sides of the ball provided solid performances each week that he played with the Wildcats after returning from injury for the final seven games in 2023.
Keith Castleberry, DL Castleberry’s leadership on the defensive front will be missed after having to help lead the charge with a very young front four.
Micah Swain, DB/WR Swain’s versatility made him a solid player in the secondary, helping him make plays when called upon.
Dominic woods
1-3
Out of the four one-possession games that Shelby County played in last year, it did not have much luck, going 1-3 in those contests. The Wildcats had opportunities to win all of those games, but could not capitalize down the stretch. A big focus that Zeb Ellison has for this year is turning those losses into wins, which will ultimately come from the closeness of the team. If they can flip a few results this year, the vibe for the season will be a lot more positive.
3
The Wildcats got some big production from their key defensive players last season. Eli Holliman is just one example of that, as he got into the end zone three different times for defensive touchdowns in 2023. They will look for more of the same performance out of him this season, but he can’t be a solid percentage of the team’s touchdown numbers. The gap needs to be closed between the offensive and defensive production in order to help the defense not have to play on their toes every drive.
Photo by Andrew Simonson
2024 Shelby County Roster
QUICK HITS
PENNINGTON’S PALACE
Cooper Pennington has been a special player for the Wildcats ever since he stepped onto the field. The four-year starter has made a big impact each season and has become a leader that they can rely on. His efforts led him to earn a spot on the All-County Second Team last year, and the junior now hopes to rise up to a spot on the First Team this year. Ellison has high praise for his junior star who has been as hard a worker as any, being able to adapt and make plays when called upon. The linebacker room will lean on his leadership in the hopes of succeeding this season.
DEFENSIVE LINE
While the offensive line is set for 2024, the defensive line is going to be more by committee. The one constant in the group is that Eli Carlisle is back for his junior season. Carlisle can play practically all over the defensive front, showing a lot of versatility in his skill set. Dominic Woods will also play at defensive end as a powerful force. Outside of them, it is a young group, but look for players like Wyatt Brasher to also help lead the group as another junior with some knowledge.
LINEBACKER
FIRMER FOUNDATION A major part of last season’s woes could be chalked up to injuries, mainly coming along the offensive line. Having Ethan Burnette, Hunter King and Jonavon Smith struggle with not being 100% was a huge roadblock in what the team could do last year. Now that they are finally healthy, Ellison hopes that this year can provide more promise as far as offensive production goes. With the line going through a complete restructure, starters staying on the field is crucial to how the team does as Shelby County tries to bounce back from last year.
Cooper Pennington will be a name to remember this season with the Wildcats and will be the clear leader in this linebacker corps for his junior season. After moving over to inside linebacker last season, he will lead a group that is likely the deepest on the team. That includes the likes of seniors Hunter Brown, Nico Palmieri and Campbell Aderholt, who is returning from injury. Outside of them, it will be Garrett Barnes, Cale Blevins and 2023
2023 RESULTS
@ West Blocton L 13-25
Montevallo L 10-13
@ Holtville* L 18-41
@ Jemison* W 21-7
Bye
@ Moody L 6-49
Demopolis* L 0-21
Selma* W 24-20
Marbury* L 28-32
Rehobeth L 14-40
@ Woodlawn L 19-26
@ Eufaula# L 19-65
*Region game
#Playoff game
Brady Blackwell. Everybody in this group will have a chance to play, but it is simply a matter of when their name is called. It should be a major strength this year.
SECONDARY
The secondary will be a group with some questions this season, running very much by committee after the graduation of Micah Swain. The only constant that is guaranteed to be on the field every drive is 2023 All-State Honorable Mention Eli Holliman. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound star provides major versatility in the secondary. Ellison said
that he is a coach on the field and always does what is best for the team. Everybody else is up in the air however, and their personnel will mix up from game to game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ellison feels very good about TJ Minton in his second season as a kicker, saying he has gotten a lot stronger and is kicking the ball further distances, crediting his offseason development. Punting duties will once again be filled by either Cooper Pennington or Ryan Sipes, with Cambell Aderholt likely filling the snapping role.
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (3-7)
The question down the stretch last season for the Shelby County Wildcats was if they would be able to take their fate into their own hands and break through a wide-open region and into the playoffs. The Wildcats likely won’t be so lucky this season to make the playoffs with a 2-8 record with Montevallo, Northside and Sipsey Valley joining Class 5A, Region 3 in the place of Marbury and Holtville. That means Shelby County needs to fix some of the problems that led to losing campaigns in the last few seasons, namely helping the offense find a second gear in important moments while limiting damage on defense. To maximize their impact though, they’ll need to prevent injuries, something that has plagued this team each of the last two seasons, and with less depth than last year, that limits the number of available options should someone go down. Time will tell whether Ellison’s culture changes lead to improvements on the field, but with a difficult slate of opponents in front of them, it’s hard for me to be optimistic after the last few years.
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SPAIN PARK
JAGUARS
The Spain Park Jaguars enter 2024 with plenty of high expectations as they look to follow up on last year’s success with a a hopeful trip to the playoffs this season.
Spain Park continued its rapid ascent back to its historic success last season, earning a 7-3 record and cracking the top 10 of the media rankings against one of the toughest regions in the state in Class 7A, Region 3.
Now, the Jags make the move down to Class 6A with tone goal still in mind—an upward trajectory that leads them to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
While they have multiple holes to fill on both sides of the ball, Spain Park still has a strong returning core back including one of the state’s fastest rising stars in junior quarterback Brock Bradley. With the players continuing to grow on and off the field and gain confidence in their abilities, head coach Tim Vakakes’s group has the potential to make some noise and return to the promised land of November football.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
Brock Bradley will return for his second year as a starter and first as an underclassman. Vakakes called the junior one of the hardest workers in the room, and that’s shown in his progress throughout his sophomore season in 2023 and in his offseason preparation. That work ethic combined with his talent should help the Jags continue to evolve on offense, and Vakakes hopes to expand the playbook now that Bradley is comfortable in the system.
RUNNING BACK
The Jags will implement a mix of size and speed in 2024 as senior Dakarai Shanks and sophomore CJ Cowley create a dynamic duo. Vakakes is looking forward to utilizing both backs in different ways as Shanks will use his 5-foot-9, 200-pound frame in between the tackles for big, bruising runs, while Cowley’s 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame gives him the speed and agility to be dangerous. The diverse backfield should help open up the offensive options even more as Spain Park’s offense continues to evolve.
RECEIVER
It’ll be a new-look receiver room for Spain Park this year as Jaxon Haygood, Mitchell Frazer and Andrew Thornton
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
7-3 (4-3 Class 7A, Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Tim Vakakes
RECORD 3-7 (Second Year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
David Bush, Darius Taylor, Danny Kimble, Daris Robinson, Taylor Diamond, Bryan Tull, Matt Thompson, Brandon Berry, TJ Simmons, Jordan Pannell, Daron Arrington, Lincoln Clark, Carey Moorer, Matt Hall
LAST
Brock Bradley
will step up as senior starters. Each of them has contributed in their own ways at Spain Park, but now they will get the chance to step into some big shoes. Vakakes believes that they’ll have big years as Bradley spreads the targets across the board versus having one big deep threat like Jonathan Bibbs. Look out for tight end Henry Gregory to be a potential breakout player as the 6-foot-7 senior has been generating buzz throughout the offseason.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line has a lot of experience going into 2024, and Vakakes wants to use that to empower the rest of the offense. Hudson Reed will bring his 6-foot-5, 254-pound frame to the left tackle spot and look to improve on a sophomore year that garnered him Power Four offers. Jayden Craig, Jackson Bell and Jovan Taylor are all looking to leave it all out for their final year with the Jags. Expect the offensive line to not only open up space between the tackles but help the receivers with perimeter blocking with the goal of turning small gains into big plays.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Just like its offensive counterpart, the defensive line will be very senior-heavy even though multiple players will be stepping up into bigger roles. Landon
5-YEAR WIN TREND
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brock Bradley, QB
After a breakout sophomore season, Bradley will look to take the next step in his evolution as he becomes an upperclassman with lots of eyes on him.
Dakarai Shanks, RB While he split time in the backfield with his brother Derick last year, Dakarai will use his bruising build to carry the bulk of the load between the tackles in 2024.
CJ Cowley, RB Cowley hopes to capitalize on his preseason hype with speed that can extend any run into a big gain.
Christian Smith, LB/DL Smith is another highly-touted player on the rise and will look to wreck games toward the front of the defense.
KEY DEPARTURES
Jonathan Bibbs, WR Last year’s leading receiver in Shelby County, Bibbs was a reliable deep threat and provided big-play offense to the Jags.
Jamari Moseley, DB Moseley was one of the top secondary threats around and a key leader in the Spain Park defensive squad.
Johnson, Geno Ferguson and Harris Gregory will look to hold the line up front for the Jags, while Aden Walker will join them this year after breaking his leg early in the 2023 season. Vakakes’ goal is for the defense to be multiple, so look for them to break out of the fourman front and adapt to each situation.
LINEBACKER
EJ Kerley will hold down the middle linebacker spot, and the junior’s big presence will be key to getting after the ball all around the field. JD Bonamy is another junior who will play a big role in the linebacker group, while senior Brayden Matherson made the move over the offseason to the nickel to help shore up that position. Over on the inside, John Higginbotham leads a group of about four to six players who are battling for time. Look out for junior
Jared Smith, DE Smith was a key part of the Jags pass rush alongside Nik Alston, using their speed to get into the backfield and cause havoc.
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: Sparkman
Aug. 30: @ Hoover
Sept. 6: Bye
Sept. 13: @ Helena*
Sept. 20: Benjamin Russell*
Sept. 27: @ James Clemens
Oct. 4: @ Pelham*
Oct. 10: Chelsea*#
Oct. 18: Calera*
Oct. 25: @ Chilton County*
Nov. 1: @ Gardendale
*Region game
#Thursday
Dakarai shanks
2024 SPAIN PARK Roster
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (8-2)
It may have taken some time for me to come around, but I now firmly believe this is the year that Spain Park gets over the hump and back into the playoffs. The Jags held their own against some of the top teams in 7A last year even while banged up during a crucial midseason stretch, and that should prepare them for another difficult region in Class 6A, Region 3. Expect the offense to take on a new dimension with Brock Bradley’s continued maturity alongside a rising star in the backfield in CJ Cowley and multiple so lid receiving threats. They still have multiple questions that need to be answered after losing multiple players at key spots, so how far this team will go depends on how quickly those new pieces settle in, especially with a brutal fir st half of the schedule that includes Hoover, Helena and Benjamin Russell in a four-week span. However, I’m confident that the players coming up will rise to the level set by their predecessors and the returning starters and the upward trajectory of the Jags under Vakakes will continue with a playoff appearance and the possibility of making noise come November.
2023 RESULTS
@ Calera W 55-0
Briarwood W 37-6
Hoover* L 20-28
Thompson* L 14-55
@ Vestavia Hills* L 8-26
Bye
@ Tuscaloosa County* W 35-14
Chelsea* W 38-21
@ Hewitt-Trussville* W 50-29
@ Oak Mountain* W 42-17
Pelham W 39-0
*Region game
2023 STATS
Offense
Total Points: 338
Per Game: 33.8
County Rank: 3
Defense Points Allowed: 196
Per Game: 19.6
County Rank: 5
Christian Smith to make a big impact this season across both the defensive line and linebacker spots as a hybrid player.
SECONDARY
Arnold Bush is the lone returning starter in the position group, but he’ll bring experience and a solid toolset to the secondary this year. He’ll lead a crowded field of competitors for the remaining
starting spots, including Riley Harrelson, Joe Cross, Carter Holloway, Hagen Holley and Michael and George Ritchey.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Josh Tulloss will return as both kicker and punter after a solid year in 2023 and a good spring. He’ll have a pair of players helping at long snapper in Jack Lutenbacher and Parker Weimar.
THOMPSON
WARRIORS
The streak may be over, but the Thompson Warriors are motivated to return to the mountaintop of Alabama football.
Last season’s heartbreaking loss to Central-Phenix City in Bryant-Denny Stadium broke Thompson’s streak of four straight state championships in Class 7A. However, coach Mark Freeman and the players are using their shortcomings in 2023 to improve even more.
Trent Seaborn and Mike Dujon are back to spearhead an offense that could play a little differently from years past, and the Warriors have a skilled group of defensive newcomers to pair with last season’s stars Anquon Fegans and Cam Pritchett. However, the Warriors need to replace multiple departing starters on both sides of the ball, meaning this year’s group will once again be forged by the fire of a loaded non-region schedule before facing the challenges of Class 7A, Region 3.
Despite those losses, excitement levels are high for a team hungry to prove themselves to the rest of the state and retake their place on the throne.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
There’s no questions this year, Trent Seaborn is back for his second full season as a starter in his second year of high school. He still possesses unparalleled field vision and arm strength to make just about any throw needed of him, and he’s especially explosive with the deep toss. Even with his recruiting heating up, he’s still taken time to study the game and build on the foundation he and the coaches set for him in the last few seasons. Those have led to mental gains as well as the physical growth that’s happened since last season, as he now
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 7A, Region 3
2023 RECORD
11-2 (7-0 Region 3)
HEAD COACH
Mark Freeman
RECORD 94-20 (10th year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Connor McGavin, Brad Costanzo, Shawn Sutton, Trey Clark, Tyler Scozzaro, Shawn Defoor, Woodrow Briggs, Taylor Burgess, Caleb Hullett, Jordan Robertson, Durrell Fuqua, Jimmy Bunting, Ross Newton, Joey Jones, Jordan Long, Parker Montgomery
LAST REGION TITLE 2023
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2023
Trent Seaborn
stands around 6-foot-1, 190 pounds. Freeman said he’s learned from his freshman mistakes and will still be challenged to make the tough throws just because the coaches have confidence in his arm. He also wants to help Seaborn progress as a runner later in the season so they can open up potential fakes.
RUNNING BACK
After sharing a backfield with AJ Green last year, Mike Dujon has a new running mate this year in RJ Evans. While Green was more of a downhill runner between the tackles, Evans is similar to Dujon in that both are very athletic backs. Dujon will use his elusiveness to break tackles and gain
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 22: Grayson (Georgia)#
Aug. 29: @ Lipscomb Academy (Tennessee)#
Sept. 6: @ Tuscaloosa County*
Sept. 13: Oak Mountain*
Sept. 20: @ Vestavia Hills*
Sept. 27: Clay-Chalkville
Oct. 4: Hewitt-Trussville*
Oct. 11: @ Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa*
Oct. 18: Hoover*
Oct. 25: Prattville*
Nov. 1: Bye
*Region game #Thursday
extra yardage, but Evans is just plain hard to bring down. Freeman compares him to the late, great Gale Sayers for the way he almost glides
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Trent Seaborn, QB
One of the most gifted and accomplished quarterbacks in the state as just a sophomore, Seaborn already possesses incredible arm strength and is one of the team leaders.
Anquon Fegans, DB Fegans locked down the best receivers from around the state last year as the five-star safety earned 7A Back of the Year finalist honors.
Mike Dujon, RB Dujon will take the reins in the backfield after growing into his own within the offense and is poised to play a crucial role in the Warriors attack.
Jared Smith, DL
One of the top edge rushers in the country, Smith brings a shot of speed to the defensive line and is poised continue wrecking Class 7A, Region 3 offenses.
Gabe Binion, TE Binion possesses both great catching and blocking skills and will add a unique wrinkle to the Thompson offense as a rare h-back/ tight end combo in a Freeman side.
KEY DEPARTURES
Kaleb Harris, DB
Harris took his talents to the Plains to feature for Auburn after he was one of the biggest defensive game-wreckers on the Warriors.
Deuce Oliver, WR
Oliver was one of the quickest and shiftiest receivers in the state and added a key dynamic to the Thompson air attack.
Kolby Hearn, WR
When Seaborn and the Warriors needed a big-time catch, Hearn was there, and the All-County talent made plenty of phenomenal plays throughout the season.
KC Walters, OL
Walters was just one veteran piece of an offensive line that grew as the season progressed.
Michael dujon
Pryce lewis
2023 STATS
Offense
Total Points: 413
Per Game: 29.5
County Rank: 4
Defense Points Allowed: 181
Per Game: 12.9
County Rank: 1
4
Thompson will have to make big changes on both sides of the ball after graduating another key senior class, but the offense in particular will have a new look as just four starters return: quarterback Trent Seaborn, running back Mike Dujon, wide receiver Angel Jones and center Dylan Marquess. That means a lot of players will need to step into a bigger role this season, but with a solid foundation at quarterback and a long history of reloading with talented athletes, the Warriors should have another solid unit on their hands, even if it might take a few games to mesh together.
when he runs and how he sees the field to maximize his speed. Both have progressed well throughout the offseason and are poised to be great leaders on the team.
RECEIVER
With Trent Seaborn’s top three targets from last season gone, it will
KEY NUMBERS
6
It’s the number that has defined the Thompson dynasty under Mark Freeman: six straight state championship appearances dating back to 2018. While the Warriors lost their first state title game last year since that 2018 matchup against Central-Phenix City reaching the Super 7 is still the standard for this program. Now, they’re more motivated than ever to extend the state title game streak by going down the road to Birmingham’s Protective Stadium and potentially win to start a new state championship streak of their own.
be Angel Jones as the No. 1 guy this time around. While he’s shown he can play both inside and outside well, he’ll be along the edge this year and is putting in the work to improve. Other than him, the Warriors have a mix of strength and speed to fill out the rest of the pass-catchers. That strength comes from Gabe Binion
2,002
It’s been said ad nauseum, but it bears repeating: Trent Seaborn is just a sophomore, and in his first season as a starter last year, he posted upperclassman numbers in his freshman season. He threw for 2,002 yards and 22 touchdowns, all while showing the poise of a junior or senior in the pocket. As with any young quarterback, there are still areas for improvement, but he and the Warriors have a solid foundation to build off of for the next three seasons.
QUICK HITS
LEARNING FROM FAILURE
It’s been something that Freeman has harped on year after year during their streak of four straight state championships: state titles aren’t guaranteed. Now that the Warriors’ streak is over, he says that more of the players believe that to be true. In the process, Thompson has turned last year’s heartbreak into a positive. The entire team felt just how painful losing on the biggest stage can be, and now, there’s a different atmosphere in the locker room as everyone is motivated to take care of business.
BLOCK PARTY
When you think of the Warriors offense, you typically think of smaller, quick wide receivers like Ryan Peppins or Deuce Oliver. While that will be the case again in a few years once Thompson’s young receivers develop, some of their top options this year are strong, tight end type players. Darion Moseley and Gabe Binion have the physicality and athleticism to block as well as catch, which will open up a brand-new dimension to the Warriors. With a pair of versatile athletes helping block for both the running backs and receivers, that should help them build a run-pass balance similar to the 2022 team.
STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Once again, the Warriors will test themselves against some of the Southeast’s best as they will battle Georgia’s Grayson and Tennessee’s Lipscomb Academy. Besides the obvious pressure of playing on a national stage, it also presents a scouting challenge of facing teams they don’t play regularly. Grayson is intense and athletic with one of Georgia’s top corners in the threestar Indiana commit Jaylen Bell. As for Lipscomb, Freeman wants to beat the Mustangs on the road after a punt return touchdown and pick six sank Thompson’s chances of beating them in 2022.
Anquon Fegans
and Darion Moseley, both of whom can play an h-back or tight end role to block and be versatile multi-tool players. Moseley is also quick and athletic already even though he still has plenty of time to grow as a sophomore. The speed will come from Pryce Lewis and Brooks Byars, both of whom have the same small, quick build and great hands that made receivers like Ryan Peppins so great.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Just like the receiving corps, the offensive line is light on returning players, but the Warriors are familiar with reloading at that position group as they were in a similar situation last year. This year, they only have Dylan Marquess as a
2023 RESULTS
*Region game
^Playoff game
#State Championship game
returning starter with him back at the center spot. Braydon Saylor will take the left edge, while AJ Williams will flank him at left guard as a transfer. The right side will be filled out by Jackson Hughes at guard and Parker Middlestadt at tackle. Freeman has seen them work hard throughout the offseason and come closer together as a unit. Those offseason gains will need to translate into on-field success if Thompson hopes to use their run game to establish the passing attack like it wants.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Warriors’ front line may be the team’s strong suit because of the different types of players who help build out the group’s depth. None are more high profile than Jared Smith, one of the top edge rushers in his class who can use his speed to wreak havoc in the backfield. Cam Pritchett is the key piece back after having a breakout year last season. He uses
his height and athleticism that was partially bred on the basketball court to make big plays and has an intensity that carries over into practice. Pritchett shares those qualities with Peter Ramil, a player who’s following in the footsteps of his older brothers as a star for the Warriors. They’ll complement a great group of inside gap fillers, which includes Nik Alston, who has experience playing alongside Smith and is a Liberty commit, Hayden McDonald, who played a key part in last year’s rotation, and the promising Noah Streeter. Dantwon Fegans rounds out the position group.
LINEBACKER
Trent McCorvey will lead the position group, and the highly touted sophomore already possesses multiple SEC offers and the versatility to play multiple positions. Alongside him are a solid pair of inside linebackers this season in Vini Pires
Cam Pritchett
2024 Thompson Roster
and Trent Cheatom. Both are hard-nosed players who aren’t afraid to run downhill and secure tackles. They’ve excelled in spring and even in 7-on-7 where linebackers don’t typically play and are two of the team’s biggest leaders. Freeman is unsure who will start at the outside linebacker spots but has options that they are working with.
SECONDARY
While there’s some uncertainty within the position group, the top end is as good as any in the country. It starts with Anquon Fegans, the five-star reigning 7A Back of the Year finalist who shined bright in big coverage situations last year, grabbing three interceptions and breaking up nine passes while facing
future college quarterbacks and receivers. Payton Lewis also returns after a strong season, and Freeman says both have gotten stronger while becoming key leaders on the team with age. However, the Warriors are still looking for their Nickel and other cornerback, which could mean Fegans might move over to corner instead of his primary safety position.
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (8-2)
I see a lot of parallels between last year’s Warriors and this year’s group. Both teams entered the season with enough blue-chip prospects to make an SEC scout blush but crucial questions that needed to be answered at key positions. The main differences come from the fact that multiple positions on the defense have major question marks and this year’s receiving corps is much less experienced than last season’s, even if they have high ceilings. Those new additions will have a much more difficult start out of the gate than the 2023 squad as while last year’s Warriors only faced Opelika before region play due to IMG’s cancellation, this year’s team will face a Georgia Class 6A semifinalist out of the gate before traveling to one of Tennessee’s top private schools. Combine that with another non-region tilt against Clay-Chalkville and the week-in, week-out challenges of sharing a region with Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Hewitt-Trussville, and that could lead to some regular season stumbles. However, if there’s one thing Thompson does well, it’s peak down the stretch when it matters most. This year’s group has the potential to grow from those challenges and still be right in the mix for the state title, even if they suffer a few regular season losses. Expect the Warriors to be one of the top teams in the state again even if they may have to work for it more than past teams.
John Alan McGuire
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Warriors will have one of the toprated punters in the country returning in John Alan McGuire, and he will handle both punts and kickoffs. He handled all three duties last year, but after some high-profile field goal misses, Freeman has opened the competition for field goal and extra point roles. Challenging McGuire is Vickor Kyatt, a young rising star who Freeman believes has great potential. As for returners, Anquon Fegans will likely handle punt returns while Darien Moseley or Pryce Lewis can do kick returns.
VINCENT
YELLOW JACKETS
Back-to-back playoff appearances have Vincent turning some heads in Class 2A, and the bar is continually being raised for the team as the Yellow Jackets enter 2024.
With a lot of key experience returning for the Jackets like Phoenix Maxwell, Casen Fields and Aiden Poe, there is no reason to believe that this team will not have success and head coach Lucas Weatherford is optimistic about who he is putting on the field this season.
The challenge that awaits them this year is a new region slate, making the jump from Region 4 to Region 5. After trending upward for the last three seasons in Region 4, the competition to get into the playoffs has now become that much tougher over the next two years.
With a highly talented senior class preparing to play their final season of Friday night football, this year is all about making the most of what could be a huge year in Vincent’s history.
MEET THE TEAM
QUARTERBACK
It will be another year at the head of the offense for Casen Fields, and after a promising start in 2023, his second season as a starter in 2024 has the potential to be even more dynamic. Fields brings a variety of talent to the table as a dual threat quarterback, which can keep opposing defenses guessing on a weekly basis. The coaching staff is optimistic that his skill set can expand the playbook even more this year after he helped lead the offense to score 28 points per game last year and will now look to post a similar number in his senior campaign.
RUNNING BACK
The Yellow Jackets have a new starter moving into the backfield with the graduation of RyKelus Robertson and Quinterrius Robertson. The natural move was to put junior Jayden Roberts in the spot, and Weatherford has great confidence that he can fill that role in an impactful way. After getting some quality reps as a backup last season, Roberts has the ability to be dynamic and powerful. Behind him will be the likes of Aiden Gasaway and Rylan Hood, another set of juniors who can help provide veteran leadership when called upon.
CLASSIFICATION
AHSAA Class 2A, Region 5
2023 RECORD
6-5 (4-3 Region 4)
HEAD COACH
Lucas Weatherford
RECORD
31-34 (Seventh year)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Tim Gilbert, Andrew Isbell, Larry Johnson, Tim Junkins, Blake White
LAST REGION TITLE 2006
LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2023
Casen Fields
RECEIVER
When you think of the receiving corps at Vincent, you think of the depth of talent that it has had over recent seasons. This year is no different, and it might be the best starting group it has thrown out there in recent memory. That starts with the dynamic trio of seniors Phoenix Maxwell, Aiden Poe and Deontaye Robertson, who all provide athleticism and passion for the game. Maxwell’s speed is as potent as anyone else’s in the county, making for a great weapon in the passing game. Look for sophomore Landon Archer to be a young force as well that is set to have a big development year.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Just like last season, the Jackets return some experience up front in seniors Ethan McElrath at center and Grayson Gulde at guard, along with Keller Finn. With three starters back and ready to step up, coach Weatherford will need their leadership to do wonders for the offensive production once again.
2024 SCHEDULE
Aug. 23: @ Winterboro
Aug. 30: B.B. Comer
Sept. 6: Bye
Sept. 13: Lamar County*
Sept. 20: @ Sulligent*
Sept. 27: @ Childersburg
Oct. 4: vs. Tuscaloosa Academy*
Oct. 11: @ Aliceville*
Oct. 18: Isabella*
Oct. 25: @ Greene County*
Nov. 1: Montevallo
*Region game
The other two spots on the offensive line will rotate in and out throughout the season, but rest assured that Weatherford will have some sort of experience out on the field at all times. Look for players like Brayden Abbott and Marcus Hall on most plays.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Just like the offensive side, the defensive side also returns experience, just not as much. Ethan McElrath returns as the key leader on the
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Casen Fields, QB/CB Fields steps into the quarterback position as a dual threat with the talent to expand Vincent’s offensive play calling options while still having a dynamic arm like Allums.
Phoenix Maxwell, WR/DB
With the speed and height to be a clear threat on both sides of the ball, Maxwell is set to have a massive senior season and be a key player each game.
Grayson Gulde, OL/LB
Coming off of a year where he was a First Team All-State selection, Gulde will be a massive voice on the defensive side of the ball to help get the Jackets in the right spot.
Aiden Poe, WR/DB Weatherford knows that he has to get Poe the ball in order to be successful offensively, so the wide receiver and cornerback will bring a lot of athleticism to the field.
Landon Archer, WR/DB Archer is a young talent, yes, but the talent that he possesses makes for a great option in the receiving corps and a person that can make a play on the ball in the secondary.
KEY DEPARTURES
Zach Gable, T
One of the team’s leading blockers at offensive tackle, Gable had an outstanding senior season on the line which led to an All-State Second Team selection.
RyKelus Robertson, RB
The senior starting running back was a force to be reckoned with, racking up 1,448 yards on 198 carries and 16 touchdowns throughout the season. He was also a First Team All-County player.
Ray Albright, LB/TE
While Albright faced an injury-plagued senior campaign, he was a force at linebacker, making 77 tackles, 16 tacklesfor-loss and five sacks, helping Vincent to early success.
Mattson Davis, WR Davis was a player you could rely on in just about any situation that you need him in, so the Yellow Jackets will miss him in that receiver/defensive back hybrid role this year.
Grayson Gulde
2023 STATS
Offense
Total Points: 308
Per Game: 28.0 County Rank: 4
Defense Points Allowed: 203
Per Game: 18.5 County Rank: 3
2023 RESULTS
@ Ragland W 21-6
Winterboro W 24-21
Central-Coosa* W 57-0
@ Fayetteville* W 50-13
@ B.B. Comer* L 0-36
Childersburg L 14-16
Ranburne* W 33-20
Woodland* W 41-7
@ Isabella* L 28-35
@ Thorsby* L 18-36
Bye
@ Clarke County# L 9-20
*Region game
#Playoff game
defensive front, along with Brayden Abbott, who got some key playing time last year in the line rotation. Marcus Hall is someone who could step up as well on this side of the ball and will be relied on to provide toughness with his experience. Steven Valenti will be the lone junior up front, but has the skills to be a breakout player and get to the backfield.
LINEBACKER
The departure of Ray Albright is a huge hole to fill for Vincent as far as raw talent goes, but it is nothing that the team cannot take care of. Grayson Gulde will be the leader of the
linebacking corps, stepping into the primary role that Albright had and make the most of it with his emotional playing style. Aiden Gasaway is now moving to join him as well after backing him up the last two seasons, using all he has learned to make an impact as a starter. Cayden Carroll also returns after having some time to gain major physical development in the offseason, while K.J. Chapman is a backup.
SECONDARY
After having a very new and athletic group in the second level last year, Weatherford has nearly the exact same athletic players back
EDITOR’S 2024 PREDICTION (6-4)
Make no mistake: this could be one of the best teams that Vincent has fielded in quite some time, even compared to 2022’s 10-2 team. With talented and experienced players back at every position group and very few starting spots still up in the air, the Jackets have a right to feel confident going into this season as they are back healthy and have the right players to fill gaps left by graduating All-County players. So why on earth am I picking them to match last season’s win total? It has everything to do with the region they’re entering. Four of their six new region neighbors finished with a winning record in 2023, including 9-3 campaigns from Sulligent and Isabella and a 10-3 season capped by a quarterfinals berth from Tuscaloosa Academy. Add in a non-region schedule with 2A semifinalist B.B. Comer and 5A Montevallo, and this is a difficult slate no matter how you slice it. However, I firmly believe that this Vincent team can rise to those challenges and make a return to the playoffs, potentially even outperforming my expectations for them.
2024 Vincent Roster
QUICK HITS
WHO RUNS THE SHOW
With both RyKelus and Quinterrius Robertson having graduated from the program, Vincent will now have a new running back in the backfield this season who needs to fill some big shoes. The ball is now being handed to junior Jayden Roberts, who took some snaps as a backup last year but showed some promise for what is to come in 2024. While fulfilling the legacy of a First Team All-County back will not be easy, coach Weatherford has optimism that Roberts, along with his backups in Aiden Gasaway and Rylan Hood, can get the job done.
again for this season, but now with a lot more knowledge on the defensive side. Casen Fields, Deontaye Robertson, Phoenix Maxwell and Aiden Poe will all pose a threat as seniors to make crucial plays on open-field tackles and deep passes, using their athleticism to cause disruption. Jayden Roberts and Landon Archer will also be two non-seniors to watch in their development as they are set to be the leaders in the secondary once this group of seniors leaves. The veteran knowledge will be key to success and
should be much improved from last season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Weatherford can breathe deeply this season with a solid option at kicker this year. While it won’t be for long, senior Daniel Campos will provide the Jackets an option when they need three points on a stalled drive. After emerging last season, Campos will have an opportunity for double duty, but look for Aiden Poe to possibly punt as well.
KEY NUMBERS
233
With all of the offensive talent that left the program after the 2022 season, the program seemed to take a major hit on the scoreboard. While ranking fourth amongst the county offenses, Vincent scored 233 less points in 2023 despite playing one more game as compared to 2022. It will look to get back to solid production, especially due to their abundance of returning experience.
1,448
After putting up 1,448 yards on 198 carries and 16 touchdowns, the absence of RyKelus Robertson will be largely felt in the running game this season. His production was vital to the Jackets’ success last year, something new starting running back Jayden Roberts has to live up to in order to get them back to the playoffs.
CASEN POINT It is the second year of the Casen Fields show at quarterback, and while he put on a good showing last year, this season is expected to be even more dynamic from the senior leader. Replacing Blake Allums at the head of the offense last year was no easy task, but Fields is making his case that he can live up to the standard that Allums left. Weatherford made a point to say how much Fields pushed himself in the offseason to be a better player, knowing that fans will see an improvement in his play on the field. “Casen” point, with a stout senior class ready for their final season, Fields is ready to help lead them to success.
MEET THE NEIGHBORS
The Jackets have packed up their moving boxes and shipped out of Class 2A, Region 4, settling into Region 5. What that means is a whole host of new opponents and new schemes to plan for this season. Vincent is carrying over one region opponent from last year in Isabella, but the rest of the region slate is all new. The entirety of its region schedule went a combined 42-26 last year, making for a tough road ahead. Despite that, Weatherford is optimistic that these new matchups will be better for his team due to the lack of outside noise that will surround them each week.
Helena
A concussion is nothing to play with.
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury and should be taken seriously. Although fewer than 10% of concussions involve a loss of consciousness, it is important to understand the dangers and not take them lightly. Even a minor fall or collision may be of concern, so be alert to symptoms such as headaches, unsteadiness, confusion or other types of abnormal behavior.
Any athlete with a suspected concussion should immediately be removed from play and activity, evaluated right away by a doctor or healthcare professional, monitored and not left alone and not drive a motor vehicle. To make an appointment, please call 205-934-1041.
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