Spain Park

JAGUARS

Heading into the eighth year under head coach Shawn Raney, the Spain Park Jaguars have been as successful as 12-2 with a state championship appearance and as underwhelming as back-to-back 4-6 seasons the last two years.

But the last few years, numbers have been down in senior classes and the team has been battling lack of consistency on both sides of the ball with the offense having some of its best seasons, but the defense struggling.

This season looks to be the last of those low numbers with 18 seniors on the squad, but 32 juniors, 40 sophomores and 48 freshmen set to compete.

A lot of those juniors and sophomores played valuable minutes last year and will be the leaders this year. The defense will continue to have some growing pains this year but won’t be worse than last year’s, while the offense has the possibility of being one of the state’s best.

MEET THE TEAM

QUARTERBACK

While the Jags had been ruled by defense for several years, for the last three years, the offense has taken strides, and largely because of the consistency they have had at quarterback with Braxton Barker, Mason Pronk and Harrison Barker. Now it’s time for their fourth new starter in as many years, and junior Bennett Meredith seems poised to continue the trend. Standing a 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, Meredith has great size for the position and despite never starting on varsity, he already has an offer from Troy. He’s an athletic playmaker who can run and throw the ball extremely well. Athlete Michael Ogletree and sophomore Evan Smallwood are expected backups at the position.

CLASSIFICATION

AHSAA Class 7A, Region 3

2019 RECORD

4-6 (2-5)

HEAD COACH

Shawn Raney

RECORD

48-29 (Eighth year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Matt Thompson, Marty Rozell, Chris Bell, Ryan Thompson, Keat Litton, Bob Bietighofer, Brian Maner, Eric Biggons, Darrius Taylor, George Pugh, Matt Hall, Patrick Bonovitch, Sara Lynch

LAST REGION TITLE

2015

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2017

Cooper Kelley

Jaylen WARD

RUNNING BACK

The offensive excitement continues to the running back position due to speed and athleticism. Justin Pegues played at the position all of last summer before having to move to the cornerback position due to injuries. His teammates saw that sacrifice, and now he’s back at running back as a team leader who has been working every day to adapt and be ready as the feature back. He’ll be joined by Zamir Farris as the backup. The two are almost identical in that they are smaller, athletic backs who can be explosive with their speed. While size at the position will be a concern, their athleticism allows the offense to do a lot.

RECEIVERS

Perhaps the deepest and most dangerous unit on the entire team, there are a plethora of receivers that not only give the threat of a deep connection on every play, but can also make plays after the catch. Senior Cooper Kelley will be key at the position. As last year’s leading receiver, Kelley totaled 778 yards and seven touchdowns. In addition to that, the team’s second-leading receiver last year Jaylen Ward will also return. A 6-foot-2, 195-pound junior, this will

2020 SCHEDULE

Aug. 21: @ Huntsville Aug. 28: @ Briarwood Sept. 4: Hewitt-Trussville* Sept. 11: Thompson* Sept. 18: @ Gadsden City* Sept. 25: Bye Oct. 2: @ Oak Mountain* Oct. 9: Hoover* Oct. 16: Vestavia Hills* Oct. 23: @ Tuscaloosa County* Oct. 30: @ Hueytown

*Region game

mark his second year as a starter and third with playing time. He totaled 596 yards and six touchdowns last year and has gathered offers from several Division I programs. In addition to that, David Moultry is another junior with a frame of 6-foot-1, 190 pounds that dealt with injuries last year but gained valuable experience throughout the season. Behind those three, Landon Miller is a junior who is expected to have a breakout season, while sophomore John Robert Thompson is said to be a younger version of Kelley.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line is going to help the entire offense go this year, and Raney says he feels as good as he’s ever felt about. It’s a position that will allow

Bennett Meredith, QB

A junior and first-year starting quarterback, Meredith will have his hands full replacing Harrison Barker, but he’s got a Troy offer and massive upside.

Jaylen Ward, WR

With several Division I offers, Ward is expected to have a big junior year after totaling 596 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore.

Cooper Kelley, WR

Kelley was the leading receiver on last year’s team with 778 yards and seven touchdowns on 43 catches.

Drake Tabor, K

Tabor is considered one of the top place kickers in the state going into this season and was 36-for-37 on extra points last year and 4-for-6 on field goals.

Justin Pegues, ATH

Pegues started in the secondary last year after moving positions to help the team. But now he’s back to handling the starting running back position and is a speedy athlete that can make a difference.

KEY DEPARTURES

Harrison Barker

Losing Barker’s 2,946 passing yards and 25 touchdowns from last year will be the biggest blow to the team

Michael Callens

The Jaguars will once again be replacing their leading rusher with Callens taking 822 rushing yards with him as well as 269 receiving yards.

Jacob Jenkins

If Jenkins was back, the Jags would have the best receiving corps in the state, but he departs and takes 612 receiving yards with him.

Richard Moses

One of the leading tacklers for Spain Park last year, Moses totaled seven tackles for loss and three sacks.

Jake Horton

Horton had more than 50 tackles last season, including eight for loss and six sacks.

PLENTY OF OPTIONS Bennett Meredith may be entering his first season as the starter at quarterback, but he couldn’t have asked for a better situation to step into on offense. If he looks left, he’ll have a star receiver, if he looks right, he’ll find the same thing, and if he looks over the middle of the field, he’ll have the option of a speedy running back or another receiver to dump the ball to. With leading receivers Cooper Kelley and Jaylen Ward back this season and two running backs that are great in space, the offense has the weapons to be dangerous.

TIME TO DECIDE In addition to talented receivers and backs to spread the ball around to, Meredith will get the benefit of time. He’ll have more time than usual to make decisions in the pocket because of an experienced offensive line. Raney has said he’s as comfortable with the position as he’s been, which not only benefits the passing game, but the run game for a unit that needs to get in space to be successful. Every player on the line has a frame of at least 6-foot-1, 250 pounds, while 6-foot-5, 280-pound Jayson Webb will be the anchor of what should be a solid wall of linemen.

RETURN OF THE DEFENSE Last year, Spain Park gave up a new team record of 366 points during the season for an average of 36.6 points per game. As a defensive coach, that’s not something Raney was pleased with, but it’s something he and the team almost had to accept with a lack of experience there. The defense will once again be experienced and young this season, but progress is a must for the team to reach its full potential.

CLOSING OUT THE CLOSE

ONES Spain Park lost three games last year by seven points or less and lost three games the year before by 10 points or less. Closing out those close games with their difficult region is key because wins are limited and never guaranteed. All four wins last season also came in games decided by nine points or less, which shows they are capable of winning them, but also shows they are in a lot of close games. This year, they’re going to have to create more separation from teams they should beat and make late plays in other close games.

2020 SPAIN PARK Roster

NO. 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 12 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 NAME Jaylen Ward Pierson Cole David Moultry Micheal Benson Bennett Meredith Chanz Pickett Elijah Johnson Larry Ford Justin Pegues Jayst Dorion T’Nazj Means KJ Rudolph Evan Smallwood Michael Ogletree James Broderick Tate Brune Taeshaun Sessions Jack Baylor Cooper Kelley Cailon Hudson Brian Alston Clay Spencer Jack Kendrick Landon Miller John Robert Thompson Cameron Flanigan John Michael Lee George Gilbert TJ Metcalf Conner Blair Keon Buck Caldwell Bussey Drake Tabor Cason Billings Stopher Walls NYC Speer Caleb Ward Ethan Gutowski Zamir Farris Dillion Orr Tyler Hunter Braden Brock Logan Denson Sam Moates Angel Ortiz Austin Rogers Jackson Major POSITION

WR

DB WR DB QB DB RB DB RB LB RB LB QB/DB DB FB LB WR LB WR LB DL WR DB WR WR WR WR/DB WR WR/DB QB RB DL/TE K P DB FB LB LB RB LB DB DB DB LB DB DB DB

YEAR

11 11 11 10 11 12 11 12 11 12 12 10 10 12 12 10 10 11 12 10 10 10 10 11 10 11 10 10 10 11 11 10 12 11 10 10 10 11 10 11 11 12 11 12 10 10 12

NO. 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 58 59 61 64 68 70 71 72 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 86 87 88 90 92 93 94 99 NAME Alex Smith Alex Morton Jackson Mitchell Jonathan Graham Jamal Scott Jonas Harrelson Gage Hughes Braxton Sumpter Sauder Ashton Tucker Steed Jermiah Myers Jordan Hoskins Zion Richards Trip Morgan Zy’Quan Benjamin John David Coggin Evan Bishop Landon Tabor Travis Mann Conner Elrod Leon Cheatham CJ Clency Thornton Allen Victor Lam Parker Stone Jackson Boler Morgan Bowden Aiden Blizzard Jayson Webb Conner May Rayshod Burts Zach McPeeters Stephen Olsen Andrew Moses Micah Ford Russell Walker Kyle Rush Chandler Curry Rodney Scott Russell Partin Mason Bowden Joseph Heatherly AJ Hazel Darius Dillon John Davis Samuel Garibay POSITION

DB LB LB DB DL LB DL K FB DB DB DB DB OL OL DL FB OL OL OL OL DL OL OL DL OL OL OL DL OL DL/OL OL OL OL DL ATH WR WR WR WR DL/TE OL DL DL DL DL

YEAR

10 12 10 10 11 10 12 11 10 11 11 12 10 10 10 11 10 10 11 11 11 10 11 11 11 11 10 10 12 11 10 12 12 11 11 10 12 10 12 11 10 12 12 11 10 12

Meredith time to find those trustworthy receivers, while also giving the athletic backs a chance to make plays. Jayson Webb is a 6-foot-5, 280-pound senior who came out midway through last year as a basketball player who gives the team something they haven’t had in the past with his size and athleticism up front. In addition to him, three-year starter Stephen Olsen brings great size to the line at 6-foot2, 300 pounds with athleticism.

Behind that, three juniors who started

as sophomores will return. Jaxon Bolwer is the biggest of the three at 6-foot-2, 270 pounds, while Connor May and Andrew Moses are both around 6-foot-1, 250 pounds. Sophomore Morgan Bowden, who stands at 6-foot-2, 250 pounds also brings good size to the line, while tight ends Caldwell Bussey and Mason Bowden are two sophomores that will be key in addition to James Broderick at fullback.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The defensive line will be a position that needs some improvement this season as a unit that can create disruption both on the line and in the backfield. Senior Sam Garibay is a returning player who has put in work in the weight room and stands at 6-foot-2, 260 pounds. He’ll be a leader experience wise on the line. Dylan Heatherly and Gage Hughes are two others the coaching staff will be counting on. Heatherly is a senior who will be making the jump from junior varsity with a size of 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, while Hughes played some last year and is now going to be leaned on as a senior. Bryan Alston, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound sophomore, is a young player who will take on defensive end this year and could become the difference maker for the unit as the season moves along and he gets experience. In addition to that, Moses will play some on the defensive line as

EDITOR’S 2020 PREDICTION (7-3)

Spain Park’s success this season will largely depend on the offense living up to its potential and the defense playing better than expected. A 7-3 record seems like the best-case scenario when looking at the difficult schedule, but also seems very realistic. That, however, means beating every team outside of the three nationally ranked teams in Thompson, Hoover and Hewitt-Trussville. I’m of the belief that the Jags will shock a few teams and be a surprise to many people this year. Their offensive talent makes them a threat to compete for one of the top three spots in the region, but it will take them reaching their max potential to do so.

Good luck Jaguars!

@ Hillcrest-TuscaloosaW Bessemer City L @ Vestavia Hills L Mountain Brook L @ Hewitt-Trussville W Thompson L @ Hoover L Oak Mountain W @ Tuscaloosa County L Shades Valley W 42-33 35-42 7-45 49-56 28-24 23-47 35-42 35-28 (2OT) 21-42 14-7

2019 STATS

Offense Total points: 289 Per game: 28.9 County rank: 6

Defense

Points allowed: 366 Per game: 36.6 County rank: 12 LINEBACKERS

Possibly the biggest question on the defense is the linebacker position. The team entered fall practice with several athletes, but was still trying to find the right mix and spot for each. Jayst Dorion and Sam Moates are two seniors who will be leaders at the position with both standing around 5-foot-10, 185 pounds. Behind that, sophomores Caleb Ward and TJ Metcalf will be leaned on. Both have bright futures standing close to 6-foot, 190 pounds, but both are young. Juniors Jack Baylor and Ethan Gutowski will also be in the mix with similar sizes to the rest.

SECONDARY

The secondary will by far be the strongest unit on the defensive side and is probably the second best unit on the team behind the receiver position due to the experience back. The leaders will be Braden Brock, Ogletree and Pierson Cole. All of those players started last year. Brock is a senior cornerback, while Ogletree is a senior safety. Cole is a junior who will also lock down one of those positions. Junior Tyler Hunter and sophomore Michael Vincent will look to fill Pegues’ spot in the secondary, while Tucker Snead will be in the rotation at safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

At special teams, three-year starting kicker Drake Tabor will return for his senior year as one of the top kickers in the state. He can make a difference in close games and he will also have a chance to punt alongside Braxton Sumner. In addition to that, the return game will also be exciting this season with several athletes including Ward, Moultry and Pegues who can make plays.

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