Helena

EVANGEL

LIGHTING

If the Evangel Lightning have ever had motivation heading into a season, it will be this year.

Heading into year five under head coach Tim Smith, the Lightning won the 8-man national championship for the third year in a row last year, but didn’t win the ACSC State Championship for the first time in his tenure.

Despite revenge in the championship game, that is something driving this year’s team, and with 50 varsity players heading into the season, the hopes are high.

Evangel will lose top playmaker Jett Lodge and several other key pieces, but the Lightning have several players back and have reloaded as they look to fight for the state championship.

MEET THE TEAM

QUARTERBACK

A good portion of the offensive talent is gone, but that doesn’t apply to the quarterback position. Junior Eli Whitfield is back after throwing for more than 2,100 yards and 36 touchdowns last year. He is primed for an even bigger year this season as the undoubted leader of the team.

RUNNING BACK

The Lightning won’t have a ton of experience at running back this season, but they will have depth. Tyler Wilson is back for his junior season after playing in eight games last year. Smith is confident in his ability as a quick and strong back, saying his name will be known by the end of the year. Behind him, Colton Dorough, Jake Parker, Hunter Atkins and Shace Green will all get time.

RECEIVERS

The most experienced receiver back this season with the departure of Jett Lodge’s 1,043 yards is Harris Black with six receptions. That shows a lack of experience, but the Lightning have several of the team’s athletes set to make a difference at the position. Black has a good frame with a size of 6-foot-2, and he’ll be joined by Judah Thompson as a top target. In addition to those two, Connor Nettles, Aidan Lau, Hayden Black and Zion Thompson will all have opportunities to make a difference.

Eli

Whitfield

CLASSIFICATION

ACSC

2020 RECORD

10-1 (2-1) National Champions

HEAD COACH

Tim Smith

RECORD

35-8 (Fifth year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Hagan Joiner, Brian Wolfe, Jon Parker, Jack Donovan, Andrew Welch, Marty Black

LAST REGION TITLE

2019

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2020

Photo by Barry Stephenson

OFFENSIVE LINE

Helping some of the young players come along this season will be the return of four players on the offensive line. Carson Donavan and Caleb Lumpkin both return as starters, while Thomas Koch and Zach Chandler rotated in last year. thanks to Dylan Weathers. Weathers, a senior, totaled 96 tackles last year with five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He will lead the defense at the linebacker position, while sophomore Kyle Jones will return 22 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Green, Dorough, Parker and John Tyler will also add capable players.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Everson Jones will lead a deep defensive line this season as a nose guard thanks to his size of 6-foot-1, 278 pounds. Zeke Turner and Riley Mason will also fill big roles on each end, along with Thomas Coach, Chris Le and Grady Watkins. SECONDARY

Some of the top athletes from the offensive side will move over to play in the secondary as well, including Harris Black, Nettles and Lau, who all played some last year. Those three will be joined by Zane Barlow as well as Hayden Black and Judah and Zion Thompson.

LINEBACKERS

One of the best returnees this season will come at the linebacker position SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker Lucas Mast is back for his junior season following success last year.

Eli Whitfield, QB

Whitfield totaled 2,100 yards and 36 touchdowns last season and is now primed for an even bigger season as the full-time starter during his junior season.

Tyler Wilson, RB

Wilson played in eight games last year, but he will now have more placed on his shoulders this season as the lead back.

Harris Black, ATH

Black’s six receptions from last year are the highest returning on the team, showing he’ll need a big year to help the offense continue to put up big numbers.

Dylan Weathers, LB

The team’s leading tackler last year, Weathers returns 96 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

2021 SCHEDULE

Aug. 13: Franklin Christian Aug. 20: @ Meadowview Christian Aug. 27: Grace Baptist Sept. 3: Southern Christian* Sept. 10: North River Sept. 17: @ Freedom Sept. 24: Lighthouse* Oct. 1: @ Ezekiel Academy* Oct. 8: Bye

Oct. 15: @ Tennessee Heat Oct. 22: @ East Central* Oct. 29: Southern Prep

*Region game

2021 Evangel Roster

NO. NAME POSITION YEAR

2 John Tyler Roden RB 11 3 Harris Black WR/SB/FS 12 4 Dylan Weathers MLB/SS 12 5 Lucas Mast K 11 6 Cole Romano ATH 10 7 Will Welch QB 9 8 Eli Whitfield QB 11 9 Judah Thompson WR/DB 11 10 Kaden Jones LB 11 11 Hunter Atkins RB 10 12 Aidan Lau WR/RB 11 13 Simon Stafford ATH 10 14 Kyle Jones LB 11 15 Connor Nettles WR 12 16 Christopher Le DT/FB 12 17 Zhenya Stallings DE 12 18 Jaxon Padlo ATH 12

NO. NAME POSITION YEAR

19 Zane Barlow DB 10 20 Colton Dorough RB 10 21 Hayden Black WR/DB 10 22 Tyler Wilson RB 11 24 Joshua Looman ATH 10 26 Michael Blackstone ATH 10 27 Marc Ayers ATH 12 28 Jake Parker RB 9 30 Zion Thompson WR/DB 10 32 Grady Watkins DL/OL 10 33 Jude Barlow ATH 12 40 Victor Kyatt K 9 44 Shace Green RB/LB 10 46 Anderson Smith LB 10 50 Elijah Henderson OL 11 51 Ethan Stallings OL/DL 10 52 Thomas Koch OL/DL 12

NO. NAME POSITION YEAR

53 Jackson Tuell OL 10 54 Zach Chandler OL/DL 12 55 Jett Turner OL/DL 12 56 Everson Jones DL 12 57 Baylor Parker OL 10 58 Kaleb Gardner OL/DL 10 59 Caleb Lumpkin OL 12 60 Carson Donovan OL 10 61 Fowler Vick OL/DL 9 62 Zeke Turner DL 9 64 Luke Hollis OL/DL 10 65 John Paul Hahn OL/DL 12 70 Henry Rhoads DE 9 72 Reed Castleberry OL/DL 9 75 Samuel Viles OL/DL 10 88 Riley Mason DE/RB 12

HELENA

HUSKIES

Despite forfeiting two games last year and not playing three games due to COVID-19, the Helena Huskies still finished with a winning record for the second year in a row.

A 7-5 team in year three under head coach Richie Busby, Helena bounced back from a 2-4 start featuring two forfeit losses and two losses by six points or less by winning four in a row to end the regular season and making it to the second round of the playoffs thanks to a win against Carver-Montgomery.

Now, the Huskies will look to build off back-to-back playoff seasons for the second time in school history heading into this season.

However, with 15 players needing to be replaced, there will be several new faces on this year’s team asked to step up if they want to make it to three consecutive postseasons for the first time.

A return at quarterback and a defense that is stout every year should help, but the offensive line taking strides may be the biggest key.

MEET THE TEAM

CLASSIFICATION

AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3

2020 RECORD

7-5 (4-2)

HEAD COACH

Richie Busby

RECORD

20-13 (Fourth year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Jim Elgin, Keith Maple, Don Dover, Shane Hutchinson, Adam Bice, Scott Lowery, David Lee, Phillip Lawson, Shaun Kendall, Jody Colvin

LAST REGION TITLE

2019

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2020

QUARTERBACK

The highlight of the offense will be the return of starting quarterback Mac Turner. Last year, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound starter was forced to replace four-year starter Luke Stamba and didn’t get much preparation due to COVID-19. However, he showed progress throughout the season and has now gotten a full offseason of preparation for the upcoming year. He can make the big throws needed and will need to with the team losing its top two running backs.

RUNNING BACK

Kobe Hughes and Marquis Johnson have departed following back-to-back impressive

Mac

Turner

Kasyn

Bustamento

seasons. Two years ago, Johnson totaled 1,478 yards with 26 touchdowns, while Hughes posted 888 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. With both graduating, the Huskies will turn to juniors Kellen Hughes and AJ Horstead as well as sophomore Jordan Washington. Hughes will get hard-earned yards, while Horstead and Washington both add a special dimension of speed with good hands. Kasyn Bustamento will also add depth at the position.

RECEIVERS

A young unit last year, the Huskies will get back their biggest threat at the receiver position with the return of 6-foot-6, 220-pound senior J.C. Sivley. A tight end, he will help in both the run game and pass game as one of the teams unheralded leaders with offers from several colleges and

2021 SCHEDULE

Aug. 20: Dallas County Aug. 27: Chelsea Sept. 3: Wetumpka* Sept. 10: Benjamin Russell* Sept. 17: @ Pelham* Sept. 24: McAdory

Oct. 1: Chilton County* Oct. 7: Calera*# Oct. 15: @ Stanhope Elmore* Oct. 22: Bye

Oct. 29: @ UMS-Wright

*Region game #Thursday night game

4.61-second speed. Behind him, Ryne Berry and Miles Mitchell will be top targets out wide as well. Hunter Hale and Bustamento will hold slot positions, while Andre Odom can move around to different spots. Jax Rush and Parker Copeland will be key as this year’s H-backs, which always

Mac Turner, QB

The return of a quarterback is always key, and Turner being back for his second year as a starter with a frame of 6-foot-2, 210 pounds can be the difference.

J.C. Sivley, TE

A team leader, Sivley’s size of 6-foot-6, 220 pounds makes him dangerous as not only a receiving threat but a blocker.

Joel Logan, DL

Logan has put in the work in the offseason to become the top defender up front at defensive end.

Iceberk Cave, LB

As a junior, Cave totaled 107 tackles and nine tackles for loss.

Joseph Roberto, LB

Roberto wasn’t far off the pace of Cave last year with 76 total tackles and two tackles for loss, which makes him a top player on what should be a talented defense.

KEY DEPARTURES

Kobe Hughes

Hughes totaled 888 yards and 12 touchdowns last year as the team’s leading rusher, leaving a big hole to fill.

Marquis Johnson

Two years ago, Johnson totaled 1,478 yards and 26 touchdowns and played a role last year in an offense that relied on wearing down defenses with the run game.

Seaburn Hines

The unheralded leader the last three years on the offensive line, the departure of Hines may be the biggest going into this season.

Brock Sisson

Sisson led the team with 20 tackles for loss last season and totaled 79 as the leader up front.

NEXT MAN UP With the losses of Kobe Hughes and Marquis Johnson, as well as All-State offensive lineman Seaburn Hines, the Huskies need playmakers to emerge this season. A team that loves to wear down opponents by running the football, filling that role will be arguably the most important piece to this year’s puzzle. Kellen Hughes, AJ Horstead and Jordan Washington could all have breakout seasons, and one has to step up.

OUT FOR VENGEANCE Helena ended last season with a feeling of incompleteness. The Huskies did make the second round of the playoffs despite a 2-4 start, but due to COVID-19 forcing them to forfeit two games and keeping them off the field three weeks in a row during the middle of the season, they felt like there was unfinished business. Helena lost two of their first three games by six or less, then started to gain steam with a 48-14 win before their rivalry battle with Pelham turned into a forfeit loss. That became the difference in the region championship. Now, after winning the title two years ago and finishing second last year despite odds stacked against them, the Huskies enter this season ready to climb back to the top of the region standings. play a role in Busby’s offense.

OFFENSIVE LINE

With the loss of three starters, this position could make or break the season for Helena. Trace Barnett, 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, and Reese Mims, 6-foot-1, 265 pounds, are the two standing out right now. Barnett is set to take on a tackle position with Mims at a guard spot. Beyond that, it is wide open heading into the fall with Busby saying several players need to step up.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Defensively, the Huskies will lose a few

FUN IN THE FIRST HALF

Under Busby, Helena has been a second-half team. They wear opponents down in the first half, make halftime adjustments defensively and come back to win in the second half. However, it cost them two games early last year, as slow starts were too much to overcome. It did end up working late in the season and was crucial in making it to the second round of the playoffs, but it’s something the Huskies are aiming to change this year.

EDITOR’S 2021 PREDICTION (7-3)

The schedule is by no means easy for the Helena Huskies this year, but it’s more favorable with difficult games spread out. That makes it a lot easier to see them winning at least six games this year. Coming off a year in which they forfeited two games and still finished second in the region by just one game, they’re hungry to prove what can happen if they get to suit up each week. Helena has improved every year under head coach Richie Busby, and it’s tough to not see that trend continuing. They’re a returning running back or receiver short of being a region championship threat going into the season, so if those two positions can step up and prove themselves with some new faces, watch out. Having Mac Turner back to run the offense will be key, while the offensive line will have to grow in a hurry to make them as potent as they can be. The defense, however, returns more than anticipated and makes this year’s team capable of at least seven wins.

Dallas County W 43-0 @ Chelsea L 23-27 Benjamin Russell L 22-28 Pelham L 0-1# @ McAdory L 0-1# Chilton County W 1-0# @ Calera W 14-13 Stanhope Elmore W 25-18 Bye UMS-Wright W 12-7 Carver-Montgomery* W 22-19 @ Spanish Fort* L 7-40

*Playoff game #Forfeited game

IceBerk Cave

key pieces, but they’ll also return some of the team’s best athletes for what is usually one of the county’s best defenses. Up front, they’ll lose Brock Sisson’s 79 tackles and 20 tackles for loss, but team leader Joel Logan will return to a defensive end position with a size of 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. Opposite of him, on the other end, will be returnee Connor Pugh with a frame of 6-feet, 200 pounds. Behind those two, Matthew

2020 STATS

Offense Total points: 216 Per game: 24 County rank: T7

Defense Points allowed: 166 Per game: 18.4 County rank: 3

2021 Helena Roster

NO. NAME POSITION YEAR

1 Jackson Synder DB 12 2 Mac Turner QB 12 2 TJ Alvis WR 9 3 Peyton Woodall LB 12 4 Ryne Berry WR 12 4 Kevin Pinkard DB 9 5 JC Sivley WR 12 6 Kaysn Bustamento RB 12 7 Hunter Hale WR/DB 10 8 IceBerk Cave LB 12 9 Justin Yunke LB 12 10 Hudson McCaslin WR 11 11 Miles Mitchell WR 11 12 Walter Womack DB 11 13 Andre Odom HB 12 14 Kyle Tolbert S 12 14 Trip Bouler QB 10 15 Mathew Thompson DE 11 15 Carson Acker QB 10 16 Joseph Roberto LB 10 17 Jax Rush HB 11 18 Connor Pugh DE/OLB 12 19 Nathan Thomason LB 10 20 Jordan Washington RB 10 21 Fletcher Taylor DB/WR 10 22 Dalton Llewellyn ATH 11 23 AJ Horstead RB 11 24 Kellen Hughes RB 11 25 Dalton Wade ATH 11

NO. NAME POSITION YEAR

26 Reed Woods DB 11 27 Desmon James DB 10 28 Joel Logan DE 12 29 Eli Ray DB 10 30 Cole Mathis DB 10 31 Tyler Payne DB 11 32 Devin Shamburger DB 11 33 Ty Thomas RB 10 34 Hunter Bright LB 11 35 Jalon Benson DB 11 36 Errol Anderson DB 12 37 Aidan Naron K 12 38 Jeremy Spratling RB 9 39 Austin Acosta TE 9 40 Brett Berry HB/DE 9 41 Micah Pleasant RB 9 42 Jackson Smith LB 10 43 Brady Madden LB 10 44 Parker Copeland TE 10 45 Brig Smith WR 10 51 Jackson Thomas OL 11 52 Jake Quick OL 10 54 Brock Wise LB 9 55 Jacorey Sherman OL 11 57 Cam Barnett DL 9 58 Josue McNeal DL 9 59 Bryon Holland DE 12 60 Bryson Rhodes OL 12 61 Grant Vines OL 9

NO. NAME POSITION YEAR

62 Reese Wilburn OL 11 63 Ethan Boyd OL 10 66 Plillip Allen OL 10 67 Jonah Chand OL/DL 9 68 Trace Barnett OL 11 69 Skyler Stevens OL 12 70 Deason Capps OL 10 71 Reese Mims OL 11 72 Jake Julius DL 11 73 Derrick Wilson DL 11 75 Eli Crutchfield DL 9 76 Connor Mcree OL 11 77 Austin Wienand OL 10 79 Xavier Guy OL 11 80 Hudson Pennington WR 10 81 Nathan Jones WR 9 82 Darion Shamburger TE 10 83 Torrey Ward WR 9 84 Caleb Haney WR 10 85 Justin Moore WR 10 86 Rob Morris TE 9 87 Hal Landrum WR 10 90 Nick Payne DE 11 91 John Terry K 10 92 Austin Lewis K 9 93 Matthew Blocker K 12 94 Cole Yarbourgh DL 11 95 Nathan Butts DE 12 96 James Washington DE 9

5-YEAR WIN TREND

7

2020 9

4 1 3

2019 2018 2017 2016 Thompson will help out on the end, while Derrick Wilson and Xavier Guy both weigh around 300 pounds as juniors and will handle the middle of the line. Behind them, Bryan Holland, Cole Yarbrough and Connor Mcree will add depth.

LINEBACKERS

Possibly the strongest position on the team will be linebacker thanks to the return of several playmakers, including leading tackler Iceberk Cave as well as Joseph Roberto. Cave totaled 107 tackles and nine tackles for loss last year and stands at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, while Roberto has increased his size as a sophomore and is now 6-foot-2, 225 pounds after totaling 76 tackles and

Photo by Jeremy Raines

KEY NUMBERS

16

Since head coach Richie Busby took the reins of Helena’s program, the Huskies have been on the rise. In the last two years, Helena has won 16 combined games, which is just one less than the four years prior. Busby’s goal was to help the program take that turn in the weight room and on the field, and it now has them as a region-championship contender each year after back-to-back top-two finishes in the standings.

183

Helena has more back defensively than first expected, including the return of two talented linebackers. Iceberk Cave and Joseph Roberto are both back at the position, returning a combined 183 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks. Already dangerous on the defensive side, their return helps keep the Huskies one of the top defensive teams in the county.

6

After winning the region championship two years ago, Helena finished second in the region standings last year despite missing three games in a row due to COVID-19. The big loss came to Wetumpka by six points in the region opener, which came one week after losing to Chelsea by four points in the second game of the season. Wins in those two games would have made Chelsea 8-2 in the regular season with the lone losses due to forfeit. This season, the Huskies know how important winning those tight games, especially early, will be if they want another region title.

2,500

The offense will take the biggest hit this year due to the loss of the team’s top two running backs and offensive lineman Seaburn Hines. Over the last two years, Kobe Hughes and Marquis Johnson have totaled more than 2,500 yards of offense to lead the way for the Huskies. That leaves a lot of production to replace. Add in the loss of Hines and two other linemen on a team that wants to pound the football and the task becomes even more difficult.

Kyle

Tolbert

two tackles for loss last year. Behind those two, Justin Yunke, Peyton Woodall and Nathan Thomason all add strong playmakers.

SECONDARY

On the back end of the defense, the Huskies will be young, but they’ll also have a lot of talent ready to emerge. Bustamento will spend some time there, while Kyle Tolbert and Jackson Snyder add some experience as seniors. Hunter Hale, Fletcher Taylor, Desmond James and Eli Ray will all be athletic sophomores ready to make a difference, while junior Walter Womack will add help as well.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Aidan Naron will return to handle the place-kicking duties this year, while Trip Bouler and Nathan Wade can both punt. As for other portions of special teams, Busby said the best athletes will see the field.