Montevallo

Friends in battle

Helena’s Joel Logan and J.C. Sivley set to lead as seniors

In the fourth grade, Joel Logan stepped onto the football field as a receiver ready to make his debut in Helena’s youth recreation league as the new kid looking to make a splash.

J.C. Sivley, however, had already implanted himself as a receiver and wasn’t going to let Logan waltz in without some friendly banter.

“I guess you’re the new kid, huh?” Sivley asked, before giving him a hard time about trying to play receiver.

From there, a lifelong competition and friendship blossomed.

The two have since grown up in the city of Helena together, playing football for the Huskies ever since

Iat some level. “That’s my best friend,” Logan said. “We do everything together. It started in rec league and his just kept growing from there.” Written by ALEC ETHEREDGE | Photos by NEAL WAGNER Now, the two are much different than their fourthgrade selves, as the two head into their senior season with the Huskies. Sivley is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound tight end for Helena’s offense, while Logan isn’t too far behind at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds as the team’s leader on the defensive line. Playing on opposite sides of the ball now, they still go after one another competitively, but it’s all to help themselves and the team reach their full potential.

“We always give each other a hard time. We always compete. We’ve been going one-on-one in practice,” Logan said. “I’ll be a flex linebacker, and I’ve been working on guarding him. We even stay extra and challenge each other with things that are going to be productive to each other’s play style on the field.”

Coming off a 7-5 season last year in which the Huskies finished second in the region and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, both players are confident heading into the season.

One of the main focuses for each is helping their side of the ball get off to a faster start.

The last few years, the Huskies have taken major strides in success, but many times, it doesn’t start until the second half.

Often, Helena finds itself down by double digits in the first half and in the position of coming from behind to start the second half.

This year, however, the team has made it a goal to start fast and finish faster.

“Coming out and starting earlier is a big thing. We’re known as a team that starts slow and gets better,” Sivley said. “We are trying to find a way to better ourselves earlier in the game. We’ve got a few things cooking, so we’re just going to see how it plays out.”

From an offensive standpoint, Sivley said he hopes to help the team score early, which boils down to trusting the game plan and playing more loose.

But with a run-first offense due to the mindset of wearing down opponents, more balance early in the game would be key in building a lead.

“We have to come out more loose, pass the ball a bit more early in the game. The defense is always solid for us, so the offense firing off early will be key to our success. I need to help us hit a big run or a deep ball early, making a play when it needs to be made,” Sivley said. “All-in-all, we just need to come together. I’ve been playing with most of these guys since fourth grade, and I think we have a pretty solid team.”

From a defensive standpoint, Logan said the goal is to just relax earlier in games.

Currently, the Huskies are known as one of the best at making adjustments going into the second half of games thanks to defensive coordinator Jim Elgin, but according to Logan, it’s less about adjustments and more about relaxing.

“Sometimes it’s not the adjustments, sometimes it’s just adding details and realizing we need to calm down,” Logan said. “Most of the time, we know what we’re doing wrong. He just tells us to relax and have fun. I know this last year, there were times we were uptight and not having fun with it. Then, in the second half, we would just lighten up and it made a difference.”

Now, the two seniors will hope to help lead their sides of the ball to turn the Huskies into a balanced team ready for a deep postseason run.

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BULLDOGS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 4A, Region 3 2020 RECORD 7-5 (5-2)

In 91 years with a football team, the Montevallo Bulldogs have won 10 playoff games, but last year marked one of those wins, and it came in year one under head coach Blake Boren.

That started the Boren era off on the right foot and has the city and team excited for what’s ahead in 2021 with the return of several starters.

Last season, the Bulldogs were forced to forfeit week one due to COVID-19 and then lost three in a row to start the year 0-4. Following that start, however, they won six in a row to end the regular season and picked up a 27-21 upset win in the first round of the playoffs before falling to Handley in the second round.

Now, with the return of a two All-State athletes, a top target out wide, the team’s top two linemen and several others across multiple positions, Montevallo is primed for an even deeper run this season.

HEAD COACH

Blake Boren

RECORD

7-5 (Second year)

ASSISTANT COACHES

Charlie Boren, Jim King, Garrett Langer, Tyler Blackwell, Geoffrey Lockhart

LAST REGION TITLE

1995

LAST PLAYOFF GAME

2020

MEET THE TEAM

QUARTERBACK

An All-State cornerback last year, senior Kial Cottingham also totaled 621 receiving yards and five touchdowns in addition to his six interceptions and 31 tackles. Now, he’ll take the reins as the quarterback heading into 2021 due to his athleticism. Boren said the team didn’t run his traditional offense last year, but the athleticism of Cottingham will allow him to do that. During the spring game, Cottingham went 9-for-11 with 181 yards and two touchdowns. His transition to the position could become the determining factor in how successful the Bulldogs can be.

RUNNING BACK

Helping to take pressure off of Cottingham will be the return of senior All-State running back Joseph

Kial

Cottingham

Joseph

Anderson

Anderson. One of the leading rushers in the county last year, Anderson totaled 1,156 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground with an additional 12 catches for 109 yards. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, he ran for at least 175 yards in five games last year and is one of the team’s fastest players. Behind him, junior Anthony Martin will help due to his strength, while receiver Kam Goins can also add help in different packages.

RECEIVERS

Going into his third year as a starter, Goins will be the leader at receiver this year as a junior. With 4.50 speed, he will be the fastest at the position and will make plays out of the slot. Sophomore Javon Rogers, who stands at 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, should emerge as one of the top targets out wide this season and has the ability to become one of the best in the county. Jaydien Rutledge and Peanut Purnell add two more taller targets with heights of 6-foot-3 and should add flexible playmakers at the position.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Perhaps the scariest aspect of facing Montevallo this season, four starters will return to the offensive line to block

2021 SCHEDULE

Aug. 20: Marbury Aug. 27: Shelby County Sept. 3: @ American Christian Academy* Sept. 10: @ Bibb County* Sept. 17: Wilcox Central* Sept. 24: Bye

Oct. 1: West Blocton* Oct. 8: Sumter Central* Oct. 15: Holt*

Oct. 22: @ Dallas County* Oct. 29: Maplesville

*Region game

for an array of athletes on offense. Senior Cole Dennis and junior Dylan Campbell are both set to be leaders at the position. Dennis, a 6-foot, 250-pound senior, is coming off a torn labrum during a runner-up finish in the wrestling state tournament, but is ready to go. Campbell is the biggest up front with a size of 6-foot-3, 285 pounds and has started since his freshman season. Juniors Brantley Burk and Jaylon Hudson will also return as starters with Burk at center and Hudson at right tackle. Jaylen Williams will be the only newcomer as a starter, while Matt Alexander will add help at the position.

Joseph Anderson, RB

One of the top running backs in the state last year, Anderson totaled 1,156 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground as well as 109 receiving yards.

Kial Cottingham, QB

The team’s best athlete, Cottingham will move from receiver and the secondary to primarily focus quarterback this season.

KamRon Goins, WR

Goins will be the top target out wide as a returnee to the position. His speed makes him a dangerous threat in the slot and in different packages.

Cole Dennis, OL/DL

With young players on both sides of the line, Dennis, a senior, is one of two starters returning to help hold down the position.

Dylan Campbell, OL/DL

Campbell is also returning to both sides of the line, which will be key due to his two years as a starter as just a junior.

Hunter Bass

A three-year starter on the offensive line, Bass was steady and consistent as a leader up front.

KamRon Goins

KEY DEPARTURES

Will Snuggs

Snuggs will be another body on the line that is going to be difficult to replace this season.

Kavounte Britton

A top athlete the last two years, Britton was a leading target at receiver last year and spread out across the field.

Jay Dreyer

Dreyer only got one year as the starting quarterback, but that experience is something that will be missed with other returnees.

2021 Montevallo Roster

NO. NAME POSITION GRADE

1 Jaydien Rutledge WR/DB 11 2 Braxton King QB/DB 10 3 Javon Rogers WR/DB 10 4 Kial Cottingham QB/DB 12 5 Tamardreon Purnell WR/DB 12 6 Elfreeman Morton RB/LB 10 7 Anthony Martin RB/DB 11 8 Keiston Ross WR/DB 9 9 Kam Goins WR/DB 11 10 Deterrius Cutts WR/DB 9 11 Elijah Nunn WR/LB 12 12 Tim Waters WR/DB 11 13 Elijah Dunn RB/LB 9 14 Kemp Swords QB/DB 9 15 Braden Douglas WR/DB 10 16 Jaylen Ray WR/DB 9 17 Peyton King WR/DB 10 18 Tee Cathey RB/DB 9 19 Gabe Haynie TE/LB 11

NO. NAME POSITION GRADE

20 Joseph Anderson RB/LB 12 21 Christian Tolbert WR/DB 10 23 Brannon Hudson TE/DL/LB 9 24 Zach Shores WR/DB 9 25 Jamion Mack-Prentice RB/DB 12 28 Dalton King RB/LB 10 33 Charlie Adams TE/LB 10 34 Reed Brown WR/LB 9 42 Spencer Adams TE/LB 11 44 Ayden Ingram WR/DB 9 45 Benjamin Locks WR/DB 10 46 Malachi Cartwell WR/DB 10 50 Hunter Lutz OL/DL 10 51 Kamardre Purnell OL/DL 10 52 Jaylon Hudson OL/DL 11 53 Kelston Hodges OL/DL 9 54 Jayden Head OL/DL 12 55 Nylan Goode OL/DL 9 57 Cole Dennis OL/DL 12

NO. NAME POSITION GRADE

58 Connor Shores OL/DL 9 59 Tyler Gentry OL/DL 10 60 Jaylen Williams OL/DL 11 61 Eli Motes OL/DL 9 64 Matthew Rhoden OL/DL 9 65 Dylan Campbell OL/DL 11 66 Blaine Graham OL/DL 9 70 Brantley Burk OL/LB 11 71 Richard Smith OL/DL 11 72 Junior Alvarenga OL/LB 9 73 JC Baggett OL/DL 9 74 Derek Diaz OL/DL 9 75 Luis Martinez OL/DL 9 77 Matt Alexander OL/DL 12 80 Lester Blevins WR/DL 10 85 Zander Honeycutt WR/DB 10 96 Gio Hernandez K 11

DEFENSIVE LINE

Several of the offensive linemen will play both ways at times this season, while junior Richard Smith will be one of the key pieces as a nose guard. With a frame of 6-foot-3, 320 pounds, he will require double teams and has been the most improved from last year. Joining him on the interior portion of the line will be Campbell, while Williams and others will help on the ends. Senior defensive end Jayden Head should also help with

Cole

Dennis

depth this season.

LINEBACKERS

For the second year in a row, the linebacker position might be the biggest concern heading into the fall. This year, there is a better feel for who will fill spots, but not a lot of experience. Jamion Prentice, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior, will slide up from a secondary position to fill a key role as one of the most instinctive players on the team in a 4-2-5 defense. EJ Morton and Charlie Adams, both sophomores, are also expected to have breakout seasons, while Anderson could move over from running back at times to fill a void if necessary due to his ability at the position.

SECONDARY

While the linebacker position will feature some new faces at the

@ Marbury L 0-1# @ Shelby County L 18-20 American Christian L 31-63 Bibb County L 7-37 Wilcox Central W 1-0# @ West Blocton W 29-28 @ Sumter Central W 1-0# @ Holt W 40-33 Dallas County W 27-20 Maplesville W 1-0# @ St. James* W 27-21 Handley* L 13-42

*Playoff game #Forfeited game

2020 STATS

Offense Total points: 192 Per game: 24 County rank: T7

Defense Points allowed: 264 Per game: 33 County rank: 9