Shelby County Football Magazine 2022 by Shelby County Newsmedia, Inc.

EYE OF LIONTHE Vizzina focused on final season at Briarwood Ne wspaper s, Inc. GUIDE TO THE SEASON Schedules, rosters, previews NEXTpredictionsandIN LINE Mitchell, Woods hoping for one final championship

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4 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL CONTENTSShelby FootballCounty2022 20 Briarwood 24 Calera 30 Chelsea 40 Coosa Valley 42 Cornerstone 44 Evangel 46 Helena 54 Montevallo 60 Oak Mountain 66 Pelham 78 Shelby County 84 Spain Park 90 Thompson 100 Vincent 5 EYES ON THE PRIZE 5-star recruits Peter Woods, Tony Mitchell hopeful to lead THS to fourth straight tile. 12 PRIDE OF THE LIONS Christopher Vizzina ready for final season as Briarwood’s starting quarterback 18 GAMES TO WATCH The 10 best matchups for the 2022 season TEAM PREVIEWS

Cover

The lights turn on, and we’re under the lights once again. That will soon be the case across Shelby County as the crisp, fall Friday nights return. It’s a moment we have been waiting for since the last second ticked off the clock to end the 2021 football season. With the arrival of a new season, we turn the page to new hopes a fresh slate full of Eachopportunity.teamstarts the year with the same goal and the ability to control their own destiny.Itcreates a level of excitement you can only find in the weeks leading up to a new season, and this year’s Shelby County Football magazine feeds into that excitement.Aseasonthat will follow one of the most historic in the county’s history that saw nine teams make the playoffs for the first time ever, there is plenty of optimism that this year could be equally as exciting if not better.Thompson enters fresh off a third state championship in a row; Oak Mountain, Calera and Shelby County enter year two under promising head coaches; Spain Park, Chelsea and Pelham all have firstyear head coaches; and Helena, Briarwood, Montevallo and Vincent all have plenty of talent back with the hopes of competing for region championships. Inside this year’s Shelby County Football magazine, we give you a breakdown of everything you need to know about each team ahead of the season.Assomeone who grew up reading preseason football magazines for fun during the summer, this is one of my favorite projects to work on each year and takes weeks of preparation, but it builds my excitement throughout June and July, and now, it will hopefully help you feel prepared for the special season ahead. This year’s magazine includes several feature stories, including the special stories of 5-star recruits Christopher Vizzina, Peter Woods and TonyYou’llMitchell.alsoget this year’s viewing menu, which gives you a sneak peek at the 10 games featuring Shelby County teams that you won’t want to miss throughout the season. The magazine also features an in-depth look at each of the 14 teams in the county before suiting up for the season. In each team’s preview section, you’ll find a breakdown of position units, a prediction, schedule, roster, team info and From the Editor photo by Keith McCoy design by Connor Martin-Lively

A FLIP OF A SWITCH and it’s here.

STAFF EDITORIAL Meg AnnaMichelleHerndonLoveKeithMcCoyGraceMooreEmilySparacinoNoahWortham PRODUCTION Jamie Dawkins ConnorKimberlyMartin-LivelyMyersBrianaSansom MARKETING Jessica Caudill Evann RachelMichaelaOctaviaCampbellCampbellKariGeorgeLaurenHallHancockHendersonMadisonKingRhettMcCreightStaceyMeadowsToriMontjoyViridianaRomero Brittany Schofield Anna Willis ADMINISTRATIVE Alec ShelbyThisMaryHaileyTimEtheredgePrinceDolbareJoEskridgeisapublicationofCountyNewspapers, Inc. P.O. Box 947 115 North Main Street Columbiana, AL 35051 phone: advertise@shelbycountyreporter.com205.669.3131 Ne wspaper s, Inc.

Written by ALEC ETHEREDGE | by KEITH MCCOY

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5-star recruits Peter Woods, Tony Mitchell hopeful to lead Thompson to fourth title in a row

Eyes on the prize

8 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

When they stepped on the field together as freshmen, neither knew much about the other aside from one similarity—they were two of the best in the country.

Now, 5-star recruits Peter Woods and Tony Mitchell are looking to finish off their final season of high school football with four consecutive state championships at Thompson High School before going their separate ways to different nationalchampionship contending colleges. The two know it’s going to be an emotional ride, but it’s one last chance for them to prove they are the best out there. “I’ve been going at this for five offseasons as a Thompson Warrior,” Woods said. “This program means a lot more than the football. It helped me grow up, taught me to mature. Coach (Woodrow) Briggs helped me grow and become a man. I wouldn’t be where I am without this program. I’m thankful for that. The thought of this being my final season has been driving me all offseason knowing each step of the way is it. It’s my last summer workout, my last OTA, last sprint. It’s making me work harder in every facet.”

That’s a bold statement for a player who is one of the hardest workers on the team, but it’s a sentiment he shares with Mitchell, who also knows this is it alongside his teammates. “It’s sad being the last year of high school, but I feel like this is going to be my best year, so I just need to go out and leave it all on the table so I don’t have any regrets,” he said.

HANDLING THE EXPECTATIONS Since they set foot on campus at Thompson High School, Woods and Mitchell have both had the weight of the world on their shoulders. As two of the highest-rated recruits in the country throughout their high school playing days, greatness

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 9 Jeﬀerson State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its admissions, programs and activities in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Enroll Today! (205) 85 6 -7704 jeﬀersonstate.edu has been expected of them since day one. Neither, however, has felt the pressure outside of their own expectations.“Personally, if there is any pressure, it comes from me,” Woods said. “I want to perform at a certain level. I hold myself to a higher standard than anyone else does. I critique myself and know what I can do better. There is no pressure from the outside, because I already hold myself to a higher standard than anyone else.”Mitchell added to that, saying it’s similar to any task that comes naturally, like riding a bike. “There’s no pressure at all,” he said. “It’s just something we’re supposed to do. We have the opportunity to go four in a row, and I think we will.”

Now, they have expectations again, and as leaders of the defense, this year’s pressure may be the most they’ve had as football players. Not only are they hoping to lead the Warriors to a fourth title in a row, but they’re looking to do so as seniors, which would give them one title each year of high school. “We’ve won three in a row,” Woods said. “It’s easy to get satisfied and lose sight of what we’re playing for. I don’t know if anybody has won four state championships in a row. We want to do that, and we have all the tools to do it. We want to execute and workThathard.”isa message head coach Mark Freeman has instilled in his players for years, and it’s one Woods and Mitchell both know is important heading into the new season. “We have to continue to lead as older players,” Mitchell said. “We have to lead the younger guys and show them the standard about how everything is supposed to go. Don’t get complacent

As they grew closer off the field, they started gaining more faith and trust in one another on the field as well. “It’s been a great friendship,” Mitchell said. “Ever

GROWING AS TEAMMATES

“We know there is a big target on our back. But that doesn’t scare us, it fuels

When the two star defenders first stepped on the field together four years ago, neither was too familiar with the other, but they were quickly able to bond, which led to a great friendship the last four“Tonyyears.has been like a brother to me since I got here,” Woods said. “We were both young freshmen together in the same shoes. We just clicked and I was able to learn about him off the field. When we started, it was just Tony Mitchell with all the offers like me, then I got to learn about him.”

-Peterus.”Woods

10 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL and know what to expect. On defense alone, we try to get a shutout every week. We don’t want anyone to score. We accomplish that by working hard, practicing hard and studying film. All of that helps us know our strengths and weaknesses.” With their confidence, however, each also knows the challenges that lie ahead and the teams that are gunning for them. Thompson is already being hunted by every team they face, but now, they’ll also face one of the country’s toughest schedules, including a non-region schedule that includes one in-state state champion and two champions from other states. That’s in addition to a region they didn’t even win last year, despite the state championship, as Hoover claimed the title a season ago. “We’re nobody’s fool,” Woods said. “We know there is a big target on our back. But that doesn’t scare us, it fuels us. Everybody is practicing to beat us. So our mindset is, ‘What can we do to give our best?’ We’re always thinking about who is working and how hard they’re working to be better than us. We can’t let anyone outwork us at any point during the week.”

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 11 since I got here, we’ve been good friends being with each other every day. That bond has come together. We both depend on each other no matter what the situation is. That carries over to the field and is key for us because it makes the entire defense better.”Butas the ride comes to an end, both know it will be emotional as they get near the finish line, so they’re focusing on making sure it’s not a disappointing finish. “It’s been a great, long journey,” Mitchell said. “Going into my senior year, I want to help the team get a fourth state championship. Four peat and grind each day to get there. That’s the goal. We have to work to get better throughout the season and take it one game at time.” Woods said the key to that is the team working together to become mentally tough.Astwo of the top recruits, Woods and Mitchell have bonded over that mental toughness for years, and now, they’re looking to spread that to their teammates, many of who are also highly-recruited. “We have a lot of great guys coming back who help us out a lot,” Woods said. “We’ll have a very deep rotation this year. It will probably be the deepest we’ve had.

Coach Briggs has done a great job instilling our work ethic and mental side going into that fourth quarter. There comes that time where you meet your match, so what will it be when that time comes that sets us apart, and it’s that mental toughness.”

WARRIORS THROUGH AND THROUGH Even with the bright and shiny lights that lie ahead in college with Mitchell committed to Alabama and Woods to Clemson, neither has looked that far ahead.Both committed to their college choice during the summer just a couple weeks apart, and while they’ve given each other some fun jabs about picking different schools, their goal was to get that out of

12 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

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© 2022 Alabama Power Company the way so they could focus on one thing—being a Warrior for a few more months. Now, they’re doing everything in their power to be as successful as they can be this season, which includes visualizing the season and knowing the goals they have. “Every time I’m on the field, I feel like I’m the best out there,” Mitchell said. “Whoever is in front of me, I just feel like I’m going to win, I just have that dog mentality.”

We give 100% to achieve 99.9% dependability.

He added that one of his main goals is to find a way to the ball more this season so he can get more interceptions, but he knows defenses shy away from him because of his talent, which disappoints him because he wants the challenge of proving he’s the best.As for Woods, his mindset is clear every time he is on the field. He knows double teams are likely going to be there early in the season, but his mindset keeps that from being an issue. “When I’m on the field, my mind is clear,” he said. “If you can imagine an open grass field with sunlight, that’s what it’s like. I analyze things before everybody gets to the line. I’m not big on pre-play talking, I’m thinking about analyzing.”

He also said that he has complete faith in his teammates, and if a double team comes, opponents better beware of what others can do.

It’s unclear what the 2022 season will hold for the Thompson Warriors, but Woods and Mitchell aren’t scared of the challenge that lies ahead.

EEntering his freshman season at Briarwood Christian School, he just wanted the coaches to think he was good enough to dress out with the varsity team. Now, he’s one of the hottest commodities in high school football. Heading into his senior season with the Lions, Christopher Vizzina has transformed into a 5-star recruit committed to play college football for the Clemson Tigers. But he’ll be the first to tell you, he didn’t see it coming. “I didn’t even want to be a quarterback,” Vizzina said, laughing as he reminisced. “Everyone wanted me to, but I didn’t. I was playing receiver and wanted to score the touchdowns, but in eighth grade, halfway through the season, I had to move to quarterback and ended up really liking it.”

GROWING UP FAST A lifelong student at Briarwood Christian School, Vizzina has formed close connections with his teammates and the coaching staff, many of whom have been there throughout the ride. “I’ve been at Briarwood my whole life, so going in

Written by ALEC ETHEREDGE | Photos by KEITH MCCOY

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 15

Pride of the Lions Christopher Vizzina ready for final season as Briarwood’s starting quarterback

Now, he heads into his fourth-and-final year as the starting quarterback at Briarwood hoping to end a special run with his senior classmates. The last two years, he has combined for 4,216 passing yards, 803 rushing yards and 48 total touchdowns.Butnow,with the group he grew up playing with, he’s expecting his best year yet.

That season also marked the first under new head coach Matthew Forester, who had the task of replacing 28-year veteran Fred Yancey.

Eventually, starting quarterback Jonah Carroll went down with an injury, which forced the young freshman to step up. “I had to figure out how to lead and how to do that type of stuff with people who were older than me,” he said. “That was a challenge, but the coaches helped me, and looking back on that now, it’s something that not only helped me on the field, but off the field. That is something I will always need.”

With the pressure of a successful first season, Forester didn’t hesitate bringing Vizzina in as the backup because of the work ethic he showed. “He’s a guy who has worked really, really hard,” Forester said. “To go from being a guy who played four games in junior high to now being one of the highest-ranked quarterbacks in the nation, yeah, there’s natural talent and an aptitude for the position, but his work ethic is incredibly special. That’s what sets him apart. To go from where he was to competing in events like the Elite 11, that’s not just showing up and doing what I asked, that’s putting in extra time and being fully committed.”

Not only did he succeed his first season, he helped lead the Lions to a 12-2 season and a spot in the semifinals of the Class 5A playoffs. From there, everything took off, but his focus remained on the team and his teammates.

Entering his freshman season, he had the goal of being on the varsity roster and dressing out for games. He eventually achieved that goal, but he didn’t want to settle for that, he wanted to be the starter.“Even as a freshman, I wanted to be the guy,” he said. “I had someone in front of me on the depth chart though, so I had to be patient.”

But going into high school, he had still only started four games in eighth grade and Vizzina didn’t know what to expect. He did, however, fall in love with the game at that point and knew he wanted to be the guy.

16 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL grade school and getting to know the coaches long before playing really helped me along the way,” he said. “There were always there for me, and that grew even more as I got to high school.”

“I had great guys and teammates around me that year,” he said. “I was able to just keep learning.”

Forester also saw him start to take command and really begin to blossom as someone who could be special.

Heading into his sophomore season, Vizzina not only was still being forced to lead a group of older players and compete against older players, he was now tasked with leading Briarwood down the path of a 6A schedule—something the Lions struggled with a few years earlier. For Vizzina, it was no problem.

“After sophomore year is when I decided I wanted to work to play at the next level,” Vizzina said. “My potential showed it, so I took it upon myself along with help of coach Forrester and others. I started putting film out there and started going to camps. My size helped and my sophomore film people thought was advanced for my age, so I started to pick upAsoffers.”hemoved into his junior year, which is the big recruiting year, he was able to build off of that and showcase even more of what he was capable of as the quarterback of the Lions. With several offers already, that’s when his recruiting started to blow up. He became a 4-star quarterback throughout the season and most of the major college football programs in the

BECOMING A STAR

“It has been fun to watch the evolution his game has taken,” Forester said. “At 14 years old, he’s playing against the No. 1 team and our goal was to protect him and take shots when we could. But sophomore year, we opened up the offense and he took command. It quickly turned into an offense designed to fit him and his skillset.” That’s when Forester and Vizzina both realized what could be ahead for Vizzina, so they started to push hard.

Leading into the season, he was competing with some of the other top high school recruits in the country and went toe-to-toe with top recruit Arch Manning during one camp. College coaches started marveling over his ability, his arm and his size. Then, with the start he had to his junior season, they wanted him. It led to a chaotic next year of recruiting that featured many ups and downs.

Ultimately, his faith and that family feel was what he saw in Clemson that made it the right choice for him even as an SEC fan growing up. “I was recruited by almost every big school in the country, and all the in-state schools and SEC schools. I went to every school, and really, for me and who I am, it felt like Clemson was the right fit for me on and off the field,” he said. “I want to go somewhere where I can compete for a national championship with a coaching staff that will develop me on off the

18 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL country came calling. “It was my favorite season so far,” Vizzina said. “I felt like I had an edge on a lot of people, which made the game fun, but also lead to opportunities. The coaches then helped guide me through all of the chaos and attention that transpired.”

HANDLING THE PRESSURE As his recruiting grew, so did his following. Vizzina became one of the top quarterbacks in the country and with most top teams gunning for him, the fan bases followed suit. His social media following grew tremendously, which led to many sharing their thoughts on where he should go, some more friendly than others, especially after he officially announced on April 12 that he was committing to Clemson. “You have to think about it a certain way,” Vizzina said. “You can see all the random things being said about you, but that just motivates me really. People don’t really know me and it honestly doesn’t hurt me.”Vizzina said the reason he was able to block out the hatred that came along with his announcement was because of his faith. He said he has always leaned on his faith to get him to where he is in life. “Through all of that, I had to learn, this isn’t what makes me what I am,” he said. “Christ is what I play for and what means most to me. Blocking out the noise is so important. This year is the first year I’ve been hated on and learning to deal with that was challenging. Some telling you you’re the greatest thing ever and others hating you because you’re going to other schools. I just had to learn to handle the spotlight and lean on others to help me because it’s not something you have experience with until it happens. But as soon as I get in the locker room with my teammates, I forget about how many followers I have, and it becomes about each of us.”

He said each team he has played for the past four years has been special and that’s what he’ll miss most when he steps off the field for the final time, but he’s thankful to have those memories.

Heading into this year, his goal is a state championship, which would be the ultimate memory, but he mainly wants to be a good teammate and continue playing for something bigger than himself.“Ialways want to chase a championship, wherever I’m at, but I want to keep learning whether that’s high school or college and taking in skills, even if that’s life skills. I want to soak it all in. I never think about I have to score 50 touchdowns to make it a great season. I just want us to come together and have a great season together.”

That is also a moment Forester has been waiting for the last three years, knowing it could be a special season when he gets to play with the guys he is closest“He’swith.always played with the older kids, and I’ve always been interested to see what happens when the guys are the same age in the locker room and the senior class gets to gel together. It’s incredibly special to watch the locker room and see how much he enjoys being with them and how much they enjoy being with him. He has never set himself apart. That is his group of guys and he is incredibly excited to play his senior season with his best friends.”

Vizzina said he thinks it can be a special season with the players they have, and with some new tweaks on offense, he feels like it will be his best year yet. “We have to find what we’re best at,” he said. “You find that out in fall camp and in the first couple of games of the season. There will be certain teams around the state that use their athletes, but here, we have a really, really good coaching staff that will always put us in the best position scheme wise. We determine what the best scheme is and then do what we’re best at.”

EYE OF THE LION While he’ll soon have the eye of the Tiger when he joins Clemson University and Dabo Swinney, Vizzina is solely focused on this one last season with the players he grew up playing with. “I’m super excited about Clemson and it’s a blessing I’ll get to play college football, but I want everyone to know, Briarwood football is my number one priority right now,” he said. “I’m playing for my friends, my coaches and the program. I get to play with my best friends and the guys I grew up playing with. To play on Friday nights and lay it out with those guys is what it’s all about.”

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 19 field and in my faith. Clemson was one of the only schools I would leave the SEC for as someone who grew up in the south. It was the perfect fit for who I am.”

These two teams are ranked inside the top 15 nationally entering the season and both have won three consecutive state champion ships in their respective states. This one should be a good test to kick off the season. This matchup has a lot of intrigue entering the season, and by Sept. 30, that likely won’t change. Helena has won two of the last three region championships, but Briarwood now enters the region with the expecta tion of a top-two finish as well.

2. HELENA VS. PELHAM SEPT. 16 THOMPSON VS. BUFORD AUG. 19

4. BRIARWOOD VS. HELENA SEPT. 30 MONTEVALLO VS. SHELBY COUNTY AUG. 26

6. THOMPSON VS. CLAY-CHALKVILLE SEPT. 23

The three-time defending 7A champ against the defending Class 6A champ. That’s enough of a reason to catch this one at Thompson High School. Both teams enter the season as favorites to compete for state championships again in 2022. THOMPSON VS. HOOVER OCT. 21

20 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL GAMES TO WATCH

A county rivalry that was renewed in 2018, Montevallo has won the last three in the series, but three of the four have been decided by 10 or less and last year’s was tight until late in the fourth quarter. Both of these programs have hopes of home-field advantage.

The 10 best matchups for the 2022 season

This rivalry battle continues to add more twists and turns with each matchup. Thompson has gone from 0-21 against Hoover to winning seven of the last 10, including five of the last six. Last year added even more fuel to the fire.

This game has decided the region champion three years in a row with Hel ena winning two of the last three. Last year’s game was a 37-34 thriller that went down to the last second. It’s a rivalry that is now in its seventh year since Helena was built and the split between the two schools happened.

It doesn’t get much better than two county teams and rivals kicking off the season against each other in one of the first games on a Thursday night.

9. HELENA VS. HOMEWOOD SEPT. 2

A long-standing rivalry game, this is the first time the two will play each other as 7A opponents, but it won’t be the first time they’ve been in the same region.

10. OAK MOUNTAIN VS. CHELSEA SEPT. 9

With a record of 2-2 against one another, Helena and Homewood will meet for the first time since 2019. Being in the first three weeks of the season, this game will set the tone for region play.

Briarwood has won two in a row in this series, and they’ve been big. The last two have decided the two seed in the region, and that could end up being the case again this year.

BRIARWOOD AT HOMEWOOD OCT. 21

CHELSEA VS. HELENA AUG. 18

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 21

Jay

22 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL BRIARWOOD

One of the biggest holes to fill on offense this year comes at the running back position. Briarwood loses Luke Reebals, who had played since his sophomore year and totaled 845 rushing yards, 315 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior. Colton Williams, sophomore Evan Robson and junior Cooper Higgins will all be key in replacing that production.Williams and Ross are both similar backs with smaller frames but great vision and speed, while Higgins is a bruiser of a back and will likely play on both sides of the football this season as a junior. Harmon, Kerley, Mathews, Wise,

Luke Miller, Brent Reese, Barrett Trotter, Jay

LIONS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 10-2 (5-1) HEAD COACH Matthew Forester RECORD 30-7 (Fourth year) ASSISTANT COACHES Mike Bautista, Ernest Carroll, Lance Coggins, Daniel For ester, Shane

Bob Blake LAST REGION TITLE 2019 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Christopher Vizzina

The Lions only return three players on offense and four on defense, but that isn’t an unusual trend for a team that always tends to reload with seniors. This year, that senior class is strong again with 20 on the roster, while Briarwood also boasts one of the top quarterbacks in the country in Christopher Vizzina. If the offensive line steps up around him, as they usually do, and a receiver or two can emerge, the offense should be the best it has been in several years, while the defense is typically a bright spot, especially with head coach Matthew Forester a defensive guru. In a new and difficult region, however, the success this season will all depend on how the newcomers step up to surround the talented experience returning.

Bobby

Heading into the 2022 football season in a new region, the Briarwood Lions will remain in Class 6A for the third consecutive year and they will have to deal with some turnover.

A Clemson commit, Christopher Vizzina is one of the top quarterbacks in the country, and rightfully so. Not only has he challenged other top recruits at camps, including the Elite 11, but he has been a starter for the Lions since his freshman season. All good things, however, come to an end, and this will be the last ride for Vizzina at Briarwood. The senior will enter the year fresh off a 2,247-yard passing season in which he also ran for 649 yards and totaled 18 passing and 16 rushing touchdowns.

QUARTERBACK

RUNNING BACK

Grant Dickinson, LB The overall leader of the defense, Dick inson was one of the team’s top tacklers last season and should take an even bigger step forward as a senior. Peyton Steed, DB Steed was a corner last year and will slide over to safety this season as the leader of the secondary. His tackling and cover ability make him a dynamic playmaker. Luke Reebals

Last season, Reebals was one of the county’s most versatile backs with 845 rushing yards, 315 receiving yards and a combined 20 touchdowns.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 23

Haddon Stubbs One of the team’s top defenders last sea son, Stubbs totaled more than 80 tackles with nine for loss and two sacks, while he also added two interceptions. TO WATCH

KEY DEPARTURES RECEIVER

An injury sidelined Dicen for much of last season, but when healthy, he was the team’s top target and a true difference maker who will be missed in 2022.

Robert Beason, WR A leader at receiver, Beason could be the difference maker in this offseason. A receiver will need to step up to for this team to reach its full potential, and Beason as that potential.

OFFENSIVE LINE

PLAYERS

Harrison Clemmer, OL One of two returning starters on the offensive line, Clemmer will the leader of a very strong unit alongside Luke Schultz.

Perhaps the most key position on the team, this is the unit that has to step up most. While Vizzina can run the football as much as he needs to, a receiver or two making an impact can make the difference in Briarwood being a playoff team and Briarwood competing for a title. The Lions lose Nic Dicen, Ethan Anderson and Jay Butler, putting them in a hole early. Sawyer Russell and Robert Beason will be two leaders at the position this season as steady and reliable playmakers, while Brady Waugh will also contribute and has possibly the best hands at the position. Beyond that, Walker Chambless, Jackson Barnes, Drew Mathes and Ben McNulty will all help.

The Lions are replacing three players up front on the offensive line Aug. 19: @ Clay-Chalkville Aug. 26: Spain Park Sept. 2: Chilton County* Sept. 9: @ Pelham* Sept. 16: Bye Sept. 23: @ Oak Mountain Sept. 30: Helena* Oct. 7: Calera* Oct. 14: @ Benjamin Russell* Oct. 21:@ Homewood* Oct. 28: Fairhope *Region game 2022 SCHEDULE Sawyer Russell

Christopher Vizzina, QB A four-year starter at quarterback, Vizzina is primed for his final season as a Clemson commit. As a junior, he threw for 2,247 yards and 18 touchdowns, while running for an additional 649 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Nic Dicen

STILL A LION Christopher Vizzina isn’t a Tiger yet. Before the quarter back trades in his mane for stripes, the quarterback has one final season to impress. The Clemson commit has more than 5,000 yards of offense the last three years and is coming off a remarkable junior season in which he threw for 2,247 yards and ran for an additional 649 yards with a total of 34 touch downs.

DYNAMIC DEFENSE If it hasn’t become obvious at this point, the defense is typically what makes Briarwood tic. The Lions rely heavily on the defensive side of the football every year and like to play a physical style that wears down opponents. This season, there will be several new faces on that side of the ball, but it is a group, once again, that won’t lack discipline or physicality, especially with one of the state’s all-time best linebackers as the team’s head coach. I think they can easily earn a playoff spot despite its challenges, but the out-of-region schedule is brutal with three games against 7A opponents and another against the defending 6A State Champion. All four of those could be losses if they ar en’t careful, which already puts them at 6-4 assuming they sweep through the region. That said, this team has been so well coached the last several years and is always up for the physical test that awaits. If a receiver or two emerges, they could be really dangerous with the threat of Vizzina, but the defense alone always keeps them in games. It will be a difficult ride, but it’s hard to predict a Briarwood team to struggle. heading into the season, but it is a position that rarely seems to be a concern. Yearafter-year, seniors fill in important roles, and that will be no different in 2022. Returning starters include senior Harrison Clemmer and junior Luke Schultz. Shcultz has a tall frame at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds, while Clemmer stands at 6-foot-2, 265 pounds. Jason Bess will also return some experience for his senior year as a 6-foot-2,

24 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL NEW CHALLENGES AHEAD Briarwood has finished as one of the top two teams in the region each of the last six seasons, while the Lions have made the second round of the playoffs every year since 2015. This year, however, new challenges await on their schedule. Not only does the out-of-region schedule feature three teams from the 7A classification, but they also get the pleasure of opening the season against the defending Class 6A State Champion on the road. If that wasn’t enough, the region fea tures four playoff teams from last season out of six teams, including Helena and Pelham.

WHO WILL BE THE GUY? In order for Vizzina to reach his full potential this season, and that’s a high ceiling, a receiver is going to have to step up. That is the position the Lions have lacked the most in his tenure as the quarterback. Last year looked to be promising, but the losses of Nic Dicen and Jay Butler for good chunks of the season really hurt.

QUICK HITS NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 1 Andrew Kassouf DL 11 1 Ben McNulty WR 10 2 Caleb Keller DB 11 2 Jack Rath WR 10 3 Will Clark QB 10 4 Robert Beason WR 12 5 Brady Waugh WR 12 6 Brooks Travis DB 11 7 Will Werchanowskyj DB 10 7 Sawyer Russell WR 12 8 Grant Dickinson LB 12 8 Garrett Cooper QB 10 9 Josh Thompson QB 11 9 Max Luster DL 11 10 Harrison Self DB 12 11 Colton Williams RB 12 12 Drew Mathe WR 11 13 Cooper Higgins LB 11 14 Peyton Steed DB 12 15 Beau Barnes DB 12 16 Luke Livingston RB 11 17 John Paul Harbor WR 10 17 Christopher Vizzina QB 12 18 Andrew Gill DL 11 19 Caleb Ward TE 11 20 Luke Taylor LB 11 21 Jake Scott DB 12 22 Gabe Margene WR 11 23 Grey Reebals LB 11 24 Louis Hoff WR 11 25 Jack Cornish LB 11 26 Evan Robson RB 10 27 Ethan Carr DB 11 28 Patrick Wilson DB 10 29 Cameron Harrington LB 10 30 Luke Dickinson DL 11 31 Asa Harris LB 10 32 Walker Chambless TE 12 33 Vaughn Wilson DL 10 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 33 Sawyer Click WR 11 34 Wes Burgess DB 10 35 Wells Connell LB 12 36 Luke Reynolds DB 10 37 Cace Reynolds DL 11 38 Adyn Barbour RB 11 39 Tyler Lindsay DB 10 40 Rylan Hamm DB 10 42 Gavin Gurtis RB 10 43 Aidan Punch K 12 44 Preston King DL 12 45 Griffin Albright LB 10 47 Parrish Prickett DB 10 48 Jon Jobes DB 10 49 Eli Stubbs LB 10 50 Caedmon Ervin DB 10 52 Garrett Witherington DL 9 53 Brogan Summers DL 10 54 Knox Jones OL 10 55 Harrison Clemmer OL 12 57 Tanner Hutson OL 10 60 Lude Solomon OL 11 64 Trey Saunders OL 11 67 Andrew McAdams OL 12 68 Cole Carter OL 11 70 Jason Bess OL 12 71 Luke Schutlz OL 11 72 Brandon Frank OL 10 73 Griffin Clark OL 12 75 Barnabas Karanja OL 10 76 John Taylor OL 12 78 Charlie Thompson OL 11 79 Reid Hollis K 11 82 Jackson Barnes WR 11 83 Sam Morris WR 10 84 Chance Freeman TE 10 88 Sully Wright DL 12 99 Garrett Heinnemann K 10 2022 Briarwood Roster EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (7-3) This season will be a challenging one for the Lions, and is probably their toughest since rejoining the 6A classification ahead of the 2020 season. Their region isn’t what concerns me the most.

The strongest unit on the team, at least on defense, this season could very well be the secondary. Peyton Steed will be the leader of the unit as he slides from corner to safety this year. Jake Scott, another senior, will join him at safety, while junior Caleb Keller could also have a big season there.

Photo by Keith McCoy 14 265-pound lineman. Beyond those three, Griffin Clark, John Taylor and Andres McAdams are three seniors ready to fill important roles on the line. DEFENSIVE LINE

Seniors Harrison Self and Bo Barnes will be the two starters at cornerback with an athletic upside, while junior Ethan Carr will also be in the rotation. SPECIAL TEAMS Briarwood lost its punter, long snapper and holder from last year’s team, but senior Aidan Punch will return to handle all placekicking duties in 2022.

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 10 8 12 9

LINEBACKERS Typically one of the strongest position units on the team each year, linebacker should once again be a bright spot for Briarwood in 2022. The Lions will get back Grant Dickinson for his senior season, while Grey Reebals will move over from defensive back as a returning starter. Wells Connell and Luke Taylor are two juniors expected to have big seasons. SECONDARY

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 25 GOODLIONS!LUCK 2021 RESULTS Madison Academy W 41-17 @ Spain Park W 42-8 Chelsea W 42-35 @ Woodlawn W 42-21 @ Huffman W 42-14 Mortimer Jordan W 38-22 @ Mountain Brook L 0-14 HomewoodBye W 21-18 @ Corner W 40-15 Fort Payne* W 35-12 @ Clay-Chalkville L 21-56 *Playoff game 2021 STATS Offense Total points: 392 Per game: 32.7 County rank: 3 Defense Points allowed: 239 Per game: 19.9 County rank: 3 5-YEAR WIN TREND

The defensive line will have the most turnover on the defense, but several did earn playing time a year ago, which will pay off this season. Junior Andrew Kassouf and senior Preston King return the most experience as starters at times last year. Kassouf will return to an inside position, while King is expected to be the vocal leader at the position. Other inside linemen include juniors Luke Dickinson and Max Luster, while edge rushers will include senior Sully Wright and junior Case Reynolds.

Now, expectations have risen heading into 2022 with Hamlin back for his second year and a load of talent to work with.

QUARTERBACK

In his first year as a starter last year, Preston Stokes totaled 2,259 yards and 26 touchdowns. Now, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the senior quarterback with a year under his belt. Hamlin said he is more confident, especially with some of the changes implemented in the offense heading into the season. A season ago, he relied heavily on dumping the ball off to Prentice when he needed to, but now, he has gotten more comfortable in the pocket and is trusting the process by making reads to find the right guy. He’s also an athlete who isn’t afraid to tuck the ball and run when needed. RUNNING BACK

26 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL CALERA

The offense will take a hit with the loss of Alabama signee Kobe Prentice at receiver and a few new faces up front, but there is still plenty back, while the defense should be one of the strongest in the county with nine of 11 starters back.

It really is hard to fathom what happened with the Calera Eagles under first-year head coach Jason Hamlin in 2021. A team that hadn’t won but one head-to-head game the previous three years, Calera won seven last year, finished third in the region and came close to pulling off an upset in the first round of the playoffs.

For the success to be duplicated in a difficult region, the offense will have to have success, but don’t look for the Eagles to take a step back.

The Eagles will lose starting running back Chris Cotton this season, and he was a physical presence that will be missed after totaling 517 yards and six touchdowns, but Daniel Carmona split a lot of time with him a year ago and returns for his senior season. Hamlin said he is key, as the offense will rely more on building the offense around the run to help open up the passing game and take pressure off the quarterback and receivers. Carmona will be joined by junior Amari Brundidge, who also got to play last year and has great vision for the position. Both are around 200 pounds and want to run downhill to tire out defenses. They have worked

EAGLES CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 7-4 (4-2) HEAD COACH Jason Hamlin RECORD 7-4 (Second year) ASSISTANT COACHES Jerad Holder, James Knowles, Matt Scoggins, AJ Ward, Drew Barnett, Austin Barnhill, Paul Hovey LAST REGION TITLE 2008 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Preston Stokes

Braylyn Farrington, WR Looking to fill a big hole at receiver this year, Farrington will be key. He totaled 624 yards and five touchdowns on 43 re ceptions last year and is one of the state’s fastest playres.

Michael Benson, DB A leader in the secondary, Benson will bring back 50 tackles and two intercep tions to be a key at the positionagain. Kobe Prentice

2022

PLAYERS

CJ Richardson, LB Richardson also had a big season at line backer last year with more than 70 tackles, including six tackles for loss.

The leader of the offensive line last year, Tucker will be missed among an otherwise exciting group heading into this season. TO WATCH

The team’s leader in interceptions with five last season, Head also totaled close to 60 tackles from the secondary. Chris Cotton Calera will be in decent shape at running back this season, but they’ll still miss Cotton’s strong presence and 517 yards at the position. Mathew Tucker

Preston Stokes, QB Stokes impressed in his first year as a start er thanks to 2,259 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Now, he’ll lead the offense as one of the area’s best quarterbacks.

DJ Goodman and Skyler Strong are two other seniors ready to make plays as well, while junior CJ Tolbert and sophomore KD Young will also fill important roles as possible starters.

Everything your bank

Aug. 19: @ Spain Park Aug. 26: Chelsea Sept. 2: @ Benjamin Russell* Sept. 9: @ Homewood* Sept. 16: Chilton County* Sept. 23: Bye Sept. 30: Pelham* Oct. 7: @ Briarwood* Oct. 14: Helena* Oct. 21: Gadsden City Oct. 28: @ McAdory *Region game SCHEDULE Braylyn Farrington

KEY DEPARTURES hard in the weight room, and Hamlin said they have become a two-headed monster. RECEIVER There is no replacement for Prentice as an All-State receiver last year. The Alabama signee was one of the fastest players in the state and totaled 1,231 yards and 18 touchdowns, while making jaws drop with some of his moves on the field. That said, senior receiver Braylyn Farrington may be just as fast and returns 624 yards and five touchdowns on 43 receptions. Hamlin said he is special, and as long as he doesn’t try to be Prentice and remains true to his own talent, he can have a big season. He will also attract a lot of attention from defenders, which will provide opportunities for several others. Dalton Ash is a sophomore who the coaches are excited about as a sure-handed receiver, while senior Tra’mun Gaines is also expected to make a difference.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 27

can do. Just better.

amﬁrst.org

Michael Banks-Mason, LB One of several leaders back at linebacker, Banks-Mason finished last season with more than 130 tackles, including 20 for loss and two sacks.

Probably the biggest loss for any team in the county, Prentice is now at Alabama after finishing last year with 1,231 yards and 18 touchdowns. Wesley Head

28 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL WATCH HIM SOAR Replacing Kobe Prentice’s 1,231 yards and 18 touchdowns is a tall task. It’s not something any one person needs to set as an expectation. But replacing his athleticism and speed may be easier than you think. That is thanks to Braylyn Farrington. Last season, Far rington totaled 624 yards and five touchdowns on 43 receptions. Most importantly, he flashed speed every time he touched the ball and is a track star as well. He could be a shade faster than Prentice, which says a lot. If he can refrain from trying to do too much to replace Prentice, he’ll have a chance to naturally make a major impact on this year’s offense, even if it’s drawing atten tion for others to make big plays.

QUICK HITS NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 1 Braylyn Farrington WR 12 2 Michael Benson DB 12 3 Grayton Carlee DB 12 4 Dekendrick Bennett LB 12 5 Daniel Carmona RB 12 6 Tyler Dixon WR 11 7 Jaylen Mitchell DB 12 8 KD Young WR 10 9 Preston Stokes QB 11 10 Zymeer Jemison DB 11 11 Tramun Gaines WR 12 12 Ahmari Collins DB 11 13 Skyler Strawn LB 12 14 LeShond Boone DB 10 15 Joshua Jones LB 11 16 Hayden Callahan RB 10 17 AJ Johnson QB 10 18 DJ Goodman WR 12 19 Amari Dunn WR 11 20 Nick Holland LB 11 21 Michael Banks-Mason LB 12 22 T.J. Hernandez DB/K 11 23 CJ Tolbert WR 11 25 Caleb Hunter DB 11 26 Mason Green LB 12 27 CJ Richardson LB 12 28 Troy Burks DB 11 29 Dalton Ash WR 10 30 D’ivan Carmona LB 11 31 Orlandras Norwood RB 12 32 Ayden Slaten DB 11 33 Amari Brundidge RB 11 34 Jeremiah Henderson DL 12 35 Semaj Kimbrough LB 10 36 Taylor Alford RB 11 38 Austin Shamburger LB 10 39 Samuel Lewis DB 10 40 Jayden Wallace WR 10 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 41 Jalon Griffin DB 12 42 Amorea Higgins-Ashford DB 10 43 Kam’Ryan Moultrie LB 10 44 Brandon Ngatia DB 11 45 Jason Cummings DB 10 46 Antwone Byrd DL 11 47 Carson Hubner DB 10 48 Nevin Ming DB 12 50 Jamichael Vines DL 12 51 Curtis Oliver-Avery DL 11 53 Brodie Odom OL 12 54 Jake McDonnell DL 11 55 Arlin Seay OL 10 56 Christian Dexter DL 11 57 Julius Marsh DL 12 60 Kharlis Cooper OL 11 61 Walker Harris OL 12 62 Robert Slagle OL 11 63 Dean Hartkopf OL 11 64 William Harris OL 10 65 Jason Gitau OL 12 66 Cameron Rutherford DL 12 67 Chris Tate DL 10 68 Demetrius James DL 10 70 Jaquon Barron OL 11 71 KJ Brooks OL 10 72 Mason Colmer OL 12 73 Kade Mitchell OL 10 74 Johnson Noble OL 10 75 Alex Moody OL 12 76 Stuart Goldman OL 11 77 Austin Akins OL 10 80 Cameron Hagler WR 10 83 Braxton Brooks WR 10 85 JaMariun Ford WR 11 90 Da’shun Seay DL 11 99 Solomon Moore DL 11 2022 Calera Roster

PROTECTING THE EAGLES’ NEST As exciting as the offense was last year and will be again this year, the defense has the potential to be one of the best in the county if not the state this season. The Eagles return just about every starter to the defense, including everyone at linebacker. Michael Banks-Mason, CJ Richardson and Mason Green were already scary enough last year, and now they have a year under their belts in Jason Ham lin’s system. WHICH WAY WILL THE OF FENSE GO? It will be interesting to watch early in the season to see just which way this year’s of fense is going to go. The Eagles could have a powerful run game with the return of Daniel Carmona and junior Amari Brundidge, but Stokes showed he could com mand the offense through the air last year and now has even more confidence. So, which way will it go? Either way, expect this year’s team to be very balanced.

DEFENSIVE LINE Kicking off a strong cast of returning defensive starters is a defensive line that will return all three starters from last year. Curtis Oliver-Avery is a returning junior defensive end, while Solomon Moore will return as a junior nose guard and Julius Marsh will return for his senior season as a defensive tackle. Calera will also get help from Jermiah Henderson, who will rotate in at nose guard, while Jamichael Vines and Cam Rutherford are both experienced seniors who can play at different positions on the line creating for a deep and veteran group. Just like the line, Calera will 26-22

LINEBACKERS

OFFENSIVE LINE A benefit for the offense will be up front. The offensive line will set the tone, especially with the team building off the run, and they’ll benefit from three returning starters. The center and left tackle have departed, but the Eagles will get back junior guards Jaquon Barron and Kharlis Cooper. Both are experienced, while Cooper will be the leader of the unit as someone who can hold everyone accountable. Senior Walker Harris also returns as a starter to the right tackle position. Even more promising is the return of several players from injury who were expected to make an impact last year. Mason Colmar and Brody Odum are both coming back and should play important roles this season. Odum is another player who could lead the unit as a “Bulldog” according to Hamlin. Stewart Goldman is a junior who will also either rotate or start this season.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 29

2021 RESULTS Demopolis W

@ Jackson-Olin L 13-38 @ Pelham L 30-34 Chilton County W 21-0 PellBye City W 56-21 @ Stanhope Elmore W 20-3 @ Helena L 21-31 Wetumpka W 34-29 Benjamin Russell W 41-17 Chelsea W 31-21 Spanish Fort* L 31-41 *Playoff game 5-YEAR WIN TREND Photo by Keith McCoy 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 7 3 1 1 7 CorleyRepresentativeEllisAlabamaHouseDistrict41 Go Eagles! GOODEAGLES!LUCK

Let me start by saying Calera has the potential to be much better than 6-4 this season. The schedule, however, is slightly more challenging this season, which makes it tough to look into a crystal ball and see where they’ll fall when it’s all said and done. The offense won’t take a step back and the defense should be even better. Last year, six of the team’s 11 games were decided by 10 points or less, and I expect more one or two possession games this season. The defense making a late stand or Stokes and the offense making a game-winning drive could be the difference in whether this team wins six, seven, eight or more this season. Regardless, they are a playoff team again in 2022. return every starter to the linebacker position this season as well. All four are back and did a solid job last year, while they’ve also improved heading into this season. Michael BanksMason, Mason Green and CJ Richardson are three of the four back, and all had big seasons last year. BanksMason led the team with 112 solo tackles, 45 assisted tackles, 20 tackles for loss and two sacks and could be one of the best linebackers in the state. Green and Richardson both totaled more than 70 tackles last year and combined for 10 tackles for loss. Outside of those three, Dekendrick Bennett is also back for his senior season and should take a step forward, while younger guys are taking advantage of the experience ahead of them, knowing they’re next in line, which is creating nice depth at the position.

SPECIAL TEAMS Kicker TJ Hernandez will return for his junior season as the team’s placekicker and has gotten more accurate and powerful with his leg. Punter is still up in the air with Matthew Windham now gone, but Hamlin said there are a few options they are trying to decide on ahead of fall practice.

KEY NUMBERS

EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (6-4)

30 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

1,231 Kobe Prentice was one of the most exciting players to watch in the county over the last several years. He left his mark at Calera not only as a downfield threat that could blow by every defender, but as someone who could catch the ball in the backfield and then make several de fenders look foolish in tackling attempts before reeling off lengthy touchdowns. That is tough to replace, but don’t doubt this year’s receiving corps. It may be collectively stronger when things are all said and done. Prentice may have set the tone for a bright future at the postilion. Yes, having Prentice helped Preston Stokes last year, but even with him, I’m not sure how many expected Stokes to step in and throw for more than 2,000 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. His 2,259 yards gave him one of the best marks in the county, and now, he has a year of experience in the offense. In the offseason, he has gained more trust in progressing through his reads, which gives the team even more potential for big plays this year.

SECONDARY Defensively, the secondary will take the biggest hit with the departure of Wesley Head. He led the team with five interceptions last year and also totaled more than 50 tackles. The hit, however, will be softened by the return of Michael Benson. Benson totaled 50 tackles and two interceptions last year and will be the leader of the unit at safety after moving from corner. Zymeer Jemison will also return as a starter at corner this season, which is a position he will lead. Hamlin said he not only can be the ring leader of the secondary, but that he helps everybody enjoy it and have fun. Jaylen Mitchell is a senior who will play at corner as a starter, while Ahmari Collins will also fill in at the position as a junior. Other safeties will include junior Ayden Slaten and senior Crayton Carlee.

RECEIVER Possibly the most exciting unit offensively will come at receiver. If Dotson has time to get it to his wide outs, they will be there as several talented players return. Seniors EJ Hudnall, JyDarian McKinney and MJ Conrad all return to the position this season.

Helping take pressure off the sophomore quarterback this year will be running back Emerson Russell. A junior this year, Russell spent a lot of time in the backfield a season ago and will be leaned upon as a leader at the position this year. Joining him will be senior Leighton Garrard. A 5-foot-10, 195-pound running back, Garrard can be a back that runs between the tackles, but he is also an explosive addition.

RUNNING BACK

QUARTERBACK

It has been since 2016 that the Chelsea Hornets last finished a season with a winning record. Now, they face possibly their toughest test in school history. A new head coach, a new classification, a new schedule, a new playing surface and several new players are among a handful of changes that will make the upcoming season challenging, but they’re challenges new head coach Todd Cassity and his players are hungry for.Cassity took over for Dustin Goodwin in the offseason and is hoping to help Chelsea feel a sense of rejuvenation with a jump from Class 6A to Class 7A for the first time in school history. Cassity’s top goals for the team to compete against a difficult schedule are to get his team playing fast and physical, while an emphasis will have to be placed on the offensive and defensive line. If those two units come along, Chelsea will have success.

32 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL CHELSEA

The biggest question mark heading into the season aside from both sides of the line will come at quarterback. With Hayden Garrison transferring after two years as a starter and more than 2,00 yards passing last year, sophomore Carter Dotson will jump into the starting role. A 6-foot-3, 175-pound sophomore, Dotson has the ideal frame for the position, but he’s still learning each day.

Each HORNETS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 7A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 4-7 (3-3) HEAD COACH Todd Cassity RECORD First year ASSISTANT COACHES Ted Darby, Heath Butler, Cole Corkren, Dylan Seabolt, Colby Harris, Stuart Morri son, Matt Stockton, Payton Holmes, Matt Norris, Lee Hibbs Jr. LAST REGION TITLE 2006 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Emerson Russell

A player willing to do anything the team needed of him, Griffin totaled 640 receiv ing yards and four touchdowns to lead the Hornets last season.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 33 Emerson Russell, RB

A tall and athletic presence, Simpson always gained the respect of defenses as a downfield threat and will be missed. Will Fant One of the team’s top defenders and overall athletes, Fant’s presence as a lead er will be missed. Hayden Garrison Garrison departed for Thompson as a transfer along with former head coach Dustin Goodwin. He would have been a big returner with two years of experience under his belt. TO WATCH KEY DEPARTURES made their impact felt a season ago and will now be leaned on to make an impact this season. The tallest receiver, however, will be junior Jaxon Shuttlesworth, who is exciting the coaching staff.

One of the top players back on the team regardless of position, Clements finished last year with 91 tackles. He will be a key leader on the defense as a senior.

Cooper Griffin

DEFENSIVE LINE

Thomas Simpson

The leading returnee on the offensive side of the football, Russell plays with a lot of heart and will set the tone for this year’s offense.

2022 SCHEDULE

Jackson Laughlin, DL With a size of 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Laughlin will is back as a defensive end this season and has shown a lot of promise throughout the offseason.

EJ Hudnall, WR A leader at the senior-laden receiver position this season, Hudnall will be one of several who is key to the offense and bringing up a young quarterback.

PLAYERS

OFFENSIVE LINE Perhaps the most important position, the offensive line will have several question marks this year with the majority of the unit featuring a new face. Senior Cesar Madrid and junior Zach Hair will be two of the leaders at the unit. Both stand around 6-foot-3, while Hair weighs 275 pounds and Madrid 240 pounds. Hair is the only returning starter back this season. Sophomore Will Pohlman, who holds a frame of 6-foot, 245 pound, is also going to play a big role at guard as one of the strongest guys on the team. Center will come down to a battle between juniors Jacob Glidewell and Logan Sanders.

The defense has potential this year as a tight-knit group with more returning, but the defensive line will be the unit

Aug. 18: Helena (Cramton Bowl Montgomery)# Aug. 26: @ Calera Sept. 2: Tuscaloosa County* Sept. 9: @ Oak Mountain* Sept. 16: Thompson* Sept. 23: Pelham Sept. 30: @ Vestavia Hills* Oct. 7: Spain Park* Oct. 14: @ Hoover* Oct. 21: @ Hewitt-Trussville* Oct. 28: Bye *Region #Thursdaygamenight game JyDarian McKinney 300 Jade Park, Suite 301 Chelsea www.chelseabraces.com 205-678-2770

Brady Clements, LB

2021 RESULTS Oak Mountain L 19-46 @ Helena L 14-27 @ Briarwood L 35-42 Homewood L 35-37 PelhamBye W 31-28 @ Woodlawn W 42-7 @ Huffman W 41-34 Shades Valley W 17-6 Mountain Brook L 0-25 @ Calera L 21-31 @ Oxford* L 20-30 *Playoff game

34 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 1 Emerson Russell RB 11 2 Nathan Smith OLB 12 3 Cody Fortenberry OLB 12 4 Brady Clements ILB 12 5 Owen Key S 11 5 Reece Bittner WR 10 6 MJ Conrad QB/WR 12 7 Chris McNeill CB 12 8 JyDarian McKinney WR/CB 12 8 Anthony Lanzi QB 9 9 Anderson Brooks ILB 11 10 Jack Seymour K/P 12 11 EJ Hudnall WR 12 12 Raigin Tribell RB 12 13 Nick Sulenski WR 11 14 Carter Dotson QB 10 15 Miller Topazi WR 11 16 Drew Cheslock S 11 16 Leighton Garrard RB 12 17 Jaxon Shuttlesworth WR 11 18 Owen Carlson QB 11 19 Raymond Bridgeman WR 11 20 Taylor Armbrester RB 11 21 Carter Parrish OLB 11 22 Javion Holyfield OLB 11 23 Adam Cornwell OLB 11 24 Sloan DeWeese FB/ILB 11 25 Will Decker ILB 9 26 Thomas Brakefield OLB 12 27 Quentin Holyfield CB 11 28 Tristen O’Berry CB 11 29 Morgan Barnes RB 9 29 Kenny Wesley RB/CB 9 30 CJ Durbin RB 10 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 31 Sam Trout OLB 10 32 Branson Hogan QB 9 32 Porter Schott OLB 9 32 Grant Evans CB 9 33 Austin Slay WR/CB 10 34 Isaiah Ziegert RB/LB 11 35 Sam Parrish S 9 36 Brandon Sims CB 11 37 Qassim Harbor P 11 38 Cole Hodgens RB/LB 10 39 Connor Burley S 11 40 John Jackson WR 10 41 Luis Pineda DE 11 42 Ian Osbourn DE 12 43 Luke Beavers LB 9 43 Luke Carbonie LB 9 44 Jackson Laughlin DE 12 45 Parker Yates S 46 Gabe Pendley WR/S 10 47 Caden Summers RB 9 47 Brayden Epperson WR 9 48 Jackson Kalnoske LS 10 49 Luke Miller PK 9 50 Jaeden Bennett NG 12 51 Adam Brooks OL 9 52 Cesar Madrid OL 12 53 Zach Gray (Bubba) LB 11 54 Kobe Thomason NG 11 55 Zach Hair OL 11 56 Jacob Glidewell C 11 57 Nehemiah Cummings LB 11 58 Logan Sanders G 11 59 Carson Vickers DE 11 60 Eli Williams T 10 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 61 Hunter Gulledge OL 11 62 Connor Beane G 12 63 Walker Williams T 12 64 Tyler Kirkland LS 9 65 Kolbe Hess OL/DE 11 66 Gavin Hailstock OL/NG 10 67 Kyler Cowart G 11 68 Hunter Miller NG 10 70 Micah McNutt OL 10 71 Will Pohlmann OL 10 72 Jackson Reynolds OL/DE 10 73 Joey Blackburn NG 9 73 Jose Barajas DE 9 74 Will McConnel DE 9 75 Zachary Childers OL 10 76 Lawson Williamson OL/DE 9 77 Ivan Phillips OL 10 78 Brooks Dixon OL 9 79 Noah McCrary NG 11 80 Miller Bauman WR 10 81 Carter Bedsole WR 11 82 Branden Bailey WR 10 83 Ethan Prickett DE 10 84 Jack Flowers WR 9 84 Shamar Gramby WR 9 85 Le’Mel Martinear LB 9 86 Turner Simpson WR 9 86 Gamble Lester WR 9 87 Ty Handley WR 9 87 John Leith DB 9 88 Jack Whiddon WR 11 89 Ayden Young WR 9 89 James Johnson DB 9 95 Romello Cooper DE 10 2022 Chelsea Roster that could make the difference with new faces needing to make a quick impact and depth a concern heading into the season. The Hornets do have good size in the three projected starters. Jackson Laughlin is a senior defensive end returning with a size of 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, while junior Ian Osbourn is almost an identical build and will handle the opposite end. Those two can be difficult to handle, while senior Jaeden Bennett, who stands at 6-foot, 250 pounds, will handle the nose guard position as an explosive player with good hands. LINEBACKERS

The linebackers will battle the receivers for the strongest position unit on the team this year. Chelsea will lose leading tackler Kyler Simmons at the position, but second-leading tackler Brady Clements is back for his senior season. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound linebacker totaled 91 tackles, one sack and one interception last year and will be the leader of the defense this year. Cody Fortenberry also returns for his senior season and is expected to blossom into one of the best players on the team. Standing at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, he is a physical presence that makes a difference.

Photo by Iron City Studios

SPECIAL TEAMS The kicking game should be a strong suit for the Hornets with the return of two kickers. Senior Jack Seymour returns as a place kicker and punter with a strong leg, while freshman Luke Miller also got some time as an eighth grader last year and is extremely accurate while he is still building leg strength. Freshman Tyler Kirkland should also emerge as the lead long snapper.

GOODHornets!LUCK

Looking through the schedule, it is tough to find a lot of wins this season. The Hornets open with two 6A teams that they lost to last year before jumping into the challenging 7A schedule with only one other 6A opponent on the schedule coming on Sept. 23 against Pelham who they beat by three last year. Beyond that, there are a few of 7A games they should compete in, but it is tough to predict several wins in their first year against this schedule. That, however, could change if the offensive and defensive lines prove they can handle their jobs. Those two position units will make or break this year’s team, and they’ll have to be ready to go early. The first four games will be very telling with that stretch marking the easiest of the season. Those two will be joined by juniors Carter Perrish and Anderson Brooks. Perrish will join Fortenberry as an outside backer, while Brooks will handle an inside spot alongside Clements.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 35 16618205-618-9496Hwy280•Chelsea205-618-949616618Hwy280•Chelsea Pet Boutique Natural Foods Go Hornets! Representative Corley Ellis Alabama House District 41

SECONDARY Only one starter returns to the secondary this season, but he’s a good one to have back. Chris McNeill was one of the leaders of the defense last year and is back to lead the secondary as a corner for his senior season. Three others are still battling for the other cornerback spot, which will help with depth once that player emerges. At safety, two promising juniors are projected as starters. Owen Key and Drew Cheslock will both be leaned on with Key knowing coverages well and both speedy to keep up with defenders and chase down plays.

EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (3-7)

38 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL IIt will be a season unlike any other for the Chelsea Hornets, and a new coach will be leading them into uncharted territory. Todd Cassity was approved as the team’s new head coach back in April following the departure of Dustin Goodwin. With his arrival comes one of many new challenges, which include a new classification, new players and a new playing surface. The new head coach, however, looks at it all as anCassityopportunity.comes to Chelsea from J.B. Pennington where he spent the previous seven years leading the Tigers.

Cassity ready to lead Chelsea into the 7A classification in 2022

New coach, new classification, no problem

Written by ALEC ETHEREDGE | Photos by CARI DEAN AND CONTRIBUTED

at J.B. Pennington, the team had won 11 games in a six-year span. That, however, quickly changed under Cassity, as the the Class 3A team went a combined 48-42 in his time with playoff appearances in each of his last six seasons at the helm. He led J.B. Pennington to back-to-back 8-4 seasons the last two years and an appearance in the second round of the playoffs each year as well. The Tigers won at least eight games in four of Cassity’s seven years there, while they won a playoff game in four of their six seasons advancing to the playoffs.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 39 “It’s very exciting for myself and my family,” Cassity said. “My wife is employed with Shelby County Schools. This is the perfect marriage for us because it allows us to get in lives.”beingthecan’texcitedheartedly.communitycanyears,foroppositebeentogether.communitythatWe’vedrivingdirectionsthelastsevensonowwebeinonewholeWearesoaboutit.IwaittomeetkidsandstartapartoftheirBeforetakingover

Before taking over at J.B. Pennington, Cassity was an offensive coordinator at Pleasant Grove for seven years after spending two years as the head coach at Gordo where he combined for a record of 19-11. He led the Green Wave to playoff wins in both seasons, going 9-5 in year one and 10-6 with a trip to the third round of the playoffs a year later in recordcombinedCassity’s2006.coachingbetweenthe two stops is 67-53, and he has led all but one of his nine teams to the playoffs.The new head coach of the Hornets has known about his new role for the last three weeks, which made it difficult at times, but in that time, he saw what it’s like when a community comes together.“Ilove J.B. Pennington,” he said. “It is such a special place. I actually met with the kids last week and sent a message out to parents to let them know what was going on because I wanted to help in that transition. Nobody had any ill feelings or bad words or put anything bad on social media. They all wished me well. It was such a great place.”

And that community culture is something that excites Cassity about Chelsea. He said that for that reason, the challenge of jumping into Class 7A, Region 3, which features three-time defending state champion Thompson, as well as Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville, Spain Park, Vestavia Hills and others.

40 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

The Hornets haven’t had a .500 season or better since going 8-3 in 2016 under former head coach ChrisCassity,Elmore.however, has only had two losing seasons as a head coach in 10 years, and was one of the most successful coaches in J.B. Pennington school history.

“I think there is a lot of potential schoolwide,” Cassity said. “I just have to get the kids to understand that they belong in 7A view the move up as a positive and not a negative. We have to put in our mindset. We can’t be outworked and have to put in more work than anyone else. I want our kids to thrive on all the negative and let it boil in side of them to the point where they feel like they’ll outwork everyone because of the talk.” Cassity will take over for Goodwin, who served as Chelsea’s head coach for the past four years, leading the Hornets to a combined record of 15-27 and two appearances in the playoffs. Goodwin will transition to take on the role as inside wide receivers coach at Thompson High School, where he said he hopes to contributed to a team that has won three consecutive state championships.Goodwin’steams seemingly improved each year at Chelsea, including what was close to his best season this past year. The Hornets started 0-4 against one of the most difficult schedules in the state, dropping two of those four by seven points or less and one by 13 before then winning four in a row to earn a spot in theChelseaplayoffs.went on to lose to Mountain Brook and Calera to end the regular season before then falling 30-20 to Oxford in the first round of the playoffs.

Cassity, who finished his tenure as the thirdwinningest coach in J.B. Pennington school history, will now look to help Chelsea get back on the winning track.

“The region is the potential,” Cassity said. “We’re not going to look at any excuses. Not going to look at being in 7A as a negative. We have to get in the right mindset and look at that as a positive. The city of Chelsea is a wonderful place. There is a reason they are going to 7A, it’s because people want to live there and move there and be a part of that town and city.”He said the potential is there, now it’s just about getting the kids to understand they belong.

Additional insurance on member share (deposit) accounts of up to $100,000 is provided by Excess Share Insurance Corporation, a licensed insurance company. Excess Insurance Coverage provided by

Starting quarterback Canaan Johnson has departed, but the Rebels will replace him with junior Blake Warnick. After enrolling at the end of last year, Warnick became the clear favorite to run the new offensive style this season. He’s an athletic playmaker who has worked hard in the weight room and won’t be afraid of contact.

RUNNING BACK

Justin Tarwater and Jamie Pack will also help at

42 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL COOSA VALLEY

RECEIVERS Austin Griffith is a returning senior and is considered one of the team’s best athletes. He will be a leader at the position, while Broxton Lightner is a player the team is hoping will step up. As a basketball player, he is new to the team, but he presents an athletic presence who can go up and high-point the ball, while he also is smart and understands the routes well.

QUARTERBACK

Last year, the running back position was up in the air going into fall practice, but DiLorenzo has a better feel this season. Jacob McGaha was a lineman last year, but he was determined to play a skill position and worked in the offseason to reshape his body. Senior Lukas Bynum will also return this year and has also worked hard to transition into more of an everydown runner. Those two will be joined by junior Dustin Prickett.

REBELS CLASSIFICATION AISA Class A, Region 1 2021 RECORD 3-8 (3-2) HEAD COACH Vince DiLorenzo RECORD 3-8 (Second year) ASSISTANT COACHES Reece Donahoo, Michael Sylesteine LAST REGION TITLE 2010 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION

It’s year two of the Vince DiLorenzo’s rebuild of the Coosa Valley program, and this year, the head coach says his returning players now know what to expect. In the midst of a good summer, the players know what’s important to DiLorenzo and his coaching staff, which has helped the team make tremendous waves in the offseason with several multi-sport athletes also on the team. With a good mix of seven seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores and a freshman, the Rebels will switch up offensive styles this year, but they feel confident in their chances after making the playoffs a season ago and winning three games following back-to-back winless seasons.

The majority of the offensive line will transition over to the defensive line as well. With several players, that will help the Rebels with stamina.

Blake Warnick, QB Warnick will take the reins at quarterback this season and is expected to be one of the team’s top athletes, which allows the coaches to build the offense around him.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 43

OFFENSIVE LINE

Jacob McGaha, RB One of the hardest workers on the team, McGaha is moving from a lineman position into the role of being a featured running back after working hard in the weight room to become a skill player.

Austin Griffith, WR/DB One of the team’s best athletes, Griffith is a senior who will be key at both receiver and defensive back this season as a lead er at each position.

2022 SCHEDULE Aug. 19: Bye Aug. 26: Cornerstone Sept. 2: @ Lowndes* Sept. 9: @ Lakeside* Sept. 16: Pickens Sept. 23: @ Banks Sept. 30: @ Evangel Montgomery Oct. 7: Crenshaw* Oct. 14: Abbeville Oct. 21: Southern* Oct. 28: @ Sparta *Region game NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 2 Jamie Pack WR/DB 11 4 Dustin Prickett RB/DB 11 10 Blake Warnick QB/LB 11 20 Lukas Bynum RB/LB 12 22 Justin Tarwater WR/DB 12 23 Broxton Lightner TE/DE 10 26 Austin Griffith WR/S 12 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 45 Jacob McGaha RB/LB 12 60 Jacob Sims OL/DL 11 62 Carter Gunnells OL/DL 12 64 Levi Ponder OL/DL 12 65 Coleman Lantrip OL/DL 10 66 Grant Loes OL/DL 11 68 Brody Davenport OL/DL 11 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 70 Logan Vincent OL/DL 10 75 Zeke Dailey OL/DL 9 77 Zack Swalley OL/DL 11 78 Brandson Brooks OL/DL 10 82 Nacoa Santiago TE/DL 12 2022 Coosa valley Roster Photo by Keith McCoy

SPECIAL TEAMS Pack, who proved he could handle more positions this season, will still be the leader at kicker after a strong season for the Rebels as a sophomore.

Levi Ponder, OL/DL A returning starter on both sides of the ball, Ponder will be crucial to the success of this year’s team as a two-way starter up front. Carter Gunnells, OL/DL Gunnells will return along with Ponder this season, as the offensive and defen sive lines have the potential to take big steps forward this season.

LINEBACKERS

SECONDARY The secondary will lose a couple of starters this season, but they’ll also return some of their top two-way players. Several of the receivers expected to step up will also play a key role here. Griffith, Prickett, Tarwater, Pack and Lightner should all split time playing on both sides of the ball.

DEFENSIVE LINE

One of the biggest highlights of this year’s team will be the offensive line thanks to the return of starters Levi Ponder and Carter Gunnells. In addition to them, junior Brody Davenport is a player the Rebels will rely on heavily as a starter at times last year. Beyond those three, Grant Loess, Zach Swalley and Jacob Sims are all juniors that the coaching staff is excited about. Coleman Lantrip, Brandson Brooks, Logan Vincent and Lightner are four sophomores that will also play a role, while Zeke Dailey is a freshman who is coming along.

Defensively, the linebacker position may take the biggest hit this season for the Rebels. They’ll lose starters such as Canaan Johnson, Hayden Dooley and Justin Tate, but they’ll also get back Bynum. A starter at the position last year, Bynum will be the leader at linebacker as a senior. Beyond him, the Rebels will be looking for the right group of skill players to split between the secondary and linebacker this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH the position.

CHARGERS CLASSIFICATION AISA 8-man 2021 RECORD 2-8 (0-5) HEAD COACH James Lee RECORD 14-35 (Sixth year) ASSISTANT COACHE Sam Adams LAST REGION TITLE 2016 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2019 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Representative Corley Ellis Alabama House District 41 Go Chargers! Zeke GOODAdams Chargers!LUCK

QUARTERBACK

44 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL CORNERSTONE

For the first time in his six years, Lee will have a returning quarterback to lead the offense. Zeke Adams is back for his sophomore season and is expected to take a big leap. Last year, he wanted to make the big play with a strong arm, but now he has progressed in his decision making.

RUNNING BACK Cohen Hewitt and James Wilson are two returning sophomores with different styles. Hewitt is a speedy back that can slash and make cuts, while Wilson is a back who will wear down defenses as a pound-the-ball guy. Freshman Jackson Moore will help at the position and is another player who likes to run between the tackles. RECEIVERS Possibly the deepest position this season is receiver. Senior Logan Lightsey is one of the most experienced players on the team as a returning starter, while sophomore Noah Schober is a big-play guy who is

There will be a bit of a shift for the Cornerstone Chargers heading into the 2022 season. With the AISA deciding to create an 8-man division this year, the Chargers will take advantage and compete in that classification, while they’ll also compete in several non-region games against 11-man opponents.Sixth-year head coach James Lee is optimistic about the change and what it means for the future because of the young team he has back. With a big sophomore class this season that played as freshmen, the expectations are as high as they have been in several years.

KEY DEPARTURES Justus Adams The leading tackler on the team the last two seasons and a strong offensive line man, Cornerstone will be replacing one of the best players on the team with the departure of Adams. Warren Goodwin A leader up front on both sides of the ball, Goodwin’s experience will be missed by the chargers heading into a new season. Thomas Cleckler A defensive back and receiver last year, Cleckler was one of just a few seniors on last year’s team who made a difference each week.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 45

WR/DB

WR/DB 12 12

Zeke Adams, QB/DB

Heading into fall practice, Lee and the Chargers were still trying to figure out who they could rely on to handle kicking duties for the team. Schober will likely handle kicking off.

NO. NAME

SPECIAL TEAMS

All of the offensive linemen will likely play on both sides of the ball this season, taking the trek over to the defensive side. Alexander was a leader at the position last year, while the other two younger players also present a size problem for many lines. LINEBACKER Team leaders Warren Goodwin and Justus Adams have departed this season, leaving two big gaps to fill in the front seven. James Wilson is a player who is expected to step in and be a leader. Beyond that, sophomore Cash Causey will be leaned upon heavily, while Thomas Graham should play a role as well. SECONDARY

The Chargers will lose a few players up front on both sides of the line, but they’ll get some good size back with some returnees. Landon Alexander will be the bell cow as a sophomore, while Gabe Allman stands at 6-foot-4, 260 pounds as an eighth grader. Beyond that, Malachi Adams and Jackson Moore are promising young players.

2022 SCHEDULE Aug. 19: Snook Aug. 26: @ Coosa Valley Sept. 2: Bye Sept. 9: @ New Life Christian Sept. 16: Springwood* Sept. 23: @ North River* Sept. 30: @ Southern Prep* Oct. 7: Trinity Oct. 14: @ Meadowview* Oct. 21: Evangel Montgomery* Oct. 28: Bessemer *Region game Caleb Boackle RB/LB 12 6 Cash Causey ATH 7 Noah Schober 10 Logan Lightsey Zeke Adams QB/S 10 15 TC Sanders 9 POSITION YEAR 33 Cohen Hewitt RB/LB 10 57 Malachi Adams OL/DL 8 58 Stephen Fanning OL/DL 8 59 Seth Dillard OL/DL 10 75 Gabe Allman OL/DL 8

DEFENSIVE LINE

The team’s top athletes, many playing on both sides, will lead the secondary, including Zeke Adams and Hunter Carden. Those two will be leaders on the defensive side after successful seasons a year ago, while Schober will also be a key returning starter.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 5

2022 CORNERSTONE Roster

returning to the position as well. Drake Dunning and Thomas Graham are two other sophomores who are expected to improve throughout the season, while freshman TC Sanders will also contribute. Hunter Carden will also return from an injury.

Hunter Carden, WR/DB Carden broke his arm last year and is just starting to get healthy, but when he does, he’ll be one of the team’s best players as an athlete who will fill important roles on both sides of the ball.

A returning starting quarterback, it’s the first time head coach James Lee will have the same guy running the offense for two consecutive years. Just a sophomore, he will continue to gain confidence each game for the Chargers. Noah Schober, WR/DB

OFFENSIVE LINE

Photo by Keith McCoy

WR/DB

A leading returner at receiver and defen sive back, Schober is one of the team’s best athletes and has big-play ability both in the passing game and in the secondary.

ChampionsNational HEAD

RUNNING BACK

For the second year in a row, the Evangel Lightning will enter the football season with something to prove despite winning a fourth consecutive NHSA 8-man National Championship in 2021. The Lightning fell short of one of their main goals going into each season—an ACSC State Championship. Losing in the title game for the second year in a row, however, Evangel went on to use that as motivation for a run to the national title for the fourth consecutive season.Now, that motivation is carrying into the 2022 season, as sixth-year head coach Tim Smith has what he thinks could be one of his best teams in his tenure thus far.

The theme of returning success will remain intact at the receiver position as well. Senior Judah Thompson will return as the leader of the unit. He totaled 54 receptions for 745 yards last season and has the best hands on the team. Twins Kyle and Caden Jones, both seniors, will also spend a lot of time at the position, as Kyle returns the second most yards at the position after totaling 412 on 23 catches. Junior Zion Thompson is also expected to have a breakout season.

46 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL EVANGEL

One reason for the excitement this year, and rightfully so, is the return of senior quarterback Eli Whitfield. He’ll hold down the position again this season after totaling 2,551 yards and 35 touchdowns through the air a season ago.

QUARTERBACK

LIGHTING CLASSIFICATION ACSC 2021 RECORD

Carson Donovan will be the anchor of this year’s 13-3 (3-2) COACH Tim Smith RECORD 48-11 (Sixth year) ASSISTANT COACHES Hagan Joiner, Brian Wolfe, Jon Parker, Jack Donovan, Andrew Welch, Marty Black. PLAYOFF GAME

OFFENSIVE LINE

LAST REGION TITLE 2019 LAST

2021

MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Eli Whitfield

If defenses start to respect the arm of Whitfield too much, Evangel will be able to make them pay with the return of Hunter Atkins at running back. A season ago, Atkins finished with 1,223 yards and 17 touchdowns in addition to 170 receiving yards and two more touchdowns. Colton Dorough will provide a good one-two punch. RECEIVERS

DEFENSIVE LINE Many linemen will play both ways for Evangel this season, starting with Cloud and Henderson. Those two will be leaders at nose guard, while sophomore Zeke Turner, who has a size of 5-foot-10, 310 pounds, will also be key. The Lightning have to replace two starting defensive ends, but juniors Cole Romano and Grady Watkins will help.

PLAYERS TO WATCH offensive line. The three-year starter holds a frame of 6-foot-4, 290 pounds and will likely handle the center position. Jackson Tuell, a senior, is another returnee who will handle a guard position, while Elijah Henderson returns to fill another guard spot.

LINEBACKERS

Harris Black, ATH A leader on both sides of the ball, Black will have a major impact on the defensive side of the football after totaling more than 50 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss last year. Judah Thompson, WR The leading receiver on last year’s team, Thompson totaled 745 yards on 54 receptions, while he is also key in the secondary as a defensive back.

Hunter Atkins, RB The leader at the position last year, Atkins finished with 1,223 yards and 17 touch downs in the backfield. Now, he’ll return as part of a nice duo alongside Whitfield.

SECONDARY Perhaps the most concerning position unit on the team is the secondary. The unit has potential, but will also be losing several starters. Judah and Zion Thompson both bring back some experience to the position, while Barlow and Black could also slide back. TEAMS For the third year in a row, the Lightning will return kicker Lucas Mast. Last year, he was 42-50 on field goals. 12: Aug. 19: 26: Sept. 2: Sept. 9: Sept. 16: Freedom* Sept. 23: 30: Oct. City 14:

of Life Christian Academy Oct.

East Central HomeSchool*

Kaden Jones, who totaled 94 tackles and 16 tackles for loss last season, is back for his senior season to lead the team at the mike position. Junior Hayden Black also returns to the defense, moving up from the secondary to fill a linebacker position. Shace Green will be another heavily-relied upon player.

Ezekiel Academy*

Aug.

SPECIAL

Tennessee Heat

Southern Christian* Oct. 21: Carolina *Region game 2022 SCHEDULE NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 2 Caeleb Austin WR, SS, CB 11 3 Zion Thompson WR/DB 11 5 Lucas Mast K 12 6 Cole Romano DL 11 7 Will Welch QB 10 8 Eli Whitfield QB 12 9 Judah Thompson WR/DB 12 10 Kaden Jones WR/DB 12 11 Hunter Atkins RB, OLB 11 12 Aidan Lau ATH 12 13 Clay Stanton ATH 11 14 Kyle Jones WR 12 19 Zane Barlow LB 11 20 Colton Dorough RB 11 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 21 Hayden Black LB 11 22 Tyler Wilson RB 12 24 Brayden Rives ATH 10 26 Michael Blackstone WR 11 27 John Taylor Curran DL 11 28 Jake Parker RB 10 30 Kody Bolin ATH 10 32 Grady Watkins DL 11 33 Dallas Winks ATH 11 40 Joshua Looman WR/LB 11 41 Jonathan Hooks ATH 10 42 Shace Green LB 11 46 Anderson Smith CB, OLB 11 50 Elijah Henderson OL/DL 12 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 51 Ethan Stallings OL 11 52 Henry Rhoads DL 10 53 Jackson Tuell OL 12 54 Hudson McCracken OL 12 57 Baylor Parker OL 11 59 Rollins Devilleneuve OL/DL 10 60 Carson Donovan OL/DL 11 61 Fowler Vick OL/DL 10 64 Nick Green OL/DL 10 67 Reed Castleberry OL/DL 10 70 Aidan Emmerson OL/DL 10 77 Zeke Turner OL/DL 10 2022 Evangel Roster Photo by Keith McCoy

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 47 Eli Whitfield, QB Whitfield returns for his third season as a key contributor and will return 2,551 passing yards and 35 total touchdowns as the team’s top offensive playmaker.

@ Evangel Montgomery

@ Southern Prep Academy

Meadowview Christian Aug.

@ Lighthouse HomeSchool* Sept.

The passing game will be one of the biggest question marks on this year’s team with the departure of starter Mac Turner, who threw for 1,437 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Turner managed the game extremely well and didn’t try to do too much. Now, the reins will be turned over to either senior Dalton Llewellyn or junior Carson Acker. The two are battling for the position with Llewellyn having a little experience and Acker having junior varsity experience. Llewellyn is a strong runner, which could be the theme of this year’s team, as he could do some interesting things in an option-style offense. Acker is a pocket passer with a strong arm who could lead if called upon, but he currently lacks the experience. (Fifth

year) ASSISTANT COACHES

Jim Elgin, Keith Maple, Don Dover, Shane Hutchinson, Adam Bice, Scott Lowery, David Lee, Neal Underwood, Nick Malantis, Eli Bealle, Clif

QUARTERBACK

48 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL HELENA

With two region championships in the last three years, both nine-win seasons, and three consecutive finishes in the top two of the region standings, expectations remain high for the Helena Huskies heading into the 2022 football season.

HUSKIES CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 9-2 (6-0) HEAD COACH Richie Busby RECORD 29-15

Naron LAST REGION TITLE 2021 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Hunter Hale

Now in year five under head coach Richie Busby, there is still some hunger, however, falling in the first round of the playoffs both years they won the region title. This year, the Huskies have enough key pieces back to not only battle for another region championship, but also use that determination to help fuel a special playoff run. That said, it won’t come easy with the region getting more difficult with the additions of Homewood and Briarwood in addition to Pelham and Calera, who both challenged them last year. With the makeup of this year’s team, expect more of the same—a physical run game and a scary defense.

Jordan

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 49

Joel Logan A huge loss for the defense, Logan finished his senior season with 61 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 14 sack.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

2022

Peyton Woodall Woodall stepped up last year to finish second on the team in tackles with 108.

RECEIVERS There won’t be many receivers returning to this year’s team with the loss of leading receiver J.C. Sivley as Aug. 18: Chelsea# (Cramton Bowl Montgomery) Aug. 26: @ Buckhorn Sept. 2: Homewood* Sept. 9: @ Chilton County* Sept. 16: Pelham* Sept. 23: Jackson-Olin Sept. 30: @ Briarwood* Oct. 7: Bye Oct. 14: @ Calera* Oct. 21: Benjamin Russell* Oct. 28: Vestavia Hills *Region game # Thursday SCHEDULE Washington

RUNNING BACK

The leading receiver on last year’s team, Sivley totaled 792 yards and eight touch downs out of a tight end role.

KEY DEPARTURES

JC Sivley

Mac Turner Turner managed the offense to perfection a year ago and finished the season with 1,437 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.

Jordan Washington, RB As a sophomore, Washington stormed onto the scene with 1,606 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.

Nathan Thomason, LB With inexperience at linebacker this year, Thomason is expected to be a key leader at the position to help several new faces excel. Xavier Guy, DL The defensive line loses more than 160 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 23 sacks, but Guy is a senior who can help fill a major void heading into the season.

Connor Pugh Totaled 99 total and 19 tackles for loss with nine sacks.

The strongest unit on the team will come at running back with the return of Jordan Washington, AJ Horstead and Kellen Hughes. All have played at times, while Washington was one of the best running backs in the state last year with 1,606 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns in addition to 129 receiving yards. He has a frame of 6-foot-1, 205 pounds going into his junior season and is expected to be one of the top backs in the state again this year. Horstead is another physical back who will get plenty of time as well, while Hughes is a hard-nosed player who will also play some at linebacker. Jax Rush is another senior halfback who will be key in the backfield, while sophomore Jeremy Sprattling has the potential to be similar to Washington. It’s a unit that won’t have much drop off no matter who is on the field, which should help open up the passing game as well.

Hunter Hale, WR In need of a receiver to step up, Hale is expected to be the leader with a lot of upside as a returning junior. AJ Horstead, RB Horstead makes the backfield extremely dangerous as another physical power back similar to Washington.

in which they forfeited two games and still finished second in the region

at least six games this year.

than anticipated and makes

50 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 1 Desmon James DB 11 2 JT Alvis DB 10 2 Tripp Bouler WR 11 3 Hudson Pennington WR 11 4 Kevin Pinkard DB 10 5 Dalton Llewellyn QB 12 6 Ashton Cunningham LB 10 7 Hunter Hale WR/DB 11 8 Torrey Ward WR 10 8 Nathan Thomason LB 11 9 Brett Berry DE 11 10 Hudson McCaslin WR 12 11 Mason Johnson LB 12 12 Walter Womack DB 12 13 Jarett Scott WR 10 14 Nathan Jones WR 10 15 Mathew Thompson DE 12 15 C Acker QB 11 16 Domynyck Santiago RB 9 17 Jax Rush HB 12 18 Joshua Morris DB/WR 10 19 Hal Landrum LS 11 20 Eli Ray SS 11 22 Jeremy Spratling RB 10 23 AJ Horstead RB 11 24 Kellen Hughes RB 11 25 Nathan Wade ATH 11 26 Reed Woods DB 10 27 Micah Pleasant RB 10 28 Jake Quick DE 10 29 Mason Gladden RB 10 30 Cole Mathis DB 11 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 31 Kobe Murner DB 10 32 Jackson Smith LB 11 33 Ty Thomas RB 11 34 Jordan Washington RB 11 35 Deandre Gray WR 10 36 Fred Grooms DB 10 37 Jerrod McClain RB 10 38 Walter Krzykalski LB 12 39 Austin Acosta HB 10 40 Asher Crocker DB 10 41 Charles Jackson DB 10 42 Carson Moore WR 10 44 Parker Copeland TE 10 45 Brig Smith WR 10 45 Kenyon Clements WR 10 46 Rob Morris DE 10 47 Myles Gladden DL 11 48 Kaidan Knox ATH 11 49 Grayson Mayer WR 10 51 Jackson Thomas OL 12 52 Chris Pacheco LB 12 53 Charles Stringfellow DE 10 54 Brock Wise LB 10 55 Reese Mims OL 11 56 Luke Childers DE 12 57 Connor Guida LB 9 58 Dalton Reese OL 10 59 Aidan Bahna OL 10 60 Josue McNeal OL 10 61 Grant Vines OL 10 62 William Horn OL 10 65 Brody Haitcock OL 10 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 66 Darion Shamburger OL 11 67 Jonah Chand OL 10 68 Trace Barnett OL 12 71 Jacorey Sherman OL 12 72 Jake Julius DL 12 73 Derrick Wilson DL 12 74 Richard Allen OL/DL 12 75 Trey Vuittenot OL 10 78 Austin Wienand OL 11 79 Xavier Guy OL 12 80 Gavin Franks WR 10 81 DJ Craig WR 10 81 Owen Gilliland WR 10 82 Jordan Owens WR 10 82 Jerry Jackson WR 10 83 Javaris Dangerfield WR 10 84 Caleb Haney WR 11 85 Justin Moore WR 11 86 Bryce Banks WR 10 87 Chris Wamble WR 12 88 Eldin Kurtovic WR 10 89 Jaylen Smith DL 12 90 Jonathan Hernandez WR 10 91 John Terry K 11 92 Austin Lewis K 10 93 Kyler Heberling WR 11 94 Cole Yarbourgh DL 12 95 Eli Crutchfield DL 10 96 James Washington DE 10 98 Jayden Harris DL 10 99 Cam Barnett DL 10 2022 Helena Roster EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (7-3)

The schedule is by no means easy for the Helena Huskies this but it’s That makes it easier to see winning Coming off year by one game, they’re hungry to prove what can happen if head coach and it’s tough to not see that trend threat those two Having Mac Turner back to run offense while the offensive line hurry The defense, however, returns more this year’s

the

will be key,

a lot

year,

Richie Busby,

team capable of at least seven wins.

continuing. They’re a returning running back or receiver short of being a region championship

just

they get to suit up each week. Helena has improved every year under

will have to grow in a

going into the season, so if

to make them as potent as they can be.

more favorable with difficult games spread out.

positions can step up and prove themselves with some new faces, watch out.

them

rank:

DEFENSIVE LINE A major focus for Busby this season is the team’s defensive line being able to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. This year’s unit will lose guys like Joel Logan and Connor Pugh, who were two of the most productive players on the team a year ago. Those two combined for 160 342 Per game: 31.1 County 4 232 Per game: 21.1 County 5

rank:

GOODHUSKIES!LUCK

OFFENSIVE LINE What could make this offense scary is the return of three starting offensive linemen, which is a dangerous combination with the run game that returns. Trace Barnett, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior, is expected to anchor the line as a returning starter, while junior Reese Mims and sophomore Grant Vines are both back as starters this season. Beyond those three returning starters, the line will see three other veterans step up. Seniors Jake Julius, Jackson Thomas and Jacorey Sherman will all fill important roles and rotate up front to help complete a very strong unit.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 51 2021 RESULTS @ Dallas County W 55-0 Chelsea W 27-14 Wetumpka W 20-10 Benjamin Russell W 32-0 @ Pelham W 37-34 McAdory W 41-35 @ Chilton County W 48-40 Calera W 31-21 @ Stanhope Elmore W 22-15 @ByeUMS-Wright L 0-31 Baldwin County* L 29-32 *Playoff game

Photo by Keith McCoy well as Kasyn Bustamento, but the Huskies will return Hunter Hale for his junior season. Busby and the coaching staff are excited for his potential after playing last year and having a great summer. However, he is also expected to play defense, so coaches are hoping others will step up at receiver as well. Torrey Ward is a 6-foot-4 wide out who is expected to make an impact as a sophomore, while sophomore Nathan Jones should also have a role. Senior Nathan Wade will also return some experience after suffering an injury last year, while juniors Tripp Bouler and Caleb Haney have worked hard to earn a spot at the position. Sophomore Jarrett Scott is also a receiver to keep an eye on as one of the team’s best young athletes.

Defense Points allowed:

2021 STATS Offense Total points:

Austin Lewis will lead the kicking game as a sophomore with a lot of excitement surrounding him, while Hal Landrum will handle the team’s snapping and Haney the team’s holding.

SPECIAL TEAMS

52 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL Shelbycountyreporter.com

tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 23 sacks last year. That’s a lot of production to replace up front. That said, two returnees are back on the line this year. Seniors Xavier Guy and Derrick Wilson are both back and will lead the unit. Guy is 5-foot-10, 275 pounds and is expected to be an every-down player, while Wilson stands at 6-foot-1, 305 pounds. Matthew Thompson is also an exciting senior to have back with a frame of 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. He’s expected to have a big season at defensive end, while sophomores Jake Quick, Brett Berry and Caden McClure will all be key on the opposite end of Thompson.

SECONDARY Every facet of the defense has potential, but it is the secondary that is the deepest unit. Senior Walter Womack is the leader back at cornerback after playing a lot last year, while sophomore JT Alvis already has a UAB offer and is experienced as well. Junior Eli Ray and sophomore Kevin Pinkard are expected to be the leaders at safety, while Hale will play a nickel position for the Huskies as a two-way player when needed. Fletcher Taylor, Desmond James and Cole Mathis are all juniors who will provide depth at the position as well.

LINEBACKERS

Shelby footballcounty

There will be plenty of potential for this year’s group of linebackers, but it could also be one of the biggest concerns on the defense. Nathan Thomason, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior, will handle an outside linebacker position, while senior Mason Johnson is expected to step in and play a big role at middle linebacker. Hughes will also play at the position as a physical athlete, while juniors Eli Ray and Jackson Smith are expected to make a difference for the Huskies.

54 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

Instead of 800 yards, he doubled that mark and went for 1,606 yards on the ground and 26 touchdowns, while he also had 129 receiving yards.

A ton of bricks Jordan Washington ready to lead Helena’s ground game during the 2022 season

Written by ALEC ETHEREDGE | Photos by JEREMY RAINES

The Hamilton song “It must be nice to have Washington on your side” may not have been about Jordan Washington, but the Helena Huskies are living those words heading into the 2022 season.Thejunior running back for the Huskies is returning for his junior year fresh off a schoolrecord sophomore season, and he’s excited to take even more of a role with a year of experience under his“Ibelt.feel like my head is at the same place it was at the end of last season,” Washington said. “I’m going to go out there and play just as hard. My goal is to go for 200 yards that first game against Chelsea.”

Going into last season, the sophomore didn’t know what to expect, but he admittedly didn’t think it was going to be a season in which he set a new single-season rushing record for Helena High School.Washington said he went into the season with a goal of trying to top the 800-yard mark. “I thought that would be a great season, but me and the O-Line just started clicking and it felt good,” he said.

The confidence has clearly carried over, and there should be plenty of reason for it.

“It was kind of surprising,” Washington said. “I didn’t expect to have that good of a year.”

He said it was game five against rival Pelham that ultimately made the difference in his confidence and was the moment he knew the rest of the season would be dominant.

During the game, Washington had an 80-yard touchdown with 7:38 to play that put the Huskies in front 30-22. That became key, as they went on to 37-34 in a chaotic game.

“That touchdown run was my first really long run of the season and it led to my first 100-yard game,” he said. He finished the rivalry win to help push Helena to 5-0 with 157 yards and the lone touchdown.

He went on to finish the season as the second-leading rusher in the county and as one of the top running backs in the state.

“After that game, the O-Line got better, which helped my confidence grow as well,” he said. “I had a 200-yard game after that and kept going up. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, this is going to be good.’”

He also made sure to point out that Helena’s strong second half’s won’t be going anywhere due to his physical running style as well as the running style of others in the backfield.

He said the goal from a team aspect is to play together and avoid injuries. If those two aspects play out, he feels good about the team accomplishing every goal they want to. Washington also said he is trying to step up and be a leader in every facet of the game. “I need to be a better player and lead my teammates to doing the right things so we can make the right plays and play hard all game,” he said. “That’s a big key.”

“We want to wear down defenses,” he said. “Our goal is always to have defenses running and tackling because we don’t really get tired. We practice in the mornings and we practice hard. We just don’t get tired.”

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 55

Now a junior, the back, who models his game after Tennessee Titans’ running back Derrick Henry because of his ferocious and physical running style, is expecting an even better 2022 season.“The goal is always to win state,” Washington said. “We definitely want to make it out of the first round of the playoffs, which is a motivating factor going into this season after falling short last year.”

In Boren’s two years, the defense has gone from giving up 35.5 points per game in 2019 to giving up 22 or less the last two years. Now, the defense has the most returning talent it has had, which should make it even more dangerous this season. That could be what helps Montevallo compete for one of the top two spots in the region this year, which is always a tall task with American Christian and Bibb County on the schedule.

MONTEVALLO

QUARTERBACK

Montevallo will have to replace starting quarterback Kial Cottingham from last year. One of the team’s best athletes, he threw for 608 yards, ran for 385 yards and played defensively as well. He was, however, injured for a large portion of the season, which allowed Braxton King to get some experience. Now, the role is King’s going into his junior season. A speedy quarterback who is arguably the fastest person in the school, King can be special. The focus early in the season will be how his arm progresses. Boren wants the team to throw the ball more, and he will have to be able to do that to keep the team balanced this season.

BULLDOGS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 4A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 8-3 (5-2) HEAD COACH Blake Boren RECORD 15-8 (Third year) ASSISTANT COACHES Charlie Boren, Jim King, Garrett Langer, Brandon Ad ams, Tyler Blackwell, Dalton Becker, Josh Benefield, Cody Davis, Marquis Goins LAST REGION TITLE 1995 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Braxton King

Expectations continue to grow for the Montevallo Bulldogs as they head into year three under Blake Boren. The Bulldogs have won seven and eight games in his first two years, respectively, while they have made the playoffs each of the past four seasons.Heading into the 2022 season, they will lose a few key pieces, but overall, the offense will feature a lot of athleticism, while the defense should be as good as it has been.

An impressive athlete on both sides of the ball, Rutledge will return as a starter at both receiver and defensive back this season.

A multi-year starter up front, Dennis will be a big loss for both sides of the ball heading into the new season. TO WATCH

Javon Rogers, WR/DB

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

PLAYERS

KEY DEPARTURES

RUNNING BACK

The biggest blow heading into the season will be the loss of running back Joseph Anderson. He set a new rushing record in the county last year for a single season with 2,346 yards, while he totaled 29 touchdowns as well. Anthony Martin will have the tall task of replacing him. Martin has been in the offense for three years and has played a lot. With a size of 5-foot-8, 170 pounds, he is a physical runner who can set a physical tone. Depth, however, will be the key. EJ Morton and Peyton King are both athletes who can make defenders miss and will rotate into the lineup. RECEIVERS Along with the offensive line, this year’s group of receivers will make up one of the team’s most exciting position units. Javon Rogers will be the leader back at receiver with a frame of 6-foot2, 165 pounds, while athlete Jaydien Rutledge also returns with a size of 6-foot-3, 185 pounds. He has had an exciting spring and will be a great compliment on the outside to Rogers. The positon would have been really strong with Kam Goins back as well, but he will miss his senior season following an injury. Christian Tolbert is a junior who is expected to help with that as a slot receiver, while King will also fill a slot role in addition to playing at running back. There are five others behind that group who are also going to rotate in at the position. OFFENSIVE LINE Up front, the Bulldogs will return three starters who they’ll build behind. Jaylen Williams, Jaylon Hudson and Brantley Burk are all seniors returning this season. Williams is the longest at 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, while Hudson is the biggest at 6-foot, 305 pounds. Burk, Aug. 19: Bye Aug. 26: Shelby County Sept. 2: Hale County* Sept. 9: Dallas County* Sept. 16: @ West Blocton* Sept. 23: @ Jemison Sept. 30: @ Sipsey Valley* Oct. 7: Bibb County* Oct. 14: @ Holt* Oct. 21: American Christian Acade my* Oct. 28: Tarrant *Region game 2022 SCHEDULE Anthony Martin Jaydien Rutledge

A sophomore last year, Rogers totaled 265 receiving yards and was a leader in the secondary. He’ll return as a leader again this season. Charlie Adams, DL A returning starter to the defensive line, Campbell totaled more than 50 tackles, including six for a loss and five sacks last year. Jospeh Anderson Anderson became the county’s all-time single-season rushing leader last season after totaling 2,346 yards on the ground with 29 touchdowns. His leadership will be missed offensively. Kial Cottingham

57 Braxton King, QB King will have the benefit of playing some last year in place of Kial Cot tingham, which should help with his confidence as the full-time starter this season.

Jaydien Rutledge, WR/DB

An All-State player, Cottingham played defensive back, quarterback and re ceiver in his time with the Bulldogs and departs as the team’s top athlete from last season. Cole Dennis

The Bulldogs have now made the playoffs four consecutive years. Last year’s senior class was the third in school history to accom plish the feat of making it all four years. Now, this year’s seniors will hope to make it five straight years and the first to ever make it backto-back senior classes to make the playoffs every year.

GETTING HOT EARLY

EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (8-2) Despite losing some of the team’s best athletes going into the season, there is still plenty of reason for optimism surrounding the Bulldogs. Not only do they have athletic playmakers ready to step in, but the schedule sets up perfectly for them to gain confidence early in the season and be ready for their biggest challenges in the final four weeks. The only way Mon tevallo struggles is if there is a lack of focus in fall practice, during game weeks or on game nights. The team will be talented enough to compete in every game they play, it just boils down to being fundamentally sound and physically ready. Depth could also be a concern for Montevallo, but if the team stays healthy, they should be in the same position this year of battling American Christian and Bibb County for the top three spots.

QUICK HITS who will play center, stands at 5-foot-10, 205 pounds heading into his final year. Beyond those three, Derek Diaz will likely start as a 6-foot-2 sophomore, while four others are still battling for the left tackle position heading into fall practice.

The last two years, it has been a strong finish that has made the differ ence in Montevallo making the playoffs thanks to six wins in a row to end each season. This year, it will be about a fast start. The Bulldogs will have the chance to jump out to a 6-0 start this season with their two toughest games coming later in the season against Bibb County and American Chris tian. That makes the fast start very important for their playoff chanc es and could be what gives them the confidence to take down those two tough challengers for the region title.

DEFENSIVE LINE Returning starters Charlie Adams and RJ Smith will lead the defensive front this season. Adams totaled 43 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks last season, while Smith holds a size of 6-foot-4, 340 pounds and will cause issues for opposing offensive lines. Ben Locks also got some playing time last year at defensive end and is one of the team’s best athletes as a 6-foot-3, 205-pound three-sport athlete. Williams and Hudson will also help on the defensive front in addition to their time on the offensive line. Hunter Lutz and Nylan Goode will also be important for the Bulldogs at the position, while others should add depth. LINEBACKERS At linebacker, a few offensive players will be key. Morton will handle an inside linebacker position as a starter in every game last year, while Burk and Martin will also fill roles when needed. Brannon Hudson also possesses a lot of potential as a 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore. He will be the biggest key in replacing leading tackler Jamion Prentice who totaled 92 tackles a season ago. Spencer Adams

Javon Rogers

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST Mon tevallo’s offense has been no stranger to success the last sever al years, and that should remain the case this season. This year has the potential to see the most production offensively in several years with the return of some top athletes. The Bulldogs don’t have that one player who will take over a game like Joseph Anderson previously did, but they have a lot of athleticism, especially at receiv er. With Jaydien Rutledge and Javon Rogers both returning, that adds a playmaker on both sides of Braxton King, who is poised for a breakout season, while Anthony Martin should also have a big year. KEEPING THE STREAK ALIVE

58 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL NEXT MAN UP With the depar ture of Kial Cottingham at quar terback and Joseph Anderson at running back, Montevallo will lose two of its best players going into the 2022 season. Now, it’s next man up for the Bulldogs. Braxton King will take the reins as the new starting quarterback after playing in several games for an injured Cottingham last year, while An thony Martin will be important at running back with some expe rience the last two years. Both have big shoes to fill, but the potential is there for them to take the torch and run with it.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 59 NO. NAME POSITION GRADE 1 Jaydien Rutledge WR/DB 12 2 Braxton King QB 11 3 Javon Rogers WR/DB 11 4 Christian Tolbert WR 11 5 Keiston Ross WR/DB 10 6 Elfreeman Morton LB/RB 11 7 Anthony Martin DB/RB 12 8 Brannon Hudson ATH 10 9 Kam Goins ATH 12 10 Deterrius Cutts WR/DB 10 11 Jordan Gains ATH 11 12 Tim Waters WR/DB 12 13 Elijah Dunn RB 10 14 Kemp Swords QB 10 15 Jordan Ward ATH 9 16 Chris McMiller ATH 9 17 Peyton King ATH 11 18 Rozario Conwell ATH 10 19 Gabe Haynie OL/LB 12 20 Angel Romero ATH 11 NO. NAME POSITION GRADE 21 Buck Ross ATH 9 22 Slade Knight ATH 9 25 Jacob Fowler ATH 9 26 Ja’Korey Ellis ATH 9 28 Dalton King WR/DB 11 32 Kamardre Purnell OL/DL 11 34 Bryce Smith LB 10 40 Ethan Juarez LB 9 42 Spencer Adams LB 12 45 Benjamin Locks WR 11 46 JC Baggett TE/DE 10 50 Hunter Lutz OL/DL 11 51 Blaine Graham OL/DL 10 52 Jaylon Hudson OL/DL 12 53 Kelston Hodges OL/DL 10 54 N’Darius Smith OL/DL 9 55 Nylan Hill-Goode OL/LB 10 56 Danny Ramos OL/DL 9 57 K’Erius Cockrum OL/DL 10 58 Connor Shores OL/DL 10 NO. NAME POSITION GRADE 59 Tyler Gentry OL/DL 11 60 Jaylen Williams OL/DL 12 61 Rocky Gonzalez OL/DL 9 63 Legend Gentry OL/DL 9 64 Jayden Weeks OL/DL 9 65 Jacob Edwards OL/DL 9 66 Jesus Munzo OL/DL 10 70 Brantley Burk OL/LB 12 71 Richard Smith OL/DL 12 72 Kyler Mitchell OL/DL 9 73 Ty Sullens OL/DL 10 74 Derek Diaz OL/DL 10 75 Matthew Rhonden OL/DL 10 76 Thomas Kimani OL/DL 10 77 AJ Guizar OL/DL 9 80 Lester Blevins WR/LB 11 92 Terry Howard OL/DL 10 96 Chris Washington OL/DL 9 2022 Montevallo Roster should take a leap forward after injuring his collarbone last year. A senior, he can play a nickel type of position and split between the secondary and linebacker. SECONDARY Boren is extremely confident in the secondary this year because of the athleticism on the back end of the defense. In addition to Martin and Adams rotating between linebacker and the secondary, Rogers and Peyton King

4 Montevallo has now made the playoffs four years in a row with last year’s senior class becoming the third in school history to make it each year. This year’s seniors will look to continue that trend and make it a fifth playoff appearance in a row and second consecutive senior class to make it all four seasons. Keeping that trend going is something the coaching staff and senior class has pride in going into the new season.

22 One of the most important changes Blake Boren wanted to make when he came back to his alma mater to lead the Bulldogs was defensively. It’s safe to say that he has held true on that focus. After giving up 35.5 points per game in 2019, the Bulldogs have given up 22 or less points per game on average in back to back seasons and are coming off a year in which they gave up 20.6 points per game last year. That is a huge leap from where the defense was a few years ago, especially with most defensive players having to play on both sides of the ball. This year’s de fense could possess even more talent as well, while the players know what to expect.

KEY NUMBERS

2,346 Joseph Anderson’s senior sea son was a special way to cap off a special career. A starter in his final three seasons at Montevallo, he totaled 2,346 rushing yards as a senior, which became the most in a single season for any running back in Shelby County history. He added 29 touchdowns and was a powerful leader who could carry the team when he needed to. Now, Anthony Martin will have the tall task of replacing him. Martin has been in the offense for three years and is a physical runner who can set the tone for the offense.

Photo by Keith McCoy

6 The last two seasons, Montevallo has concluded the regular season with six consecutive wins, which has led to the Bulldogs not only making the playoffs but doing so as a three seed in a challenging region. This year, they’ll hope that trend con tinues in the second half, but they’ll also hope for a strong start with the schedule easier in the first half of the season than the second half.

60 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL GOOD Bulldogs!LUCK

5-YEAR WIN TREND 2019 2018 201720202021 8 7 6 9 3 2021 RESULTS Marbury W 30-13 Shelby County W 41-24 @ American Christian L 10-34 @ Bibb County L 13-35 @ Wilcox Central W 49-8 West Blocton W 37-36 Sumter Central W 48-6 Holt W 54-6 @ Dallas County W 49-14 @ Maplesville W 20-7 @ Jackson* L 20-44 *Playoff game will both handle important roles, while Rutledge will also help as a physical defensive back. Tolbert can help at the position, while Tim Waters should emerge as a name to watch early in the season. SPECIAL TEAMS Locks will return to handle placekicking duties for the Bulldogs this season, while punter is still up in the air. Boren said he hopes for one of the team’s best athletes to emerge as the punter to help keep a threat of multiple options on special teams. Charlie Adams

rey

Stewart

LAST REGION TITLE None LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Will O’Dell

Off back-to-back seven-win seasons and two consecutive trips to the second round following the playoffs, the Oak Mountain Eagles enter 2022 with the confidence of one of their best two-year stretches in school history.

Now in year two under head coach Tyler Crane, they’ll have to replace All-State athlete and four-year starter at quarterback Evan Smith, but the expectations haven’t changed. With 13 players returning who got experience a year ago, the Eagles should continue to see improvement on defense with two impressive years in a row, while a new quarterback will have a strong offensive line and several skill players to work with. That quarterback transition will likely determine this year’s success, but the team has a new belief in all facets of the game and expects to compete once again for a playoff spot in the state’s toughest region.

Levi Estes,

QUARTERBACK

Laughlin EAGLES CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 7A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 7-5 (4-3) HEAD COACH Tyler Crane RECORD 7-5 (Second year) ASSISTANT COACHES Ty Ward, Preston

Sophomore Will O’Dell will step into the position looking to try his best to fill as much of the hole as possible. A 6-foot-3, 190-pound quarterback, the potential is there, and Crane has made sure to tell him to be himself and not try to be Smith. O’Dell is gaining confidence as the season nears, while he is starting to understand the offense. He has also taken command as a leader and is an athletic presence with an arm that is improving each day.

You can’t simply replace a guy like Smith. His experience as a four-year starter was enough, but he also totaled 1,110 rushing yards and 1,184 passing yards as one of the state’s best athletes last year.

62 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL OAK MOUNTAIN

RUNNING BACK At running back, the Eagles will have what the coaches refer to as thunder and lightning. Trey Vassell will return to the position after splitting time last year and is considered the thunder as a powerful runner standing at 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, while Davion Foster will be the lightning as a 5-foot-10, 170-pound shifty back with a lot of speed. Both are seniors and will lead the position, while freshman La’Kamren Meadows is a young back the coaching staff is extremely excited for. Junior Ian Sanford, Bullen, Co Wells, Gabe Robinette, Talbert, Drew Pickett, Erwin, Mel Hackbarth, Civils, Andrew Var voutis, Chris Blight

John

Mike

Nick

2022 SCHEDULE Will O’Dell, QB Just a sophomore, O’Dell was thrown in the fire late last year against the toughest stretch of the schedule and gained the respect of his team. Now, he’s got big shoes to fill as the leader of the offense, but he has shown a lot of upside in the offseason.

PLAYERS TO WATCH KEY DEPARTURES Davion Foster Lower rates. Better service. Make the switch. amﬁrst.org

Trey Vassell, RB A team that is going to have to rely heavily on the running back position this year, Vassell returns to the position after splitting time last year. He will be a leader who should play an important role.

The four-year starter at quarterback is irreplaceable. He finished his senior season with 1,110 rushing yards and 1,184 passing yards, while his athleti cism was second to none in the county.

Cade George A speedy wideout, George was one of the top targets for the offense last season both out wide and out of the backfield. Gavin Nelson One of the team’s leading tacklers, Nelson finished the season with more than 90 tackles, including 15 for a loss and six sacks.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 63 will also be able to fill multiple roles as a halfback, running back and tight end. RECEIVERS O’Dell will have to rely on some new faces at receiver this season, but it is a very balanced and deep position. Senior DJ Stone will be the leader after playing late last year and showing progress. Now, he is bigger and stronger and will be key to bringing others along. Junior Tristan Vardaman and sophomore Zack Fitzgerald have also made progress and are expected to be key additions this season. Beyond that, depth is a bright spot. Sawyer Smith, Peyton Swann, Davis Stallworth, Walker Shook and others should emerge to play a role.

Garrett Murphy, LB

Emanuel Waller, DL A transfer from Chelsea, Waller finished last season with 66 tackles and three sacks. The coaching staff sees big things ahead for him this season. Evan Smith

The team’s kicker as well, Murphy is an all-around athlete who shined at line backer last year. He returns 120 tackles, including 16 for loss and should be the leader of a very talented defense.

OFFENSIVE LINE Three returning starters, all with good size, should be a major boost to Aug. 19: Northridge Aug. 26: Pelham Sept. 2: @ Hewitt-Trussville* Sept. 9: Chelsea* Sept. 16: @ Tuscaloosa County* Sept. 23: Briarwood Sept. 30: Hoover* Oct. 7: @ Thompson* Oct. 14: Vestavia Hills* Oct. 21: @ Spain Park* Oct. 28: Bye *Region game

Ahead of the season, Crane said this unit “better be good.” Competing in Class 7A, Region 3, it’s often the defensive line that can make the difference, and this year’s group has a lot of expectation surrounding it. Not only do they return senior Davis Coggin, but they add two-year starter Emmanuel Waller from Chelsea. Waller was Chelsea’s leading defender last season and holds a frame of 6-foot-4, 250 pounds.

DEFENSIVE LINE

WINNING IN THE TRENCHES Arguably the biggest key for this year’s Oak Mountain team will come up front on both sides of the ball. If the Eagles want any hope of moving the ball offen sively, they’ll have to capitalize on three returning starters to the offensive line opening holes for what should be a talented run game and protecting O’Dell like their own lives depend on it. Defensively, the coaching staff knows the defensive line is where a lot of games are won in this dif ficult region, and the potential is there for this year’s line to be the best the team has had in years. If those two positions play well, Oak Mountain will very much be in the mix for making the playoffs three straight years for the first time in school history.

64 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 2 Davion Foster RB 12 3 Jacob Porco LB 11 4 Tristyn Vardaman WR 11 5 Trey Vassell RB 12 6 D.J. Stone WR 12 7 Ian Laughlin RB 11 8 Devan Moss DB 12 9 Emmanuel Waller DL 12 10 Carter Lehman LB 12 11 Jack Ronilo DL 12 12 Ben Heath QB 9 13 Davis Stallworth WR 9 14 La’Kamren Meadows RB 9 15 Xander Hughes QB 9 16 Garrett Murphy LB 12 17 Drowdy Hackbarth QB 11 18 Will O’Dell QB 10 19 Douglas Darko DL 11 20 Chris Weston DB 12 21 Jacob Moore WR 10 22 Hunter Cox LB 11 23 Sawyer Smith WR 11 24 Bobby Laury DB 12 25 Zach Fitzgerald WR 10 26 Brysan Clanton DB 10 27 J.C Schwender DB 9 28 Seth Tucker WR 10 29 Marty Myricks DB 9 30 James Whatley K 11 31 Mason Mitchell LB 10 32 Jorge Garcia WR 11 33 Cole Kelly LB 10 34 Jacob Helgason LB 12 35 Ethan Watson DL 9 36 Micheal Dooley RB 10 37 Owen Wells LB 10 38 David Jimenez DB 12 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 39 Hunter Gaskins LB 11 40 Adrian Borja TE 9 41 Kennedy Silas DB 9 43 Parker McDaniel DB 10 44 Robert Yoder IV DB 10 45 Malachi Plummer WR 10 46 Noah Hagedorn LB 12 47 Niko Varvoutis LB 10 48 Colton Moore LB 9 50 Colton Cason OL 10 52 Davis Coggin DL 12 55 Jack Ball OL 10 57 Connor Self OL 11 60 Emmett Williams DL 11 61 Barron Meadors OL 10 66 Trey Leckemby OL 10 67 Sawyer Hutto OL 12 69 Bradyley Hazlip OL 9 72 Luke Parmer OL 11 74 Cordell Williams OL 10 75 Colin Prestridge OL 12 76 Hudson Youngblood OL 12 77 Luke Oswalt OL 12 81 Walker Shook WR 10 82 Peyton Swann WR 12 83 Brandon Lewis WR 12 84 Ivan Adams WR 10 85 Jackson Blackwell TE 11 86 Joey Carbonie WR 9 88 J.D. Miller DL 11 89 Jaxon Owens WR 12 90 Jordan Pierce-Harris DL 9 91 Max Cude DL 10 92 Ty Campbell DL 11 93 Joey Lewis DL 9 95 Daveon Johnson DL 10 97 Caleb Jaworski DL 10 2022 Oak Mountain Roster REPLACING A GENERATIONAL TALENT You can’t simply replace a guy who has totaled more than 6,000 yards of offense and four years of starting experience. Evan Smith was a generational type of talent at quarterback that Oak Mountain may not have for a while, especially after a senior season that saw 1,110 rushing yards and 1,184 passing yards with 28 combined touchdowns. Will O’Dell will step in as a promising sophomore with a frame of 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, but his biggest focus has to be on taking command of the offense and not trying to be Smith. If he can do that and stay composed in the pocket, he’ll have a chance to help this offense succeed, and it may even help in the long run with defenses having to respect more of the field than honing in on one player trying to do it all.

DYNAMIC DEFENSE This year’s defense could be special. Some expected a downturn during Tyler Crane’s first year with the Eagles because of what left, but the defense got better last year. Now, they return more talent than they have in a while, including linebackers Garrett Murphy and Carter Lehman, linemen Davis Coggin and Emmanuel Waller and defensive back Devan Moss. The defense could be one of the best in the region this year if they play up to their full potential.

QUICK HITS this year’s offense. Seniors Luke Oswalt and Sawyer Hutto will be two of those returning starters. Both stand at 6 feet, 4 inches, while Oswalt weighs 285 pounds and Hutto weighs 255 pounds. Hudson Youngblood is also back as a starting center with a frame of 5-foot-11, 255 pounds. The Eagles will also get some returning experience from 5-foot-11, 265-pound sophomore Cordell Williams. Beyond that, others are competing, including Jackson Blackwell.

Crane is extremely excited about his potential, while sophomore Caleb Jaworski

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 65 also presents as much potential as anyone on the team. Juniors JD Miller and Ty Cambpell will also help fill key spots, while eighth grader Baroc Willis is someone who could eventually step in as well. LINEBACKERS One of the team’s best leaders will help anchor the defense from the 2021 RESULTS @ Chelsea W 46-19 @ Pelham W 21-0 Gadsden City W 17-7 @ Vestavia Hills W 24-14 Hoover L 21-28 @ByeSpain Park W 35-7 Tuscaloosa County W 47-3 @ Thompson L 0-48 Hewitt-Trussville L 7-28 Clay-Chalkville L 0-48 @ James Clemens* W 38-35 @ Thompson* L 7-45 *Playoff game 2021 STATS Offense Total points: 263 Per game: 21.9 County rank: 9 Defense Points allowed: 282 Per game: 23.5 County rank: 7 Garrett Murphy

EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (6-4)

linebacker position thanks to the return of Garrett Murphy. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior led the team with 120 tackles last year, including 16 for a loss, while he is also one of the state’s best kickers. His presence will be key for the entire defense, while Carter Lehman also returns as a senior starter with experience to a mike position. Jacob Porco and Hunter Cox are two juniors who will fill out the starting lineup, and Crane said Porco could end up being one of the top players at the position with the promise he has shown.

SECONDARY Oak Mountain should have a solid back line of defense again this season. They will lose leader Corbitt Grudnhoefer, but the Eagles get back both Devan Moss and Bobby Laury. Moss is one of the team’s best

66 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

To me, there is no question that this year’s defense has the potential to be the best it has been in school history. There is that much potential returning on the defensive side of the ball. There may be some depth concerns in the challenging Class 7A, Region 3, but the biggest concern comes offensively. With Will O’Dell taking the reins at quarterback, how productive will he be with a lack of returnees at receiver. That’s the biggest question mark for the team as a whole this year. I do think he will be able to gain confidence early in the season and the Eagles will be able to get off to another fast start, which could help for a strong push against the toughest teams in the second half of the schedule. This season, however, will largely depend on how several teams will fair with new head coaches. Will Hoover take a step back? Will Spain Park and Vestavia improve? Those are unanswered questions right now that could make all the difference in the world. Oak Mountain is talented enough defensively and has so much upside offensively, however, that the Eagles should see another winning season.

5-YEAR WIN TREND 2019 2018 201720202021 77 4 2 5 Devan Moss

Photo by Keith McCoy

KEY NUMBERS

120 Garrett Murphy is one of two starting linebackers returning this season, and he returns with a lot of promise after to taling 120 tackles last year. Not only that, he finished with 16 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions, showing a lot of versatility in his game, all while leading the kicking game as well. He’ll get the help of Carter Lehman at the position as well, who totaled more than 90 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks last year. They’re just two of several returning leaders back this season on the defensive side of the football for the Eagles.

GOODEagles!LUCK athletes and could make plays offensively because of his speed, while Laury has the experience to take a big leap forward this year. Backup quarterback Drowdy Hackbarth and sophomore Robert Yoder will also play important roles. SPECIAL TEAMS Murphy will return to handle the kicking duties, and Crane has full confidence in him, while Jack Ronilo will handle long snapping duties. James Whatley is a sophomore kicker who is also showing promise.

7 Oak Mountain is on a role right now with two of the team’s best seasons in school history the last two years. The Eagles have had back-to-back seasons of 7-5 and made the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time in school history. Most impressive, it has come when the region is arguably been the most difficult it ever has been with three teams consistently ranked nationally, including three-time defend ing state champ Thompson, who didn’t even win the region last year. Heading into the previous two years, the Eagles had only made the second round of the playoffs three combined times since their first season in 1999. Now, they’ve accomplished that in two straight sea sons and hope to make it a third.

3 This year’s offensive line will return three starters, which is a major plus. Seniors Luke Oswalt and Sawyer Hutto will both be back, while Hudson Young blood returns as a starter at center. Those three being back is not only key in helping the run game take a major step for ward this season for a balanced attack, but it will help O’Dell’s confidence as a sophomore going into his first full season as the starting quarterback. The offense is going to have to be productive, and how quickly the offensive line can make the rest of the offense go will determine how successful they are.

2,294 During his senior season, Evan Smith totaled 2,294 combined yards through the air and on the ground. He finished with 1,184 passing yards, a career high, and added 1,110 rushing yards as a quar terback, which was one of the top marks in the county. He also totaled 28 touchdowns, played some on defense and handled kick returns at times. He was a true athlete that could do anything for the team, and his presence will be missed heading into a new season.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 67

68 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL PELHAM

PANTHERS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 6A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 7-4 (5-1) HEAD COACH Mike Vickery RECORD

LAST REGION TITLE 2020 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Trey

For the last four years, the quarterback position has been held by two brothers—Xavier and Will Lankford. Now, following Will’s graduation last year, the Panthers will have to find their next leader at the position. Last season, Will totaled 1,326 passing yards and 459 rushing yards with 23 total touchdowns, which is a big gap to fill. This year, it will either be junior Clayton Mains or senior Drake Hickox. Mains is a left-handed quarterback who has had a good summer and is natural to the position. He is also athletic and can escape with his legs when needed, but he still has a lot of learning to do with the offense. (First

Pelham hasn’t won a playoff game since 2006, but Causey did lead the team to the playoffs in four of his final five years, and the Panthers finished in the top two of the region standings each of his final two years.

Now, Vickery will look to build off of that to help the team take its next step. Whether that happens or not will largely depend on how well the team gels with a new coaching staff that is going to make some changes to style of play in the offseason. The offense is going to focus on tempo by controlling the pace of the game and creating matchup problems, while the defense will be similar with new terminology, placing an emphasis on pressure.

Tom Causey rejuvenated the Pelham football program, but after seven seasons at the helm, he has departed and new head coach Mike Vickery has come in to lead the team after six years at Northridge to help the Panthers continue their upward trend.

year) ASSISTANT COACHES

Joseph Colvin, Hunter Williams, Charles Graves, Kyle Elsberry, Josef Lauder dale, Nathan Collins, Greg Dickinson, Ronnie Clemens, Nathan Fordham, Craig Hall, Kevin Lesueur, David White, Sean Anderson Corkill

QUARTERBACK

Jamal Miles, DB The secondary will be led by Miles this season, who is speedy and athletic. He finished last year with 30 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception. Jake Fox, DB/WR You may see Fox on both sides of the ball as a senior. A receiver the last two years, he’ll work a lot at defensive back as a player who does what the team needs. Will Lankford Lankford totaled 1,326 passing yards, 459 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns. Gabe Gamble Totaled 1,306 yards and nine touch downs. Brayden Marlowe A leading tackler with more than 70 last year, including 10 for loss and 6.5 sacks. Caleb Newell The team’s top offensive lineman a season ago. DEPARTURES

Jake FOX

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 69 Hickox has shown growth at the junior varsity level and is smart. He sees the field well and is picking up on the new offense quickly with a positive attitude.

RUNNING BACK Dylan Peterson and Gabe Gamble have had control of the backfield for several years now. Last year, Gamble took that role following Peterson’s departure. Now, Gamble is gone and takes 1,306 rushing yards and nine touchdowns with him. Stepping in to fill that starting role will be senior Ra-Sen Martin. A multi-sport athlete, Martin works hard in the weight room and has quickly proven to the coaches he is the starter. Mykell Prince, who could play a lot on defense, will add depth offensively as a halfback.

Aug. 19: Jackson-Olin Aug. 26: @ Oak Mountain Sept. 2: Bye Sept. 9: Briarwood* Sept. 16: @ Helena* Sept. 23: @ Chelsea Sept. 30: @ Calera* Oct. 6: Benjamin Russell*# Oct. 14: Homewood* Oct. 21: @ Chilton County* Oct. 27: Spain Park# *Region #Thursdaygamenight game SCHEDULE

PLAYERS TO WATCH KEY

2022

Darius Copeland, WR An all-around athlete, Copeland totaled 390 receiving yards and 109 rushing yards last year on offense and is also a weapon in the secondary defensively. Jackson Davenport, OL Returning for his senior season, Daven port has multiple years of starting expe rience and will be the glue to this year’s offensive line, which will be key for a new quarterback. Seth Branham, LB Branham is one of two key leaders back to the linebacker position this season after totaling 80 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks as a junior.

70 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 1 Darius Copeland WR 12 2 Jamal Miles DB 12 3 Kamari Hollis WR 12 4 Cohen Lee LB 12 5 Mykell Prince WR/RB 12 6 Trey Corkhill WR 12 7 Bishop Rellah LB 11 8 Seth Branham LB 12 9 Drake Hickox QB 12 10 Ra-Sen Martin RB 12 11 Ethan Hill DB 12 12 Christian Johnson WR 12 13 Garin Fitts QB 9 14 Will Felton LB 11 15 Clayton Mains QB 11 16 SirMichael Broom DB 12 17 Jake Fox WR 12 18 Brock Isabel WR 11 19 Markel Bell DB 11 20 Luke Pukstys DB 12 21 Corey Perkins DB 12 22 Marshall Watts DB 11 23 Kaleb Porter RB 10 24 Jake Garner WR/K 10 25 Owen Hoar WR 10 26 Kesean Griffin DB 11 27 Javian Gee DB 10 28 Tyler Tucker DB 10 29 Sam Powell WR 9 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 30 Carter White DB 11 31 JDeion White DB 9 32 William McGough RB 11 33 Hunter Drawhorn LB 10 34 Tyjerious Johnson HB 11 35 Noah Bell WR 10 36 Mike Grayson RB 11 37 Hollis Davis LB 9 38 Nick Bamberg DB 11 39 Carson Dill WR 12 40 Tristan Rutledge LB 9 41 Isiah Byrd LB 12 42 Joseph Hampton LB 9 43 Riley Sams WR 10 44 Vance Barker HB 11 45 Chim Ajinwo DB 9 46 Uriah Barginere LB 9 48 Prince Maye DL 10 49 Macqueline Tyler DB 10 51 Kasey Taylor OL 9 52 Brodie Martin DL 11 53 Xavier Merchant OL 10 54 Cash Tatum OL 11 55 Vance Barker OL 11 56 Garvin Thomas OL 9 58 James Betres DL 9 59 William Murphy OL 9 60 Beau Martin OL 10 61 Braden Patterson DL 9 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 63 Charles Buley DL 9 64 Jermiah Burnes LB 10 65 Brian Terry OL 12 66 Chris Hernandez OL 11 67 Corbin Sanders OL 11 69 Griffin Marshall DL 9 70 Jeremy Burgos-Rivera OL 10 71 James Schmucker DL 12 73 Joshua Myers OL 9 74 Jason William OL 11 75 Jackson Davenport OL 12 76 Mikey Ramos OL 12 77 Tyler Mason OL 11 78 Jadeon Rhine OL 9 79 Drew Martin DL 10 80 Kam May WR 9 81 Austin Colvert WR 9 84 Charlee Buley LB 9 85 Eathan Jowers WR 11 88 Benji Augsburger WR 9 90 Jacob Armstead DL 9 91 Ameer Hasty DL 9 92 Jaylin Bonner DL 10 93 Rylan Hoyett DL 10 94 Jaden Williams DL 12 95 Keon Brooks DL 12 96 Sean Rutledge DL 12 97 Uriah Barginere DL 9 99 Gerardo Lopez DL 12 2022 Pelham Roster RECEIVER Whoever does win the starting quarterback job will have a very strong group of receivers to work with. Darius Copeland is back for his senior season as a do-it-all athlete after totaling 390 yards and four touchdowns last year in addition to 109 rushing yards. He will be a team leader as one of the state’s most talented athletes, while senior Kamari Hollis will also take on a big role this season. A basketball player, he is an athletic presence who can stretch the field and make deep plays. Trey Corkill adds another returning starter to the mix as a physical athlete who will do whatever is asked of him to help the team. Will McGough is a junior who adds speed to the position as a track athlete who qualified for state in the 100-meter dash last year. OFFENSIVE LINE One of the most important but difficult positions to judge for a new coaching staff ahead of a season is the offensive line, and that is the case for Vickery YouFir st The difference between us and a bank is simple We put our members first Period Before every thing Because auto loans and home mor tgages aren' t just about the best rates , they are about helping our members with the things that mat ter the most to them At AmFirst , you are our priority amfirst .org

It’spelhamhighathletics.comAgreatDaytoBeA without having seen the team in pads yet. That said, the Panthers do return senior Jackson Davenport and junior Cash Tatum, who are both returning starters standing around 6-foot-3, 290 pounds. Beyond those two, Brian Terry will play up front as a 5-foot-11, 275-pound lineman. Those three will anchor the position, while others will be battling heading into fall practice.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 71

Tune in for live game coverage every week on The River 93.3 FM. And, head over to Zapata Mexican Restaurant on Valleydale Road to join Pelham players, coaches, and community for the live radio broadcast of the Panther Pulse coaches' show on Tuesdays at 6 pm.

PANTHER 20182021 20172019

EDITOR’S PREDICTION2022(5-5)

Kamari Hollis

Pelham’s region became much more difficult this season, which ultimately makes it tough to see the outcome. Not only do they still have rivals Helena and Calera in the region, but added are Briarwood and Homewood, who will likely be strong contenders for the re gion title. The defense will be enough to keep this year’s team in games, but it could be the offensive progression with a new quarterback and running back that ultimately decides this team’s postseason fate.

5-YEAR WIN TREND 77 5 2020 3 8

QUICK HITS

DEFENSIVE LINE Pelham will take a hit on the defensive line with four seniors departing, but they will get two key players back this season. Keon Brooks is a 6-foot-6, 230-pound senior defensive end who will lead the unit with high expectations from the coaches, while junior James Schmucker will also be back as a physical presence. Jaden Williams, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior, is another defensive end and the third player up front who will be relied upon heavily going into the season, while others are battling to rotate in and out. Vickery said there could be 5-6 who rotate in.

Jamal Miles

The strength of this year’s Pelham defense will be the linebackers with four players back who have a lot of playing experience. Seniors Cohen Lee and Seth Branham both return to inside linebacker positions to lead the group. Branham totaled 80 tackles last year, including eight for a loss and four sacks, while Lee added 58 tackles and two tackles for loss. Outside linebackers Bishop Rellah and Will Felton both return experience as well. Rellah totaled 60 tackles a season ago, including two for a loss and two sacks. All four will help the defense remain one of the best in the county this season.

For the first time in five seasons, there won’t be a Lankford at quarterback. Xavier Lankford was the starter for two years before brother Will Lankford took the reins from him. Now, the Panthers will be looking for that next man to step in, and it won’t be a third brother. Heading into the season, Clayton Mains and Drake Hickox are battling for the job and both bring positive skills to the field. Whoever ultimately wins the job won’t just have to replace the legacy of the Lankfords, but they will have to be a key leader in helping implement Vickery’s style. LEADING THE HUNT The Panthers will be led defensively by a strong charge at linebacker this season thanks to the return of three stellar tacklers. Cohen Lee, Seth Branham and Bishop Rellah all return as starters this season after combining for more 198 tackles a season ago. The Pelham defense has taken major strides the last two years, giving up 20 points per game or less the last two seasons. This year, the potential is there for that side to be as good as last year if not better. If it happens, the linebackers will be key in leading the charge.

CONTINUING TO BUILD The patience Pelham had with former head coach Tom Causey eventu ally paid off the last several years, as the Panthers started to build a foundation for success. The culture change led to four playoff appearances in the last five years, three seasons of at least seven wins in the last four years, and a region title and runner-up finish the last two years. Now, new head coach Mike Vickery steps in to take over. Vickery’s job, in addition to leading the team, is to continue building on that foundation to keep the culture where it is. Otherwise, you take steps back and lose the sense of pride the team is playing for.

NO MORE BROTHERS

72 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

LINEBACKERS

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 73 SECONDARY The secondary will feature some of the best athletes on the team looking to make a difference on the field this year. Jamal Miles returns as a starter and could be the team’s best player regardless of position. A senior, Miles totaled more than 30 tackles last year, while he finished with five pass breakups and an interception. He’ll lead the unit, while Jake Fox has moved from receiver to Photo by Keith McCoy

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 2021 RESULTS Mortimer Jordan W 42-6 Oak Mountain L 0-21 Calera W 34-30 @ Stanhope Elmore W 14-13 Helena L 34-37 @ Chelsea L 28-31 Wetumpka W 41-14 @ Benjamin Russell W 20-14 @ByeChilton County W 35-14 @ Homewood W 10-7 McGill-Toolen* L 6-20 *Playoff game 2021 STATS Offense Total points: 264 Per game: 24 County rank: 8 Points allowed: 207 Per game: 18.8 Darius Copeland defensive back and is showing a lot of promise in the summer with strong play. Copeland could also play a lot on defense in the secondary as another versatile player similar to Miles and Fox. Beyond those three, others are competing heading into fall practice, SPECIAL TEAMS Jake Gardner will return to handle field goal and punting duties this year as a sophomore with a big leg that the coaching staff is excited about, while Brody Miller will handle all snapping duties. Others are still looking to emerge in certain roles on special teams.

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The last two years, he led Northridge to back-toback winning seasons of 7-4 and consecutive playoff appearances. Both teams started the season 6-0 before losing four of five down the stretch, including difficult firstround playoff games.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 77 Mike Vickery is no stranger to success as part of a coaching family. Now, as the 2022 season approaches, he has a chance to make his biggest splash yet as the new head coach of the PelhamVickeryPanthers.spent the last six seasons leading the Northridge Jaguars as the school’s second head football coach and will now take over for former Pelham coach Tom Causey. “It’s been a process that was fun and exciting,” Vickery said after being introduced. “Anytime you have the opportunity to work for really good people, a really good situation, a really good system with emphasis on extracurricular and doing what’s best for young people to be successful, you definitely get excited about that opportunity.”

Vickery has taken the Jaguars from 10-30 his first four seasons to a combined 14-8 the last two seasons as contenders for the Class 6A, Region 4 Championship. Hueytown and HillcrestTuscaloosa, who have made deep playoff runs the last two years, were the only two teams to edge out Northridge in the region standings the last two seasons.Healso spent 12 years at Daphne as an assistant coach before getting his first crack as a head coach.

Vickery went a combined 24-38 in his time leading the Jags at the 6A level, competing against some of the best teams in Class 6A along the way.

During Vickery’s tenure at Daphne High School, the football program won or shared 10 region titles and participated in two Class 6A Championship games, earning the 6A State Championship in 2010 working under his dad and head coach Glenn Vickery, who went 125-52 in 12 seasons.

Now, Vickery will take on the task as the next Pelham head coach, and he said he sees the potential of what could be.

“I’ve had an opportunity to watch Pelham grow and get better and better,” he said. “The kids play hard. They really encompass everything we want out of our football player. The sky is the limit for a place like Pelham. The school system is willing to do what it takes to take this thing to new heights.”

A new era Vickery ready to take Pelham to next level as team’s new head coach

Vickery added that building relationships will be

78 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL one of the most important things for him when it comes to his players and what they can expect out of him.“I’m big on relationships,” he said. “It’s about working and showing what can be done through hard work, being here, being present, being in the community, being at events, just being a part of their lives. All we’ll ever ask them to do is be the best version of themselves, work as hard as they can, leave it all on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom, and good things will happen.”

Being the perfect fit for Pelham, that’s what Pelham wants, that’s what Pelham expects and that is the epitome of what Pelham is. He will be a fantastic addition to an already great Panther family.”

Causey, who retired from Pelham back on Feb. 11 to move to Georgia and take over as the new head coach at Ola High School, spent seven seasons coaching at Pelham and 22 years as a head coach in the state of Alabama. During his 22-year career leading Pelham, Demopolis, Andalusia and Dallas County, Causey finished with an overall record of 159-121, including a 13-17 record in the playoffs after leading 18 of his 22 teams to the postseason. In his time at Pelham alone, he helped take the Panthers to the playoffs four times in the last five years, including the last two years in a row. He also led the Panthers to their first region title since 2006 during the 2020 season and just their third in school history following an 8-3 record. He went 33-41 as Pelham’s head coach, including two 7-4 seasons and one 8-3 season during the last four years, as he built the program and tried to change the culture.

Vickery also pointed to replacing Tom Causey as a big reason for the success, saying he could build off what Causey accomplished in helping set the table for a bright future at Pelham.

Athletic Director and Pelham High School Principal was big in heading the search along with Superintendent Dr. Scott Coefield and future Superintendent Dr. Chuck Ledbetter. Kiel said Vickery easily stood out as the top candidate during their search.“We had a really extensive search and a lot of fantastic candidates, but coach Vickery was above and beyond all of our candidates,” she said. “Coach Vickery is a man of character, a man of integrity, has a great football background, works tirelessly to make sure the young men in his career have fantastic opportunities in the classroom, in the locker room and on the field.

In the best shape of his life, according to the quarterback, he is focused on enjoying his last ride with the team and hopefully making some history.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 79

“It’s going to be bittersweet,” Lankford said of this being his final season. “I’ve been at Pelham as long as I can remember, so it will be tough, but hopefully I do enough to have my legacy stick. Hopefully everyone sees that and realizes how much I care about Pelham when this season comes to an end.”

This year’s team is also hungry after a sweet season ended with a bitter taste. After earning the region crown and starting the season 8-1, the Panthers lost by two points in their final two games, falling to Homewood 20-18 in the final week of the regular season and to Lee Montgomery 23-21 in the first round of the playoffs.

“Following a guy like Tom Causey and the respect I have for him and his character and the integrity he has, it was a perfect storm of events that I thought I needed to try for the opportunity to get in on the job,” Vickery said. “We’re going to do the best we can moving forward and working hard to take what coach Causey started to the next level.”

“We still have a lot to improve on in every aspect going into this year,” Lankford said. “Everybody thinks that just because we haven’t made it past the first round, we can’t move further, but we know what we’re capable of and what it’s going to take to get to that point. We want a ring at the end of this year.”

Vickery met with parents and players after the special meeting and will hit the ground running as the team’s next football coach. Vickery has a wife, Lindsey, and two children who are looking forward to the move as well.“We’ve grown up even more this year, which is why I’m even more excited for this year,” Lankford said. “Even though we had all of that talent last year, we grew up so much and have so many back. Last year was a journey with a lot of maturing for us, but we have a lot of players on our team like Gabe, Darius, who is one of the best in the state. We did a lot of growing up in a little amount of time.”

WILDCATS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 5A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 5-5 (4-2) HEAD COACH Zeb Ellison RECORD 5-5 (Second year) ASSISTANT COACHES Assistant coaches Cedric Drake, Joel Miller, Jim Adams, Clay

Edmond

Adrian

80 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL SHELBY COUNTY

Glenn Stephens. LAST REGION TITLE 2008 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Bradley Horton

The Shelby County Wildcats went from a playoff drought of 11 years to back-to-back playoff appearances last year when they made the postseason under first-year head coach Zeb Ellison in 2021. Not only did the Wildcats make the playoffs last year under their new head coach, who returned to lead his alma mater, but they earned home-field advantage in the first round after finishing second in the Now,region.theexpectation is to continue taking steps forward and compete for a region championship in 2022. Ellison said the team’s confidence is as high as ever heading into the season because of what they have seen the last two years in addition to the returning talent. The players have also gained trust in the coaching staff and it has become business as usual to help them believe they can compete at the highest level.

RUNNING BACK

Shannon Jones, Scott

Going into the season, quarterback may be the biggest question mark with the departure of starter Connor Aderholt. Currently, Jackson Griffith, Carter Sheehan and Ryan Sipes are all battling to get the nod as the starter. Griffith was the backup last year and commands the offense well because of that experience, while Sheehan brings an athletic and competitive presence as a dual threat quarterback. Sipes also has the tools to be successful, but as a freshman, he is young and still learning.

QUARTERBACK

The offense will benefit majorly this season from the return of Bradley Horton to the running back position. A player who isn’t afraid to run through a Shearer, Buie, Byrnes, Powe,

Last season’s starting quarterback, Aderholt had several multi-touchdown games and was a leader of the offense. His production will be the most difficult to replace.

Bradley Horton, RB/LB A hard-nosed runner, Horton isn’t afraid of contact on either side of the ball and will be a returning leader at both run ning back and linebacker this season.

Connor Aderholt

The biggest concern, especially with uncertainty surrounding the quarterback heading into the season, is the loss of four offensive linemen.

Tanner Stogner, OL/DL A key leader up front, Stogner is a wres tler and was a leader on the offensive line last year. He returns a frame of 6-foot-3, 285 pounds this season.

RECEIVER Last year, there was a lot of unknown at the receiver position, but leading receiver Noah Reed returns to lead the group this season. A proven player with good hands, he will be a key leader for the offense, while Connor Rigney also returns to the position as another key player in the passing game. Cade Joiner adds an exciting playmaker who is new to the starting lineup, while Austin Wilson will add a big and physical presence for the eventual quarterback to target. OFFENSIVE LINE

tackler, Horton is 5-foot-8, 190 pounds and is the returning starter this season. Even more exciting, however, is the depth at the position. Jeremiah McCarter, who played some last year, is similar to Horton and will help wear down defenses, while Devin Alexander is an entertaining young player who can use his speed to beat defenders on the perimeter.

Aug. 19: West Blocton Aug. 26: @ Montevallo Sept. 2: Holtville* Sept. 9: Jemison* Sept. 16: Bye Sept. 23: Moody Sept. 30: @ Demopolis* Oct. 7: @ Selma* Oct. 14: @ Marbury* Oct. 21: @ Rehobeth Oct. 27: Woodlawn# *Region #Thursdaygamenight game 2022 SCHEDULE

Evan Joiner

A starting running back a season ago, Joiner would have made that unit one of the strongest on the team this year.

Noah Reed WANT TO KNOW WHO SCORED DURING THE BIG GAME? Visit ShelbyCountyReporter.com for the latest updates and recaps from Friday night football.

Ryan Woods Woods was a leader on the offensive line last season, paving the way for a dynamic rushing attack.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 81 Go Wildcats!Go Wildcats!

Micah Swain, RB/DB Similar to Horton, Swain is a returnee who will play on both sides of the ball this season as an athletic and speedy playmaker at running back and defen sive back.

PLAYERS TO WATCH KEY

Nathan Lansford A defensive lineman, Lansford was a senior leader with experience in 2021 and will be difficult to replace heading into the new season. DEPARTURES

Noah Reed, WR/DB A leading returner at receiver, Reed made big plays last season and will be leaned upon heavily with whoever wins the starting quarterback job this season.

207205-669-3179Hwy47SColumbiana

Perhaps the biggest benefit for Shelby County heading into the season is a schedule that should lead to plenty of opportunity. The Wildcats will only face one team in region play that had a winning record last season. Already confident, that should have their confi dence soaring through the roof head ing into the season with the mindset of being able to compete in every game. Should they stay committed and focused, there is no reason this year’s team shouldn’t be able to compete for a top-two seed yet again.

Luckily, Tanner Stogner returns as a starter. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound senior is a wrestler as well and will help bring others along at the position. That will be key with the coaching staff still searching for the right fit with several others battling for one of the final four spots. That uncertainty heading into the season will have to be fixed quickly for the Wildcats to compete for a region title.

82 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

20212021RESULTSSTATS Offense Total points: 210 Per game: 21 County rank: 10 Defense Points allowed: 246 Per game: 24.6 County rank: 8 5-YEAR WIN TREND 2019 2018 20172021 2020 3 3 5 3 @ByeMontevallo L 24-41 Sipsey Valley W 35-22 @ Selma W 11-8 Demopolis L 7-53 @ Chilton County L 0-21 @ Central Tuscaloosa W 22-14 @ Marbury L 14-17 JemisonBye W 48-7 Talladega W 35-21 Faith Academy* L 14-42 *Playoff game KEY NUMBERS

2009 After a more than 10-year play off drought, Shelby County fi nally found themselves back in the playoffs two years ago and have now done it two straight years after finishing as the two seed last year in the region to earn home-field advantage. The doubt of whether they can make the playoffs has now dissipated and a confident group of players is ready to make this year the third playoff appearance in a row.

One of the biggest changes the last two seasons has come on the defensive side of the football. The Wildcats have given up 24.6 points or less per game the last two years. During their rough stretch, the offense was playing well, but the de fense was drastically struggling. Improving that side of the ball has ultimately helped this team turn the page and become not just a contender for a playoff spot but a region title.

While the defense has been trending the right direction the last two years, the offense has struggled at times, scoring 23 or less per game the last two seasons. The defense has all of a sudden become the bright spot. That said, the Wildcats have been able to sustain drives and have looked like a complete team. This season, expect another physical group that can control the pace of the game, which will also con tinue to help the defense.

6 Micah Swain

The two consecutive trips to the postseason have led to a major boost in confidence, which has paid off throughout the summer and heading into fall practice. The players have a newfound belief rather than doubt or concern. This year’s team will have some key pieces to replace, but the players will plug in several who are familiar with the program and now know a new expectation.

EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (6-4)

An easy way for this year’s team to take advantage of every opportunity will be to set a physical tone. In an evenly-matched game from a talent standpoint, that physicality could ultimate ly make the difference, and it’s something the Wildcats have done well the last two years. Last year, in particular, was a physical season in all facets of the game, and going into year two under head coach Zeb Ellison, that may be even more evident this season. front on the other side, there is similar concern, as two of the most important positions will need players to step up. The defensive line will be replacing every starter heading into the season, but Austin Wilson and JT Beasley are two defensive ends who will lead up front. Both are seniors and can make plays up front on the defensive line, while other positions at the unit are still unknown. LINEBACKERS The back end of the defense, starting at linebacker, will be the strong suit on that side of the ball this season. Horton will return as a starter after proving himself as a leader on both sides of the ball last year, while McCarter will also help at the position. Cooper Pennington and Conner Rogers are both back as well. Pennington actually finished third on the team in tackles as an eighth grader and should take another step forward going into his freshman season.

CAPITALIZE ON THE OPPORTU NITIES

BOOST IN CONFIDENCE

QUICK HITS NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 1 Carter Sheehan QB 12 2 Milo Pasquino WR/S 12 3 Micah Swain DB 11 4 Alex Gillum WR/DB 12 5 Noah Reed WR/DB 12 7 Coby Moore DB 11 8 Conner Rigney WR 12 9 Jaxon Griffith QB/LB 12 10 Ryan Sipes QB 9 11 Caleb Mooney ATH 12 12 Ethan Hall ATH 9 13 Cooper Pennington LB 9 14 Cale Blevins WR/DB 9 15 Brady Blackwell TE/DB 10 16 Greg Brasher DB 12 17 Dakota Honeycutt WR/LB 10 19 Cade Joiner WR/DB 10 20 Andres McGinnis WR/S 9 21 Daylon Hogg DB 9 22 Charlie Hall WR 10 24 Dalan Dalton FB/DB 11 25 Jeremiah McCarter ATH 12 27 MaKonnen Falcon ATH 10 28 Campbell Aderholt ATH 10 29 Nathan Beane WR 9 30 Hunter Brown ATH 10 31 Wyatt Brasher WR/S 9 32 Dominic Woods WR/LB 9 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 33 Austin Wilson WR 12 36 TJ Minton ATH 10 37 Devan Alexander RB/LB 9 38 Keeton Keef WR/DB 10 40 Eli Holliman ATH 10 41 Christopher McNutt LB 11 42 Bradley Horton RB/LB 11 44 Noah Lemley WR 11 51 Eli Carlisle LB 9 54 Logan Loyd WR/LB 11 58 Conner Rogers OL/DL 11 59 Keith Castleberry OL/DL 11 63 Jaxon Thompson OL/DL 10 65 Michael Franklin OL/DL 9 66 Ethan Burnette OL/DL 10 68 Miles Burnette OL/DL 10 70 Tanner Stogner OL/DL 12 73 Anderson Jacobs OL/DL 9 74 Jonavon Smith OL/DL 9 75 Montana Wages OL/DL 12 77 Landon Stubbs OL/DL 12 78 JT Beasley OL/DL 11 79 Lucas Ewing DL 11 80 Mason Hoehn WR 11 82 Charlie Hall WR 11 88 Tommy Grigsby WR/K 12 89 Genesis Taylor WR/LB 12 2022 Shelby County Roster DEFENSIVE LINE Up

BRING THE PAIN

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 83

BACK TO BACK Shelby County has now made back-to-back playoff appearances since advancing in both 2008 and 2009. That became the case after the Wildcats ended an 11-year drought in 2020, before then advancing again last season as a two seed out of the region to earn home-field advantage. Now, the team expects it again, which leads pushes out all of the concern going into the season of having to worry about ending a playoff drought.

The potential is there for this year’s Shelby County team to be the best in a while, even after last year’s runner-up finish in the region. The Wildcats should be able to compete in just about every game, while there are three that are toss ups that could go either way. The success will largely depend on depth and quarterback play. The defense is going to be physical, which is a tone that was set in Zeb Ellison’s first year as head coach last year, while the offense will need to show what is possible ear ly in the season. Expect Shelby County to take a leap in year two under Ellison with a better understanding of the playbook and what is needed to be successful.

A big must for the Wildcats will be to capitalize on oppor tunities this season, especially early in the year. They’ll have a few challenges on the schedule, but there are also multiple opportuni ties for the team to gain confidence early and build it throughout the year. It’s easy to see that leading to a very successful year should they capitalize on the must-win games that could go either way.

GOOD Wildcats!LUCK

SECONDARY The secondary will be loaded with returning talent this season, starting with both Micah Swain and Coby Moore. Both played at corner in every game last year and will return as two of the top cover corners in the county this season. In addition to that, Cade Joiner will return as a starting safety, while Greg Brasher is coming off an injury and should slide into a starting role this season as well. Alex Goodwin is a versatile player who will play on both sides of the ball, but he is expected to make an impact at safety defensively.

GO WILDCATS! Representative

84 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

SPECIAL TEAMS Last year was an impressive one for Tommy Grigsby thanks to several clutch kicks. He’s back to handle placekicking duties this season, while the punter position is still up in the air. TJ Milton is a sophomore kicker who could ultimately make a difference. Corley Ellis Alabama House District 41 Mon-Thu, 10-7 Fri-Sat, 10-8 Columbiana Photo by Keith McCoy

121 Old Hwy 25,

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 85

QUARTERBACK

JAGUARS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 7A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 2-8 (1-6) HEAD COACH Tim Vakakes RECORD First year ASSISTANT COACHES William

Litton LAST REGION TITLE 2015 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2017 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Evan

86 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL SPAIN PARK

Spain Park, however, hasn’t won more than six games since 2016, and the Jaguars have finished 4-6 or worse every year since 2018 Vakakes now hopes to rejuvenate the program in his first season and get them to their third state championship game in school history. As the leader of Jackson-Olin since 2013, the new head coach at Spain Park has the tools to quickly breathe life back into the Jags with key players returning to almost every position on the team. Whether or not the success comes immediately will be determined by how quickly the players buy into his leadership with a challenging schedule ahead.

It doesn’t take long to see a newfound excitement surrounding Spain Park football heading into a new era. All you have to do is spend a few minutes talking with new head coach Tim Vakakes or watch him lead a practice.Vakakes will become the seventh coach in school history, which dates back to 2002, while he will replace nine-year head coach Shawn Raney, who had his share of success during his time leading the Jags.

A major benefit for Vakakes will be the return of senior quarterback Evan Smallwood. One of the toughest players in the county, he took a lot of hits last year in an option attack, but he should be set up more for success in 2022. The goal will still be to set the offense up with the run, and Smallwood is a dynamic runner, but he will also be improved as a passer this year. A player who rarely makes mistakes, he is locked in as the leader after totaling 814 passing yards and six touchdowns last year. Sophomore Eli Smallwood and freshman Brock Bracley would be next in line and have bright futures as well. Taylor, Jordan Pannell, John Bush, Dan ny Ward, Danny Kimble, Eric Gibbons, Brian Maner, Robert Bietighofer, Darrius Taylor, Matt Thompson, Keat Smallwood

RUNNING BACK

With an emphasis being placed on the run game this year, the return of starting running back Zamir Farris will be important. Last season, he totaled 732 rushing yards and three touchdowns to lead the team. Now, with another year of experience under his belt, he should be even more dynamic with flashy speed and a shifty ability heading into his senior season. He will also get help from junior Xavier Long, who brings more size to the position and will be a good compliment with his powerful running style. RECEIVERS

Leading wide receiver Pierson Cole has departed after his senior season, and the Jaguars will be searching for leaders at the position. Vakakes is excited about several heading into fall practice, however, with George Gilbert, JR Thompson and Jonathan Bibbs all expected to contribute. Thompson and Gilbert are seniors who will play major roles. Thompson had to sit out last year, but he will step into a slot position this year due to his quickness, while Gilbert is a taller and more physical receiver at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. Bibbs will Evan Smallwood, QB A returning starter at quarterback, Smallwood brings an athletic pres ence to the table and threw for 814 yards and six touchdowns last year as a junior. Zamir Farris, RB One of the team’s most athletic players, Farris started last year and finished with 732 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while he is a tough player to bring down in space. Morgan Bowden, OL A multi-year starter, Bowden will be the anchor and leader of this year’s offensive line. Caldwell Bussey, DL An all-around leader, Bussey will set the tone for what should be a very sound defense after putting together a strong season last year. Brian Alston, DL Alston has the potential to be one of the best linemen in the state this season after totaling 50 tackles last year. He has several Division I offers and could take a major step forward this season. Jack Kendrick, LB A safety with more than 50 tackles last year, Kendrick is moving to linebacker this season. That transition will be important to the defense. TO WATCH Aug. 19: Calera Aug. 26: @ Briarwood Sept. 2: @ Hoover* Sept. 9: @ Thompson* Sept. 16: Vestavia Hills* Sept. 23: Bye Sept. 30: Tuscaloosa County* Oct. 7: @ Chelsea* Oct. 14: Hewitt-Trussville* Oct. 21: Oak Mountain* Oct. 27: @ Pelham# *Region #Thursdaygamenight game 2022 SCHEDULE Zamir Farris Brian Alston

PLAYERS

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 87

88 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL CHANGING THE CULTURE Tim Vakakes is entering his first season as Spain Park’s football coach after serving at Jack son-Olin for nine years, and goal number one is to get the culture where it needs to be. While other schools have started transforming facilities and finding ways to turn high school football into almost a college-like experience, Spain Park has fallen behind. Vakakes, however, is ready to change that culture and create excitement around the program and make sure the players enjoy a more hype experience.

READY TO ROAR One aspect that has seemed to lack incon sistency during the struggles of the last four years was the will and want to give it everything on every play. That has to change. It became obvious at times last season that some were willing to do whatever it took, while others looked like they already felt a bad outcome was coming. This year, the Jaguars have to be ready to roar and make their presence known.

QUICK HITS NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 0 Zamir Farris RB 12 1 Alex Smith DB 12 1 George Gilbert WR 12 2 Reggie Jackson WR 10 2 Jack Kendrick LB 12 3 Jonathan Bibbs WR 11 3 Brian Alston DL 12 4 Zavier Long RB 11 4 Stopher Walls DB 12 5 Caleb Ward RB 12 5 Jackson Mitchell LB 12 6 Clay Spencer WR 12 6 KJ Rudolph LB 12 7 Evan Smallwood QB 12 7 Grayson Brock LB 11 8 Mason Bowden TE 12 8 Jamari Mosley DB 11 9 Brock Bradley QB 9 9 Kelby Roberson DB 11 10 Logan Brownlee WR 11 10 Jonas Harrellson LB 12 11 Keionte Robinson DB 11 12 Eli Smallwood QB 10 12 Colin Cutcliff DL 11 13 Jacob Olsen DL 11 14 JR Thompson WR 12 15 CJ Clency DL 12 16 Cory Barber WR 9 17 Aubrey Walker RB 9 18 Angel Ortiz DB 12 19 Jalon Hatcher DL 11 20 Walker Russell DB 12 21 Caldwell Bussey DL 12 22 Chase Wolsoncroft LB 11 23 Arnold Bush LB 11 24 Noah Hendrix RB 10 25 Tyler Walker DB 11 26 Cailon Hudson LB 12 27 Hagen Holley DB 10 29 Isaac Battles DB 10 30 Ethan Wilson LB 11 31 Vic Luong LB 12 32 Omar Badawi LB 11 33 Jared Smith DL 10 34 Jack Stewart LB 11 35 Jaxon Haygood WR 10 36 Landon Huey LB 11 37 Nyc Speer LB 12 38 Andrew Thornton WR 10 40 Evan Bishop FB 12 41 Drake Hibbard TE 10 42 Jacob Roe LB 11 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 43 Chase Walker FB 10 44 Josh Lewis DL 11 45 Riley Harrelson DB 10 46 Charleston Gray DB 10 48 Tyler Davidson DB 10 49 Brayden Matherson DB 10 51 Conner Langston OL 11 52 Jovan Taylor OL 10 53 Sam Messer LB 11 54 Alex Mancil LB 10 55 Hudson Cahalan OL 11 56 Kameryn Stevenson LB 10 57 John Higginbotham LB 10 58 John Griffin DL 10 59 Harris Gregory DL 10 60 Mason Cooper OL 11 61 Ashton Sauder OL 12 62 Trevon Hill OL 10 63 Evan Eaker OL 11 64 Clete Ponder OL 11 65 Ryan Breazeale OL 10 66 Fisayo Aduroja OL 10 67 Holden Sweitzer OL 10 68 Josh Tulloss K 10 69 David Toolabi DL 11 70 Marcus Ellis DL 10 71 Morgan Bowden OL 12 72 Jackson Bell OL 10 73 Jayden Craig OL 10 74 Tacorrius Nichols OL 11 75 Rayshod Burts OL 12 76 Caleb Hewlett OL 11 77 Aden Walker DL 10 78 George Escamilla FB 10 79 Elijah Ferguson DL 10 80 Sean Corey FB 11 81 Alex Lloyd K 11 82 Mitchell Frazer WR 10 83 DJ Haynes WR 10 84 Landon Crane WR 10 86 Jack Sellers DB 10 87 Zion Mims WR 10 88 Cam McFarlin TE 11 89 Gabe Mooney LB 11 90 Morgan Rich DL 11 91 Alden Dom DL 11 92 Nikolas Alston DL 10 93 Jacob Williams DL 10 96 Parker Weimar DL 10 98 Lex McElvie DL 10 99 Landon Johnson DL 10 2022 SPAIN PARK Roster

COMING TOGETHER WITH ONE GOAL While creating a young, hip, entertaining environ ment is key in today’s game, it doesn’t take away from the im portance of a team caring about the person next to them and the goal ahead of them. Last year, several players left in the offsea son to transfer to other schools. This year, however, that wasn’t the case. The returning players have taken on more of a leadership role and are excited to represent Spain Park under their new head coach with him also trusting that they will do what it takes.

NOT TOO SMALL One person who will set the tone for how the team needs to play is Evan Smallwood. His name may include small, but his game is as big as anyone else on the field. Last season, running more of a tri ple-option attack, Smallwood was carrying the ball the majority of plays and faced hit-after-hit from some of the biggest and most physical defensive linemen in the country. Every time, however, he got back up and went into the next play without batting an eye. That is something his teammates can respect and something the senior quarterback will undoubt edly do again this season.

DEFENSIVE LINE

GoodJaguars!luck

transition from defensive back for his junior season and is expected to bring trustworthy hands to the position, similar to the other two. OFFENSIVE LINE

I’m a believer that Spain Park could be the surprise team in a region that had a lot of coaching turnover in the offseason.

Brian Alston and Caldwell Bussey both return to lead the unit for their senior season. Both hold a similar size of around 6-foot-3, 250 pounds and will likely play highly at the next level. Alston totaled close to 50 tackles last year, while Bussey was also productive. They’ll also get help from sophomores Nick Alston and Jared Photo by Keith McCoy

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 89

Hoover, Vestavia Hills has a new coach and Chelsea is new to 7A with a new coach. Beyond that, Oak Mountain and Tusca loosa County are two teams with second-year head coaches, while the Jags will take on three local 6A teams in non-region play. It feels like a pretty wide open season compared to years’ past, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Spain Park is at least competing for a three or four seed in the final weeks of the season. Sure, any game on their schedule could go either way with the exception of maybe two matchups, but being around the program, there is something different about this year’s group. Not only does that make you feel confident in their ability, but they have a ton back on both sides of the ball. Depth may be the only concern, but Spain Park could have a ceiling of at least 8-2 if they perform to their ability. Under a firstyear head coach and off four consecutive losing seasons, however, success will have to be proven this year.

EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (6-4)

The offensive front could possess problems early in the season until a few separate themselves, while depth could remain an issue throughout the season. Returning starters Morgan Bowden and Rashad Burts, however, will help soften the blow and bring along some new faces. Bowden is a 6-foot-1, 265-pound senior, while Burts is also a senior standing at 5-foot-9, 270 pounds. Both have multiple years of playing experience and will lead the unit, while four others are battling to fill out the rest of the line.

On the other side of the ball, the defensive line will be one of the best position units on the team this season.

90 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL Smith. Both have a lot of potential with Alston holding a size of 6-foot-2, 250 pounds and Smith at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds. Both are expected to be difference makers as the season goes along. Depth will also help with several others expected to be in the mix at the position.

offense. Ethan

SPECIAL TEAMS

touchdowns

tackles for the

LINEBACKERS

SECONDARY Possibly the scariest part of this year’s defense will be the secondary that backs up that talented front seven. Senior Alex Smith and junior Jamari Mosely are both returning this season as productive leaders at the position. Those two combined for four interceptions and close to 10 pass breakups last season. Joining them will be Kelby Roberson, a junior safety who has the coaching staff excited as well. Vakakes said it is a unit that can win them games if depth surrounds those three and that they won’t give up big plays.

miss in a region where every point matters. KEY DEPARTURES 2017 5-YEAR WIN TREND 2020 2019 2018 4 4 4 5 2021 2

Tucker Stead

A theme on defense, the linebackers will also bring an impressive group of players to that side of the ball. Seniors Jackson Mitchell and Jack Kendrick both started at times last year and will be leaders at linebacker this season. Kendrick is moving up from safety where he was one of the team’s top tacklers with more than 50. Mitchell is also very experienced and athletic, while junior Landon Huey will step in with multiple games of playing experience on his resume as well.

2021 RESULTS Huntsville W 37-13 Briarwood L 8-42 @ Hewitt-Trussville L 17-38 @ Thompson L 3-49 Gadsden City L 27-29 OakBye mountain L 7-35 Hoover L 10-52 @ Vestavia Hill L 6-37 Tuscaloosa County W 35-7 Hueytown L 21-58 2021 STATS Offense Total points: 171 Per game: 17.1 County rank: 11 Defense Points allowed: 360 Per game: 36 County rank: 11 Caldwell

and

in the county and will be a

The special teams unit looks locked up heading into the season with Alex Lloyd back to handle all facets of the kicking game. Evan Bishop will handle long snapping, while Josh Tullos may also help in the kicking game. Bussey Pierson Cole Cole was the team’s leader at receiver a season ago with 430 yards three in a run-first Gutowski A trustworthy starter at linebacker, Gutowski finished last season with more than 40 defense. A safety for the Jags in 2021, Stead was a leader in the secondary with more than starting kicker for Spain Park, Sumpter one of best big

was

the

50 tackles and three pass breakups. Braxton Sumpter The

QUARTERBACK

Class 7A State Champions HEAD COACH Mark Freeman RECORD

ASSISTANT COACHES

LAST REGION TITLE 2020 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2021 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Zach Sims

WARRIORS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 7A, Region 3 2021 RECORD 13-1

For three years, the Thompson Warriors have reigned supreme in Alabama high school football. Coming off their third consecutive state championship and fourth consecutive championship game appearance in Class 7A, the Warriors are in the midst of a dynasty with a chance at a historic four titles in a row going into the 2022 season. But it’s a new year, and this year, there will be obstacles to overcome to remain the top dog in the state.

A young offense will be looking to replace just about every skill position, including Mr. Football winner Ryan Peppins, quarterback Conner Harrell, running backs Justin Pegues and Brandon Franklin and severalDefensively,others.they lose Jeremiah Alexander, now at Alabama, Jax Van Zandt, Nate Riddle and others, who were leaders of a defense that gave up 10 or less in all but two games with five shutouts. The expectation, however, hasn’t changed. This team has the makeup to be every bit as good as the last three. It just comes down to whether they are complacent or whether they want it as bad as the others.

92 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL THOMPSON

It’s tough to replace any two-year starter, but especially one who threw for more than 6,000 yards and close to 100 touchdowns in that span. That’s what the Warriors will have to replace with Conner Harrell’s departure. The Class 7A Back of the Year two years ago, he threw for 3,126 yards and 47 touchdowns last year with an additional 405 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. But, as we’ve learned in Mark Freeman’s offense, don’t expect too much of a drop off. Three (6-1) 72-15 (Eighth year) Shawn DeFoor, Brad Costanzo, Trey Clark, Tyler Scozzaro, Conner McGavin, Dustin Goodwin, Durrell Fuqua, Jordan Robertson, Woodrow Briggs, Taylor Burgess, Mike Ramil, Caleb Hullet, Ross Newton, Thom as Johnston

Seth Hampton, LB With Jeremiah Alexander, Jax Van Zandt and Nate Riddle gone, Hampton will have huge shoes to fill at linebacker. That said, he has accepted the challenge and has the potential for a breakout year.

Anquon Fegans, DB Just a sophomore, Fegans is the next big name at Thompson. He has several Division I offers and should be a leader in the secondary alongside Mitchell after starting as a freshman last year.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 93

RUNNING BACK The Warriors will be replacing several key running backs this season, including Justin Pegues and Brandon Franklin. That two-headed monster gave Thompson a speedy athlete and a power back between the tackles. Pegues stepped into a starting role last year and did a little bit of everything with 664 receiving yards and 571 rushing yards with six combined touchdowns. Now, AJ Green and Michael Dujon will have big shoes to fill. Green is a player the coaches were talking about last year as a future leader, while Dujon is a young sophomore who is expected to be in the same position. Both will have a learning curve as the twoheaded monster this year with another Zach Sims, QB Sims will look to become the fourth consecutive quarterback to win the Back of the Year award in Class 7A for the Warriors. He showed potential in place of Conner Harrell last year, and looks poised for a big season.

quarterbacks in a row have been named the Back of the Year, and now, Zach Sims hopes to become the fourth heading into his junior season. Sims will be young, but he got thrown into the fire last year, coming in as a backup against Hoover, starting a couple of important games in the playoffs and then leading the team early in the state championship game to a 14-0 lead with Harrell injured for a brief period of time. Now, he knows he is the guy and the expectation that comes along with it. A similar quarterback to Harrell, he has a big arm, but is very aware of the pocket and can also use his legs. He should be primed to be the next big star, assuming the rest of the offense fills in big roles as well.

AJ Green, RB Likely the lead back this season, Green will take on a big role in replacing Justin Pegues and several others in the back field this season.

Deuce Oliver, WR Oliver showcased his potential in the state championship game last year with a touchdown catch and several other receptions, but now, he will be expected to be the leader at a productive position for the Warriors. Peter Woods, DL The Clemson commit totaled 28 tackles for loss last year and close to 100 total tackles. Now, he’s the leader up front and one of the best linemen in the country as a four-year starter.

Aug. 19: Buford (Georgia) Aug. 26: Lipscomb Academy (Tennessee) Sept. 2: @ Vestavia Hills* Sept. 9: Spain Park* Sept. 16: @ Chelsea* Sept. 23: Clay-Chalkville Sept. 30: Hewitt-Trussville* Oct. 7: Oak Mountain* Oct. 14: @ Tuscaloosa County* Oct. 21: Hoover* Oct. 28: Bye *Region game 2022 SCHEDULE Anquon Fegans Tony Mitchell

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tony Mitchell, DB One of the top defensive backs in the country, the Alabama commit is strong in coverage, forcing teams to stay away from him, but he is also great in the open field and looks to be physical on every play.

EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (9-1)

Thompson may face the most difficult schedule in the state this season with two out-of-state defending champions to start the season, a non-region battle with Class 6A State Champion Clay-Chalkville and the usual gauntlet of Class 7A, Region 3, which Hoover actually won a year ago. Thompson could very easily lose a game or even a couple of games during the regu lar season this season, but the season that matters starts in November. The toughest regular-season games are Buford, ClayChalkville and Hoover, but they should still be in the driver’s seat for the region title this season, and by the time they get to the postseason, they will again be the favorite to win the state championship. Defensively, they’ll replace some big names, but I’ve heard about the depth of this year’s defense for the last two years and don’t expect much drop off. The offense is where the bigger concern will come, but still expect them to be around 40 points per game. This team is too well coached to think the Warriors will do anything but compete for a fourth state championship in a row.

speedy and strong duo, but the coaches see a lot of potential at the position, especially with a strong offensive line returning.

RECEIVERS With the loss of Mr. Football Ryan Peppins, as well as Jaylen Ward and Justin Pegues, Thompson will have to replace more than 3,000 receiving yards on offense. That makes this the most key position on the offense heading into the season with several new players needing to step up. Whether they do or not will likely determine the success of this year’s offense and how well Sims handles the starting job. One with high expectations entering the season is Deuce Oliver after a big early showing in the state championship. He played some as a sophomore and was the go-to target for Jake Ivie

94 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 95 2021 RESULTS @ Oxford W 55-0 Sparkman W 55-0 @ Tuscaloosa County W 58-0 Spain Park W 49-3 Hewitt-Trussville W 42-9 @ Mountain Brook W 51-0 @ Vestavia Hills W 49-7 Gadsden City W 41-7 Oak Mountain W 48-0 @ Hoover L 21-24 Florence*Bye W 49-10 Oak Mountain* W 45-7 @ Hoover* W 35-10 Central-Phenix# W 38-22 *Playoff game #State Championship game 2021 STATS Offense Total points: 636 Per game: 45.4 County rank: 1 Defense Points allowed: 99 Per game: 7.1 County rank: 1 5-YEAR WIN TREND 2021 2017201820192020 13 12 12 11 14 Sims during his time in the game, including one touchdown connection between the two. In addition to him, Kolby Hearn, Noah Hill Shea, Korbyn Williams and Roman Mothershed will all be key players. Williams and Mothershed will be the only two seniors in that group, meaning it will be a young position unit with high expectations. OFFENSIVE LINE The benefit for a young offense replacing a lot of talent will be the newcomers getting to play behind one of the state’s best offensive lines. Stanton Ramil returns as a leader in the trenches this season with several Division I offers. Ramil, a 6-foot-7, 310-pound lineman, started last year and played some as a sophomore as well. Beyond him, three other seniors will be in the starting lineup, including two returning starters. Noah Watts and Ryan Walker both played last year and return alongside Ramil to lead this year’s unit. Watts stands at 6-foot-1, 270 pounds, while Walker is around 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. The fourth senior will be Steven Lillitch, who is projected to be the starting center this season. Depth beyond those guys is still building heading into fall Seth Hampton

96 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL KEY NUMBERS

A four-year starter at linebacker or up front, Alexander is now at Alabama after totaling 28 tackles for loss and close to 15 sacks a year ago.

It’s tough to replace any two-year starter, but especially one who threw for more than 6,000 yards and close to 100 touch downs in that span. That’s what the Warriors will have to replace with Conner Harrell’s departure. The Class 7A Back of the Year two years ago, he threw for 3,126 yards and 47 touchdowns last year with an additional 405 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. In his two years as a starter, he finished with 6,531 passing yards for the Warriors and had command of the offense.

Tre’Quon Fegans With three interceptions and 10 pass breakups, Fegans handled the test of facing some of the state’s best offenses well last year.

6,531 1,564

Last year’s Mr. Football winner, Peppins finished the season with 1,564 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead the Warriors.

Conner Harrell

Jax Van Zandt

An all-around athlete, Pegues totaled 664 receiving yards and 571 rushing yards with six com bined touchdowns a season ago.

Last year’s defense was one of the best in school history and one of the best in state history, considering the talent Thompson matched up against. The Warriors gave up an average of 7.1 points per game despite one of the state’s most challenging schedules. In their 14-game run to the title, they totaled five shutouts, gave up 10 or less in all but two games, gave up sev en or less in 10 of 14 and never gave up more than 24 points. The question becomes, can Thompson match that this season? The short answer is, yes. With leaders back up front and in the secondary and more depth, it wouldn’t be surprising. That said, there are some new faces that will have to fill important roles and the schedule is even more challenging.

7.1

Jayden Davis

KEY DEPARTURES

The Back of the Year winner following the 2020 season, Harrell came back and totaled 3,126 yards and 47 touchdowns passing last year in addition to 405 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Another player who saw the field for four years, Van Zandt started the last three in a row and totaled 15 tackles for loss and 60 tackles last season.

Jeremiah Alexander

Last season, Ryan Peppins totaled 1,564 yards and 23 touchdowns on 80 receptions during a remarkable senior season to earn the first-ever Mr. Football award for Thomp son. Going into a semifinal rematch against Hoover, he had 1,239 receiving yards. But he had yet to show his best, coming out and taking over games at the position the next two weeks when it mattered most to lead Thompson to the state championship. His departure is a big blow for the Warriors this season, but he set the tone for what is expected from those stepping into a new role.

1,795 Thompson’s offense has been remarkable during its three state champion ship wins. The Warriors have combined to total 1,795 yards the last three years with an average of 43.7 per game. It’s a dynamic offense that will replace the most talent it has in a while, but it shouldn’t take too much of a hit because of the job the coaches do to put the players in the best sit uation possible. You don’t have three consecutive first-year starting quarter backs win a Back of the Year award without that.

Ryan Peppins

Justin Pegues

97 practice, while the other guard position is still up in the air and will be key as well.

LINEBACKERS With the losses of Alexander, Van Zandt, Riddle and others, the linebacking unit will take the biggest hit defensively this season. Those three alone accounted for close to 200 Peter Woods

DEFENSIVE LINE Defensively, it will be tough to match last year’s unit giving up 7.1 points per game, but with two 5-star players back on this year’s defense and more depth than in previous years, don’t be surprised if they’re near that same pace. The first of those two 5-star athletes will be up front on the defensive line with the return of Peter Woods for his fourth year as a starter and fifth year as a player. With close to 90 tackles a season ago, he totaled 28.5 for loss and more than 10 sacks. Not only is he 6-foot-3, 270 pounds, but he runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, which allows the coaches to move him around in the front seven depending on how offenses plan for him. They will lose edge rusher Jeremiah Alexander, but Elijah Williams is expected to come in and fill an important role as the nose guard this season. There are still several players battling for the other starting positions up front, but the coaches feel confident in the depth that will come.

FREEMAN’S TOUCH The magic touch has been there since Mark Freeman stepped foot at Thomp son High School. The Warriors have quickly become one of the best offenses in the state the last several years and have had a Back of the Year winner for the last five years in a row with four differ ent players winning the award, including Taulia Tagovailoa, Sawyer Pate, Conner Harrell and Ryan Peppins. Defenses have struggled to find a way to stop the dynamic passing attack, while the Warriors do a good job of finding a mix of running backs who can stretch the field as well. Freeman has created a new expectation for the offense, and even with new players this year, that expectation remains.

LIVING UP TO THE STANDARD It should be pretty easy to keep this team from getting complacent. One, there are several players entering the starting lineup who haven’t been the leaders of the three previous titles who should have something to prove, while they can also look back a short seven years ago to where this team was at then. Heading into that 2015 season, the Warriors were fresh off a 0-10 season with Mark Freeman stepping in to take the reins for the first time. Back-toback 5-5 seasons transpired before Thompson eventually turned into a state championship contender the next five seasons. A short trip down memory lane should be motivation enough for this team to fight to live up to the standard set the last several years, which is state championship or bust. That said, they have to take it week-by-week to be successful.

QUICK HITS

98 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 1 Anquon Fegans DB 10 1 AJ Green RB 11 2 Vini Pires LB 10 2 Deuce Oliver WR 11 3 Tony Mitchell DB 12 4 Roman Mothershed WR 12 4 Josiah Ward DB 12 5 Jake Ivie LB 12 5 Michael Dujon RB 10 6 Korbyn Williams WR 12 6 Caleb Ballard LB 11 7 Jayden Davis LB 11 7 Kolby Hearn WR 11 8 Zach Sims QB 11 8 Kaleb Harris DB 11 9 Elijah Williams NG 12 9 Hayden Garrison QB 12 10 Jaden Brown DB 11 11 Peter Woods DE 12 11 Jaden Kelly-Camobell WR 10 12 Trent Seaborn QB 9 12 Dakota Murphy LB 10 13 Dylan Campbell DL 12 13 Omari Thomas WR 12 14 Joey Nowak WR 12 15 Kelby Taylor LB 12 15 Cooper Dorough QB 10 16 Quendarious McCall OLB 11 17 Noah Hill Shea WR 12 17 Jaquese Fegans DB 12 18 Seth Hampton LB 12 18 Kayden Washington DB 10 19 Dylan Willis DE 11 19 Caleb Fox W/LS 11 20 Peyton Lewis DB 10 21 Jacoby Shade DB 12 21 Travis McDaniel WR 11 22 Angel Jones WR 10 23 Zamiere Wirt DB 10 25 Kenny Hagler DB 12 26 Kendrick King DB 11 27 Jacori Gaddis DB 11 27 Pryce Lewis WR 9 28 Kobe Herlong LB 12 29 Jalon McElderry DB 10 30 Khalid Boykins DB 10 31 Kaleb Gildersleeve DB 10 32 DeShawn Murray RB 11 33 Dylan Johnson RB 10 34 Vickor Kyatt K 10 35 Diesel Ivie LB 11 37 John McGuire K/LB 10 38 Bennett Morrison DB 10 39 Trent Cheatom LB 10 40 Gabe Binion LB 10 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 40 Kahnor Hughes K 12 41 Jeff Kimochu HB 12 42 Balin Daniels LB 10 43 Cohen Scott DB 10 44 Riley Bowen K 11 44 Taurus Rose DB 12 45 Vlad Valasiuk LB 12 46 Marcus Bermudez RB 10 47 Domiko Tabb DB 11 48 Angel Diaz DB 11 49 Justin Sankey DB 11 50 Mason Garrett LB 10 51 Ryan Walker OL 12 52 Rush Crawford LB 12 53 Hunter Holtzman OL 12 54 Jacori Gilbert DL 10 55 Bryton Brown LB 10 56 Mathew Heard DE 11 57 Cooper Mills LB 10 58 Dylan Marquess OL 10 59 Livan Rodriquez DL 11 60 Noah Watts OL 12 61 Logan Crain OL 11 62 Zac Felton OL 12 63 Jamaron Campbell OL 11 67 Allan Acosta OL 10 68 Sam Cunningham OL 11 71 KC Walters OL 11 72 William Molan OL 11 73 Steven Lillich OL 12 74 Kendrick Moore OL 10 75 Willie Murphy OL 10 76 Evan Moore OL 10 77 Stanton Ramil OL 12 78 Marley Cholewinski OL 11 80 Anderson Harris WR 10 81 Dalton Willis WR 10 82 Dante Hunt WR 12 83 Ethan Yeager WR 10 84 Brooks Byars WR 10 85 Zhavion Beverly DB 10 86 Stone Smith WR 10 87 Jack Davis WR 11 88 Jayvion Beverly DB 10 89 Trakel Howard WR 11 90 Jacob Bonilla DL 10 91 Matthew Wilkerson DL 10 92 Braydon Saylor DL 10 93 Tavares Gordon DL 12 94 Hayden McDonald DL 10 95 Trent Green DL 11 96 JC McCurry DL 12 98 Zach Spa DL 10 99 Shefton Thomas DL 11 2022 Thompson Roster FIGHT LIKE WARRIORS Ev ery team will be gunning for them. With three titles in a row, others across the state want to see Thompson’s fall from grace similar to any other team that has sustained success. It’s up to the Warriors to either fight and hold their grasp on the state or become complacent and watch it fall. The coaches instill in the players every day that somebody is working harder to beat them, so they need to work harder than them to be prepared for that. Ultimately, even if they are the best, somebody will compete with them at some point throughout the season, and the Warriors will have to be ready to fight like they’ve never fought before to keep their spot on top.

Good Warriors!luck tackles and more than 50 tackles for loss last year and were multi-year starters. Seth Hampton and Jake Ivie, however, are ready for big roles. Hampton started last year, while Ivie is a similar player to Van Zandt as a leader at the unit. Those two will anchor the position, while the Warriors have several others who rotated in and out last season. The rest of the starters weren’t determined going into fall practice, but it could be the deepest unit on the team when the dust settles at the start of the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS Thompson will have to replace kicker Trevor Hardy, who made the gamewinning kick as time expired in the state championship two years ago, but the Warriors have several on the team who could take the role, including John McGuire, who is the younger brother of former kicker and current Auburn kicker Evan McGuire.

Like Woods, Tony Mitchell will be in his fourth year as starter at Thompson this season and has been one of the best defensive backs in the state the last three years. Not only can he cover, but he tackles well in space and is physical with his hits. That allows the coaches to move him around as well, but defenses stayed far away from him last year. The Warriors do lose Alabama’s Trequon Fegans, but brother Anquon Fegans is also being highly recruited and returns for his sophomore season as a key player. Beyond those two, Kaleb Harris will be a physical starter at safety that the coaching staff is excited about, while Jaquese Fegans and several others could step up as well. Similar to linebacker, the unit will have some new faces looking to make an impact, but there are an awful lot of them who can make this position as deep as any on the team.

Photo by Keith McCoy

SECONDARY The other 5-star recruit on the defense is in the secondary, and he’s one of many defensive backs who can make big plays.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 99

QUARTERBACK

RUNNING BACK

102 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL VINCENT

A junior last year, Blake Allums took major strides at the quarterback position in his second year as a starter. Now, he’s heading into his third season at the helm after totaling 1,105 passing yards, 131 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns last season. Now, he has developed confidence and command of the offense.

The running back position will take the biggest hit for Vincent this season with Jermarey Lawson now gone. With him goes 1,409 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in addition to 122 receiving yards and three additional touchdowns. Zack Wright will be key in helping that happen. The team’s leading linebacker as well, he is a physical runner who will take on more of the load this season with a size of 6-foot-1, 215 pounds. Behind him, Youngblood will play some at running back if the Jackets need him to, while senior Keetlyn Pelmer is a speedy back who will be utilized as well. Freshman Jayden Roberts is a young playmaker to watch.

RECEIVERS What makes this year’s offense so threatening is the return of a strong group of receivers to pair with the return of Allums. This will be Youngblood’s

YELLOW JACKETS CLASSIFICATION AHSAA Class 2A, Region 4 2021 RECORD 6-4 (3-4) HEAD COACH Lucas Weatherford RECORD 14-27 (Fifth year) ASSISTANT COACHES Corey Goodson, Tim Junkins, Cory Williams LAST REGION TITLE 2006 LAST PLAYOFF GAME 2018 MEET THE TEAM TEAM INFORMATION Blake Allums

The Vincent Yellow Jackets may not have made the playoffs in 2021, but they still had a momentous season with a 6-4 record, the first winning season under Lucas Weatherford. Now going into his fifth year as the team’s head coach, Weatherford has slowly built the belief surrounding the program, and now, the Jackets appear primed for a breakout season. Not only are they dressing 40 players going into the season, but they return several starters to key positions, which has the team believing they can not only compete for a playoff spot but home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Last year’s season helped their confidence grow, and the players felt they were better than what they showed at times, with several losses coming in toss-up games. This season, they hope to use that fuel to drive a historic season.

Ty’Qun Goodman

Tray Youngblood

Ty’Qun Goodman, OL/DL One of the returning leaders up front, Goodman will play an important role on both sides of the ball. Jermarey Lawson There aren’t many departures from last year’s team, but Lawson is a big one. He finished last season with 1,409 rushing yards, 122 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE LINE Defensively, Fields and McElrath will play on both sides and lead the defensive line as returning starters at defensive end. Those two will be exciting enough, but Goodman will also slide up from linebacker this season, while Carter and Chapman will also help with depth.

2022 SCHEDULE Blake Allums, QB Back for his second year as a full-time starter and third year in the rotation, Allums is fresh off a 1,105-passing yard season in 2021, while he added 131 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 103 primary position after he totaled 443 receiving yards in addition to 360 rushing yards a season ago. His athleticism and speed on the edge makes him a dangerous threat, but if you pay too much attention to him, Zac Carlilse returns 441 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 19 receptions. Weatherford expects him to have a breakout season, while Aiden Poe and others will also fill key roles.

PLAYERS TO WATCH KEY DEPARTURES

OFFENSIVE LINE Rounding out an exciting offense will be the return of four offensive linemen this season, which has Weatherford as excited as anything heading into the season. Easton Fields, Grayson Gulde, Jacob Carter, Ethan McElwrath, Ty’Qun Goodman and Aaron Kirk all have playing and starting experience and will make the offensive line the best it has been going into the season in quite some time. Behind those six, Zach Gable, Ethan Galloway, Montana Chamblee and Kendarious Chapman add depth to the position.

LINEBACKERS There won’t be much drop off at any position on defense this season, as the linebacking corps will return the team’s leading tackler. Wright, who will play on both sides, totaled more than 100 tackles last year and finished with 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, two Aug. 19: Ragland Aug. 26: @ Winterboro Sept. 2: @ Central-Coosa* Sept. 9: Fayetteville* Sept. 16: B.B. Comer* Sept. 23: @ Childersburg Sept. 30: @ Ranburne* Oct. 7: @ Woodland* Oct. 14: Isabella* Oct. 21: Thorsby* Oct. 28: Bye *Region game

Zack Wright, RB/LB Replacing Jermarey Lawson’s 1,409 rushing yards will be difficult, but Wright is a physical linebacker who totaled more than 100 tackles last season and will take on a bigger role in the run game this season. Tray Youngblood, WR/DB One of the most athletic players on the field at any given time, Youngblood totaled 443 receiving yards and 360 rushing yards last season, while he is also a top defensive back. Zac Carlisle, WR/DB Expected to take a big step forward this season in the offense, Carlisle totaled 441 receiving yards last season with four touchdowns.

Evan Swain The leader of the offensive line last season, Swain is a player who will be tough to replace. Griffin Martin A two-year starter on both sides of the ball, Martin will be another difficult replacement in 2022.

104 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL EDITOR’S 2022 PREDICTION (7-3) Vincent hasn’t won seven games since Zeb Ellison led the Yellow Jackets to a 7-4 season in 2012, one year after going 9-3. In fact, last year was the team’s first winning season since going 6-4 in 2013. So seven wins going into this season may seem like a reach to some, but this year’s team has more returning talent than any other Vincent team in recent years, and defi nitely more than last year’s 6-4 team. With a talented starting quarterback returning, the two best athletes at receiver and defensive back returning, several offensive and defensive linemen back and many others, the Jackets are in great shape. NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 1 Tray Youngblood WR/DB 12 2 Phoenix Maxwell WR/DB 10 3 Keetlyn Pelmer RB/DB 12 4 Quenterrius Robertson RB/LB 11 5 Casen Fields QB/DB 10 6 RyKelus Robertson RB/LB 11 8 Ty’Qun Goodman TE/LB 12 9 Ray Albright TE/LB 11 10 Aiden Gasaway RB/LB 10 11 Aiden Poe WR/DB 10 12 Blake Allums QB/DB 12 13 Aidan Wills WR/DB 9 14 Dalton Allred TE/LB 10 15 Mattson Davis WR/DB 11 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 17 Mark Morris WR/DB 12 18 Zac Carlisle WR/DB 12 19 Deontaye Robertson WR/DB 10 20 Jayden Roberts RB/LB 9 22 Rylan Hood WR/DB 9 24 Noah Scott WR/DB 11 30 Cayden Carroll RB/LB 9 33 Gavin Kratz WR/DB 12 34 Nolan Kratz WR/DB 12 40 Zack Wright RB/LB 12 50 Montana Chamblee OL/LB 11 51 Keller Finn OL/LB 10 52 Grayson Gulde OL/LB 10 53 Zach Gable OL/DL 11 NO. NAME POSITION YEAR 54 Aaron Kirk OL/LB 10 55 Ethan McElrath OL/DL 10 56 Brayden Abbott OL/DL 10 57 Steven Valenti OL/DL 9 59 Kenderious Chapman OL/DL 9 60 Marcus Hall OL/DL 10 61 Henderson Hodge OL/LB 10 70 Easton Fields OL/DL 12 71 Jacob Carter OL/DL 12 72 Justin Epperson OL/DL 10 73 Quint McConico OL/DL 12 75 Mickel Moore OL/DL 9 78 Hayden Jernigan OL/DL 10 79 Ethan Galloway OL/DL 11 2022 Vincent Roster Shelbycountyreporter.com Shelby footballcounty

SECONDARY Kratz will handle one of the cornerback positions. Allums could handle the other corner position, but Weatherford is hopeful somebody will step up to help avoid him risking injury. SPECIAL TEAMS The kicking game will admittedly need improvement this year, but Goodman has handled it for the last three years. If the ball is placed properly by the holder, Weatherford is confident in his ability. Allums or Poe will handle the punting duties this season.

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 105 2017 2021 RESULTS Winterboro# W 1-0 @ Billingsley W 40-6 @ Ranburne L 35-36 Horseshoe Bend W 42-27 @ Fayetteville W 48-21 @ByeLanett L 6-47 Randolph County W 51-6 @ B.B. Comer L 8-43 Lafayette L 23-54 @ Prattville Christian W 34-6 #Forfeited win 2021 STATS Offense Total points: 303 Per game: 30.3 County rank: 5 Defense Points allowed: 264 Per game: 26.4 County rank: 9 5-YEAR WIN TREND 2020 2019 2018 3 3 6 5 2021 2

interceptions and two forced fumbles. Gulde will also be a returning starter to an inside position alongside Wright, while Aiden Gasaway will back those two up. The outside linebacker position will also have depth with Kirk, Albright and Roberts all rotating as two-way players.

KEY NUMBERS 2013 Last year, Vincent was able to put together its first winning season since 2013, a huge step for the program and for the confidence of the players. That needs to carry over into this season to give the team confidence in each matchup. 1,409 This may be the most experi enced Vincent team in years, but there is still one glaring hole that needs to be filled— Jermarey Lawson’s yards. The talented running back totaled 1,409 rushing yards and 122 receiving yards with 19 touch downs last season. 1,900 Blake Allums and Tray Young blood are a dangerous tandum, and they both return for their senior seasons after totaling 1,900 yards together last year. Allums returns more than 1,000 yards passing and will have Youngblood as an athlete who produced 700-plus yards. 30.3

Vincent didn’t just have a successful 2021 season on the offensive side of the ball, but the Yellow Jackets produced 30.3 points per game, which ranked fifth in a county full of some of the state’s best teams. With so much of the talent responsible for that success back, they have the ability to be even better. Luck Yellow Jackets!

Good

Photo by Keith McCoy

Montevallo, 2018

Chelsea

OFFENSE - MOST PASSES ATTEMPTED, Career 1,008, Tyler Watts, Pelham, 1994-97 - 6th 966, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2004-07 - 11th 877, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017-2018 – 16th OFFENSE - MOST PASSES COMPLETED, Game 33, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson vs. Hoover, 2018 – T13th 32, Mason Duke, Spain Park vs. Oxford, 2013 - T-16th 31, Nick Mullens, Spain Park vs. Austin, 2012 - T-17th 31, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson vs. Oak Mountain, 2018 – T17th 28, Harrison Barker, Spain Park vs. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Thompson and Mountain Brook, 2019 – T29th OFFENSE - MOST PASSES COMPLETED, Season 287, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017 – 3rd 271, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2018 – 4th 228, Sawyer Pate, Thompson, 2019 – 20th 228, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2007 - 20th 204, Parker Anderson, Pelham, 1999 - T-31st 200, Tyler Watts, Pelham, 1997 - T-34th OFFENSE – MOST PASSES COMPLETED, Career 558, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017-2018 – 12th OFFENSE – MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES, Game 8, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo vs. Greensobor, 2018 – 3rd OFFENSE - MOST PASSES COMPLETED, Career 594, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2004-07 - 7th 519, Tyler Watts, Pelham, 1994-97 - 13th OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES, Season 47, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2007 - 3rd 41, Sawyer Pate, Thompson, 2019 – T12th 38, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo, 2018 – T18th 36, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017 – T26th 36, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2018 – T30th OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES, Career 88, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2004-2007 - 10th 71, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017-2018 – 23rd 55, Tyler Watts, Pelham, 1995-97 – T43rd OFFENSE - LONGEST TOUCHDOWN PASS 99 yards, Jeff Flannerty to Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1999 –T-1st 99 yards, Joe Craddock to Tim Castille, Briarwood, 2002 – T-1st OFFENSE - PASS COMPLETION PERCENTAGE, Game 86.2, Mason Duke, Spain Park (52) vs. Thompson (28), 2014 - 6th OFFENSE - PASS COMPLETION PERCENTAGE, Season 74.5, Sawyer Pate, Thompson, 2019 – 3rd 66.0, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2018 – 30th OFFENSE – PASS COMPLETION PERCENTAGE, Career 63.6, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017-2018 – 5th OFFENSE - MOST PASS RECEPTIONS, Season 125, Ahmad Edwards, Thompson, 2017 – 1st 74, J.J. Evans, Montevallo, 2018 – 37th 70, Mike Pettway, Thompson Warriors, 2018 – 40th 70, Montez Billings, Pelham, 2002 - T-40th 70, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998 - T-40th OFFENSE - MOST PASS RECEPTIONS, Career 243, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998-2002 - 3rd OFFENSE – MOST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS, Game 5, J.J. Evans, Montevallo vs. Greensboro, 2018 – T4 4, J.J. Evans, Montevallo vs. American Christian, 2018 – T10 OFFENSE – MOST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS, Career 41, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998-2002 - T-12th OFFENSE – MOST YARDS RECEIVING, Game 269, J.J. Evans, Montevallo vs. Sumter Central, 2018 – 11th 269, 245, J.J. Evans, Montevallo vs. Greensboro, 2018 – 24th OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RECEIVING, Season 1,706, J.J. Evans, Montevallo, 2018 – 2nd 1,564, Ryan Peppins, Thompson, 2022 – 9th 1,459, Ahmad Edwards, Thompson, 2017 – 12th 1,305, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998 - 20th 1,170, Shannon Hartsfield, Briarwood, 1990 – 42nd 1,118, Mo Edwards, Thompson, 2017 – 54th 1,060, Bill Flowers, Pelham, 1999 – 70th OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RECEIVING, Career 4,122, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998-2002 (243 catches) - 3rd OFFENSE – TOTAL OFFENSE, Game 511, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson vs. Oak Mountain, 2018 – 13th 494, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo vs. Sumter Central, 2018 – 17th 490, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson vs. Hoover, 2018 – 19th 488, Harrison Barker, Spain Park vs. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, 2019 28th 455, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo vs. Greensboro, 2018 – 30th 446, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo vs. Jemison, 2018 – 35th OFFENSE – TOTAL OFFENSE, season 4,205, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2018 – 8th 3,975, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017 – 9th 3,577, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo, 2018 – 16th OFFENSE - TOTAL OFFENSE, Career 9,544, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998-2003 - 7th 9,164, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2004-2007 – 9th 8,180, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017-2018 – 15th OFFENSE, TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS, Game 8, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo vs. Greensboro, 2018 – T3 OFFENSE - TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS, Season 53, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2007 - T-6th OFFENSE - ALL-PURPOSE YARDS, Season 4,079, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2007 - 6th 2,430, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1999 – 43rd OFFENSE - ALL-PURPOSE Career 9,544, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998-2003 - 9th 9,164, Briarwood, 2004-07 - 14th Deon Gilliland, – 3rd Salser, vs. 1989 - T-6th 2019 – T22nd DEFENSE - MOST TACKLES, Game 26, Ethan Simmons, Briarwood (14) vs. Vigor (13), 2012 – T-11th DEFENSE - MOST TACKLES, Season 285, Matthew Forester, Briarwood, 1998 - 1st DEFENSE - MOST TACKLES, Career 612, Matthew Forester, Briarwood, 1996-98 – 3rd DEFENSE - MOST FUMBLE RECOVERIES, Game 3, Jordan Carroll, Briarwood (32) vs. John Carroll (13), 2012 – 1st AHSAA Football Team Records COACHES WITH MOST STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 3, Fred Yancey, Briarwood and Mark Freeman, Thompson –T-16th MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITHOUT A LOSS (Including Ties) 45, Shelby County (43-0-2), 1961-66 - 6th OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED, Game (Both teams) 127, Spain Park (63) vs. Hewitt-Trussville (64), 2014 – 8th 124, Montevallo (54) vs. American Christian (70), 2018 – 13th 117, Pelham (77) vs. Jackson-Olin (40), 2006 - 20th 114, Montevallo (30) vs. American Christian (84), 2019 – T26th 114, Vincent (72) vs. Isabella (42), 2011 - T26th 112, Thompson (63) vs. HewittTrussville (49), 2018-T30th 112, Montevallo (62) vs. West Blocton (50), 2019-T30th 109, Shelby County (69) vs. Marbury (40), 2015 – T-42nd 108, Montevallo (68) vs. Jemison (40), 2019-T46th 106 Montevallo (56) vs. Shelby County (50), 2019-T51st 103, Oak Mountain (60) vs. James Clemens (43), 2012 – T61st OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED, Season 582, Briarwood Christian (15-0), 1998 - 51st 512, Calera (10-2), 2014 – T-111th MOST POINTS SCORED, Game (By losing team) 63, Spain Park vs. Hewiit-Trussville (64), 2014 – T-2nd 54, Montevallo vs. American Christian (70), 2018 – T5th 50, Shelby County vs. Montevallo (56), 2019 – T13th OFFENSE – MOST YARDS PASSING, Game 507, Thompson vs. Oak Mountain, 2018 – 8th OFFENSE – MOST YARDS PASSING, Season 3,880, Thompson, 2017 – 3rd

Barrett Trotter,

STATE RECORDS

YARDS,

DEFENSE - MOST INTERCEPTIONS, Game 4, Brandon

106 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL SHELBY COUNTY AHSAA Football Individual Records OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED, Season 204, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 2001 - T-34th OFFENSE - MOST POINTS SCORED, Career 620, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998-2002 - 11th OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWNS SCORED, Season 34, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 2001 - T-42nd OFFENSE - MOST TOUCHDOWNS SCORED, Career 102, Tim Castille, Briarwood, 1998-2002 - 9th OFFENSE - MOST FIELD GOALS MADE, Game 5, Crosby Gray, Spain Park (15) vs. Thompson (14), 2015 - T-1st OFFENSE - LONGEST FIELD GOAL 60 yards, Michael Proctor, Pelham (39) vs. Mountain Brook (16), 1991 - 2nd 51 yards, Jason Lang, Pelham vs. Shades Valley, 1994 - T-37th OFFENSE - MOST POINTS KICKING, Game 15, Crosby Gray, Spain Park (15) vs. Thompson (14), 2015 - T-6th OFFENSE - MOST EXTRA POINTS KICKED, Season 68, Graham Wilson, Briarwood (of 73 attempts), 1998 - 25th OFFENSE - MOST EXTRA POINTS KICKED, Career 180, Graham Wilson, Briarwood, 1997-99 – T-11th OFFENSE - MOST EXTRA POINTS KICKED, Consecutive 53, Michael Proctor, Pelham, 1989-91 - 18th OFFENSE- MOST KICKOFF RETURNS FOR TOUCHDOWNS Season 5, Jason Wilkins, Shelby County, 1997 – T-1st OFFENSE – LONGEST KICKOFF RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN 99, Luke Prewett, Briarwood vs. Chelsea, 2019 – T1st OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RUSHING, Season 2,346, Joseph Anderson, Montevallo, 2022 (11 games) - T-45th OFFENSE - MOST YARDS RUSHING, Career 5,144, Arthur Johnson, Thompson, 1980-82 - 29th OFFENSE- Most rushing attempts, Game 46, Wade Streeter, Spain Park (63) vs. Hewitt-Trussville (64), 2014 - T-12th OFFENSE - MOST YARDS PASSING, Game 507, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson vs. Oak Mountain, 2018 – 9th 488, Harrison Barker, Spain Park vs. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 2019 –16th 474, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson vs. Hoover 2019 – 19th 467, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson vs. Huntsville, 2017 – 20th 450, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo vs. Greensboro, 2018 – 30th 444, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo vs. Sumter Central, 2018 – 33rd 439, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo vs. Jemison, 2018 – 35th OFFENSE - MOST YARDS PASSING, Season 3,823, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017 – 3rd 3,788, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2018 – 6th 3,469, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2007 - 13th 3,376, Malik Inabinette, Montevallo, 2018 – 16th 3,124, Sawyer Pate, Thompson, 2019 – 29th 2,834, Parker Anderson, Pelham, 1999 – 41st 2,672, Michael Hiers, Briarwood, 2017 – 55th 2,501, Bart Yancey, Briarwood, 1990 - 69th 2,484, Tyler Watts, Pelham, 1997 – 72nd 2,388, Zac Oden, Montevallo, 2015 – 82nd 2,334, Cornelius Brown, Calera, 2017 – 97th 2,056, Jeff Flannery, Briarwood, 1998 – 130th OFFENSE - MOST YARDS PASSING, Career 7,968, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2004-07 - 12th 7,608, Taulia Tagovailoa, 2017-2018 – 17th 6,838, Tyler Watts, Pelham, 199497 - 22nd OFFENSE - MOST PASSES ATTEMPTED, Game 61, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson vs. Hoover 2018 – 5th 55, Mason Duke, Spain Park vs. Oxford, 2013 - 10th 53, Nick Mullens, Spain Park vs. Austin, 2012 - 13th OFFENSE - MOST PASSES ATTEMPTED, Season 442, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2018 – 4th 435, Taulia Tagovailoa, Thompson, 2017 – 5th 361, Barrett Trotter, Briarwood, 2007 - 17th 342, Tyler Watts, Pelham, 199726th 335, Bart Yancey, Briarwood, 1990 - T-27th 303, Parker Anderson, Pelham, 1999 - 52nd

OFFENSE – MOST TWO-POINT CONVERSIONS, Season 15,

Isabella,

DEFENSE – LONGEST INTERCEPTION RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN 99, Tamardreon Purnell, Montevallo,

2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 107

35233 •

1600 7th Avenue South • Birmingham,

AL .org/Concussion

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.

A concussion is nothing to play with. AL Childrens

108 2022 SHELBY COUNTY FOOTBALL 14 PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS SAME-DAY205-973-6264APPOINTMENTS Grandview Medical Group makes it easier to see a primary care provider –quickly. Just call 205-973-6264. Most calls will result in a same-day appointment with a physician or nurse practitioner at one of our 14 primary care locations. If you or a family member age five or older needs to see a doctor fast, think Grandview Medical Group. Cahaba Heights • Chelsea • Columbiana • Grandview Physicians Plaza • Greystone • Homewood Hoover • Lee Branch • Liberty Park • Pelham • Springville • Trussville • Vestavia Hills Visit GrandviewMedicalGroupPCP.com or call 205-973-6264 to schedule your same-day appointment.

Shelby County Football Magazine 2022

Articles inside

Thompson

Oak Mountain

Coosa Valley

Calera

Pelham

Montevallo

Helena

Cornerstone

Chelsea