TJ Finley is in, Allen Greene is out

It’s been a long, strange journey on the Plains, but game week has finally arrived, and Auburn will host Mercer on Saturday evening at Jordan Hare Stadium. There are always big decisions made leading up to a season concerning the roster and game plan, but the Tigers have taken it to a new level in 2022. After months of speculation, it was announced over the weekend that TJ Finley had won the job as starting quarterback. It was also announced that Allen Greene would not return as Athletics Director. These two decisions will obviously have major ramifications on the next couple of months and probably years to come in the Loveliest Village. It’s impossible to honestly say if the Finley decision was good or bad at this point. That will certainly be borne out over the next few weeks in the clearest possible terms of wins and losses. The Greene decision is far more ambiguous and left up to personal interpretation. However, there’s an unmistakable

ANDY GRAHAM Columnist

connection between Bryan Harsin and Allen Greene. Greene went against the status quo and some high-profile boosters to hire Harsin away from Boise State. Now, Greene is gone and a coach, who could only be described as embattled, must feel like he’s standing in quicksand. Well, good thing he doesn’t have anything else to worry about like coaching a football team in the most difficult conference in all of college football. Oh, wait.

Just for the record, I had the opportunity to meet Allen Greene on a couple of occasions and found him to be extremely affable, intelligent and genuine. I thought he did some good things in his time on the Plains. Bruce Pearl and Butch Thompson both received longterm extensions under his watch. It appears he made some pretty good

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

After going winless in 2021 and only winning two games in the last two seasons, the Elmore County football team is off to a 3-0 start and is 1-0 in AHSAA Class 5A, Region 4.

The Panthers have thrived in the early portion of the season under first-year head coach Kyle Caldwell, and it’s all starting on the defen- over half the votes while Elmore County volleyball star Abbi Williams earned 531 votes and Tallassee quarterback Tyler Ellis earned only 62 votes.

Weighall had a fantastic game against Baker as he kicked the game-winning 49-yard field goal with 1:49 left in the game to lead

3-for-3 on his point after attempts as the Indians scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to stay undefeated.

He helped lead the Wetumpka defense to the Week One win by allowing zero points from the Jeff Davis offense. His pick-six in the sive side of the ball.

Elmore County’s defense gave up a whopping 41.9 points per game last season.

This year, Elmore County has given up only a total of 38 points in three games. The Panthers are allowing only 10.2 points per game.

“We’re just solving our problems with aggression. Even if we make a bust, we aren’t

ELMORE COUNTY (3-0) AT CENTRAL CLAY COUNTY (3-0)

THE PLAYERS

Elmore County: QB Payton Stephenson has 585 total yards and nine touchdowns. … WR Jabari Murphy has 11 catches for 194 yards and four touchdowns.

…

RB CJ Wilkes has 417 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

FOUR DOWNS

Elmore County beat Sylacauga, 48-21, last week; Central Clay County beat Tallassee, 21-6.

Both teams are 1-0 in AHSAA Class 5A, Region Region 4.

Central Clay County leads Elmore County, 4-0, all-time in the series.

Elmore County’s defense has allowed only 38 points in three games this season.

NEXT UP: Elmore County does not play next week; Central Clay County at Handley.

TALLASSEE (2-1) AT BEAUREGARD (3-0)

THE PLAYERS

Tallassee: QB Tyler Ellis has rushed for 246 yards and five touchdowns this season. …

QB/ATH Cade Everson has rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

… DB Josh Boatwright grabbed an interception last week.

FOUR DOWNS

Tallassee lost to Central Clay County, 21-6, last week; Beauregard beat Valley, 31-14.

Tallassee beat Beauregard, 35-7, last season. Beauregard is 1-0 in

AHSAA Class 5A, Region 4; Tallassee is 0-1.

Tallassee leads Beauregard, 17-13, all-time in the series.

NEXT UP: Tallassee hosts Marbury; Beauregard at Charles Henderson.

ABBEVILLE

CHRISTIAN (2-1) AT EDGEWOOD ACADEMY (0-2)

THE PLAYERS

Edgewood Academy: QB Austin Champion has completed 16 of 41 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns. … DL Bryson Boone has recorded 12 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. …

RB Bradley Boone has totaled 137 yards and two touchdowns.

FOUR DOWNS Edgewood Academy lost to Chambers, 49-14, last week; Abbeville beat Hooper, 29-0.

Edgewood Academy has been outscored 7121 in two games this season.

Abbeville Christian beat Edgewood Academy, 27-22, the last time they met in 2017.

Abbeville Christian’s defense has posted two shutouts this year.

NEXT UP: Edgewood Academy at Lowndes Academy; Abbev - ille does not play next week.

HOLTVILLE (2-1) AT SELMA (1-2)

THE PLAYERS

Holtville: RB Shawn Brackett has rushed for 321 yards and eight touchdowns. … QB Tanner Potts has passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns. … LB Connor Hackett has recorded 25 tackles.

FOUR DOWNS Holtville beat Shelby County, 34-13, last week; Selma lost to Demopolis, 22-0.

Holtville and Selma have not played each other since 1948.

Holtville is 1-0 in AHSAA Class 5A, Area 3; Selma is 0-1.

Holtville receiver Erik Adkins scored three touchdowns last week.

NEXT UP: Holtville does not play next week; Selma at Greenville.

PARK CROSSING (0-2)

AT WETUMPKA (2-1)

THE PLAYERS

Wetumpka: QB Nate Rogers scored three rushing touchdowns against Pike Road last week. … K Logan Weighall has made all three of his field goal attempts this season. … RB Ja - marion Thrasher has scored in back-to-back games.

FOUR DOWNS Wetumpka lost to Pike Road, 35-33, last week; Park Crossing lost to Carver, 31-0.

Park Crossing beat Wetumpka, 37-10, the last time they met in 2015.

Both teams are currently 0-1 in AHSAA Class 6A, Region 2.

The all-time series between Wetumpka and Park Crossing is tied, 1-1.

NEXT UP: Wetumpka at Russell County; Park Crossing at Sidney Lanier.

It’s been pretty great.”

Around the county and state, Brown is known as one of the more powerful outside hitters on the court. As a sophomore last year, she recorded 267 kills and is always going all-out on the court.

But due to her height not being the ideal height for an outside hitter in college, she is committing to Alabama as a libero.

That’s no shock to anyone who has seen Brown play. As good as she is on offense, she’s equally as good, if not better, on defense. Last year, she recorded 302 digs and that was while playing primarily as an outside hitter.

“I’m going to be a libero,” Brown said. “I like defense a lot better actually. Defense has always been one of my main things. I wanted to go to college to be a libber because I’m not tall enough, but it’s just in me. I like defense so much more than offense.”

At Illinois, she helped the Fighting Illini make four NCAA Tournament Appearances. That included two Sweet 16 appearances and a Final Four appearance in 2018.

While there, she coached two All-Americans and two All-Big Ten honorees.

Under Reed, Alabama is off to a 3-0 start in 2022.

“I really like her determination and her motivation towards recruits,” Brown said. “It took her about three or four days to call me, and she offered me on the spot. I loved the intensity that they showed at the camp with the players. When I made my visit and watched practice, the coaches were very involved with drills and it felt like I belonged there. I like it a lot and coach Reed is amazing.” hanging our heads on it and we’re looking towards the next play and making that next play when our names are called.”

The defensive line for Elmore County has been standing out through the first three games, but sophomore linebacker Jackson Mann is stealing the show this season.

Mann, who was named All-County as a freshman last year after tallying 100 tackles, looks to easily surpass that total this year. Mann is making plays all over the field, not just tackling ball carriers but defending the pass in the secondary and disrupting offenses as best as he can.

“You cut the film on and if the guy isn’t getting tackled by Jackson, he’s there ready to tackle him,” Caldwell said of Mann. “He’s just got the ‘It factor.’ I don’t know what the it factor is, but he’s got it. He’s always around the ball and he loves contact. He loves to be a leader.”

When asked what the ‘It factor’ was, Mann said he doesn’t know exactly what it is either. He just goes out and plays football. If his team needs him to play outside linebacker and stuff the run, he’s going to be at the front of the pack making the tackle every play.

If the team needs some pressure off the edge, he will be the first guy on the team to the quarterback and make a sack. If he’s facing a heavy passing attack like the Panthers did on Thursday night against

Sylacauga, he will drop back into coverage and limit passing yards.

He’s able to drop back and be successful in coverage because of his speed. Caldwell said his speed can surprise you, as he doesn’t look that fast on tape. But as soon as he gets on the field, his game speed takes over and he can run with receivers like a cornerback and safety.

That game speed might just be the ‘It factor’ that Mann has.

“I just want to win,” Mann said. “ I have the will to want to go out there and make plays for my boys. I want to fly to the ball and just be there. I just want to work and get the next win more than the last one. I like to be a hybrid player. I just like tackling people and hitting somebody, but I’m going to do what my team needs.”

Mann is able to shine behind a very talented defensive line this year. The Panthers front line on defense is as aggressive as they come. Luke Reinert, also just a sophomore, picked up two sacks on Thursday night from the defensive end position.

Myles Eyerly and Dylan Carter, the two big men at defensive tackle, were also making plays. The entire front, no matter who is in the game, has been causing issues for opposing teams this year.

“Our defensive line is playing extremely hard,” Caldwell said. “I hate practicing against our defensive line in practice because they whoop our tail most of the days. But that’s why our offensive line has done so well in games. They’re going against a great defensive line every day.” final minute of the game clinched the win for the home Indians.

Weighall’s field goal was a careerhigh for the kicker, and following the make, he was able to send the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback and allowed Wetumpka’s defense to seal the win in the closing minutes.

“That was the easiest call of the night,” head coach Bear Woods said of the field goal. “There wasn’t a single kid on the sideline who was doubting that he would make that kick. That was the easiest call of the night and to see our team absolutely trust him to hit it, we are headed in the right direction.” decisions as far as head coaches in the minor sports and he made an appearance at the Lake Martin Auburn Club meeting.

I’m not sure how anyone could argue those aren’t all good things. Unfortunately, he also tended to disappear at times. The Auburn athletic department has suffered from a dearth in leadership for as long as I can remember. Sure, individuals have risen on occasion and shown great leadership, but there have been far too many seminars given on how not to do things for the most part. The last four years have been tumultuous for many different reasons and Greene was nowhere to be found in some of the most challenging. He also seemingly tried to operate Auburn in the same fashion as his previous school Buffalo. Cutting budgets and pinching pennies has never been nor ever will be a successful strategy in the Southeastern Conference. I guess Greene truly suffers from the rare modern-day affliction of fiscal responsibility. It sounds counterintuitive, but that’s a losing proposition in this league. Ultimately, the simple fact that he did not grasp that concept proves he was in over his head. I personally wish Greene the best and I desperately hope that his replacement can fill the void in leadership Auburn has dealt with far too long.

As for Harsin’s job status relative to Greene’s exit, it’s simple. Wins and losses are all that matter.

Winners featured on the cover and inside pages of our October magazine edition.

Submissions accepted in acrylics, oil, watercolor, pastels, pencil

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