2016HartselleTigerfootball

2016 Hartsellee Tiger
Tiiger football
footbballl
Inside
■ Hartselle High
schedule and preview
■ Inside
Inside the
the Tigers’
Tigers’
offense and defense
■ Photos of all the
players
■ Peek inside realigned
Class 6A, Region 8
A special supplement to The Hartselle Courier Journal
Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016
G2
Hartselle Courier Journal
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 |
Hartselle Tigers
You’re Always a
WINNER
Coach
Bob Godsey (14th year, 7-4 last year,
115-43 overall)
at
Champion of Decatur
Schedule
Friday — vs. Cullman
Aug. 26 — at Lawrence County
Sept. 2 — vs. Athens
Sept. 9 — at Florence
Sept. 16 — vs. Muscle Shoals
Sept. 23 — at Russellville
Sept. 30 — at Hazel Green
Oct. 7 — vs. Austin
Oct. 14 — vs. Decatur
Oct. 20 — at Columbia
Oct. 27 — Open
Quick hits
with four ties. The rivals have played
each year since 1969, with Hartselle
holding a 29-16 edge.
Last year’s game was a classic.
Cullman scored with 1:50 left to cut
Hartselle’s lead to 14-13. The Bearcats
decided to go for the win on a twopoint conversion rather than kick and
send the game into overtime. Landers
made the tackle that preserved the victory for the Tigers.
n Reclassification forced realignment in 6A, Region 8. Cullman moved
to Region 7. That’s why the Tigers and
Bearcats get to hook up in the season
opener for the next two years. Hazel
Green and Columbia are new region
rivals for Hartselle.
The new region schedule pushes
games with rivals Austin and Decatur
to October. The Tigers will be hosting the Black Bears and Red Raiders on
back-to-back Fridays on Oct. 7 and 14.
n Hartselle won the 5A state championship in 2011. The next year the Tigers
went 2-1 in the playoffs. They’ve gone
three straight years since without a
playoff victory. Godsey attributes
at least part of that to his team being
physically worn down by playoff time.
To help remedy the situation, Godsey
decided to make the last week of the
season an open date for his team. That
means Hartselle will play 10 straight
weeks beginningFriday. The last game
of the regular season will beOct. 20
vs. Columbia at Milton Frank Stadium
in Huntsville. A possible first-round
playoff game could be no earlier than
two weeks later on Nov. 3.
n When Hartselle hosts Cullman
onFriday, it will be the 95th meeting
between the teams, and this year is the
100th anniversary of the series' first
game in 1916. Each school has 45 wins
—David Elwell
david.elwell@ decaturdaily.com
or 256-340-2395. Twitter
@DD_DavidElwell.
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Jordan Stover (2) gives the Hartselle Tigers an
elusive threat in the offensive backfield. FILE PHOTO
Godsey says the key to success
at Hartselle always has been about
developing players. To make it work, a
team needs numbers —and the numbers have been down a little bit the last
three seasons.
“We’ve had to play a lot of sophomores the last three years,” Godsey
said. “That makes it tough when you
play in as competitive a league as we
do. Our players and coaches deserve
credit because I think we’ve played
about as well as we could have the last
three years.”
The Tigers have gone 8-3, 7-4 and
7-4 the last three seasons with three
first-round losses in the playoffs.
This season the numbers are trending
better for the Tigers. Six starters return
on both offense and defense. Several
players who have experience but didn’t
actually start games are back. There’s
more depth, and Godsey hopes that
makes a difference at the end of the
season.
“We’ve had so many guys who have
had to play so many snaps during the
season that we didn’t have much left in
the tank at the end,” Godsey said.
One telling stat from last season
shows that opponents scored 243
points on Hartselle last season.Nearly
half of that total, 121, came in the last
three games.
Hartselle Courier Journal
|
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
G3
Hartselle has new QB, same high expectations
R
O
to fill.
As a senior in 2015, Tiffin passed for
more than 1,400 yards and rushed for
450 more. He finished with 13 total
touchdowns and led the Tigers to the
Class 6A playoffs before departing
Hartselle to play college golf at Troy.
“Jake did a great job while he was
here,” Oakes said. “He worked hard to
prepare and I just tried to learn as much
as I could while watching him play.”
Godsey is confident that Oakes will
succeed in replacing Tiffin.
“Trevor has everything you need to
be successful at the position,” Godsey
said. “He has the tools, the intelligence
and he has guys around him that should
make his job a little easier. The only
thing he doesn’t have is starting experience. He has played some, just never
started.”
Oakes doesn’t expect that to hold
him back.
“I’ve worked hard to prepare for
this season,” he said. “All we can do
is go out there and play. If we play to
our potential then everything will be
good.”
P
teams to eight with the addition of
Huntsville-area schools Columbia and
Hazel Green. Competing in what is
considered one of the stongest regions
across any of the state’s seven classifiations, Godsey expects another tough
season of region play in 2016.
“We have always played a tough
shedule here, but nothing like what we
have played the past two seasons as
the region has continued to improve,”
he said. “The guys we have out here
understand what it takes to be competitive with the teams we play. Every
week is a battle.”
Hartselle’s new-look region shedule
features games against Athens, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Hazel Green,
Austin, Decatur and Columbia. Nonregion games with Cullman, Lawrence
County and Russellville round out the
schedule.
To navigate the schedule, Godsey
will look to first-year starting quarterback Trevor Oakes.
Formerly the backup to three-year
starter Jake Tiffin, Oakes has never
started a varsity game and has big shoes
David Hayes goes for the ball during a recent practice at Hartselle High School. The Tigers are
coming off a 7-4 season. CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/FOR THE HARTSELLE COURIER JOURNAL
The Hartselle Courier Journal
New year, new team, same
expectations.
For Bob Godsey and the Hartselle
Tigers, it’s business as usual as the
2016 football season nears.
With realignment juggling Class
6A, Region 8 and a first-year starting
quarterback stepping under center to
replace a three-year starter, Godsey
has plenty to think about heading
into Friday’s opener against Cullman.
As usual, though, the Hartselle head
coach is staying calm and collected.
“We have a good core of guys returning this year,” he said. “We have guys
who know what it takes to be successul in the region we play in, and they
are working to pass that down to the
younger guys we have stepping up this
year. I like the team we have here.”
Reclassification and realignment
moved Cullman out of Class 6A, Region
8 and expanded the region from seven
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G4
Hartselle Courier Journal
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 |
Patient Oakes feels prepared to take over as Tigers’ QB
By Calvin Cooley
For The Hartselle Courier Journal
Arm strength, accuracy, vision,
poise. The list of traits that help build
a successful high school quarterback
continues to get longer as athletes
continue to grow bigger, stonger and
faster.
Over the past three seasons, while
working as backup to starter Jake
Tiffin, Trevor Oakes has proven that
he possesses all the on-field skills. His
performance at numerous camps over
the summer solidified what the coaching staff at Hartselle was already aware
of.
Dig a little deeper, though, and you
will uncover the two traits that coud
really separate Oakes from a number of
other prep signal callers: patience and
determination.
When Deacon Aldridge departed the
program after the 2012 season, Oakes,
an incoming freshman, found himself
in a tight contest with Tiffin, a rising
sophomore. Tiffin won the job, putting Oakes in the backup position,
presumably for the next three seasons.
Where a number of other players may
have looked into changing positions, or
possibly schools, Oakes decided to ride
it out as Tiffin’s backup and continue to
improve until his number was called.
“I won’t say the thought of maybe
playing another position never crossed
my mind,” Oakes said. “That’s part of
wanting to be on the field. Deep down
I really wanted to be a quarterback,
so the decision to stay put was pretty
easy.”
An easy decision that could pay off
big in the end.
Over the summer Oakes attended a
number of prestigious camps, including
the Elite 11 and Rivals QB Challenge,
camps that regularly feature the
nation’s top four- and five-star quarterbacks. He was named MVP of the
VTO Elite 100.
“Those camps are great experiences,” he said. “You get to see other
qurterbacks, really good players and
get to work with some of the best
coaches in the country. I tried to absorb
as much as I could.”
Hartselle quarterback Trevor Oakes will get his chance to start this season after patiently working
as a backup the past three seasons. CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/FOR THE HARTSELLE COURIER JOURNAL
Good Luck
Despite never starting under center,
Oakes will not be completely green
when he leads the Hartselle offense
onto the field for Friday’s season
opener against Cullman.
“Trevor saw some time last season,
so he has some real game experience,”
Hartselle coach Bob Godsey said. “He
just doesn’t have experience as the
starting quarterback. There are guys
with him on the field that should make
it a little easier, though.”
Among those weapons is running
back Jordan Stover.
“Jordan is an elusive slasher,”
Godsey said.
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The Tigers also have an experienced
receiving corps and four returning
offensive linemen.
Seniors Cade Holmes and Walker
Thompson are three-year starters on
the offensive line. Senior Austin Parker
and junior Jake Johnson are two-year
starters.
Leading the receiving corps are
seniors Seth Garner and Chandler
Briggs and juniors Connor Burks and
Garrett Wade.
“We have a couple of receivers and
a number of linemen coming back
that should help Trevor a lot,” Godsey
said. “He also has Jordan in the backfield, and that should ease some of the
pressure.”
Oakes echoed that sentiment.
“We have a strong group returning on the offensive side of the ball,”
he said. “We have been working really
hard to improve and come together as a
unit, and now we are ready to play. We
want to take that next step forward and
hopefully put a playoff run together
this season.”
Hartselle Courier Journal
No. 2 – Jordan Stover, RB
No. 10 – Trevor Oakes, QB
No. 19 – Christian Edwards, DB
No. 21 – Seth Garner, WR
No. 22 – Connor Landers, LB
No. 28 – Beau Nosal, PK
No. 31 – Andrew Nuss, DB
No. 51 – Josh Hannah, LB
No. 52 – Caleb Meyer, DL
No. 54 – Austin Parker, OL
No. 60 – Cade Holmes, OL
No. 63 – Tyler Lackey, OL
No. 64 – Austin Boardman, DL
No. 67 – Walker Thompson, OL
No. 70 – Thomas McConnell, OL
No. 88 – Chandler Briggs, WR
11th Grade
No. 1 – Riley Wood, DB
No. 7 – Jackson Terry, DB
No. 12 – Britt Gillette, LB
No. 14 – Houston Wright, DB
No. 24 – Connor Burks, WR
No. 30 – Zach Hillman, DB
No. 34 – Garrett Wade, WR
No. 35 – Seth Mayfield, LB
No. 36 – Will Lawrimore, LB
No. 37 – Lijah Rollins, WR
No. 44 – Tyler Bodine, DB
No. 48 – Larsen Osborne, TE
No. 50 – Brandon Slayton, DL
No. 76 – Jake Johnson, OL
No. 78 – Shamaud Swope, DL
No. 86 – Mitch Grammer, LB
No. 99 – Ramiro Zavala, PK
10th Grade
No. 3 – Brayden Leslie, DB
No. 4 – Keondre Swoopes, DB
No. 5 – Conner Tumlinson, WR
No. 8 – Mac Meyer, WR
No. 9 – Kaleb Hall, WR
No. 11 – Luke Godsey, OB
No. 13 – Gunnar Wiggins, DB
No. 15 – Stone Powell, LB
No. 16 – Doug Durbin, DB
No. 20 – Colin Springer, DL
No. 21 – Andy Lamb, DB
No. 23 – Adam Hampton, FB
No. 26 – Tyler Cartee, WR
No. 29 – Will Matthews, DB
No. 38 – Braxton Peck, DB
No. 41 – David Hayes, WR
No. 55 – JM Caparas, OL
No. 56 – Zeb Green, OL
G5
No. 58 – Alec Lovett, OL
No. 62 – Gavin Jared, OL
No. 73 – Zane Craven, OL
No. 74 – Scott Hames, OL
No. 79 – Austin Miller, DL
No. 83 – Hilton Anderson, TE
No. 87 – Travis Davis, WR
No. 89 – Jose Aguilar, DL
No. 90 – Davis Harris, DL
No. 91 – Eason Mizell, DL
No. 97 – Jojo McConnell, DL
No. 98 – Anderw Demastus, PK
Trevor Davis, WR
9th Grade
No. 2 – Cade Wiley, DB
No. 3 – CJ Gholston, WR
No. 10 – Hunter Little, DB
No. 17 – Austin Harden, RB
No. 18 – Addison Parker, QB
No. 22 – Jackson Boyer, LB
No. 25 – Tucker Hayes, FB
No. 27 – Keythan Mishaw, DB
No. 28 – Jarrod Galloway, WR
No. 31 – Jaydon England, TE
No. 32 – Brinton Barclay, LB
No. 33 – Marc Pettus, FB
No. 39 – Cullen Donahoo, WR
No. 40 – Wyatt Wright, LB
No. 42 – Ryan Langston, LB
No. 43 – Clay Burns, WR
No. 45 – Nash Riddle, FB
No. 46 – Hunter Driver, DB
No. 47 – Harrison Lunsfor, DB
No. 49 – Ian Bodine, DB
No. 53 – Dylan Bargas, DL
No. 54 – Zane Stinson, OL
No. 57 – Ben Caldwell, OL
No. 59 – Will Miller, OL
No. 61 – Blake Curtis, DB
No. 64 – Andrew Rittman, DL
No. 66 – Austyn Randolph, OL
No. 67 – Colby Ricks, DL
No. 69 – Tim Brown, OL
No. 71 – Bryson Holt, DL
No. 76 – Alston Hampton, OL
No. 80 – Jacob McDonald, WR
No. 81 – Karl England, WR
No. 82 – Hunter Franks, WR
No. 84 – Braydon Bullard, DB
No. 85 – Tristin Nesmith, WR
No. 92 – Hunter Owens, LB
No. 93 – Tad Sivley, WR
No. 95 – Cain Gullion, DL
No. 96 – Takoma Smiley, DL
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12th Grade
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
WILLIAM T. MARTIN/FOR HARTSELLE COURIER JOURNAL
Hartselle roster
|
G6
Hartselle Courier Journal
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 |
Landers hopes to help proud Hartselle defense regain its edge
nose guard; Houston Wright
at cornerback; and Britt
Gillette at linebacker. SophoThe number 62 carries
more Keondre Swoopes will
a lot of weight around the
start at cornerback.
Hartselle High football proDespite the 62-point game
gram these days.
against Austin, Hartselle
As in 62 points allowed in
allowed just 22.1 ponts per
a loss to eventual Class 6A
game in 2015. With an offense
semifinalist Austin during the
that averaged just over 24
2015 season.
points a game, the Tigers
It’s not a stigma for the
were in practically every
Hartselle defense, but instead
game during the season.
one of the bigger learning
“Or goal is to play as best as
experiences of a 7-4 season
we can to put us in position
that ended with a playoffto win,” Landers said. “We
opening loss to Gardendale.
play in a very tough region, so
“All things considered, I
that intensity has to be there
think we handled that game
every week. We want to keep
pretty well,” senior linebuilding on what we were
backer Connor Landers said.
doing last year and continue
“It could have gone either
to get better.”
direction after that, good or
First-year starting quarterbad, but we came back with a
back Trevor Oakes has seen
win the next week before the
the defensive intensity first
playoffs started.”
hand.
Landers has experienced
“Those guys are playa lot during his three varsity
ing fast,” he said. “They are
seasons. As a freshman in
tough and play smart and
2013, Landers saw considershould really be solid for us
able game action when an
this season.”
injury opened a spot in the
Landers’ on-field and
linebacker corps during the
combine
performances have
Hartselle linebacker Connor Landers has embraced his leadership role on the Tigers’ defense. He is a two-year starter with
regular season.
garnered
him plenty of attenmore than 100 tackles in each season. CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/FOR THE HARTSELLE COURIER JOURNAL
Playing alongside threetion, even landing him a spot
year starter Waid Miller
in January’s Blue-Grey Allproved fruitful for Landers,
American Bowl. The game
what we were trying to do on that side
He is a two-year starter with more
who stepped in the following season
will be played on Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. at the
of the ball. I see a lot of that in Connor
than 100 tackles in each season. Caleb
when Miller departed Hartselle to
now. He has really stepped up.”
Meyer is a three-year starter at defen- home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
continue his playing career at the Uni“Getting selected for an opportunity
Landers has embraced more of a
sive end. Fellow senior Andrew Nuss
versity of North Alabama.
like that is very special,” Landers said.
leadership role on the defense the past
is a big-play maker in the defensive
“Waid was a really good player
“I am excited to represent Hartselle
two years, helping call plays and set
backfield.
for the younger guys to learn from,”
formations for a program that has been
Returning juniors include Will Lawri- when that time comes, but for now
Hartselle coach Bob Godsey said. “He
notorious for playing stingy defense.
more at linebacker/defensive end; Riley my focus is on winning games this
played hard and fast and understood
Landers is the heart of the defense.
Wood at free safety; Shamaud Swope at season.”
By Calvin Cooley
The Hartselle Courier Journal
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Hartselle Courier Journal
|
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
G7
Continuing
a tradition
Hartselle High’s football program
has gone 22-11 the past three season,
but the Tigers aren’t satisfied. Seasons of 8-3, 7-4 and 7-4 all ended with
first-round losses in the playoffs.
With several experienced players
returning on offense, Hartselle hopes
to make another deep playoff run.
The Tigers were a perfect 15-0 in 2011
when they won the Class 5A state
championship and followed that up
with two playoff victories in 2012.
CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/FOR THE
HARTSELLE COURIER JOURNAL PHOTOS
TOP: Coach Oscar Glasscock works
with the defense at Hartselle High.
The Tigers hope to improve on a unit
that gave up 121 points in its final
three games of 2015.
BOTTOM: Coach Jesse Perrin explains
a play to Luke Godsey during practice
at Hartselle High recently.
Jacob McDonald goes for the ball as Brayden Leslie defends during practice at
Hartselle High recently.
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Hartselle Courier Journal
Wednesday, August 17, 2016 |
2016 Hartselle HS Football Players
Adam Hampton
Alec Lovett
Alston Hampton
Andrew Demastus
Andrew Nuss
Andrew Rittman
Andy Lamb
Austin Boardman
Austin Harden
Austin Miller
Austin Parker
Austyn Randolph
Beau Nosal
Ben Caldwell
Blake Curtis
Brandon Slayton
Braxton Peck
Brayden Leslie
Braydon Bullard
Brinton Barclay
Britt Gillette
Bryson Holt
Cade Holmes
Cade Wiley
Cain Gullion
Caleb Meyer
Chandler Briggs
Christian Edwards
CJ Gholston
Clay Burns
Colby Ricks
Colin Springer
Conner Tumlinson
Connor Burks
Connor Landers
Cullen Donahoo
David Hayes
Davis Harris
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Hartselle Courier Journal
|
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
G9
2016 Hartselle HS Football Players
Garrett Wade
Gavin Jared
Gunnar Wiggins
Harrison Lunsfor
Hilton Anderson
Houston Wright
Hunter Driver
Hunter Franks
Hunter Little
Hunter Owens
Ian Bodine
Jackson Boyer
Jackson Terry
Jacob McDonald
Jake Johnson
Jarrod Galloway
Jaydon England
JM Caparas
Jojo McConnell
Jordan Stover
Jose Aguilar
Josh Hannah
Kaleb Hall
Karl England
Keondre Swoopes
Larsen Osborne
Lijah Rollins
Luke Godsey
Mac Meyer
Marc Pettus
Mitch Grammer
Nash Riddle
Riley Wood
Ryan Langston
Scott Hames
Seth Garner
Seth Mayfield
Shamaud Swope
Stone Powell
Tad Sivley
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CONTINUED ON PAGE G10
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G10 Wednesday, August 17, 2016
|
Alabama high school football preseason poll
Tyler Cartee
Tyler Lackey
Walker Thompson
Will Miller
Zane Craven
Zeb Green
1. McGill-Toolen (27) (13-1) 347
2. James Clemens (2) (10-2) 248
3. Hoover (1) (10-3) 219
4. Central-Phenix City (9-4) 172
5. Spain Park (12-2) 169
6. Bob Jones (9-2) 164
7. Hewitt-Trussville (6-5) 158
8. Murphy (7-4) 98
9. Auburn (7-5) 49
10. Gadsden City (5-5) 32
Others receiving votes: Lee-Montgomery (8-4)
21, Jeff Davis (6-4) 10, Baker (6-4) 7, Buckhorn
(6-5) 6, Vestavia Hills (9-3) 5, Mary G. Montgomery (3-7) 3, Prattville (6-4) 2.
1. UMS-Wright (17) (12-1) 300
2. Madison Acad. (6) (11-2, 3A) 240
3. Cordova (2) (13-1) 218
4. Munford (1) (10-4) 217
5. Andalusia (11-2) 179
6. Fayette Co. (10-5) 158
7. Leeds (4) (13-2) 136
8. Cherokee Co. (7-5) 69
9. North Jackson (7-5) 54
10. Thomasville (6-5) 39
Others receiving votes: Haleyville (6-5) 23,
West Limestone (8-4) 21, Madison Co. (6-5, 5A)
13, Handley (8-3) 12, Childersburg (2-8) 6, Randolph (7-4, 5A) 6, Montgomery Catholic (4-6) 5,
Bibb Co. (7-4) 4, Hale Co. (5-5, 3A) 4, Saks (8-3)
2, Trinity (8-4) 2, Satsuma (4-6) 1, Tallassee
(5-6, 5A) 1.
1. Spanish Fort (29) (15-0) 357
2. Clay-Chalkville (1) (14-1) 264
3. Blount (10-2) 217
4. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (8-4) 170
5. Opelika (12-1) 162
6. Oxford (3-7) 145
7. Park Crossing (8-3) 103
8. Saraland (8-3) 76
9. Bessemer City (8-5) 54
10. Benjamin Russell (12-2) 38
Others receiving votes: Hazel Green (5-6,
6A) 33, Parker (7-5, 5A) 26, Austin (10-4) 12,
McAdory (10-2) 12, Carver-Montgomery (3-7) 8,
Minor (8-5) 7, Florence (4-6) 6, Hartselle (7-4)
5, Muscle Shoals (11-1) 5, Southside-Gadsden
(5-5) 5, Homewood (9-3) 3, Gardendale (10-3) 2.
1. Piedmont (28) (14-1) 354
2. Gordo (2) (12-1) 266
3. T.R. Miller (10-3) 190
4. Bayside Acad. (11-4) 173
5. Hillcrest-Evergreen (8-6) 168
6. Opp (8-4) 158
7. Montevallo (9-3, 4A) 81
8. Colbert Co. (10-4) 74
9. Daleville (10-2) 69
10. Oakman (8-4) 57
Others receiving votes: Lauderdale Co. (9-4) 29,
American Chr. (10-2) 22, Clarke Co. (4-7, 4A)
17, Straughn (5-6, 4A) 17, Mobile Chr. (10-2, 2A)
15, Glencoe (9-2) 8, Pike Co. (9-2) 6, N. Sand
Mountain (7-5) 4, Excel (2-8) 1, Randolph Co.
(13-1, 2A) 1.
1. St. Paul’s (29) (13-2) 356
2. Mortimer Jordan (1) (13-2) 263
3. Jackson (13-1) 234
4. Alexandria (11-2) 196
5. Russellville (11-2) 183
6. Etowah (7-4) 82
7. Beauregard (11-1) 75
8. Eufaula (9-3)70
9. Brooks (11-2, 4A) 52
10. Guntersville (12-1) 41
Others receiving votes: Vigor (7-4) 37, Cleburne
Co. (9-3, 4A) 28, Demopolis (10-3) 24, Mae Jemison-Huntsville (1st year) 21, Greenville (11-1)
15, Scottsboro (5-6, 6A) 15, Briarwood Chr. (5-7,
6A) 9, Hayden (8-4) 5, Sylacauga (7-4) 4.
1. Elba (27) (14-1) 351
2. Washington Co. (10-3) 217
3. Fyffe (13-2) 213
4. G.W. Long (12-1) 196
5. Lanett (5-5) 178
6. Tanner (3) (11-1) 162
7. New Brockton (9-2) 91
8. LaFayette (6-5) 88
9. Cleveland (12-1) 80
10. Aliceville (6-5, 3A) 68
Others receiving votes: Gaston (7-4) 15, Ranburne (10-2) 15, Red Bay (11-1) 13, Abbeville
(3-7, 3A) 10, Sheffield (4-6) 3A 5, Southern
Choctaw (2-8) 4, Leroy (5-5) 2, Fayetteville
(9-3) 1, J.U. Blacksher (7-4, 1A) 1
Listed are first-place votes, 2015 record
(and class, if different) and points.
Tucker Hayes
Will Lawrimore
Hartselle Courier Journal
Will Matthews
Zach Hillman
Zane Stinson
Connor Burks catches a throw from coach Jesse
Perrin during practice at Hartselle High. CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/FOR THE HARTSELLE COURIER
JOURNAL
1. Maplesville (19) (13-1) 298
2. Cedar Bluff (3) (13-2) 256
3. Linden (3) (10-3) 246
4. Brantley (5) (10-3) 235
5. Pickens Co. (8-4, 2A) 166
6. Notasulga (9-3) 121
7. Spring Garden (8-4) 106
8. Sweet Water (5-6) 100
9. Berry (10-3) 68
10. Decatur Heritage (12-2) 34
Others receiving votes: Georgiana (11-2)
22, Addison (5-6, 2A) 18, Woodville (4-7) 11,
Marengo (7-5) 9, Wadley (10-2) 8, Hackleburg
(10-2) 5, Cherokee (4-5, 2A) 3, Loachapoka (4-7)
3, Millry (7-4) 1..
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Hartselle Courier Journal
Music to his ears
For The Hartselle Courier Journal
FALKVILLE —Zach Brown was
around before the Southern rock band
with the same name minus the “h” hit
it big in 2008.
“Everybody would kid me about the
Zac Brown Band,” Brown said. “They
would ask, ‘Where’s your band?’ I still
hear it today from some people.”
Brown, a senior wide receiver on
Falkville High School’s football team,
likes the music of the Zac Brown Band
from Georgia, but one sound he likes
better is what he hears at the Moulton
Motor Speedway during racing season.
He, of course, also enjoys the roars
during Friday night football.
“I love dirt track racing,” Brown said.
“My dad has been taking me to Moulton
Speedway ever since I started walking.”
Brown’s dad is Chris Brown, not to be
confused with the singer by that name.
“I’m not the only one in the family
with a famous name,” Zach Brown said.
“I had a great-great-grandfather named
Charlie Brown.”
According to Brown, his father has
been part of the scene at Moulton
Speedway for 30 years. One of his dad’s
best friends is driver Greg Wilhite.
“My dad helps Greg get his car ready
every week,” Brown said. “It’s amazing
how much work goes into it. It’s really
something to see the car come alive each
week.”
Moulton Speedway is a 1/3-mile dirt
track. The races can be as much as 25
laps. There are no pit stops. Unlike
NASCAR races, if the car’s setup needs
a slight adjustment, it’s done before the
next race.
“Even a slight tweak can make a huge
difference,” Brown said.
There’s a role for Brown on the Wilhite racing team. He prepares the tires.
Because the track is dirt, smooth tires
are not good, especially in the turns.
“My job is to scuff the tires with a
grinder,” Brown said. “That gives you
some grip in the turns. I have to check
the tire pressure. Something as simple
as tire pressure can make a big difference with how the car handles.”
Wilhite also races at Arkadelphia
Speedway south of Cullman. Occasionally, the team will race in Tennessee.
“There’s nothing like sitting in the
infield at a dirt track watching these
cars,” Brown said. “I’ve been to races at
Talladega, but I think dirt tracks are a lot
more exciting.”
It’s almost as exciting as catching a touchdown pass to help Falkville
win a game. He did that five times last
season as the Blue Devils went 9-3 and
advanced to the second round of the
state playoffs.
“When you catch that touchdown pass
and hear the roar of the crowd, there’s
nothing like it,” said Brown, who at
5-foot-10 and 155 pounds also plays cornerback. “When I was in the eighth grade
I hit a 3-(point basket) to win a (basketball) game. That was a great feeling, but
it’s nothing like a touchdown catch.”
Brown is the top returning receiver.
He and junior running back Caleb
Vinson and sophomore quarterback
Aaron Dove are expected to be the top
three playmakers on offense this season.
G11
Falkville’s Zach Brown
prefers sounds of racing
cars and cheering football
crowds
Zach Brown plays receiver for the Falkville Blue Devils. “When you catch that touchdown pass and
hear the roar of the crowd, there’s nothing like it,” Brown said. JERONIMO NISA/FOR THE HARTSELLE
COURIER JOURNAL
“We have to take advantage of Zach’s
speed,” Falkville coach Joel Schrenk
said. “He needs to have at least 20
touches a game.”
If Brown, Vinson and Dove can make
some big plays, it could be another successful season for Falkville.
“Since Coach Schrenk arrived,
football has been pretty special around
here,” Brown said. “I can remember
when Falkville used to play a lot of
homecoming games. It’s not that way
anymore.”
—[email protected]
or 256-340-2395. Twitter
@DD_DavidElwell.
Falkville facts
Who: Falkville Blue Devils
Coach: Joel Schrenk (5th year, 28-15)
League: Class 2A, Region 7
Last season: 9-3
Season schedule:
Friday - at Decatur Heritage at West Morgan
Aug. 26 - vs. Danville
Sept. 2 – at Cleveland
Sept. 9 - vs. Tarrant
Sept. 16 - at Cold Springs
Sept. 23 – Open
Sept. 30 - vs. Sumiton Christian
Oct. 7 - vs. West End-Walnut Grove
Oct. 14 - at Winston County
Oct. 21 - vs. Tanner; Oct. 28 - at Vinemont
Good Luck Blue Devils!
Lawrimore Trailers
“Go Blue Devils”
Lone
Stop by our store off I-65 at Exit 322.
Wolf
Trailer Company
• Utility Trailers • Goosenecks • Enclosed Trailers • Car Haulers
• Dump Trailers • Equipment Trailers
“Our Quality Stands Alone”
48174-1
Lawrimore Manufacturing, Inc.
(256) 784-6000 • M-F 8:00 am-4:30 pm, Sat. 8-Noon
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
96 Buster Road • Falkville, AL 35622
Office: (256) 784-5535 • Fax: (256) 784-5537 • lonewolftrailerco.com
48173-2
By David Elwell
|
G12 Wednesday, August 17, 2016
|
Hartselle Courier Journal
Tough region will be challenge for Tigers
By Calvin Cooley
The Hartselle Courier Journal
Widely considered one of the toughest
regions in Alabama high school football,
Class 6A, Region 8 has a new look for
2016.
Reclassification and realignment
in the AHSAA moved Cullman out of
Region 8 and brought in Hazel Green
and Columbia from the Huntsville area,
expanding the region from seven teams
to eight.
Hartselle, Decatur, Austin, Florence,
Muscle Shoals and Athens return to the
region, creating a potential logjam for
teams trying to reach the postseason.
Muscle Shoals won the region in 2015,
finishing 6-0 against region opponents.
The Trojans recently won an appeal of a
postseason ban for the 2016 season and
will be eligible to compete for a region
championship and playoff berth when
the season begins.
Region runner-up Austin lost a few
key offensive pieces from a state semifinal team, with running back Asa Martin
transferring to IMG Academy in Florida
and star offensive tackle Deonte Brown
heading to Alabama after graduation.
Hartselle and Cullman also advanced
to the playoffs from Region 8 in 2015.
“It’s a deep region, maybe the toughest in the state,” Hartselle coach Bob
Godsey said. “Anybody can lose to
anybody on a given day, so you have to
be on your toes every time you play.”
New to the region, Hazel Green
Class 6A, Region 8
Athens
Austin
Columbia
Decatur
Florence
Hartselle
Hazel Green
Muscle Shoals
Class 6A, Region 7
Albertville
Brewer
Cullman
Fort Payne
Oxford
Pell City
Southside-Gadsden
Hartselle coach Bob Godsey, directing the Tigers during a game last season, says Class 6A, Region 8 might be “the toughest in the state.” He enters his
14th season as the Tigers’ head coach with a 115-43 overall record. JERONIMO NISA/FOR THE COURIER JOURNAL
advanced to the Class 7A playoffs
in 2015 but has to replace a starting
quarterback, running back and all-state
receiver.
Athens, perennially strong, will be
led by first-year head coach Cody Gross
and features one of the better passing
attacks in the area.
Florence and Decatur are looking for
bounce-back seasons, while Columbia
looks to translate basketball succcess to
the football field.
“All of those teams are well-coached
and have athletes that could play at the
next level,” Godsey said. “We played
Hazel Green last year, so we are pretty
familiar with everyone on the schedule.”
Decatur coach Jere Adcock agreed
with Godsey’s assessment.
“There are eight solid teams fighting
for only four spots,” he said. “Someone
is going to get left out and with these
teams that should make for some good
football.”
“
It’s a deep region,
maybe the toughest in
the state. Anybody can
lose to anybody on a
given day, so you have
to be on your toes every
time you play.”
— Hartselle coach Bob Godsey