High School Football 2012 Preview

>> Jacksonville Christian Academy / page 3

>> Jacksonville High School / page 6

>> Piedmont High School / page 14

>> Pleasant Valley High School / page 24

>> Spring Garden High School / page 26

>> White Plains High School / page 33

>> Jacksonville State University / page 36

>> Auburn University / page 38

>> University of Alabama / page 39

>> SEC Schedules / page 13

college

what’s inside high school

on the cover

The Jacksonville Golden Eagles head into the 2012 football season with a new coach, new schemes and a new team. First year head coach Clint Smith has created quite a buzz in the city of Jacksonville.

Jhs head coach clint smith // Photo by anita kilgore

to all area schools for a safe and successful

2012 season!

anita kilgore// aboVe: Piedmont High School varsity football head coach Steve Smith talks strategy with quarterbacks Cade Bradley and Tyler Lusk.>> See Piedmont Bulldogs on page 14.

2 / auGuST 2012 >> 2012 FooTball prEviEw

anita kilgore// beloW: White Plains High School varsity football head coach Heath Harmon and quarterback Dale Reddick.>> See White Plains Wildcats on page 33.

By PAIGE RENTZConsolidated News Service

ANITA KILGORE // Head coach Tommy Miller talks strategy with quarterback Daylon Brackett.

AuGusT 2012 / 3>> 2012 fooTBAll PREvIEw

ANITA KILGORE // Jacksonville Christian Academy varsity football team, manager, and coaches.

Small Thunder team expects good attitude to bring big things

The Jacksonville Christian Academy football team is always on the small side, but this year its 18-man roster is shorter than usual.

“We are very, very thin this year,” said head coach Tommy Miller. “We don’t have a lot of depth any year because of the size school we are, but this year we probably have less than we’ve ever had.” Of Miller’s 18 players, four of them are seventh and eighth graders.

Miller said he’s got talent on his team.

“We’ve got six or seven guys that are pretty good play-ers, we just don’t have the numbers to fill in spots that we need filled in,” he said

This means is that his

players have to work that much harder to keep the field manned and make it through four quarters. “We have had good prac-

tice,” he said. “I can’t com-plain about the attitude and effort they’ve put in so far.”

Junior Tyler Morales, 16, said he pretty much plays the whole game. It can be tough, he said, but hard work at prac-tice gets him and his team-mates conditioned to handle playing offense, defense and special teams.

“As long as you do your job, your teammates do their job,” he said, “it’s not that bad as long as you’re in con-dition.”

Miller said that his sopho-more quarterback Daylon Brackett is making good effort to step up and lead as head of the offense and noted senior

Seth Posey has stepping up to lead on the line.

Coming off a 4-6 record in 2011, Posey said he expects the hard preseason work of the team to pay off in a pretty good season this year, despite a regional realignment that left the Thunder in what some speculate will be a tighter spot.

“Some say it’s a tougher region, but we left a region with tough teams in it,” he said.

Miller said he has no antici-pations for his team in the coming weeks. “We’re going to take it one step at a time.” But his players are more will-ing to assess their prospects.

“People look at us and say we’re the underdogs,” said Morales, “but as long as you play together, you can do any-thing.”

TailgatingHeadquarters

The Original Cost Plus 10%

Food StampsWelcomed!

We Accept&

Savings

to

Food Outlet never sells beer, wine, or any

alcoholic beverages in our stores.

Cheer

About!

FOOD OUTLET619 PELHAM RD. SO. HWY. 202 HWY. 202 HWY. 431 NORTH NOBLE COGSWELL AVE.✸ JACKSONVILLE ✸ ANNISTON ✸ BYNUM ✸ ALEXANDRIA ✸ ANNISTON ✸ PELL CITY ✸

4 / august 2012 >> 2012 football preview

JCA Cheerleaders start off bigger and better

Anna Messer

The Mayor & City Council Members

GO THUNDER!The City of Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Christian Academy Cheerleading Squad has grown into a larger group and is ready to go this year.

With a large squad of 15 girls (rather than the usual 12) and the addition of Bolt, the new mascot for the Thunder, sponsor Anna Messer is expecting a great year.

Messer said she’s had a great deal of outside help from parents and former cheerleaders Brooke Lee and Courtney Coleman, who are helping to train the squad for building stunts. Currently the squad does not compete in competi-tions, but Messer said that could be in their future.

Messer said her squad isn’t putting their energies into improving in any specific area. “We’re focusing on the Lord,” she said, “and everything else will fall into place.”

Courtney Russaw, a 16-year-old senior, said she was looking forward to cheering on the football team as the fall season begins. “It’s just fun,” she said.

Karoline Worman, 17, is new to the squad after sitting out last year because she moved to JCA from Jacksonville High School. As a senior, she wants to finish off her high school years partici-pating in both cheering and volleyball. “I just hope we have a good year,” she said.

“I’m excited because it’s my last sea-

son and I really enjoy cheer-ing every year. I’m excited to see the football team win some games,” said senior Maggie Ray, 18.

Senior cheer-leader Jordan Parker, 17, said she’s really looking forward to the addition of a mascot. “That should be fun, incorporat-ing him into the games and stuff, getting every-body pumped up,” she said. “And I know the younger kids will love him.”

Parker said she’s hoping for a smooth-er year this year, and said the squad is looking forward to giving God all the glory for their success “because it’s only through his grace that we’re out here today.”

She pointed to 1 Timothy 4:12, which reads, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

“That’s my prayer for our squad this year and for the school,” she said.

by paige reNtZConsolidated News Service

www.piedmontoutdoor.net

613 N. Main Street • Piedmont, AL 36272

ANITA KILGORE // 2012 JCA Varsity Cheerleaders. (Front row left to right) Maya Cunningham, Emma Howell, Karoline Worman, Jordan Blake Parker, Maggie Ray, Courtney Russaw and Calley Compton. (Back row left to right) Danna-Leigh Swindall, Tristen Bowers, Elysabeth Morales, Chelsea Butler, Sierra Sharpe, Olivia Hurst, Rachel Russaw and Kaeli McCormack.


thunder 2012 Scheduleaug 31

sept 7

sept 14

sept 21

sept 28

oct. 5

oct 12

oct 19

oct 26

Nov 2

woodville (r)

Collinsville (r)

Donoho (r)

Cedar bluff (r)

spring garden (r)

gaylesville (r)

valley Head (r)

Coosa Christian (r)

asD

shades Mt. Christian

HoMe

HoMe

away

HoMe

away

away

HoMe

away

away

HoMe

Switc

Switc

Ashley Penton 706 Hwy. 278 Byp. Piedmont, AL 36272 Bus: (256) 447-8501 [email protected]

Coy Callender 706 US Hwy 278 E By-Pass Piedmont, AL 36272 Bus: (256) 447-8501 [email protected]

A012

Accidents happen. But with Alfa™, you don’t have to worry. With offi ces right in your community and claims service that customers rate among the best in the country, Alfa will have you back on the road in no time. Let us show you how we can save you money and frustration. Call Alfa®.

®

Don’t Panic. Call Alfa®.

ANITA KILGORE // JCA senior football players and cheerleaders.

ANITA KILGORE // JCA has a new mascot this year, BOLT, Caleb Williams.


ANITA KILGORE // Jacksonville High School varsity football team

by lori tippets SportS Writer

golden eagles 2012 scheduleaug 30

sept 7

sept 14

sept 21

sept 28

oct 5

oct 12

oct 19

oct 26

Nov 2

pleasant valley

Hokes bluff (r)

Cherokee County (r)

Munford (r)

weaver

anniston (r)

lincoln (r)

Cleburne County (r)

alexandria (r)

saks

away

HoMe

away

HoMe

HoMe

away

away

HoMe

away

HoMe

Golden Eagles head into season with excitement

continued on page 7

New coach, new schemes, new team

First year head coach Clint Smith has created quite a buzz in the city of Jacksonville. Excitement for the upcoming football season is apparent every-where. The band is talking about it, the cheerleaders are talking about it, people in the commu-nity and most importantly, the players are all excited about the upcoming season.

Many feel that this could be the year that Jacksonville makes it to the playoffs, something they haven’t done since 2009. Coach Smith knows that making the playoffs won’t be an easy task. He is in one of the toughest, if not the toughest region in all of the state’s football alignments.

The Class 4A Region 5 has the likes of Anniston, Cleburne County, Alexandria, Cherokee County, Hokes Bluff, Munford, Lincoln and Jacksonville.

“There is a lot of tradition in this region,” said Smith. “We will be playing teams that are used to winning. Everybody in this region has either played for or won a state championship at some point in their school his-tory.

“We will be playing teams that expect to win every game. What we’ve got to do is we’ve got to go in with the mindset of playing the best we can play. We know if we can come out of this region and get into the playoffs we’ll be battle tested. We won’t see anything in the playoffs that we won’t see every week.”

Even the non-region games

will be tough weeks for the Golden Eagles who will start off the season at Pleasant Valley. In week five Jacksonville will take on Weaver for homecoming and then will end the regular season at home against Coach Smith’s old team, Saks.

Smith is used to winning. He has taken his former Saks team to the playoffs three of the last five years. He knows what it takes to win and he knows the challenges ahead of him.

One of the biggest challenges facing Smith right now is work-ing with a team that has 45 players, most of them new to the program. Smith is dealing with having to replace six to seven guys on both sides of the ball.

august 2012 / 7>> 2012 football preview

ANITA KILGORE // Jacksonville High School varsity football coaches. (Front) Head Coach Clint Smith. ( Back Row from left), Ed Canady, Marcus Albright, C.J. Boyd, Thomas Jamison Edwards and Cordell V. Hunt.

from page 6

Go Eagles!Go Eagles!

Calhoun Meter Co.256-435-7869 • Cell 256-454-1333

Jim Cruse - Owner3676 Cedar Springs Rd., Jacksonville, AL 36265

GO EAGLES!GO EAGLES!

EAGLES: Will start the season on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Pleasant Valley

The Golden Eagles are not necessarily a young team, with 11 seniors and 18 juniors, but they are a very inexperienced team.

One of the big questions for the Golden Eagles will be how junior Jackson Bell adapts at quarterback. Bell will be taking his first varsity snaps at quarterback. Backup to Bell will be Lavontae Lacount, another junior who saw time at quarterback last year when Forrest Pearson suffered a season ending injury.

Returning starter Dominique Thomas will be at running back. Thomas is big and strong and the Eagles will rely heavily on him. Also in the backfield will be Savon Parker, another big running back who the Eagles will look to to get the job done.

At receivers will be newcomers Payton and Tanner Sims, Andrew Clingan, Sid Thurmond, Miles Clark and returnee Elijah Cunningham.

Seniors Donovan Cypress and Alex Rowan, two linemen who started last year will anchor the line with Kyle Reeves at center and Josh Barnes and Reid Hobbs at guard.

On defense Coach Smith is looking for a lot of leadership from senior safety Jared Tippets. Tippets has the most experience of the seniors having played on special teams in the ninth grade and has started since the 10th grade.

“Jared has played every year and brings a lot of experience,” said Smith. “He’s very knowledgeable of the game and makes good decisions. He’s like the quarterback of our defense. He has to make sure people are getting where they need to be. He’s done a great job with that. It’s been a big adjustment for him with this defense moving around a lot.”

At the corners will be two other experienced players, Sid Thurmond and Elijah Cunningham. Senior Nate Whaley, another first time player will also play at the corner.

At the linebacker position will be Lavontae LaCount, Andrew Clingan, Malik Reed, Savon Parker, Kevin Reese and Tanner Sims.

The defensive line will be manned by senior Trey Morris at nose guard, Cameron Siders and Tristan Yates.

Smith is expecting a lot from his defense as they have the experience, whereas there are no senior skill players on offense. “I’m looking for those guys to show a lot of leadership because we have so many new players and those guys have played and are more veteran players. I’m really looking for them to step up.”

The players are trying to learn a new offense as Coach Smith runs the spread. “We have the ability to go really fast or go slow. We won’t go fast all the time but we have that capability. We’re going to run first but want to be multi-dimensional.

“On defense we will be in a 3-5 attack style defense with lots of movement, lots of blitzes. We want to cause a lot of confusion for the opposing offense.”

Coach Smith has the advantage of having brought four coaches with him from Saks to help the players learn his game plan. Jamison Edwards, the offensive co-coordinator has been with Smith for seven years and coaches the quarterbacks.

Marcus Albright is the defensive co-coordinator. Albright played his senior year at Saks for Smith and then helped at Saks while he attended college. After a years stint at Oxford Albright came back to Saks.

Cordell Hunt works with the special teams, the secondary and running backs.C.J. Boyd, who coached at Jacksonville before going to Saks, is back with the Golden

Eagles coaching the offensive line and outside linebackers.


“Keeping YouIn Motion”

��

Listen to our Sports Review Show on Saturday mornings

from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. on WGAD 1350AM or 99.3FM

and WJBY 930AM.

We offer a Saturday morning injury Clinic at our Gadsden

offi ce for players injured in Fri-day night games, beginning

Sept. 1 at 7:30 am

Physicians Offi ce 256-547-7417 • Physical Therapy 256-456-0563507 South 4th St. • Gadsden

Boaz - Therapy • 256-281-1900www.northeasorthopedics.com

Jacksonville High cheerleaders ready to pump it up

Sponsor Christy Vice

Christy Vice, starting her 15th season as cheerleading sponsor at Jacksonville High School, has sensed the renewed excitement over football with the addition of new Head Coach Clint Smith. “There’s a sense of excitement and spirit and I hope it turns into fans in the stands,” said Vice.

Hoping to lead the fans into a flurry of cheers to encourage the football players are 12 JHS cheerleaders, seven of them in their first year of cheering.

“We’ve had to step it up this year,” admits Vice. “With so many new and so many first timers we’ve had to go through and do a building, teaching cheers to people who were very new. It has taken a lot of patience from the returnees. We’ve had to break up into small groups with those who are returning help-ing out the new girls, but they’re eager to learn.”

For the first time in several years the JHS cheerlead-ers attended the Universal Cheerleading Academy camp at Auburn University where the squad won

superior ribbons in cheer and dance.At the three day camp the squad would break

into classes to learn new cheers and chants, dances and had team building exercises.The cheerleaders had a lot of bonding time as

they would spend a lot of time at the pool and hot tub when the day was over.

This year’s captain is Natalie Gunter, in her sec-ond year of cheering with Co-captain Haley Turley who is in her third year.

“Natalie has stepped up and taken charge,” said Vice of her captain. The two of them will work real well together. Where one is outspoken the other will make up in organization. They will do a great job.”

New to cheerleading this year are two JHS soc-cer players, Kaila Green, a senior and sophomore Ashton Wells.

In their first year as varsity cheerleaders are junior Pooja Revanna and sophomores Taylor Carter, Michelle Crow, Anna Sides and Ayeala Jackson.

Second year returnees are juniors Madison Burroughs, Sarah Holcombe and Madison Murray.

Vice says her squad is, “Eager to do well and is looking forward to a new year. This has a lot to do with Coach Smith and the excitement he’s bringing to the whole thing.”

ANITA KILGORE // Jacksonville High School varsity senior cheer-leaders. (From left) Kaila Green, Natalie Gunter and Haley Turley.

by lori tippets SportS Writer


209 Francis St E, Jacksonville 256.435.5263

NuKleenCleanersL A U N D R Y

Since 1967

Completedry cleaning

Quality & Service

• Shirts laundered• Alterations• Drapery cleaning• Formal wear care• Wedding gown preservation

The Mayor & City Council MembersThe City of Jacksonville

GO GOLDEN EAGLES!

Good LuckJacksonville

State Farm, Bloomington, IL1001058

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®

Mike Douglas Ins Agcy IncMike Douglas, Agent102 Memorial DrivePiedmont, AL 36272Bus: 256-447-8254

GO EAGLES!

Hold the line.

ANITA KILGORE // Jacksonville High School varsity cheerleading squad. (Front row from left) Sarah Hol-combe, Kaila Green, Natalie Gunter, Haley Turley and Tay-lor Carter. (Back row from left) Ayeala Jackson, Madison Murray, Madison Burroughs, Anna Sides, Michelle Crow, Ashton Wells and Pooja Revanna.

GOOD LUCK

THIS SEASON!Billy E. Blount, Jr. CPA

1200 Pelham Rd. South • 256.435.2157


Membership in Fort McClellan Credit Union is available for anyone who lives, works or attends school in the following counties: Calhoun, Cleburne, Etowah, Cherokee, St. Clair, Talladega, Clay, Randolph and Chambers.

FORT MCCLELLAN

CREDIT UNION

Your savings federally insured by NCUA to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the US Government

Apply At A Nearby Fort McClellan Credit Union Offi ce.Anniston

1731 Noble St.(256) 237-2113

Jacksonville1204 Church Ave. SE

(256) 435-5741

RoanokeHwy. 431 N Bypass

(334) 863-8902

OhatcheeIndian Village

(256) 892-7129

Centre500 Cedar Bluff Rd.

(256) 927-4203

Jacksonville High School will showcase 100 members in their band this year, a number that is very high for a Class 4A school.

Leading the way for the Golden Eagles will be a senior class that is 20 members strong in the band, to include drum majors Andrew Record and Daniel O’Donnell.

Band director Jeff Gossett, who is start-ing his 21st year at JHS, 25th as a band director, knows he has something special with his senior class. “You can really tell the maturity in the program,” said Gossett of his band led by all the seniors. “They all have been with me pretty much the whole time. They just know what to do and they get it done. They don’t really even have to ask for permission, they just do it. When they leave there will be a huge hole because that much leadership will just be gone.”

Record and O’Donnell makes things run even smoother for Gossett and the band. This is the third year that Record has been drum major, almost unheard of in band circles. O’Donnell is entering his second year as drum major. “They are doing a fantastic job,” said Gossett of Record and O’Donnell. “They just come in and take over and do what they need to do. It’s a band director’s dream; it’s like having two assistants. Andrew has started arranging tunes for the band to play in the stands at football games and they come in and they make copies for the kids and make sure people have what they need. They also go out and line the field for me.”

The theme for the Golden Eagles half-time show this year is “Some like it hot” from the old movie with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The band will start out with “Heat Seeker” and then will move into a medley of three songs. The medley will feature the JHS Showstoppers, with the first song, “Burn it to the ground” featur-

ing the color guard, the second song will spotlight the dance line with “Hot Stuff” and finally the third song will feature the majorettes with “Great Balls of Fire.” The majorettes will entertain with fire batons.

The band will close their halftime show with “Hot, Hot, Hot,” a Buster Poindexter tune from the 80’s. “The halftime show will be a lot of fun, it will be a lively show,” reports Gossett. “The kids love it; they are having a good time with it.”

The show will also have special effects that are still being worked out.

The band started band camp on July 30 and worked hard for two weeks. “The eighth graders came in cold and they really caught on and took off with it,” says Gossett.

“They all work hard and have a good time being around each other. It’s so uncommon to see 100 kids that don’t bicker. They all get along so well.”

Gossett says that for him he is always reminded about what his responsibility

is. “I never forget what my role is and the name, ‘Band Director’ fits because you’re not really pulling them along you show them where to go and they just do it.

“You sell them on the point that this is a performance, you have to perform, and you have to practice.”

The band will be debuting new uni-forms, or at least the jacket, on hopefully the second home game.

The band will be competing in the Weaver contest, the Oneonta contest and maybe even a later competition in the year, as well as participate in the JSU homecoming parade and the Christmas parade.

Gossett, who keeps coming back year after year, says he does so because of his love for the kids. The feeling is reciprocat-ed because the students keep coming back year after year to be led by Mr. Gossett.

BY LORI TIPPETSSports Correspondent

Experienced seniors to lead band

continued on page 11


Switc

Switc



A012


®


Member of the band are: Chasti Abernathy, Matthew Allen, Emily Ausborn, Erin Ballard, Nathan Ballard, Regina Barnard, Ashley Barry, Laura Barry, Cailley Blanks, Willow Blanks, Catherine Boudousquie, Philip Brandow, Abigail Bryan, Madison Burrell, William Butner, William Cain, Cristen Chandler, Eric Cline, Katherine Cline, William Cole, Daniel Davis, James Davis, Kennedy Delap, Erin Dempsey, John Dempsey, Alexander East, Anna Elam, Bryan Elam, Carson Franks, Lacy Fritner, Mikeal Giles, Michael Godwin, Edra Ha, Allsion Hamilton, John David Hamilton, John Heintzelman, Samantha Higgins, Lindsey Honaker, Ariel Hosmer, Thomas Hosmer, Kahlil Jackson, Jameisha Johnson, Lauren Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Elizabeth Keefer, Harley King, Brooke Kozinski, Evan Kozinski, Lakshmi Krishnaprasad, Claeb Kuntsmann, Brandy Lee, Jada Lowery, Mikayla Ludwig, Morgan Manners, Katherine McCutcheon, Landon McFall, Caitlin Minnick, Cailin

Mize, Morgan Moore, Kayla Moss, Hannah Nelson, Sarah Kathryn Norris, Daniel O’Donnell, Rhett Parris, Caroline Peevy, Giovanni Porter, Benjamin Pryor, Alexandria Ramsay, Andrew Record, Samantha Roberson, Shawn Roberson, Aniyah Robinson, Kenneth Satcher, Kenya Satcher, Savannah Satcher, Clay Smith, Alyce Sparrowhawk, Chandler Sparrowhawk, Benjamin Speer, Spencer Stephens, Matthew Stone, Cindy Tang, Maria Trifas, Rebecca Ulrich, Hannah Underhill, Christian Watts, Denard Whetsone, Christopher White, Jonathon Williams, Jacob Wilson, Paul Wright and Lillie Zech.

The color guard consists of: Emilee Arledge, Alanna Austin, Shakia Clark, Kierra Davis, Kelsey Ervin, Zaria Gamble, Leah George, Gerryka Gilbert, Sydney Harden, Tarribian Harris, Ashley Haynes, Becky Heintzelman, Seryta Hervey, Mahlaisha Jones, Donnesha Little, Shantaylor Looney, Shakiah Michell, Victoria Paige, Destiny Parchman, Abby

Scheuling, Symbol Swain, Zahria Teague and Sara Welch.

Members of the dance line are: Caley Cole, Haley Cotton, Harley Croft, Ambria Davis, Kiara Ervin, Brianna Graham, Kira Kingston, O. Brendell Nix, Shea O’Donnell, Lydia Pass, Mia Smith, ShaCoya Teague, Ashley Thomas and Celisa Walton.

Section leaders for the band are: Flutes - Lakshmi Krishnaprasad, Cathy Boudousquie; Clarinets - Katie

McCutcheon, Lillie Zech; Saxophones - Spencer Stephens, Matthew Allen, Denard Whetstone; Trumpets - Jake Wilson, Hannah Nelson, Emily Ausborn; Mellophone - Will Cole; Low Brass - Shawn Roberson, Sarah Kate Norris, Carson Franks; Percussion - Brooke Kozinski, Jonathan Williams, Hannah Underhill; Color Guard - Victoria Paige, Becky Heintzelman; Majorettes - Caroline Peevy, Tia Pendleton; Danceline - Cailee Cole, Celisa Walton.

from page 10

302 Mountain Street, Jacksonville, AL 36265

256-435-7407

Go Gamecocks!

Game Day Apparel & Novelties

for JSU Gamecocks & Jacksonville High School

Go Eagles!Jacksonville High School

lori tippets // ABOVE Jacksonville High School drum majors Andrew Record and Daniel O’Donnell lead the band into the stadium before last week’s jamboree game.


Best of Luck This Season!200 Coffee Street, SW, Jacksonville, AL 36265

Phone: 256-435-1966

610 Pelham Road South Jacksonville, AL 36265

JACKSONVILLEMUFFLER & AUTO REPAIR

Phone: 256-435-1610

$5 Off Oil Change

*Coupon must be presented

10% Off All Services

& Tires*Coupon must be presented

Offers expires December 31, 2012

lori tippets // LEFT: The Golden Eagle Band .ABOVE: ThE 2012 ShowSToppErS

2012 SEC FOOTBALL SCHEDULEDateTeam

ALABAMA

ARKANSAS

AUBURN

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

KENTUCKY

LSU

OLE MISS

MISSISSIPPISTATE

SOUTHCAROLINA

TENNESSEE

VANDERBILT

Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3

VANDERBILTNashville(Aug. 30)

MISS. STATEStarkville

ALABAMAFayetteville

TENNESSEEKnoxville

FLORIDAKnoxville

2012 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME • DECEMBER 1 • ATLANTA, GA.

Nov. 10 Nov. 17 Nov. 24

ARKANSASFayetteville

TEXAS A&MCollege Station

SO. CAROLINANashville(Aug. 30)

MISSOURI

TEXAS A&M

MISSOURIColumbia

KENT STATELexington

EAST CAROLINAColumbia

GEORGIAColumbia

FLORIDACollege Station

AUBURNStarkville

LSUAuburn

KENTUCKYGainesville

VANDERBILTAthens

FLORIDAGainesville

AUBURNAuburn

SOUTH CAROLINA

Columbia, SC

MISSOURIColumbia, SC

GEORGIAAthens

OLE MISSTuscaloosa


TENNESSEEAthens

SOUTH CAROLINALexington

GEORGIAAthens

ARKANSASCollege Station

ALABAMATuscaloosa

MISSOURIColumbia

TENNESSEEKnoxville

AUBURNAuburn

KENTUCKYFayetteville

ARKANSASAuburn

OLE MISSOxford

VANDERBILTNashville

LSUGainesville

VANDERBILTNashville

SOUTH CAROLINAGainesville

SOUTHCAROLINAColumbia

KENTUCKYLexington

GEORGIALexington

ARKANSASFayetteville

FLORIDAGainesville

SOUTH CAROLINABaton Rouge


TEXAS A&MOxford

AUBURNOxford

KENTUCKYLexington

TENNESSEEStarkville

VANDERBILTColumbia

ALABAMAColumbia

GEORGIAColumbia

LSUBaton Rouge

FLORIDAGainesville

MISSISSIPPISTATE

Starkville

ALABAMAKnoxville

OLE MISSOxford

LSUCollege Station

MISSOURIColumbia

FLORIDANashville

AUBURNNashville

LSUBaton Rouge

TEXAS A&MTuscaloosa

AUBURNTuscaloosa

OLE MISSLittle Rock

SOUTHCAROLINAColumbia

MISSISSIPPISTATE

Starkville

LSUFayetteville(Nov. 23)

TEXAS A&MAuburn

GEORGIAAuburn

ALABAMATuscaloosa

GEORGIAJacksonville

MISSOURIGainesville

FLORIDAJacksonville

OLE MISSAthens

AUBURNAuburn

MISSOURIColumbia

VANDERBILTLexington

TENNESSEEKnoxville

ALABAMABaton Rouge

MISSISSIPPISTATE

Baton Rouge

OLE MISSBaton Rouge

ARKANSASFayetteville(Nov. 23)

ARKANSASLittle Rock

GEORGIAAthens

VANDERBILTOxford

LSUBaton Rouge

MISSISSIPPISTATEOxford

TEXAS A&MStarkville

LSUBaton Rouge

ARKANSASStarkville

OLE MISSOxford

KENTUCKYColumbia

FLORIDAGainesville

TENNESSEEKnoxville

TEXAS A&MCollegeStation

TENNESSEEColumbia

ARKANSASColumbia

SOUTH CAROLINAColumbia

MISSOURIKnoxville

VANDERBILTNashville

KENTUCKYKnoxville

AUBURNAuburn

MISSISSIPPISTATE

Starkville

ALABAMATuscaloosa

MISSOURICollege Station

KENTUCKYLexington

OLE MISSOxford

TENNESSEENashville

LA. TECHShreveport(Aug.30)

N.C. STATEAtlanta(Aug.31)

MICHIGANArlington, Texas

JACKSONVILLESTATE

Fayetteville

CLEMSONAtlanta

BOWLINGGREEN

Gainesville

BUFFALOAthens

LOUISVILLELouisville(Sept. 2)

NORTH TEXASBaton Rouge

CENTRALARKANSAS

Oxford

JACKSONSTATE

Starkville

SE LOUISIANAColumbia

WESTERNKENTUCKYTuscaloosa

LOUISIANA-MONROELittle Rock

WASHINGTONBaton Rouge

UTEPOxford

GEORGIASTATEKnoxville

NORTHWESTERNEvanston, Ill.

LOUISIANA-MONROE

Auburn

FLORIDAATLANTIC

Athens

WESTERNKENTUCKY

Lexington

IDAHOBaton Rouge

TEXASOxford

TROYTroy

ARIZONASTATE

Columbia

UABColumbia

SMUDallas

PRESBYTERIANNashville

FLORIDAATLANTICTuscaloosa

RUTGERSFayetteville

SOUTHALABAMAStarkville

TULANENew Orleans

AKRONKnoxville

S.C. STATECollege Station

KENTUCKYLexington

TOWSONBaton Rouge

CENTRALFLORIDAOrlando

MISSISSIPPISTATE

Lexington

MIDDLE TENNESSEE

Starkville

MISSISSIPPISTATE

Tuscaloosa

ALABAMATuscaloosa

UMASSNashville

NEW MEXICOSTATEAuburn

TROYKnoxville

LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTEGainesville

WESTERN CAROLINATuscaloosa

ALABAMAA&M

Auburn

JACKSONVILLESTATE

Gainesville

GEORGIASOUTHERN

Athens

SAMFORDLexington

SYRACUSEColumbia

WOFFORDColumbia

SAM HOUSTONSTATE

College Station

FLORIDASTATE

Tallahassee

GEORGIATECHAthens

CLEMSONClemson

WAKE FOREST

Winston-Salem

TULSAFayetteville


Piedmont looking for another state crownBy riP donovan

Sports Correspondant


anita kilgore // Piedmont High School varsity football team, coaches and cheerleaders

Coach Steve Smith anticipates a successful year

Some 85 football seasons came and went at Piedmont before the Bulldogs claimed their first state champion-ship in 2009. No one in Piedmont wants to wait that long for a second state title. Now, as the 2012 season rap-idly approaches, Piedmont partisans are thinking another Class 3A championship banner could join the one already hanging at the school.

Head football coach Steve Smith has done nothing to lessen expectations.

“I will say without hesitation, we have the talent on this football team to play deep into the playoffs,” Smith said following a recent practice. “Now, me saying it doesn’t get us there. We have to, obviously, go about our business and do what we’re supposed to do because we’re going to have to earn it. Nobody’s going to give us anything. I feel very confident in our team when I say that I feel like it could be one of the very best teams that I’ve been the coach of.”

This year, the Bulldogs will dress 66 players on Friday nights. Of that number, 22 are seniors and 22 are freshmen. The junior and sophomore classes combined account for the remaining 22. A number of experienced players return, particularly on defense. Smith said that level of experience has allowed Piedmont’s coaches to accelerate the pace at which components of the offense and defense have been installed.

“You’ve got a lot of kids that are starting for the third year and then you’ve got Jamie (Major) and Marquez

(Gamble) who are starting for their fourth year. … Some of these guys have been three-year starters and therefore they’ve played a ton of football. … They’ve played an extra season just in playoff games in the last three years,” said Smith.

If there is truth to the football adage ‘Defense wins championships’, and Smith believes there is, Piedmont enters the season on a positive note.

“To be a championship caliber team, you have to play great defense. I feel like this could potentially be the best defensive team I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach,” said Smith. “We’ve got good size and strength and quick-ness on the front with lots of experience. We’ve got some really good linebackers and we’ve got a talented and fast secondary. That allows us to do some things and move some people around and give some people some differ-ent looks. Those ingredients all mesh together, give you an opportunity to create some big plays on the defensive side.”

Early in Piedmont’s intra-squad scrimmage on August 17, the defense dominated. That most of the Bulldogs’ defensive players also practice as offensive players and know the plays may have helped. The offense is still working to replace three interior linemen lost to gradu-ation and that contributed. Still, the defense gave every indication it could make any play that needed to be made.

“At this point in time most teams will tell you their defense is ahead of their offense. I think in our case our offense has made some strides toward narrowing the gap but our defense certainly is what we’re going to hang our hat on here early in the season. … I think being able to play good defense will keep us around in the games and offensively we’ve got to continue to work and improve so that we can be able to put enough points on the board to win the game. I think that by the time the season gets

bulldogs 2012 scheduleaug 31

sept 7

sept 14

sept 21

sept 27

oct 5

oct 12

oct 19

oct 26

Nov 2

Cherokee County

ashville (r)

glencoe (r)

Cleveland (r)

leeds

white plains (r)

susan Moore (r)

saks (r)

weaver (r)

lincoln

HoMe

awaY

HoMe

awaY

HoMe

awaY

awaY

HoMe

HoMe

awaY



Lusk Animal CLINIC

Dr. Tim Lusk • 256-447-8000440 Garcy Blvd. • Piedmont, AL

GO BULLDOGS!

287883

WATSON’SDrug Store

John Roberts, R. Ph.Let Us Fill Your Next Prescription

Downtown Piedmont447-9093

Good Luck Bulldogs!

Piedmont Family Practice

Dr. Russell Ulrich800 Memorial Drive

Piedmont, AL, 36272(256) 447-9045

GoodLuckSpringGarden




GO PANTHERS!

Hold the line.

in full swing our offense and defense will be complimenting each other well,” Smith predicted.

There is also good news in the kicking game where Dillon Terry returns to kick field goals and extra points and Cade Bradley returns as punter. Smith also expects lots of production from special teams in the return game. Denard Spears and C.J. Savage will return punts. On kickoffs, Cody Daughtry, Darnell Jackson and Dreek Thompson will handle the returns.

Before Smith’s arrival as head coach prior to the 2006 season, Piedmont had not been in the AHSAA playoffs in six years. In Smith’s six years at the helm, there have been six playoff appearances with at least two playoff victories in each of the last five seasons.

One key to Smith’s success is his ability to identify, and willingness to play, younger players who can contribute. Gamble and Major are examples in this year’s senior class. Daughtry was that kind of player last year as was Thompson. In Smith’s first season at Piedmont, then-freshman Chase Childers was the quarterback who entered the game on Piedmont’s third possession. In Smith’s second year, freshman Mickey Jackson became a part of the rotation in the defensive line.

“I think it just takes a kid that’s got that kind of competitive drive to them,” Smith said. “They’re not intimidated by their age. They don’t feel inferior because they’re young.”

He finds them because he makes a point of being aware that they may be out there and he knows what attributes he’s seeking.

“You can tell. I watch locker room demeanor and weight room attitude. Sometimes a young guy might be very talented but you’ll watch him, he’ll stay in the back on all the drills, he’ll stay in the back in the weight room,” Smith said. “Every now and then you get that one guy and he doesn’t care to jump out there first. A lot of times the mannerisms are going stand out to me.”

While Smith is always on watch for a freshman or sophomore who can help the Bulldogs he also shows patience with late bloomers. The Bulldogs seemingly always benefit significantly from seniors of whom little was expected when they were younger. That happens because Smith is able to keep players on the squad, working consistently to improve, who become key contributors as seniors.

“The thing that you sell to your players is, everybody’s got a part and a role. What has

happened is … they’ve played a lot of games on Monday nights on the ‘B’ team level. We’ve tried to work them in on the varsity Friday nights when possible,” said Smith. “I think they realize that they get better at practice a lot times by going against our guys. So when their junior year, senior rolls around and they pop on the scene or something its not like they’ve been just sitting on their helmet for two years. They’ve been working hard and making strides and making progress, playing seven games or so on Monday night, maybe getting in five or six more on Friday night. They realize how hard they worked all year long in the weight room. I think they just want to be a part. The best characteristic about these kids I’ve had, they’re so unselfish.”

There is no question in Smith’s mind that these late-bloomers are a key to Piedmont’s recent success.

“I think that’s part of what makes us successful and that’s what helps you overcome significant graduation loss,” Smith said of those who have waited their turn, a phrase he considers inaccurate. “I hate to use the terminology ‘waiting their turn’ because I’m sure most of them if they could take a spot a year early that’s what they really want to do. They’re not waiting their turn willingly. They just maybe have somebody in front of them that’s a little bit better but they keep a great attitude and work hard. That’s what makes it so rewarding to me.”

At Piedmont, hard work and improvement are rewarded. Maybe its an opportunity to give a starter a series of rest on the sideline while the reserve plays with the other starters. Maybe it’s a place on one of the special teams units.

“I just think there’re some ways that (when) these kids continue to progress and improve that they know if they catch our eye in practice that they may get an opportunity on Friday nights,” Smith said.

With Smith now in his seventh year as head football coach, no player on the current squad knows any way different than Smith’s way.

“I think those kids that will be standing on the sidelines on Friday nights this year, they’ve watched it and they know that if they do what they’re supposed to do then next year they could be that guy,” Smith said. “I think that’s the difference in having a pro-gram and having a team. Not much has changed in how we do stuff in the last seven years. It’s just now you’ve got a group coming through that that’s all they know.”


anita kilgore // Piedmont High School senior football players and cheerleaders.

Piedmont Health Care

Quality and compassion for all your rehab and longterm care needs.

256-447-825830 Roundtree DrivePiedmont, AL 36272

Go Bulldogs!Go Bulldogs!


www.piedmontcity.org

City of Piedmont“Home of the Chief Ladiga Trail”

The City of Piedmont wishes the best of luck for the 2012-2013 Football Season!

GO BULLDOGS!

anita kilgore // Piedmont High School varsity football coaches. (Kneeling from left) James Blanchard, Head Coach Steve Smith, Oscar Bonds and Mark Mitchell. (Standing from left) Kevin Bedwell, Horace Bramblett, Matt Glover, Patrick Walker and Everett Kelley.

anita kilgore // Piedmont High School varsity football managers.


Lover’s by Glover

105 E Ladiga St. Suite B Piedmont, Alabama

256.792.9063

✽ Home Decor ✽ Gifts✽ Event Planning

Good Luck to all Teams!

U.S. Hwy 278 West • (256) 447-2111

Go Cheerleade

rs!Go Band!Go Team!

Piedmont Fencing, LLCAND

REID Hardware, LLC

A new start toa new season

PHS cheerleaders get a new leader

By eddie Burkhalter News Editor, Piedmont Journal

ANITA KILGORE // PHS 2012 varsity cheerleaders. Back row left to right: Marley Harper, Tracie Donaldson, Sara Martin, Sara Beth Minton, Savannah Grimes and Savannah Tant. Front row left to right: Alexis Byers, Briania Wallace, Gena Prater and Kaci Johnson.

It’s not always easy being the new kid on the block. That goes for cheer coaches too. But for second grade teacher at Piedmont Elementary, Mandy Barber, who took over for outgoing Piedmont cheer Sandra Akin, the transition has been smooth.

“I can see that the girls are well prepared for the new season and a new coach,” barber said.

The Piedmont native, and six-year cheer-leader, Barber was head cheerleader in her senior year at PHS. She said she loves the town and the school system, and is proud to

BARBER continued on page 20

New show, new instrumentsBy eddie Burkhalter

News Editor, Piedmont Journal

august 2012 / 19>> 2012 footBall preview

POPE’SBARBER SHOP

120 N Center Ave. • 447-6011GO BULLDOGS!



Switc

Switc



A012


®


BERRY ANIMAL CLINICLarge & Small Animal Service

24089 ALA. HWY 9N., PIEDMONT, AL

OFFICE: 447-6318EMERGENCY: 447-7701

THOMAS

It’s like building a skyscraper from scratch each year, the work of a band director and his performers, coming up with a new routine and laying a foundation of practice that ensures the finished product is what the director envisioned.

Piedmont High School Band director Jamie Thomas said over the summer band members poured themselves into their practices, learning the new numbers and putting in those long, hot summer afternoons getting the steps and turns right.

There will be about 75 Blue Knights taking the field on the first game, which is close to last year’s number, Thomas said. He’s been extremely impressed with their effort, and said he’s expecting a great year.

“I think we’ve got a mature group of kids. There are still a lot of youngsters, but their work ethic, they way they’re coming to practice and practicing outside of school, I just see more effort overall from these kids,” Thomas said.

The theme of this years’ halftime show is “The colors of music” and will feature songs like “Paint it black”, “Yellow submarine”, “Devil wears a blue dress” and a

fusion of “True colors” and “Somewhere over the rain-bow”.

And the hard work comes with a payoff. Recently, Thomas received a shipment of 12 new wind instruments, part of an overall plan to replace every school instrument in the band. Last year, the band received all new march-ing percussion and Thomas expects more to be coming throughout the school year.

“The instruments we have now have been in the pro-gram for 25 years plus,” Thomas said. The board of education and Superintendent Matt Akin agreed to spend close to $70,000, Thomas said, in new instruments.

“Whereas a lot of band programs are getting shut down or loosing funding, here we are buying $70,000 worth of instruments. It’s so refreshing to be where we are the schools and parents make that kind of commitment to make our band better. It’s be a big uplift for us.”

Not simply happy with investing in athletics – the renovated football stadium – or in academics – the laptop initiative – the school board say fit to invest in the kids who spend hours every summer, under the hot sun, prac-ticing what they love.

“That’s the way our kids feel about it. They see the commitment being made to them as well. That’s the best thing about our school system: Everybody has bought

into wanting our school system to be the best,” Thomas said. “The kids see people taking an interest in them, and wanting them to be better. It’s been good for the program all together.”

‘I’m so grateful for all the support our parents give us, and our school system. I can’t say enough about the board of edu-cation and Mr. Akin chipping in to make the instrument pur-chase a reality,” Thomas said.

The inaugural Chief Ladiga Marching festival is scheduled to take place on The Field of Champions Oct. 13. Already, six marching bands have signed on to attend the festival, and Thomas said he’s like to see at the most, 15 bands at the event.

“Hopefully, we’re going to showcase some of the best bands in this area, including bands from Georgia. We’re hoping to get a good mix of Alabama and Georgia march-ing bands,” Thomas said. “This is something we want our community to become involved with.”

CALHOUNFARMERSCO-OP INC.256-447-6560900 US HWY. 278 BY-PASS EASTPIEDMONT, AL

anita kilgore // PHS marching band seniors. Allison Wood, Sarah McWhorter, Kendal Garrett, Skianna Smith, HannahBrown, Tiffani Pike, Calla Pope, Lauren Fortenberry, Timmy Byers, Alyssandra Darrisaw, Hunter Mobley (Not pictured: Taylor Floyd)


Cliff ’s Auto Parts705 N. Main St. Piedmont

447-2333GO DOGS!

Dr. Benjamin IngramStaff and Families

207 Rome Ave., Piedmont447-6071

GO BULLDOGS!

Foothills Florist

211 Memorial Drive, Piedmont, AL 36272256-447-4800

[email protected]: Cecilia Bates

Good Luck This Season!

be able to teach and coach cheerleading in the place where she grew up.

The 11 Varsity, 4 junior varsity and 16 Junior High cheerleaders spent the summer putting in the work necessary to make this season a good one, Barber said. All three squads attended Universal Cheerleading Association summer camps at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“All of the squads won several superior ribbons, and the Varsity Squad were named Cheer Champs and won third place for their dance routine,” Barber said. “We also had a two-day home camp for the competition squad.”

The competition cheer squad also worked with former Piedmont cheerleader Taylor Ford over the summer to help prepare them for their competi-tions, Barber said. The first will be held Oct. 21 at Gadsden City High School.

The varsity squad this year has nine returning varsity members and two new cheerleaders. Out of the four junior varsity squad members one is a returning member. And Barber isn’t the only new cheer coach at Piedmont this year. Piedmont High School math teacher Kim Hanson will be coach-ing the 16 cheerleaders on the junior high squad.

“Mrs. Hanson and I are really excited about the year and working with such a great group of tal-ented young ladies,” Barber said. “We are ready to cheer on the bulldogs.”

from page 18

CHEERLEADERS


AnitA kilgore // Piedmont High School Blue Knights Marching Band

505 E Highway 278 Bypass Piedmont, AL 36272

(256) 447-9672

OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY

Call, Click orCome by...256.741.1800

www.noblebank.com1509 Quintard Avenue, Anniston AL 36201646 Valley Cub Drive, Alexandria AL 36250

1868 Hwy 78 East, Oxford AL 36203100 South Main Street, Piedmont AL 36272MEMBER FDIC

Stinson & HowardFin e Jewe l r y

Why pay more somewhere else?Downtown Piedmont - 256.447.9612

GOOD LUCK BULLDOGS!PCA INSURANCEEstablished 1986

Auto • Home • Work Comp • Business • Contractors • Bonds Life • Health

BRIAN JENNINGS - Agent

101 S. Center Ave.Piedmont, AL 36272

256-447-7943256-447-7959 Fax

1460-A West Main St.Centre, AL 35960256-927-2012256-927-2011 Fax

Visit us at PCAInsuranceLLC.com - - - We have great rates

GO BULLDOGS!

287906


anita kilgore // Blue Knights marching band majorettes. Linda Feazell, Melissa Fortenberry, Laura Posey, Raven Paslay

YOUNG OIL & GRUB MARTOver 71 years of serving the public.

256-447-9087

Go Bulldogs!

306790

Hardware & Auto PartsDowntown Piedmont

447-9771

HARDWAREDowntown Piedmont

256-447-9771

Go Bulldogs!

anita kilgore // Blue Knights marching band dance line. Allison Wood, Sarah McWhorter, Hannah Brown, Tiffani Pike, Joyce Pleze, Lauren Fortenberry, Maddie Naugher and Skianna Smith. (Not pictured: Morgan Watkins)


Good Luck!

Piedmont Auto Repair

405 Memorial Dr. • Piedmont, AL 36272(256) 792-9158 • Mark Hill

Over 20 Years Experience

306921

Switc

Switc



A012


®


anita kilgore // TOP Blue Knights marching band color guard, Tiffany Prater, Kendal Garrett, Felicia Bullock, Calla Pope, Kayla Brown, Morgan Wolfe, Mackenzie Hightower, Adrienne Garmon, Chole Barnes and Sydney Ford. RIGHT Blue Knights marching band drum major, Andrew Posey. Pleasant Valley has 12 members on

the cheerleading squad this year, six of them sophomores. The upper classmen, four seniors and two juniors must have been working hard to bring the younger ones along as the Raiders captured the overall leadership award, all superior ribbons and the overall spirit stick at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) camp held at Panama City Beach, Fla., this past June.

The squad competed in the overall extreme routine dance competition, cheer competition, and home pom evaluation.

Because of their accomplishments the squad was invited to participate in the Capital One Bowl at Walt Disney World in December.

Senior captain Blakeli Bolt, junior co-captain Cameron Glass and mascot Wes Sears were selected All-Stars and invited to perform in the Varsity Spirit New Year’s Day London Parade.

Sears received the overall excellent award for his routine as “Raider Ray.”

Bolt says that captain Blakeli Bolt

A talented stunting group


Bulldog color guard

anita kilgore // ABOVE Pleasant Valley cheerleaders for the 2021 season are, front row from left, Ashley Drury, Blakeli Bolt, captain, and Chelsea Ward. Middle row from left, Kayla Davis, Destiney Spears and Melinda Greenwood. Back row from left, Cameron Glass, co-captain, Dixie Smith, Brittany Yancey, Allie Battles, Megan Til-lison, Destiny Barthel and Wes Sears, mascot.


RaideRs 2012 scheduleaug 30

sept 7

sept 14

sept 21

sept 28

oct 5

oct 12

oct 19

oct 26

Nov 2

Jacksonville

ranburne (r)

vincent (r)

victory Christian (r)

white plains

fultondale (r)

ohatchee (r)

woodland (r)

wellborn (r)

gaston

HoMe

HoMe

awaY

HoMe

awaY

awaY

HoMe

HoMe

awaY

awaY

BY LORI TIPPETS Sports Correspondent

Pleasant Valley lost 12 players to graduation, many of them starters that played both ways.

Numbers are about the same for the Raiders this year, with 40 out to play the game. Of that 40, over half – 24 – are new to the program this year. Head Coach Jeff Davis says that he has, “kids capable of being standouts,” and is anxious to see how his players perform on the field during a game situation.

Back at quarterback this year will be junior Lucas Ford. “Lucas went through a lot of growing pains last year and he’s going to be that much better because of it,” says Davis.

Senior Hunter Green will be back at fullback with Dalton Bean at tailback, Eddie Roe, flanker, and Dustin Andrews at tight end.

Junior Jared Colvin will be starting his fourth season at right tackle, Ethan Lambert will be at center and a new face, Austin Parris will be at right guard.

At left guard will be R.J. Simpson and senior Garrett Preston, a back-up quarter-back, will set up at split end.

Davis stated that the coach-ing staff, “feels really good about our defense. Right now we don’t know who is start-ing,” says Davis, “We have a number of kids who could play defense, some of them are playing other positions right now. Kids that we have on the field on defense we are asking them to learn two or

three positions. That will benefit us especially late in the ball games.”If the Raiders were to start play today, Davis says you could see Ethan Lambert at

the nose position, Colvin at defensive tackle, Austin Lambert, another new face, at one defensive end spot and Austin Tate at the other.

“We are pretty deep at linebacker,” admits Davis, with Simpson, Parris, Nick Deerman, Dustin Andrews and Hunter Green. “Those guys are going to be the guys that we can play,” says Davis. “They are probably the biggest and strongest kids on our football team. Those guys will play a lot of football.”

In the secondary will be Preston returning at safety, Roe will be back at one corner slot and “Steven Huddleston, Drew Lewiski and Dalton Turner will be in there somewhere,” according to Davis.

“Lewiski and Huddleston both will play in the backfield at times. I feel good about that and the depth we have in the backfield that we can count on,” reports Davis.

While there are many players that could be standouts for the Raiders this year, Davis points to a couple of players to look for. “Dustin Andrews at linebacker has the capabil-ity of taking over a football game. Austin Parris can dominate a football game and this is the first year that he has played. Austin Tate is as good of a defensive end as there is

in the state.“I’m anxious to see what our skill people do. We have enough guys at skill positions

that we can spred the ball around and keep people off balance.”Davis feels that one reason that so many new faces came out this year has to do with

the success that the baseball team had. “These boys are closer than what we’ve had over the years. They are closer knit. Most of them played baseball together. The baseball team had a very successful year last year and we are looking to build off their success.” Davis pointed to the ‘07 and ‘08 years when the baseball team won back-to-back area championships and the football team went 7-3 in ‘07 and 6-4 in ‘08. “Success breeds success,” said Davis.

Davis has the same coaching staff coming back again this year; Darren Hamby, Robby Davis, Anthony Finley and Ronnie Preston. The coaching staff will be looking to get the Raiders to a better record than their 3-7 last year which Davis explained, “just wasn’t up to our standards.”

The Raiders will be tested in a very competitive 2A Region 6 with Fultondale, which was voted No. 2 in the pre-season poll by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, Vincent, (No. 8), Wellborn and Woodland who also received votes, and Ohatchee, Ranburne and Victory Christian.

The Raiders played Weaver in their jamboree then will start the season at home against cross town rival Jacksonville on August 31.

Plenty of new faces dot Raiders’ lineup

submitted photo // Pleasant Valley varsity football team, varsity cheerleaders and coaches.


GLEN WALKERTIMBER COMPANY

(256) 425-7448

RAIDERSJOHNSON’S INSULATION CO.

GOOD LUCK PLEASANT VALLEY RAIDERS!

256-435-30061546 Littlejohn Road

Jacksonville, AL

brings a lot of leadership to the squad. Bolt has been involved in a lot of extra curricular activities, was the junior class president, has been involved with several clubs and is very responsible.

Bolt describes her co-captain, Glass, as “breathtaking. Every squad at camp knew Cameron’s name. He is a great leader also.”

Bolt says that her two captains have different personalities that work well for the squad.

“The strength of the squad is stunting,” admits Bolt. “I hope they improve in a lot of areas and

we can match up other talents with our stunting ability.”With so many new faces Bolt relies on the leadership of the older

ones, and her captains, to help the younger ones grow.Co-captain Glass says that with so many new cheerleaders, “some-

times they get frustrated if something falls. We have to be there to say, hey guys, we got this, you can do it.”

Blakely Bolt agreed with Glass adding, “We just tell them they are going to hit it. We keep encouraging them and put them in the mindset that they can.”

Other members of the Pleasant Valley cheerleading squad this year are sophomores Destiny Barthell, Brittany Yancey, Megan Tillison, Dixie Smith, Melina Greenwood and Allie Battles, junior Kayla Davis and seniors Destiney Spears, Ashley Drury, and Chelsea Ward.

What second year Pleasant Valley band director Haley Jackson wants to impress upon people is that even though her band

is small, they have a big sound.

The numbers in the band are up, from 20 last year to 24 this year, and the Raiders have also added a six member dance line. Even though the band is not as large as others in the area, Jackson is impressed with what she has seen so far.

“For being so small, they have such a big sound,”

explains Jackson. “I don’t want their size to fool anybody, they have a big sound.”

Jackson is pleased with how the stu-dents are progressing. Having come in last year after replacing Pam Smith who had been at Pleasant Valley for years, Jackson was pleased with the way the students responded.

The theme of the band this year will be “Rock.” While Jackson doesn’t want to

reveal too much about her halftime show she has given a small hint saying that one of the songs will be a Bon Jovi tune.

The band started practicing the third week of July and held its own camp with members of JSU’s Marching Southerners coming in to help.

Sophomore Andrew Epperson will be the drum major for the Raiders. Epperson, along with Keith McIntyre, were both named to the District Honor band last year.

“I really like working with them,” said Jackson of her band. “They are very good kids.

Members of the band, in addition to Epperson and McIntyre are: Emerald Angerbauer, Madison Baswell, Cassidy Battles, Owen Battles, Destiny Conley, Abigail Epperson, Madison Gatson, Karie George, Tanis Henry, Demi Highfield, Christopher Hilley, Anna Holcombe, Thomas Lakins, Hannah Lively, Kortney Mobley, Genevieve Pate, Tyler Peck, Sabrina Rosenbaum, Eric Rush, Sarah Rush, Jesse Welch, Meghan Welch and Jaeson Never Williams.

Cassidy Battles, Destiny Conley, Abigail Epperson, Hannah Lively, Kortney Mobley and Genevieve Pate are members of the dance line under the instruction of Rachel Glass.

Small band, big sound

Drum majorAndrew

Epperson

by lori tippets SportS NewS writer

RaideRs’ cheeRleadeRsfrom page 23

Bolt

ANITA KILGORE // Spring Garden Varsity football team.

Spring Garden hoping to make playoffsJason Howard returns to coach Panthers after two seasons at Ohatchee


When a high school football coach says his team’s season could be as solid as a place in the playoffs and as poor as 1-9, odds are that he feels good about his start-ers and senses a severe shortage of depth. Jason Howard finds himself in just that position in his return to Spring Garden.

Howard led the Panthers for seven years before spend-ing the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Ohatchee, his alma mater. His 2008 and 2009 teams reached the playoffs, and earned opening round wins, so Howard knows what it takes to get the Panthers to the postseason.

“It’s one of those weird seasons. If we keep everybody healthy and get a couple of breaks then I think we can make the playoffs. If we get banged up and have to start moving people around then it could fall all the way down to where we’re a 1-9, 2-8 type team,” Howard said last week.

Injuries create the obvious problems of having to play less skilled or less experienced players as replacements. Then there are the additional problems of substitution patterns.

“From the offensive side of it, for example, I feel like nine of the 11 positions we’re pretty solid for a 1A team but we have no subs. If we have one person go down, we may have to move three people to get our next best player on the field,” said Howard.

Howard said should running backs Tyler Morgan or Forrest Livingston leave a game, the next choice for the

backfield would be lineman Craig Jones. Another line-man must change positions when Jones moves in order to bring the next best lineman into the game.

“We’ve moved three people just to get that one spot. That’s the tough part. We’re practicing for it. Every day we shuffle people in and out of different positions, look-ing at a scenario of what do we do if somebody cramps and we have to get them out for a series,” Howard added. “’How are we going to have to sub on this?’ If we put Craig at fullback we’re going to have to change his jersey because he’s had a lineman number on and we couldn’t run any of our pass routes with him.”

Ten seniors are playing football for the Panthers this year. From the ninth and tenth grades combined, Howard said there are only four players.

“We’ve always had some kids that could back up kids that were ninth and tenth graders and we just don’t have that right now,” Howard noted.

When numbers are small, those who are playing typi-cally are two-way starters. In Spring Garden’s case, nine players will be starters on both offense and defense in the 2012 season. Then special teams positions must be filled.

“We’ve got nine kids that play on both sides of the ball. Out of those nine kids, I’m going to say another five or six of them are on every special team,” Howard said.

Will Penton and Will Ivey will play on “everything we’ve got,” according to their coach. Penton starts on offense, starts on defense, is the punter and kicks extra points. Ivey’s responsibilities include starting at quarter-

back and safety, holding on place kicks and serving as personal protector on punts.

“Some of our bigger kids we try to get off the field and rest them. Our more athletic kids don’t ever come off the field,” said Howard. “We get Forrest off. We don’t have Forrest on any of our kicking game stuff. Now, he’s on our return team and our punt return but as far as kickoff team, extra point team, punt team, we get him off and give him a blow on it.”

Howard’s philosophy on offense may include a few more passes but it will still be familiar to those who watched his previous Spring Garden teams.

“We’re going to have to be one of those teams that have positive plays on every down and we just wear people down,” he said. “Our goal has always been two to three yards on first down, get us into a second-and-seven. Then get us into a third-and-three or third-and-four. … We’ve looked at everything as four downs. If we’re in third-and-four and get to fourth-and-one, we’re going to go for it.”

When the Panthers have the ball, Ivey’s backfield mates will typically be Morgan at tailback and Livingston at fullback with Josh Hale at flanker. Zack Dobbs will anchor the line at center. Caleb Steward joins Jones at guard. B.J. Turner and Sam Parris are slated to start as the tackles. Jake Grogan will be the tight end and Penton the split end.

On defense, Grogan and Jones are the ends with Steward and Turner the tackles. Livingston will be the


By rip donovanSports Correspondant


panthers 2012 scheduleaug 31

sept 7

sept 14

sept 21

sept 28

oct 5

oct 12

oct 19

oct 26

Nov 2

fayetteville

gaylesville (r)

valley Head (r)

Coosa Christian (r)

Jacksonville Christian (r)

woodville (r)

Collinsville (r)

Donoho (r)

Cedar bluff (r)

talladega County Central

HoMe

awaY

HoMe

awaY

HoMe

HoMe

awaY

awaY

HoMe

awaY


Why pay more somewhere else?Downtown Piedmont • 256.447.9612

GOOD LUCK PANTHERS!

Foothills Florist

211 Memorial Drive, Piedmont, AL 36272256-447-4800

[email protected]: Cecilia Bates

Good Luck This Season!

Spring Garden Tip-Off Club

GoPanthers!

Supporting our athletes since 1968!

middle linebacker. Alan Herter, a backup at tackle on offense, and Dylan Watson are the outside linebackers.

Hale and Penton will be the corner-backs. Morgan is the free safety and Ivey the strong safety.

Howard got some encouraging results from Spring Garden’s jamboree games. Leevi Maddox, Hunter Crider, Hunter Bondie and Morgan Twilley each showed promise that they will be able to play effectively in reserve roles.

If work ethic and attitude count for anything, the Panthers should have a solid season.

“They’ve all had good attitudes, They’ve all worked. I can’t say that I’ve been dis-appointed in anybody out there on the field. … There are days that as a collec-tive they don’t work as hard as I want them to but that’s just part of football. For the most part, they do everything that I ask them to do and they’re good kids,” Howard concluded.


207 Rome Ave., Piedmont447-6071

GO PANTHERS

Dr. Benjamin IngramStaff and Families

Hardware & Auto PartsDowntown Piedmont

447-9771

HARDWAREDowntown Piedmont 256-447-9771

Go Panthers!

WATSON’SDrug Store

John Roberts, R. Ph.Let Us Fill Your Next Prescription

Downtown Piedmont447-9093

Good Luck Panthers!

We are looking forward to a great 2012-2013 season of Spring Garden Panther Football!!

See any Foundation offi cer or director or contact the school. Amounts less than $100 will be applied to your membership.

THE SPRING GARDEN FOUNDATION

For more information call (256) 504-9433

Projects:Auditorium Air ConditioningAuditorium ChairsStudent LockersIntercom SystemElectronic Message CenterComputers for Students & TeachersComputer Lap FurnitureSTIHome Program for Checking Grades OnlineBreak Area PavilionLandscaping/ Outdoor FurnitureHallway DoorsTeacher Classroom GrantsField TripsPhonic ProgramsMath ProgramsOther Instructional Materials

Become a member today, basic membership is only $100!

MembershipDrive Underway

President: Brian Jennings • Vice President: David Mullinax • Treasurer: Michael WestbrookSecretary: Vickie McCurdy • Comptroller Melanie Sides


By EddiE BurkhaltEr Consolidated News Service

Pump up the PanthersSpring Garden cheerleaders are

ready for another season

ANITA KILGORE // left Varsity Spring Garden cheerleaders, (front row, from left) Kaylie Hill and Kayleigh Smith.On knees (middle row, left to right): Maddie Poole, Baylee Spoon, Dallas Smith, Miranda Casey and Haley Dobbs.Standing (back row, left to right): Darby Bryant, Kayla Holcomb, Pepper, Hayden Bates and Maddy Micha.

Cliff ’s Auto Parts705 N. Main St.Piedmont, Al

447-2333

Good Luck Panthers!

BERRY ANIMAL CLINICLarge & Small Animal Service

24089 ALA. HWY 9N., PIEDMONT, AL

OFFICE: 447-6318EMERGENCY: 447-7701

GoodLuckSpringGarden




GO PANTHERS!

Hold the line.

POPE’SBARBER SHOP

120 N Center Ave. • 447-6011GO PANTHERS!

The Spring Garden panthers will have a reason to get fired up this football season, and it’s not just about what’s happening on the field.

On the sidelines this year, the 11 members of the varsity Spring Garden cheer squad and 6 junior varsity cheerleaders will be keep-ing the home-side grandstands pumped up and in the mood for some football.

Of those 11 varsity squad mem-bers, two are new to the squad, two were moved up from junior varsity and seven are returning varsity squad members. Three on the varsity squad are seniors, and

several are juniors, which is a good thing to have, said Varsity cheer coach for four years, Kelly Bates.

Bates said her girls got in plen-ty of practice over the summer, attending a National Cheerleaders Association home camp in June.

Making a return as the Panther’s mascot, Pepper, Jacqueline Haney has a year under her belt in that role.

Hayden Bates is captain of the varsity squad, and Co-Captains are Miranda Casey and Kayleigh Smith.

New cheers, new routines and new stunts: each year the cheer-leaders add to their existing foun-dation, Bates said.

“You have to be an athlete, and you have to have rhythm,” Bates said.

What makes the Spring Garden cheer squads special, Bates said, is that they have a clear focus on doing work that uplifts their com-munity.

“For the past three years we’ve

adopted families at Christmas,” Bates said. “We’ve helped the elementary councilor during Red Ribbon Week, and we will again this year.”

At the Terrapin Tri-County

Adventure race held last year the squads hosted a water station to help keep race participants hydrat-ed and safe. That’s something they hope to do again this year, Bates said.


Piedmont Family Practice

Dr. Russell Ulrich800 Memorial Drive

Piedmont, AL, 36272(256) 447-9045

CALHOUNFARMERSCO-OP INC.256-447-6560900 US HWY. 278 BY-PASS EASTPIEDMONT, AL

Switc

Switc



A012


®


505 E Highway 278 Bypass Piedmont, AL 36272

(256) 447-9672

OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY

left ANITA KILGORE// Spring Garden varsity football coaches. (From left) Barrett Ragsdale, Head Coach Jason Howard, Damon McDonald and Tony Benefield. ABOVe Jacqueline Haney as ‘Pepper’. Jacqueline is a senior this year.


Lusk Animal CLINIC

Dr. Tim Lusk • 256-447-8000440 Garcy Blvd. • Piedmont, AL

GO PANTHERS!

310003

PCA INSURANCEEstablished 1986

Auto • Home • Work Comp • Business • Contractors • Bonds Life • Health

BRIAN JENNINGS - Agent

101 S. Center Ave.Piedmont, AL 36272

256-447-7943256-447-7959 Fax

1460-A West Main St.Centre, AL 35960256-927-2012256-927-2011 Fax

Visit us at PCAInsuranceLLC.com - - - We have great rates

GO PANTHERS!

287903



Spring Garden Parent Teacher Student Organization

supports Panther football!!!

Go Panthers!

ANITA KILGORE// RIGHT Spring Garden varsity

cheerleader sponsor Kelly Bates.


Nearly Everything YouNeed Is Right Here. . .

Spring GardenGeneral Store

445 U.S. Hwy. 278 East(4 miles north of bypass) 447-2593

Good Luck Spring Garden PanthersLooking forward to a great season!

Good luck this season!

YOUNG OIL & GRUB MARTOver 71 years of serving the public.

256-447-9087

Leevi Maddox

SPRING GARDEN PANTHER SENIORS

//ANITA KILGORE


The White Plains Wildcat Football Team is hoping to build on momen-tum it gained at the end of a rough 2011 season.

“Last year was a pretty tough year,” said head coach Heath Harmon of his team’s 3-7 run. “We didn’t have as many kids out as we wanted to have.”

But with his numbers up from the low 30s to 45, he’s hoping this year’s team will be able to build help some consistency into the pro-gram. “If these kids on this team

can stick with it, we will definitely be able to develop them into some good players; it just takes time,” he said. “Getting more kids out this year has been really big, really encouraging.”

Harmon will have senior Dale Reddick back at quarterback for the second year. “He took a lot of bumps [last year] learning how to play the position, and we’re really excited about him,” Harmon said. “All that experience is going to help him this year.”

Junior Johnny Bynum has come out this year to join the Wildcats, and Harmon said he’s an exciting player. He’ll play running back and

linebacker. “Johnny is very talent-ed, and he’d just had a great attitude this year, and that’s been the key,” Harmon said. “You want your best players to have the best attitude and best work ethic because that kind of leads the team, and he’s had that.”

With Bynum and Reddick anchor-ing the offense, Harmon feels he has some experience on the defen-sive line—including seniors Adam Smith and Jacob Nisbett—that will prove helpful in the coming sea-son.

Linebacker Patrick Bryan has stepped up for Harmon with a good preseason. “We felt like he could be a really good player, and we’ve

seen that with his physical plays,” said Harmon.

Harmon pointed to junior Colton Reid as one of the team’s most improved players coming out of pre-season and defensive back Joseph Dothard as a leader who will be the quarterback of the defense.

The Wildcats’ three wins from last season all came at the end of their schedule, something Reddick thinks has built momentum for the team.

Reddick said he and his team-mates are excited about the coming season and feel like this is their year. “I’m looking forward to a lot of our skill guys and a lot of

our linemen making big plays,” he said. “We know what it takes to win, so we’re just going to have to put this thing together and make a program.”

In his last year as a Wildcat, Smith said he’d like to see the team make the playoffs this season. “I think it’s a pretty good possibil-ity.”

Smith, who will be starting on both sides of the line, sees work the team has been putting in during the preseason paying off. “I think we’ll have a better team,” he said. “We’ve just got more people and everybody seems to be working pretty hard.”

//ANITA KILGORE

White Plains works toward consistent programby paige reNtZ

Consolidated News Service

ANITA KIILGORE // ABOVE White Plains cheerlead-ers for the 2012 season are, front row from left, Laina Martin, Haley Rowe, captain, and Stephanie Spoon. Second row from left, Macy Pressley, Sarah Williams, Hannah Cronan and DeAnna White. Back row from left, Keterra Wheat, Riley Huey and Ariel Edwards.



Why pay more somewhere else?Downtown Piedmont – 256.447.9612

GOOD LUCK WILDCATS!Switc

Switc



A012


®


wildcat 2012 Scheduleaug 30

sept 7

sept 14

sept 21

sept 28

oct 5

oct 12

oct 19

oct 26

Nov 1

ohatchee

saks

weaver

glencoe

pleasant valley

piedmont

ashville

Cleveland

susan Moore

Collinsville

HoMe

HoMe

awaY

awaY

HoMe

HoMe

awaY

HoMe

awaY

awaY

It’s a rebuilding year for the White Plains Varsity Cheerleading Squad.

“It’s a young group,” said sponsor Kerry Shaw.” We have almost a whole new group from last year.”

Shaw has five returning cheerlead-ers on her 11-member squad, which is slightly smaller than last year’s 13.

The young group has been busy preparing for the season. They began summer workouts in July and started their Monday tumbling practices at the ACE Cheer Company facility in Gadsden.

The girls have already planned all the pep rallies for the season and made all the signs for game nights.

Junior Haley Rowe, one of the squad captains, said the pep rallies are always something to look forward to at White Plains. The pep rallies are themed, and the cheerleaders dress the part each week. Shaw said the girls try to find new themes from year to year. This year, they have planned a Redneck Day, Blackout Day, a breast cancer awareness Pink-out pep rally, a Star Wars/Sci-fi day, and Superhero Day for homecoming.

“It’s just fun…the whole school gets into the dress-up thing each week,” she said. “We just have a good time getting out there and dancing. We do a different dance and cheer each week; we have a different theme, we play

different games, and we do different stunts.”

Rowe and her fellow captain, junior Hannah Cronan, have been working to help bring the fresh crop of cheer-leaders up to speed. “We learn dances faster than they do because we’re used to learning a new one every week,” said Cronan, “and we have to get them caught up with us.”

Cronan said the aspect of being a cheerleader that she enjoys most is this process of “learning new stunts and tumbling and being able to put it together with new people.”

Sophomore Stephanie Spoon, 15, is new to the squad, having transferred to White Plains from Jacksonville, where she previously cheered. She said she has found it more involved at White Plains, with more practices, more sum-mer workouts and more sign-making.

Freshman DeAnna White is step-ping up to the varsity from the junior high squad. She said she enjoys the closeness among the girls who “are together 24-7” and looks forward to new aspects of varsity cheering like opportunities to perform more stunts. She said the workouts are the most challenging part, but the members of the squad “work at it and work at it until we get it.”

Last year the squad went to nationals, said Shaw, but she expects her team to compete in some local competitions as they work on rebuilding this year. With one first-year senior, Shaw will likely have a core of returners next year.

White Plains Cheerleaders work to rebuild

bY paige reNtZConsolidated News Service

Squad’s ready for some football

ANITA KIILGORE // ABOVE Cheer spon-sor Kerry Shaw with senior cheerleader Arial Edwards.


The White Plains High School Blue Brigade Marching Band is looking forward to a bigger, better year as its marching season opens.

Having grown from 28 to 42 members but only graduating one senior, the band features a core of seasoned marchers, said Director Wendy Etter. “We’re a growing program, but we have a more mature, more vetted group,” she said.

Drum Major Patton Lenard, a 17-year-old senior, expects an improved year, he said, “because we’re bigger and we’ve grown in talent.”

He said that the band will be building off the success that they had at last spring’s music perfor-mance assessment as veterans help bring the sizable new membership up to speed. “We’ve got a bunch of pretty quick-learning rookies, so that will help,” he said.

Eighth grader Cameron Self, 13, is excited to be marching this year. Although he played in the stands last year, he served as a manager for the halftime show, handling set-up and take down of equipment on the field.

The aspiring Marching Southerner can’t even see over the bass drum he plays, but he has big vision for his section this year. “I’m looking forward to going to the competition and hopefully getting superiors for the drum line,” he said.

The band’s dance line has more

than doubled in size, growing from four members to 10. “We’re a lot better and the show’s a lot more upbeat and fun this year,” said sophomore member Danielle Zickafoose. “It’s going to be a great year.”

The band will take on “Footloose” as its halftime show this season, opening with the title theme, per-forming “Holding out for a Hero” as the main production with the dance line, and rounding out the show with ballad “Almost Paradise” and closing song “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man).”

In the stands, said Etter, the band tries to play popular, upbeat music that will keep the atmosphere spir-ited for the game. The band’s half-time show, she said, is really its main focus because that’s what the group takes to competitions.

Sophomore Kendall Campeau, 15, said the show would give the band an opportunity to really per-form.

Last year, the band traveled to New York to perform in the city’s Veterans Day Parade, but this year, she said, the focus will be on hon-ing their show. “This year it’s just about being our best on the field,” she said.

Campeau expects an ever bet-ter year than last year, she said. “There’s more spirit with every-body,” she said. “We’re more excit-ed about everything.” She said a set of new uniforms are bright rather than faded and tailored to fit the marchers perfectly. “I just think that gives everybody a confidence boost on the field.”

Band grows in members, talent

courtesy photos DeBBIe BroWN// TOP PHOTO: Spring Garden Blue Brigade marching band headed by drum major Patton Lenard. TOP LEFT: Blue Brigade danceline. FAR LEFT: Blue Brigade colorguard. LEFT: Blue Brigade majorettes.

by paige reNtZConsolidated News Service

Drum majorpatton Lenard

36 / august 2012 2012 football preview

jacksonville state universityGamecocks face hurdles and challenges

Meeting with the media earlier this month Jacksonville State Head Coach Jack Crowe said, “There are always hur-dles and challenges with any football team. This one has its own.”

One has only to look at the Gamecocks’ schedule to see the first hurdle and chal-lenge that faces Jacksonville State. Like bookends, the first hurdles and challenges jump out in the first and last game of the season.

Week one the Gamecocks travel to face pre-season No. 10 ranked Arkansas. The Gamecocks will finish up the regular sea-son at No. 23 ranked Florida. Sandwiched in between is one of the toughest sched-ules the Gamecocks could face with non-conference opponent Chattanooga and then they travel to face pre-season Ohio Valley Conference favorite Eastern Kentucky. The schedule never gets easy as the Gamecocks have learned in the last two seasons. On any given day any team can beat any other team.

Crowe is very upbeat and optimis-tic about the upcoming season saying, “We’ve got some of the best opportunity to develop that we’ve ever had. I think we have more talent on this campus right now than there has been since I’ve been here.”

Crowe went on to say that this is one of the youngest overall groups of players that he has ever had with the average age 19.6.

“We are puppies,” Crowe said. “Young folks use a term when they talk about good players saying, ‘He’s a dawg!’ and that’s affectionate. We’re fixing to find out if the players will bite.”

One young player that has all the other players talking is Anniston’s Troymaine Pope, who was named the 4A Back of the Year and had 2,539 yards and 31 touch-downs as a senior.

“He (Pope) has created a buzz with the older players from the time he has walked in the door. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a buzz about a player like I’ve heard about him,” Crowe said.

In the JSU scrimmage on Fan Day, Pope had 62 yards with a 19-yard TD run.

Other hurdles and challenges that face the JSU coaching staff, and this is a good one, is that they have two legitimate start-ing quarterbacks in senior Marques Ivory and junior Coty Blanchard. Blanchard took over for Ivory as the starting quarter-back last year when Ivory went down in the first game with a broken leg.

Ivory is back this year looking as strong as ever and is anxious to test out the leg.

“Marques is our starting quarterback but we will get Coty into the game against Arkansas somehow,” said Crowe. “He is the best playmaker I’ve been around. Uniquely he has things that are really special.”

In the scrimmage both quarterbacks took snaps. Blanchard was just back into camp after spending the summer in the Cape Cod baseball league. Both quarterbacks impressed the fans at the scrimmage.

JSU will also have in the backfield

Washaun Ealey, a running back who came to JSU last year after spending two years at the University of Georgia.

Ealey made his presence known quickly in the league rushing for 1,082 yards on 178 carries and was a first-team All-OVC pick. Ealey is working hard to be a team leader and to be prepared for the rigors of the hard schedule.

“I’m trying to get right physically and mentally,” said Ealey. “I feel like if I miss a day of training I fall behind. I try to work out everyday. I’m trying to tune my body and be a team leader and lead by example.”

Ealey said that he is trying to be a men-tor to the younger players. “I’m trying to keep them level headed,” he said.

Crowe feels that his offense has dynam-ic players.

“You look for a triplet situation where you have a runner, a thrower and a catcher and with Washaun Ealey, a premier run-ner, and Alan Bonner, a premier receiver,

that becomes a foundation of saying we can make plays. You can make plays behind the line of scrimmage and down the field and you have a quarterback that can get all of this done.”

Bonner, a senior, was the team’s top receiver last year with 33 catches for 582 yards and three touchdowns. Bonner says that all of the games will be tough this year but feels like the strength of the team this year is in having Ivory back.

Crowe says that his offensive line is a “sprinkling of young people” but that they all have experience. Last year, three fresh-men, who will be sophomores this year, played 80 per cent of the season; Blake Burks, Max Holcombe and Tarik Milner.

Crowe feels that the offense may some-times be carrying the burden of the team. “I’m convinced that we are going to be really good on defense one day…that day I would like to be soon,” said Crowe. “There’s not really a lot of pressure on the offense, there is more pressure on the defense. If they come together they’ll help us win a lot of games.”

The biggest hurdle and challenge for the Gamecocks will be in a very young and inexperienced defense. JSU lost three of the four starters on the defensive line. The linebackers are also real young but will have the experience of Nick Johnson and Rashad Smith to help them out.

Brooks Robinson, a senior, played in the defensive backfield for the Gamecocks last year. A leader, Robinson’s goal for the year is simple, “To win a championship. That or nothing.” Robinson also has this advice for younger players, “Give it your all.”

There are hurdles and challenges facing the JSU football team this year.

“We’ve continued to raise expectations of our program,” Crowe said. “Tradition pretty much says what the expectations are. I can pretty much say that this pro-gram has passed milestones along the way. Every year has been an incremental step forward.”

This year looks to be no different for the Gamecocks. Hurdles and challenges can be overcome.

By lori tippetsSports Correspondent

lori tippets // Left Jacksonville State University head coach Jack Crowe. At right is quarterback Marquis Ivory.


The Mayor & City Council Members

GO GAMECOCKS!

The City of Jacksonville

Sept. 1 Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 29 Oct. 6 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Oct. 27 Nov. 3 Nov. 10

EASTERNILLINOIS

JACKSONVILLESTATE

EASTERNKENTUCKY

TENNESSEETECH

2012 OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

SouthernIllinois

6:30 p.m.(Aug. 30)

(OVC DigitalNetwork)

Murray State*

6:30 p.m.(OVC Digital

Network)

@WesternMichigan6:00 p.m.

@Eastern Kentucky*12:00 p.m.(OVC Digital

Network)

Austin Peay*1:30 p.m.


Jacksonville State*

1:30 p.m.(HC)


TENNESSEESTATE

SOUTHEASTMISSOURI

MURRAYSTATE

SoutheastMissouri*1:30 p.m.


Nov. 17

@IllinoisState

1:00 p.m.

UTMARTIN

AUSTINPEAY

* - Denotes OVC Game; HC - Denotes Homecoming Game; Home Games in Bold; All Times Are Central and Subject to Change

@Purdue2:30 p.m.

(BTN)

@TennesseeState*


Network)

Jacksonville State*


Network)

EasternIllinois*


Network)

UT Martin*1:00 p.m.



(HC)(OVC Digital

Network)

@CoastalCarolina5:00 p.m.

@Memphis6:00 p.m.

EasternIllinois*

2:00 p.m.(HC)


@Austin Peay*


Network)

EasternKentucky*1:00 p.m.


@MurrayState*


Network)

@TennesseeTech


Network)

@SoutheastMissouri*1:00 p.m.


SoutheasternLouisiana6:00 p.m.(Sept. 13)


@FloridaState

5:00 p.m.(ESPN3)

@Eastern Illinois*


Network)

CentralArkansas6:00 p.m.


TennesseeTech*


Network)



@EasternKentucky*12:00 p.m.(OVC Digital

Network)

TennesseeState*


Network)

@MissouriState

7:00 p.m.

UT Martin*3:00 p.m.

(HC)(OVC Digital

Network)



UT Martin*1:30 p.m.




EasternIllinois*

1:30 p.m.(HC)


UT Martin*6:00 p.m.


TennesseeTech*


Network)

@JacksonvilleState*


Network)



Murray State*


Network)

Tennessee State*


Network)

UT Martin*1:00 p.m.

(HC)(OVC Digital

Network)

@JacksonvilleState*


Network)

@Austin Peay*


Network)

@UT Martin*12:00 p.m.(OVC Digital

Network)

@MurrayState*


Network)



Tennessee Tech*


Network)

@UT Martin*2:00 p.m.


Florida A&M6:00 p.m.


Jackson State6:00 p.m.

(in Memphis)





@Eastern Kentucky*5:00 p.m.


@SouthernIllinois

6:00 p.m.

@CentralMichigan6:00 p.m.(Aug. 30)

@FloridaTBA

@EasternIllinois


Network)

Chattanooga6:00 p.m.


@AustinPeay*


Network)


(HC)(OVC Digital

Network)

@SoutheastMissouri1:00 p.m.


@Eastern Illinois*


Network)



@MurrayState*


Network)

@UT Martin*2:00 p.m.




@JacksonvilleState*


Network)

JacksonvilleState*


Network)

@JacksonvilleState*


Network)

MurrayState*


Network)

@Austin Peay*


Network)

@Tennessee Tech*


Network)

@WesternKentucky6:00 p.m.

@TennesseeState*


Network)

@EasternKentucky*2:00 p.m.


@Tennessee Tech*


Network)

Morehead State*


Network)

TennesseeState*


Network)

@Oregon2:00 p.m.

(Pac-12 Network)

@EasternIllinois


Network)

MurrayState*

3:00 p.m.(HC)


@MurrayState*


Network)

@Tennessee State*


Network)

TennesseeState*


Network)

@CentralArkansas3:00 p.m.

@Tennessee Tech*


Network)

TennesseeTech*


Network)

Jacksonville State*


Network)

@NorthernIllinois

6:00 p.m.

@Virgnia Tech

12:30 p.m.(ESPN3)

at Arkansas6:00 p.m.

@Bethune-Cookman3:00 p.m.

North Greenville7:00 p.m.(Sept. 6)


Culver-Stockton1:00 p.m.


Arkansas-Pine Bluff6:00 p.m.

(HC)(OVC Digital

Network)

Mars HillCollege


Network)

Hampton7:00 p.m.(Aug. 30)



New-look Tigers will try to improve

AUBURN — These Auburn Tigers don’t bear much resemblance to Cam Newton’s version.

The Tigers have undergone major changes since celebrating the new year in Atlanta, much less from the Newton-led national championship season two years ago. Gone are title game MVP Mike Dyer, Gus Malzahn’s celebrated fast-break offense and both coordinators. The huddle is back in style in Auburn.

Whether it adds up to the winning con-tinuing, well, that remains to be seen.

The Tigers fell from 14-0 behind their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback to 8-5 with a revolving door of three signal callers, but did finish with a dominant per-formance against Virginia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31. Auburn returns to the Georgia Dome to open Sept. 1 against Clemson.

The Tigers still don’t have an estab-lished quarterback, with Kiehl Frazier and Clint Moseley battling well into preseason camp for the starting nod.

What they got this summer was plenty of reminders from strength coach Kevin Yoxall during workouts.

“He made it real clear that 8-5 wasn’t good enough here at Auburn,” tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen said, “and I think everyone bought into that.”

Buying in is just one step. Coach Gene Chizik continues trying to rebuild depth and climb the ladder in the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division — and a state that has produced the last three national champions.

Auburn’s veterans can at least draw from that experience two years ago. Defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker could relate when he heard an interview with NFL star Ray Lewis recently.

“He was talking about his first Super Bowl and how hard it is to get back,” Whitaker said. “It’s always hard to get back but for us, we saw what great looked like. We saw the camaraderie. We saw how we’re supposed to be a unit. That’s what we’re shooting for.”

They’ll have to resolve some questions in the offensive backfield and improve the

defense to make up much ground on SEC West rivals Alabama, LSU and Arkansas.

Frazier seems to have the edge over Moseley, a six-game starter who has been limited since the spring by a sore throwing shoulder.

Frazier was used mostly as a Wildcat quarterback as a freshman, going 5-of-12 passing with a couple of interceptions.

“Kiehl has gotten a lot better from last fall to where he’s at now,” tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen said. “Kiehl has taken that leadership role. I think last year being a true freshman trying to lead an offense, he wasn’t that comfortable with it. Now, he’s kind of assumed it’s an opportunity for him to take the reins of this offense. He’s gained everyone’s respect with what he’s done this offseason.”

Dyer followed Malzahn to Arkansas State after being suspended for the bowl game after rushing for 2,335 yards his first two seasons. He has since been dismissed from that team.

That leaves speedster Onterio McCalebb and the more balanced Tre Mason, the

SEC’s leader in kick returns. Much of Mason’s backfield work came in the bowl game when he had 64 yards and a touch-down.

Offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler, a former Florida quarterbacks coach and Temple offensive coordinator, replaces Malzahn. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder brings a background that includes both SEC (Georgia) and NFL

(Atlanta Falcons) to try to turn around a unit that hasn’t ranked better than 53rd nationally in scoring or total defense over the past three seasons.

The defense returns nine starters and the offense seven, but perhaps the most encouraging thing for Chizik is that others have been challenging for some of those jobs.

“I think we’re in a much stronger posi-tion as a football team than we were a year ago,” Chizik said. “We’ve finally devel-oped some depth and we’ve got a little bit of experience.”

Nowhere are those qualities more evi-dent than the defensive line. All four starters return, including defensive end Corey Lemonier, who had 9.5 sacks last season. Dee Ford is likely to take over on the opposite side over returning starter Nosa Egaue.

Leading tackler Daren Bates is back at linebacker while cornerback Chris Davis also returns. Cornerback T’Sharvan Bell returns after starting the first 10 games in 2011 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.

The Tigers also return Ray Guy Award finalist Steven Clark at punter.

Top wide receiver Emory Blake points out that the 2010 team also was picked to finish middle of the pack in the SEC West.

“Our national championship year, nobody was really talking about us before the season,” Blake said. “And the year before that we went 8-5 as well. We have to put ourselves on the map, but we’re ready to do that.”



Go Auburn T igers!

JOHN ZENORAssociated Press


Auburn’s Corey Lemonier returns to defensive line.


Tide reloaded, set for another run

TUSCALOOSA — The definition of a successful sea-son for Alabama these days is no mystery.

Undefeated with a national championship.Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban doesn’t mind grand

ambitions, but emphasizes his squad can’t afford skipped steps or misdirected focus.

That’s one reason tight end Michael Williams said that while anything less than a national title “is a failure,” but that’s the big picture.

“You can’t think of it that way,” Williams said. “Take it one game at a time.”

Especially with the first game being Michigan in Arlington, Texas.

The Tide enters the season considered one of the cham-pionship front-runners, seeking to claim a third national title in four years and second straight. The veterans know from experience what a sense of entitlement and lack of focus can hurt even a loaded team (see Alabama, circa 2010).

Saban and a number of players with the voice of experi-ence say this team doesn’t suffer from the kind of over-confidence that led to a 10-3 disappointment two years ago. They’ve raved about the team’s attitude and work ethic during the summer.

The words “defending national champion” might not be outlawed around the football offices, but they’re not encouraged either.

“We’ve been around the coach so long, we won’t do like that 2010 season,” linebacker Nico Johnson said. “It pretty much taught us a lesson that we can’t look forward.”

A quick look back: The Tide has gone 48-6 over the last four seasons. In college football where the roster turnover is so high, Saban has imported a string of highly-rated recruiting classes. The Crimson Tide has avoided any major drop-off in talent at a program where 10 wins are a letdown.

The coach said this group probably fared better than any of his other teams on the preseason test that includes sprints and bench press. Saban has managed to apply his definition of success to his program: “Consistency in performance.”

“Things don’t happen by accident,” he said. “You don’t win a game by accident. You don’t win a division by acci-dent. You have to make it happen, and you have to make it happen by what you do every day.”

Alabama must replace four first-round NFL draft picks before making another national title happen.

The defense lost an abundance of talent to the NFL, including All-America safety Mark Barron, Butkus Award semifinalist Courtney Upshaw and finalist Dont’a Hightower, along with both starting cornerbacks.

Johnson, C.J. Mosley and Trey DePriest are experi-enced linebackers and Adrian Hubbard is a strong pass rusher who could replace Upshaw. Cornerbacks Dee Milliner and John Fulton and sophomore safeties Vinnie Sunseri and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix also have experience.

“We lost some great players, but we’re still Alabama,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “We always recruit great players and we’re going to have great players as backups and those guys have to step up and do their job.”

The offense has fewer players to replace under new coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who will operate a similar style to Jim McElwain.

Quarterback AJ McCarron doesn’t have Doak Walker Award winner Trent Richardson to hand off to, or expe-rienced wide receivers to target. Gone are Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks, who weren’t stars but reliably played their roles.

Eddie Lacy is trying to keep the backfield bonanza going after averaging 7.1 yards on 95 carries last season, but sat out the spring recovering from surgery to repair a turf toe injury. Richardson was a Heisman Trophy final-ist last season and Mark Ingram won in 2009. Both were

first-round picks.Lesser-known wideouts

like Kevin Norwood, who had a career-best four catches for 78 yards in the national championship game, and Kenny Bell are joined by much-touted newcomers. McCarron is standing by his targets.

“The rest of the country might not know what they can do, but I know,” said McCarron, who capped his first season as starter with MVP honors in the BCS championship game. “That’s all that matters to me. It doesn’t matter how many top 10 plays we get on ESPN. I know they’re making plays for me.

“One of the proudest things for me is it’s not only one of the most skill-ful groups of receivers we’ve had since I’ve been

here, but they’re really good off the field. They’re all levelheaded guys.”

Two of Alabama’s most recognizable players are now anchoring the middle of the front lines. Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones moved from left tackle to center, filling the lone vacancy on the line and making way for sophomore Cyrus Kouandjio.

Jones, guard Chance Warmack and right tackle D.J. Fluker are all first-team preseason All-Southeastern Conference picks.

Jesse Williams, who bench-pressed 600 pounds over the summer, is the noseguard after starting every game at defensive end last season.

The Tide players hardly seem worried after the talent exodus.

“We’re going to have a great defense,” defensive end Damion Square said. “That’s why we recruit every year. Everybody talks about all the players that we lost, but we recruited those guys, too, to replace some other great players that played at the University of Alabama. Rashad Johnson, Javier Arenas, Rolando McClain, just to name a few.

“We recruited some more guys that can compete at a high level early.”

JOHN ZENORAssociated Press


Alabama tight end Michael Williams ready to defend national championship.


Best Wishes to All Area Teams

During the 2012 Football Season!F&M Bank enjoys the tradition of supporting student

athletes throughout our community. youth

sports are an important part of our community...

and that’s something we understand a thing or two

about. From our team to yours, we proudly support

our community and all area football teams!

High School Football 2012 Preview

Documents

Transcript of High School Football 2012 Preview