By Blake Ells
It’s tough to find room for improvement when you’re coming off of a 14-1 season.
Briarwood Christian School fell in last season’s state championship game to St. Paul’s Episcopal 17-14 when the Saints scored on a fourth down with 1:54 remaining in the game.
After its third title in four years, St. Paul’s now moves to 6A because of the AHSAA’s new competitive balance rule.
“We were pretty doggone good last year at 14-1,” said coach Fred Yancey. “I wish we could have come out ahead in that last game, but you have to give St. Paul’s credit; they were in the same boat we were and we were in the same boat they were and they got the win. But I never looked back on that game and said, ‘If we had improved from that team, we would have been state champions.’ Our kids were as good as they could be and they played great.”
This is a new season, he assures, and a new gauntlet awaits. The Lions have a tough schedule; they’ll play up, with three non-region, 6A contests this season. Chelsea, Hartselle and Hueytown promise to be formidable foes, while 2016 state champion Ramsay drops from 6A into Briarwood’s 5A Region 4. They’ll also face Wenonah, John Carroll, Woodlawn, Parker, Pleasant Grove and Fairfield in region play.
“I don’t anticipate that we’ll be able to go through the season undefeated like we did for so long,” Yancey said. “We’ll have difficulty matching that record. But we could have an outstanding team that knocks the top of it off. You don’t know.”
Change Places
If that happens, it will begin with a major position change from Briarwood’s best athlete. Star running back J.R. Tran-Reno will move to quarterback, a move that comes after Tran-Reno verbally committed to Vanderbilt as a running back. He chose the Commodores over 28 other offers.
“Honestly, I’ve seen him playing quarterback most of his life,” Yancey said. “We just loaned him out to the receivers and running backs anyway. He’s a natural quarterback, and he’s excited about getting this year going and leading our team in every way.”
Yancey and the Lions aren’t concerned about the 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound senior’s ability to roam between positions. They’re most concerned about putting him in the position that gives their team its greatest shot at victory.
“We’re going to try to win games,” Yancey laughed. “And if I needed to move him to right tackle to win games, J.R. would do it and so would I.”
Tran-Reno will be backed up by sophomore Jonah Carroll, a rising young quarterback whom Yancey likes a lot. Coaches like Carroll so much, in fact, they expect him to see quality game action this season.
Luke Prewett will get most of the reps at running back. The 5-foot-9-inch, 186-pound junior got a lot of playing time a year ago, and he’s improved quite a bit over the summer, participating in and taking advantage of all summer workouts.
The offensive line has some new faces. It also has some familiar faces in new positions, including Noah Whatley. Last season, Whatley spent time as a starter at tight end, but he’ll move inside to guard for the first time. Landon Berg was the backup center last season, and he’ll move into a starting role this season.
“They weren’t starters (at their positions) a year ago, but they’ve improved and they’re big enough and strong enough now to really do some good work,” said Yancey.
On the other side of the ball, the Lions welcome back many pieces of a defense that allowed no more than two touchdowns to any opponent during the regular season. Yancey expects his secondary to be a strength, led by senior Cade Dickinson. The returning starter and all-state safety offers experience and speed.
Sam Hamner moves from linebacker to start at the other safety position. Cade Mango will start at cornerback for the first season, and as camp winds down, competition remains fierce at the other corner spot. Senior Michael Murphy and sophomores Alaster Harris and Cal Higdon are all competing for time, with each figuring to see playing time this year.
Senior Mark Hand is a three-year starter at linebacker. At 6 feet 2 inches, 210 pounds and with good speed, he’s the prototype, and Yancey expects even bigger things from him as a senior.
Briarwood will open its season with a jamboree at Vestavia Hills on Aug. 24. The regular season begins Aug. 31 at Chelsea.
