By Lee Davis There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the arrival of November, and not all of them have to do with the presidential election finally being over. One reason is the beginning of the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs, which kick off Friday night. As usual, the Over the Mountain area is well represented, with six schools qualifying for post- … [Read more...]
Energizer Lions: Briarwood off to Big Start in New Class
By Lee Davis During 26 seasons as head coach at Briarwood, Fred Yancey has seen just about everything, and he’s loving the look of his latest team. The Lions’ 25-14 win over highly regarded Mortimer Jordan on Sept. 23 ran Briarwood’s record to 4-1 and, more importantly, 4-0 in Class 5A Region Three play. They followed that with a 44-6 rout of St. Clair County last … [Read more...]
Mid-Term Exams: Maybe Not Great, but Plenty of Good
By Lee Davis It seems incredible to believe, but we crossed the midpoint of the 2016 high school football regular season last week. While none of the eight Over the Mountain teams have made it through mid-September with a perfect record, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that at least three have a chance for memorable years. Here is a quick look at where they … [Read more...]
Community Chest: Over the Mountain Football Part of the Area’s Culture
By Lee Davis Gerald Gann holds the distinction of having been the head football coach at three Over the Mountain schools – Homewood, Hoover and John Carroll Catholic. When he began his career with the Patriots in 1979, the former Berry assistant showed his understanding of the importance the game held in this area. The day Gann accepted the job, he told the gathered media: … [Read more...]
2016 OTM High School Football Preview
We're kicking off the season with our annual with previews of your favorite Over the Mountain football teams. Meet the players that coaches predict will play key roles in their success on the field. Follow the links below for team profiles, schedules, rosters and more.An added bonus to get you into the spirit of the season, OTMJ Sports Writer Lee Davis … [Read more...]