By Tyler Waldrep There might not be a team in Alabama that enjoys halftime as much as John Carroll does. That’s one of the few times John Carroll’s starters can catch their breath during a game. Offense, defense, it makes little difference to a team filled with two-way players. “Last fall we played roughly 17 kids,” said Cavalier coach Tim Sanders. “Well everybody that we … [Read more...]
Going Forward: Spartans Looking Past Disappointments of ’14
By Lee Davis Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager insists that he doesn’t dwell on the past, but nobody could blame him for still having nightmares about what happened to his team in 2014. The Spartans lost three times on – literally – the last play of the game on the way to a disappointing 3-7 season. They came within a few minutes of a couple of additional wins. “Last season … [Read more...]
Do It Again: Eagles Face Raised Expectations Following Historic Season
By Tyler Waldrep Historic seasons have a way of sneaking up on people. Perhaps that’s what makes them so special. Last year, Oak Mountain’s inclusion in Region 3 of the new Class 7A had some questioning the program’s ability to stay competitive. Coach Cris Bell’s team responded with the school’s second 10-win season. “They have confidence that they can play with anybody,” … [Read more...]
Lesson Learned: Spain Park Hopes to Return to Playoffs
By Lee Davis Spain Park probably learned an important lesson about how difficult life can be in Class 7A’s Region 3 last season. “I’m not an expert on the history of high school football in Alabama,” said Shawn Raney the Jaguars’ head coach. “But I couldn’t imagine a team beating Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills in the same season and not making the playoffs. That’s exactly … [Read more...]
Regional Conflicts: A Look at How Over the Mountain Teams May Finish
By Lee Davis In some ways, the 2014 high school football season was one of the most unusual on record. For one thing, when was the last time that perennial powers Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills both missed the playoffs in the same season? The Spartans were good enough to narrowly defeat the Rebels, and Vestavia was good enough to give Buddy Anderson his record-breaking … [Read more...]