ANNISTON BULLDOGS
CEDAR BLUFF TIGERS
Class, Region: Class 4A, Region 5
Head Coach: Eddie Bullock
Class, Region: Class 1A, Region 6
Head Coach: Jonathan McWhorter
2015 Record: 4-6
2015 Playoffs: Lost at Russellville 10-7 in the first round of
the Class 5A playoffs
2015 Record: 13-2
2015 Playoffs: Finished as Class 1A state runner-up, falling in
the state title game in Tuscaloosa to Maplesville 59-24
2015 Rewind: After an 0-3 start, the Bulldogs improved down
the stretch and finished 4-6. The season ended in a 10-7 road
loss to Russellville in the opening round of the post-season.
2015 Rewind: Cedar Bluff made their second Super Seven
appearance in school history in 2015. The Tigers won the Class
1A, Region 7 title and swept through four playoff games to
represent North Alabama in the 1A title game at Bryant-Denny
Stadium.
Key Losses: Big play artist Tae Miller leaves a large hole in the
Coach Bullock
area of playmaking in 2016. Miller’s versatility and ability to turn a
game around at any time on a big play (see last season’s huge win over Alexandria) will be
sorely missed as the Bulldogs look to advance even further in the playoffs this season.
Players to Watch: Tailback L.J. Heard
returns after posting almost 600 yards
in part-time duty last season. Heard is
stronger and could become the workhorse
of the Bulldog offense this fall. Jeremy
McCants will also get his opportunities to
make some big plays and should provide a
quality 1-2 punch. Savion Bethune will take
over at quarterback and brings a world of
athleticism and confidence to the offense.
At 6’2” 250 lbs., D.J. McElderry will be
counted on to provide leadership and bulk
to the offensive line. Tareeq Woods could
become a force at linebacker this season.
The defensive backfield appears to be the
strength of the defense with Rashad Harris
and Marrio Dobbins. Coach Eddie Bullock
will rely on Khalil Peoples and Jimmy
Embry to dominate the line from their
defensive line spots.
2016 Roundup: Bullock said that the
move to Class 4A is a plus but that with
region foes such as Cherokee County and
Jacksonville returning the bulk of their
starters, each week will be a battle. The
Bulldogs will open the 2016 season as
Sylacauga comes to town on August 26th.
Did You Know? Over the last 20 years Anniston has switched classifications six
times. The Bulldogs have been in Classes 6A, 5A, and 4A. Anniston flipped from 6A
to 5A in 1996 and have gone back and forth five more times from 5A to 4A over the
last two decades.
Josh Decker
Quarterback
Key Losses: The Tigers lost 11 seniors including most of their wide receivers in D.J.
Chapman, Jamie Abernathy, and Coleton Reed. Versatile fullback Haylan Bailey, lineman
D’Andre Autry, and linebacker Logan Shinn are also among the losses.
Players to Watch: Many of the same
stars that led Cedar Bluff to the state
championship game return. QB Josh Decker
is a 3-year starter and threw for almost
2,000 yards and 46 TDs in 2015. Running
back Ivory Starr ran for 2,594 yards and
30 TDs last year as a freshman. Offensive
linemen Seth Bishop (240), Derick Pearsey
(240), and Jonathan Shinn (250) return to
lead a big offensive line. Thomas Wirtzfeld
moves from line to fullback and Anthony
Dingler returns at receiver. The defense is
led by the return of leading tackler Ross
Johnson at linebacker and fellow linebackers
Dylan Oglesby and Delontae Williams.
Other players to watch on defense include
lineman Tray McMeekin and DBs Davion
Fife and Isaiha Jones.
2016 Roundup: Six starters are back on
offense and four on defense as the Tigers
attempt to get back to the Super Seven.
Cedar Bluff again has a nice senior class of
12 and 40 total players on the roster. Josh
Decker is an All-State type at QB and RB
Ivory