GASTON BULLDOGS
GAYLESVILLE TROJANS
Class, Region: Class 2A, Region 6
Head Coach: Swane Morris
Class, Region: Class 1A, Region 6
Head Coach: Kyle Garmon
2015 Record: 7-4
2015 Playoffs: Lost at Ranburne 35-7 in the first round of
the Class 2A playoffs
2015 Rewind: Gaston reached the Class 2A state playoffs
for the third consecutive season out of rugged Region 7. The
Bulldogs won 4 of their first 5 games on their way to a 7-4
overall record.
Key Losses: There was some significant
loss of talent off of the 2015 squad. Pigskin
Roundup All-Star lineman Devin Chappell,
RB Jashun Cammeron, 4 year starting
QB Jordan Douglas, and guard Desmond
Standridge were among the key losses.
Players to Watch: Expect a big year out
of running back D.J. Pope (5’9, 205 Sr.) and
his twin brother J.D. Pope at receiver and
linebacker. Senior Kevin Hollingsworth
will take over at quarterback. Alexander
Allen is a playmaker at receiver and safety.
Cameron Peacock returns at outside
linebacker after an All-County year in 2015.
Junior Zac Satterfield (6’3, 265) will provide
a big presence at TE/DE. Keep an eye also
on sophomore running back Kameron
Hawkins (5’9, 165)
2015 Record: 2-8
2015 Playoffs: None
2015 Rewind: Gaylesville finished the 2015 campaign at 2-8 and missed the Class 1A
playoffs for the second year in a row.
Kevin Hollingsworth
Quarterback
2016 Roundup: The big question for
Coach Swane Morris and the Bulldogs will
be focused on the offensive line. Gaston
lost every lineman from last season. Coach
Morris is optimistic about the prospects of
an extremely young group. This line will
feature only 1 senior, 3 sophomores, and
1 freshman. All of this young line played
some as 8th and 9th graders and all are
big and strong, led by 10th graders Lance
Talbot (230) and Christian Farley (260).
Overall Gaston returns six starters on both
offense and defense. The Bulldogs beat
Gaylesville and Douglas in the spring and
look to a tough region race with teams
such as Fyffe, Sand Rock, Westbrook, and
Collinsville.
Did You Know? Gaston has a large senior class of 14 players and a fine
sophomore class coming as well. However, the Bulldogs have virtually no junior
class with only four 11th graders on the team.
Key Losses: The Trojans only lost four total players off of last year’s team. Key among
those four players were QB/WR Jon Bradley on offense and 4 year starting middle
linebacker Logan Hurley. The losses included the team’s leading rusher and tackler.
Players to Watch: QB Austin Slaton
started the last half of last season and
the senior will also see some time at
wingback. Lineman Will Smith will move
to fullback where he will split time with
Landon Lofton, who will also start at
defensive end. Other Trojans to watch in
2016 include Dawson White at wingback,
receivers/defensive backs Dylan Harding
and Kolby Scott, offensive/defensive
linemen Joseph Lewis and Payton Mitchell,
and middle linebacker Kaleb Whatley.
Sophomore Braden Stordahl will also be a
key contributor.
2016 Roundup: This is an experienced,
yet young Gaylesville team. The Trojans
have eight starters returning on both
offense and defense, but only have
eight seniors and a large and talented
sophomore class. Those upcoming 10th
graders lost only two games in two years of
junior high play. While Head Coach Kyle
Garmon expects Cedar Bluff and Spring
Garden to battle for region honors, look
for Gaylesville to make a significant move
in Class 1A, Region 6 play.
Did You Know? Gaylesville has no junior football players this season. In fact, the
Trojans only have six boys in the 11th grade. The numbers are good in the other
grades with 37 of the 58 males in grades 7 through 12 playing football.
2016 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine | 53