WALTER WELLBORN PANTHERS
Class, Region: Class 3A, Region 5 Head Coach: Jeff Smith
2015 Record: 6-4 2015 Playoffs: Lost at Lauderdale County 22-7 in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs
2015 Rewind: In Jeff Smith’ s 7th season as head coach for the Wellborn Panthers, they finished 6-4 with a loss in the first round of the state playoffs. The Panther’ s finished 3rd in 3A Region 6, with their first year quarterback Austin McQueen.
Key Losses: Wellborn lost a lot from last season, but had two major losses including starting running back D. J. Rhoden( 5’ 8 180lbs) and linebacker / tight end Jake Thrasher.
Jordan Montgomery Satefy
Players to Watch: The Wellborn Panthers have several key players for this season, the biggest being 6’ 2 180 pound running back / safety Jordan Montgomery. Montgomery was offered by Samford University early in the summer, and is expecting more offers as the season moves on. returning starters, Montgomery will be returning at safety, as well as linebacker Kane Pitts, and defensive tackle Jamesio El-ston. The Panthers will have eight seniors on this year’ s team, and as Coach Jeff Smith described it as a“ mostly junior football team.”
2016 Roundup: Coming up this season for the Panthers on offense will be returning starting quarterback Austin McQueen who will enter his second season as the starter. Wellborn will be lead on offense by Montgomery at running back and Pat Harris at Full-back. On the defensive side of the ball, with six
Did You Know? The Panthers have earned a trip to the AHSAA state playoffs in each of Jeff Smith’ s seven years at the helm. The Panther’ s deepest playoff run was to the 3A quarter-finals in 2014.
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WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN WARRIORS
Connor Bolton Linebacker
Class, Region: Class 2A, Region 6 Head Coach: Shea Monroe
2015 Record: 3-7 2015 Playoffs: None
Key Losses: Quarterback Joseph Schauer is the biggest statistical loss for the Warriors in 2015. As a senior Schauer showed his ability to make a big play at any point in the game with his arm or his legs. Schauer’ s favorite targets have also graduated. Wide receivers Justis Glassford, Gilbert Rosas and Chandler Richards gave the Warriors a very solid threat in the passing game.
2016 Roundup: The Warriors welcomed new head coach Shea Monroe in December of 2015 and he has been full throttle since then. Monroe is stepping into his first head coaching role after spending the last three seasons as offensive coordinator at Lincoln. Westbrook Christian is also making a move back down to Class 2A after spending the previous two seasons in Class 3A.
2015 Rewind: Under head coach Tony Osborne, the Warriors wrapped the 2015 season with a 3-7 record in Class 3A. Westbrook Christian proved they could score in bunches. The offense averaged 41 points in its victories( over Ashville, Pleasant Valley and Ohatchee). Following the season Osborne retired after a long and successful run with the Warriors. Osborne served as head coach for 21 seasons. His teams won five region titles and finished as the Class 1A state runner up in 1997.
Players To Watch: Monroe says senior wide receiver Blake Young had a very good spring. Young is fast with playmaking ability. Brandon Beecham will take to the gridiron this year after playing basketball last season. The junior( 6’ 3” 175 lbs) will also line up at receiver. Garrett Kennedy has proven to be a great athlete that will help the Warriors on both sides of the ball. Kennedy( an all-state baseball player) will play some quarterback and running back on offense as well as defensive back. Tyler Comeau served as quarterback in the spring and will also play under center. The Warriors will also rely on Dakota Trammell is back for his senior season as a starting RB and LB. Connor Bolton will give the Warriors much-needed interior physical play as a offensive and defensive lineman.
Did You Know?: The move down to 2A is a good one historically. In the Warriors last five seasons in the classification( 2009-13), the team averaged seven wins. Westbrook Christian also made the playoffs in eight seasons as a 2A school.
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