who didn’ t love the weight room. We’ ll have a lead guy for that area, but at the end of the day, if you coach football at Gadsden City, you’ re going to be a weight room guy, and that includes me. We’ ll tell our kids that if we’ re not stronger in Week 8 than we are at the start of the season, we’ ll be in trouble.”
Sessions, whose overall record as head coach is 36-12, coached Tuscaloosa County last season to a 2-8 record. From 2011-13, however, Sessions went 34-5 at McGill-Toolen Catholic in Mobile. Under his tenure, the Yellow Jackets won two region titles, went 20-1 in region play and qualified for the Class 6A state playoffs all three years, including a berth in the state semifinals in 2013. Sessions was defensive coordinator at Spain Park from 2014-15, helping the Jaguars go 18-6 and finish as the Class 7A runners-up in 2015. Sessions also was a part of three state championships as an assistant coach – in 2010 at Daphne and 2007 and 2008 at Prattville.
The Titans once again will feature potent weapons on offense. Halfback / receiver and Troy University commitment Jaylen Fleming finished with a combined 1,117 yards rushing and receiving along with 10 touchdowns last season. He was the team’ s leading receiver with 20 catches and returned 13 punts for 145 yards. Sessions also mentioned seniors Jamontez Woods and Jahtzee Meadows as veterans returning to the backfield.
Senior quarterback Ryan Sparks is back under center. Sparks last season threw for 1,370 yards and 18 touchdowns.
“ We graduated a pretty good back [ in Damon Williams ], but other than that we pretty much retuned our skill positions intact on offense,” said Sessions.“ So we feel really good about the backfield.”
Sparks has two other veteran targets at his disposal with seniors Jaylen Cole and Jamontavious Woods, who caught 19 and 15 passes last year, respectively. Ray Mostella will also be in the mix, along with Fleming.
Despite that every starter from last year’ s offensive line graduated, Sessions feels that this is the most improved unit on the team with seniors Dylan Bell, Jahvaronze
Dillard, Micah Lett, D’ Errick Curry and JaMarquis Conwell leading the way.
“ We’ re not going to look like the Division I bodies that we had last year, but that’ s okay,” said Sessions.“ We love this group of kids. They were out there all summer grinding and getting better every day. Those are the kind of kids that you can win with. We have about eight or nine guys that we think can get it done. We do have to stay healthy, which is always tough in 7A football.”
On the defensive side of the ball Sessions pointed to the linebacker unit as a strength with seniors Jacobe Griffin( 65 tackles in 2016), Jabraun McNeal( 46 tackles, four sacks), Tavion Dudley, Jacquez King and J. J. Graves.
The line features senior ends Eli Campbell, Donnie Ryan and Bronce Williams. Campbell recently committed to Georgia Southern.
Patrolling the secondary will be senior Sam Goldthreate and Calvin Williams at safety and three-year starter Ahmad Bell and Josh Williams at cornerback.
The Titans are in fine shape on the special teams with senior Jonathan Kilgo, who last season,
was 8-for-10 in field goal attempts and 34 of 38 in extra points. He also averaged 38 yards per punt on 33 attempts.
‘ We think we have one of the best punter / kicker combos in the state with Jonathan,” said Sessions.“ He can really hammer it
22 | 2017 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine