ANNISTON BULLDOGS CEDAR BLUFF TIGERS
Class, Region: Class 4A, Region 5 Head Coach: Eddie Bullock
2016 Record: 2-8 2016 Playoffs: None
2016 Rewind: After losing starting quarterback Savion Bethune to an injury in the opening snaps of the season, the Bulldogs had to find a way to readjust their attack. The injuries piled up throughout the season giving rise to young players in key roles throughout the year. The team picked up wins over White Plains( in week 6) and Oneonta( week 9).
Key Losses: Playmaker Marrio Dobbins took over the quarterback job when Bethune went down and filled in nicely as a dual-threat. The Bulldogs also lost a solid backfield duo in RBs L. J. Heard and Jeremy McCants.
Players to Watch: QB Savion Bethune makes his anticipated return as the Anniston signal caller. With the leg injury now in the rearview mirror, the senior is poised to make the most of his final year on the gridiron. The Bulldogs will also count on a trio of senior receivers Jamaree West, Jaquez Maynor and C. J. Ramsey. D. J. Finley and Traquon Cooper are back as the starters along the offensive line with Dontez Varner, Montez Varner, and Jimmy Embry. Defensively, Terry Spidell, Demetrius Brand, Quintavion Elston, and Jaedon Woods head
Jamaree West
up the LBs. Charrell Brown, Darren Parker, Ladreka Hall and Stedman Orr anchor the secondary.
2017 Roundup: With a healthy group of players, the Bulldogs seem poised for a strong run this fall. Anniston will have the talent to compete in their tough region and they will be able to hold their own with any team in the state. Look for the young players who were thrown in the fire in 2016 to play well this season. The Bulldogs open the season at 5A Sylacauga.
Class, Region: Class 1A, Region 6 Head Coach: Jonathan McWhorter
2016 Record: 8-4 2016 Playoffs: Cedar Bluff lost a second round Class 1A heartbreaker at home to Decatur Heritage 42-41 in overtime.
2016 Rewind: The Tigers captured another Class 1A, Region 6 title and advanced to the Class 1A playoffs for the third consecutive year.
Key Losses: The Tigers’ most glaring losses were upfront.
Isaiha Jones Offensive linemen Seth Bishop, Derick Persey, and Jonathan Shinn are all gone. Cedar Bluff also lost big fullback Thomas Wirtzfeld, linebacker Dylan Oglesby, receiver Anthony Dingler, and LB / RB Delonte Williams.
Players to Watch: Isaiha Jones stepped in as a Wildcat formation quarterback in the region title game versus Spring Garden last year and was an instant success. Jones will play that role again for Cedar Bluff in 2017, as well as playing at receiver, running back, and safety. Junior LB / FB Ross Johnson( 6’ 2, 260) has started since 8th grade and will be one of the top players in 1A football. Look for junior Ethan Teague( 5’ 11, 240) to lead the way on a revamped offensive front. The Bluff’ s biggest star is running back Ivory Starr( 6’ 0, 185 Jr.). Ivory sat out the spring with an injury and his return will give the
Tigers one of the best runners in the state in 1A.
2017 Roundup: Cedar Bluff returns five starters on offense and eight on defense and as those numbers indicate, the defense at the Bluff should be very good. Coach Jonathan McWhorter was very pleased with his team’ s summer work, but says he wants to see the leadership develop on this 2017 edition of the Tigers. McWhorter says the expectations remain the same at Cedar Bluff-to compete for the region title and to make a deep playoff run.
Did You Know? Anniston likes a tough schedule. In the last five years, 11 of their 14 non-region opponents made the playoffs in Classes 4A, 5A & 6A.
Did You Know? Since 2001 Cedar Bluff has only suffered one losing season. The Tigers only losing mark in the last sixteen years was 4-5 in 2013. The Tigers have averaged 10 wins per year over that sixteen year period.
I’ m more than just another drink of water.
If only our tap water could talk to us. It might remind us that tap water is more than just a healthy refreshing drink. It also fights fires, supports our economy and provides us with the high quality of life we enjoy. No other water does all that.
We are all caretakers of the infrastructure that brings our community tap water--24 / 7, without fail. Together let’ s keep that infrastructure strong and reliable for future generations.
Anniston Water Works 931 Noble Street Anniston, AL 36202( 256) 241-2000 www. awwsb. org
38 | 2017 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine
Simply put, a strong water system is the backbone of any viable community. The rates we pay continue to enhance that system.
CENTRAL-CLAY CO. VOLUNTEERS
Class, Region: Class 5A, Region 4 Head Coach: Kris Herron
2016 Record: 9-3 2016 Playoffs: Lost 48-20 to St. Paul’ s Episcopal of Mobile at home in the Second Round of the Class 5A playoffs.
2016 Rewind: The Volunteers enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history in 2016. The team went 6-0 in the region to claim the title. The victories included a 34-28 win over eventual 5A state champion Beauregard. One of its two regular season losses was to 4A state champ Handley. The Vols’ offense averaged 30 points per game.
Key Losses: The most impactful losses were along the offensive line. The Vols lost all five starters including OG Hilt Young and center Jared Boswell. Central Clay County played a lot of young players over the course of the season, so much of the talent is back this year.
Players to Watch: Central Clay County will rely on a bevy of players that played key roles last season. Offensively, it starts with QB Ben Street who returns as the starter for the third season. Street is joined in the backfield by fellow senior Camerun Peoples( 6’ 1” 195 lbs). As a junior, the speedster rushed for over 1,800 yards. Tight end Cole Burns is another returning starter. The Vols have a stacked receiving corps with Shamari Simmons and his cousin LaShawn Simmons as well as slot receiver Paul Garrett. Returning starter
Cameron Peoples
JoJo Brannock will lead the defensive unit at middle linebacker. DE / OLB Quan McKinney is another returning starter as well as DT / NG Jaylon Bass. Shamari and LaShawn Simmons will patrol the secondary also.
2017 Roundup: Once again the Vols will field a very strong team. After a solid run last year with quality wins over strong teams, expect the team to play with a lot of confidence. The Vols have six returning starters on both sides of the ball. Head coach Kris Herron has been extremely pleased with his 13 seniors.“ Senior leadership is very important and this class has done a very good job,” Herron said.“ They understand that how they lead is how the team will go. They’ ve put forth a concentrated effort to provide good leadership this spring and summer.”
Did You Know? The Vols have yet to post a losing season in the five years since Clay County and Lineville consolidated. Central-Clay County has an overall record of 43-17(. 716 win %)