COLLINSVILLE PANTHERS
Class, Region: Class 2A, Region 6 Head Coach: Ernie Willingham
2016 Record: 6-5 2016 Playoffs: Lost at Lafayette 26-6 in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs
2016 Rewind: Collinsville posted their second straight 6-5 record and again advanced to the Class 2A playoffs in 2016.
Key Losses: The Panthers key losses included RB / MLB Tyler Blakely, OL / DL Stephen Watts, QB Grant Jones, and star running back Dallas Reed.
Players to Watch: Coach Ernie Willingham returns six starters on offense including QB Kaleb Jones, RB Mason McKinney, OL T. J. Osborn, OL Calvin Willingham, WR Jarrod Barkley, and WR Daniel Mann. Eight starters return on defense including Barkley and Jones at outside linebacker, Mann and McKinney at safety, Osborn at DT, defensive linemen Brain Lopez and Bryant Patton, and cornerback Drew Bobo.
2017 Roundup: Despite the large number of returning starters, this is still a young Panther team with only five seniors. However, many of the underclassmen played huge roles for Collinsville in 2016. With a vast amount of two-way players, staying away from injuries will be huge for Collinsville in 2017. The Panthers will again operate out of the spread and employ a 3-4 multiple scheme on defense. This is another Panther team that has the chance to compete with every team on the schedule, and should make another strong bid for a Class 2A playoff berth.
Did You Know? Head Coach Ernie Willingham notes that Collinsville now has every rival that the Panthers have ever had on the 2017 schedule. Crossville and Sand Rock were added back to the schedule last year to join other rivals such as Westbrook Christian, Cedar Bluff, Gaston, Valley Head, and Section.
COOSA CHRISTIAN CONQUERORS
Caiden Lipscomb
Class, Region: Class 1A, Region 6 Head Coach: Navendra Woods
2016 Record: 3-8 2016 Playoffs: Lost on the road to state runner-up Pickens County of Reform 55-7 in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs.
2016 Rewind: Coosa Christian bounced back from an 0-10 record in 2015 to earn a playoff berth for the first time since 2009.
Key Losses: Coosa returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense, so no real key losses for Coosa from 2016 to 2017.
Players to Watch: Coosa returns junior QB / JB Caiden Lipscomb( 6’ 0, 215), TE / DE Jackson Justus( 6’ 2, 230 Sr.), junior OL Chase Burger( 5’ 10, 210), freshman WR / DB Evan Delp, and sensational freshman running back Dartavious Britton( 5’ 6, 145). The Conquerors also welcome Gadsden City transfer WR / DB Clay Waites and Etowah transfer LB / FB Brody Sanders( 6’ 0, 230). Sanders is very strong and will play some H-Back also.
2017 Roundup: The overall numbers are up from 23 last year to 30 this season, and Coosa returns all of the defensive line but one and all of the linebackers. Coach Woods believes Coosa Christian has a good chance to compete for a region title.“ Making the playoffs last year brought some swag and some of the past tradition back to our program. We are gaining commitment from our players. We have a lot of young, hungry guys that are doing what they are supposed to do,” stated Woods.
Did You Know? Head Coach Navendra Woods is the cousin of former Oxford great and current Auburn Tiger Kenny Britt. Running back Dartavious Britton is a nephew of former Auburn great and NFL player Carnell Williams.
DONOHO FALCONS
Class, Region: Class 1A, Region 4 Head Coach: Mark Sanders
2016 Record: 2-8 2016 Playoffs: None
2016 Rewind: The Donoho Falcons finished 2-8 last season and 1-5 in Class 1A, Region 4.
Tej Patel # 5 Buddy Ray # 12 Jack Svensen # 5
Key Losses: Some key losses for the Falcons include Garrett Steed who played quarterback and on defense as well, and running back and kicker Mitchell Baker, who will be continuing his football career at Birmingham Southern. Baker put up over 300 points in football and over 100 goals in soccer during his athletic career at Donoho.
Players to Watch: Some players to look out for this season at Donoho include Buddy Ray, who took some snaps at quarterback in 2016 and plays safety, and running back and linebacker Tej Patel.
2017 Roundup: The Donoho Falcons welcomed in Mark Sanders as the new head coach in the offseason. Sanders says he has“ a very competitive group of guys.” There are five seniors on the Falcons squad this season, several of which will be playing football ether for the first time or first time in several years. The football program is growing at Donoho with numbers in the mid to high 30’ s which is exciting for Coach Sanders and the Donoho faithful.
Did You Know? New Donoho Head Coach Mark Sanders was a 2000 Class 3A All-State offensive lineman at Ashville and went on to play for the Alabama Crimson Tide. One of Sanders’ high school coaches was current Jacksonville State Head Coach John Grass.
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