PELL CITY PANTHERS
Class, Region: Class 6A, Region 7 Head Coach: Keith Etheredge
2016 Record: 4-7 2016 Playoffs: Lost in the First Round of the Class 6A playoffs on the road at Austin of Decatur 41-19.
2016 Rewind: The Panthers finished 6-5 in Head Coach Keith Etheredge debut season. Pell City did advance to the Class 6A playoffs for the third consecutive year.
Key Losses: Pell City lost offensive lineman Kent Foster( 2nd Team All-State), defensive linemen Kinsman Trammell and Tyler Estell, QB Hudson Hughes, WR Austin Stephens, FB Hunter Crayton, S Cole McGee, LB Austin Carlton, and RB Chris Lynch.
Players to Watch: It would be difficult to find a more impressive tight end than Junior Avery Weiss. At 6’ 6” 215 pounds, Weiss man-handled some of the state’ s top defensive linemen in 2016. With great hands and athletic ability, Weiss is also a weapon in the passing game. Justin Oakes can also be a devastating blocker in the trenches. Darious Garrett has big-play ability at running back and the trio of Malik Robinson, Brock Schaffer, and Casey Smith will be the top targets at receiver. The defensive backfield appears strong with safety Cody Eades along with defensive backs Gaitlin Roberson, Malik Posey, and Bryant Freeman. Linebacker Brett Staples has been impressive in pre-season practices and the defensive line of Tyler Locklar, Jacob Fomby, and Dylan Reaves should provide opposing offenses with plenty of concern.
2017 Roundup: Coach Etheredge labels the 2017 Panthers as a“ Blue Collar” team.“ The harder we’ ll work, the more success we’ ll have”, said Etheredge. The Panthers will open the 2017 season with Hewitt-Trussville in the Champions Challenge at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.
Did You Know? In Coach Etheredge’ s 10 seasons as Head Coach at Leeds, he led the Green Wave to 117 wins and only 24 losses. The Green Wave never won less than eight games in any of the 10 years under the watch of Etheredge.
PIEDMONT BULLDOGS
Class, Region: Class 3A, Region 5 Head Coach: Steve Smith
2016 Record: 15-0 2016 Playoffs: Won a second straight Class 3A State Championship with a 22-12 win over Mobile Christian in Auburn.
2016 Rewind: The Bulldogs won the school’ s third football state title in school history, winning the Class 3A, Region 5 title also. The 15-0 final mark was also the most wins and best record in Piedmont history.
Key Losses: Any mention of key losses at Piedmont has to begin with QB Taylor Hayes. Hayes led the Bulldogs to two state titles and is the most decorated player in PHS history. The Bulldogs also lost All- Stars LB Cobey McFry, LB Tyler Bobbitt, LB Austin Brazier, and OLs Mason Langley and Krae Keener.
Players to Watch: There are still lots of good players at Coach Steve Smith’ s disposal in 2017. Running back Lee Stanley, receivers Darian Bossie and T. J Fairs, and offensive linemen Cole Chasteen and Blake Headrick return on offense. Cardavian Myers will move from receiver to QB to fill the shoes of Hayes. The defense features the return of all three
Cardavian Myers
defensive linemen-Logan Beadles, Mathew Thornton, and Gavin Kircus. Junior Logan Smith will lead the linebacking corps and the secondary will be very good with Caden Jenkins, Carl Myers, Tyler Morrow, and Cardavian Myers.
2017 Roundup: Only five starters return on offense, but the Bulldogs welcome back eight returnees on the defensive side. There are 13 seniors on this year’ s squad and a large upcoming junior class. Coach Smith believes that the key to Piedmont challenging for another state crown is the young, talented players stepping up and finding new leaders. If that happens the other pieces are in place for another title run by Piedmont.
Did You Know? In Steve Smith’ s 11 seasons at Piedmont the Bulldogs have never had a losing record and have never missed the state playoffs. Piedmont has posted 10 wins or more in 9 of the 11 years. The Bulldogs are averaging 11 wins per season under Smith.
52 | 2017 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine