PLEASANT VALLEY RAIDERS RAGLAND PURPLE DEVILS
Class, Region: Class 3A, Region 5
Head Coach: Jonathan Nix Class, Region: Class 1A, Region 4
Head Coach: Brian Alred
2016 Record: 2-8
2016 Playoffs: None 2016 Record: 7-4
2016 Playoffs: Lost at home to Notasulga 37-36 in the First Round of the
Class 1A Playoffs.
2016 Rewind: The Pleasant Valley won their first two
games in 2016, but dropped the final eight to finish 2-8.
Key Losses: The Raiders lost several standouts from last
year’s squad including quarterback Nick Howard, punter/
tight end Dalton Payne, running back/defensive back
Dakota Jones, and Jordan Lambert from the defensive line.
Players to Watch: The Raiders return
seven starters on defense including
linebackers Colton East, Alex Parris,
Ashton King, and Nic Smith. Players to
look out for on the offensive side of the
ball include running back Ethan Borders,
wide receiver Caden Turner, running
back and quarterback Reagan King,
offensive lineman Adam Freeman, and
quarterback Brody Phillips.
2016 Rewind: The Ragland Purple Devils 7-4 season year ago included a 5-1
finish in the always tough 1A, Region 4. The season was a nice bounce back
from the Devils’ 3-8 mark in 2015.
Reagan King
2017 Roundup: Coach Jonathan Nix is
entering his third season as head coach
of the Raiders. With nine seniors on this
year’s team, Coach Nix says they have
had a great summer in the weight room
and at camps. “We are really excited as a
staff how this team has worked together
as one unit,” Nix says. This season 62%
of the varsity team are sophomores or
younger. Playing in one of the toughest
regions in the stateCoach Nix says, “As
long as we work hard and keep team
brotherhood all the other pieces will fall
into place.”
Did You Know? Pleasant Valley has only made four playoff appearances in
school history dating back to the 1982 season. The Raiders’ last state playoff
berth came in 2010.
54 | 2017 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine
Key Losses: Ragland key losses from 2016 include multi-year starting
running back Jayden Killings and placekicker and punter Jeremy Burnam, who
handled all kicking for the Purple Devils last year.
Players to Watch: Some players to watch this season for the Purple Devils
include senior outside linebacker Braxton Thomas, senior inside linebacker
Keith Darden, and fullback and inside linebacker Coby Floor.
2017 Roundup: Coach Brian Alred is entering his 2nd season as head coach
of the Devils. Coach Alred has 12 seniors on this year’s team. There will four
returning defensive starters, and six on the offensive side of the ball. Senior
running back Adam Sanders will be stepping up in place of Jayden Killings, who
has put up big numbers the last few seasons.
Did You Know? Second year Head Coach Michael Alred is the fourth
Head Coach in the last seven seasons at Ragland. Brain Mintz, Jonathan Nix,
Michael Hathorn, and Alred have all been Purple Devil Head Coaches since
the 2011 season.