TALLADEGA TIGERS WEAVER BEARCATS
Class, Region: Class 5A, Region 4
Head Coach: Ted Darby Class, Region: Class 3A, Region 5
Head Coach: Daryl Hamby
2016 Record: 3-7
2016 Playoffs: None 2016 Record: 9-4
2016 Playoffs: Weaver advanced to the quarter-
finals of the Class 3A playoffs before falling at eventual
state champion Piedmont 52-28.
2016 Rewind: 3-7 Last season / Won 2 of their last 3 / Lost 3 Games by 8 points or
less
Key Losses: The key losses for the Tigers from 2016 incluse DL Jae-Lin Russ and
OL Jamonte Twymon
Players to Watch: QB Ashton Duncan returns for his third season under center.
Duncan is a three-sport athlete who is a proven leader that his teammates will rally
around. RB JQ Wilson continues to improve and should round out an explosive
backfield. Linebackers Tristen Wells and CJ White, and DB Chaztin Tanner will be
counted on to improve a defense that allowed 33 points per game in region play.
2017 Roundup: Coach Darby has added more players to the roster as more than
40 Tigers finished spring practice. The key will be to stay healthy as the Tigers gain
some much-needed experience. Darby is looking for consistent effort on both sides
of the ball each week. Darby calls Class 5A, Region 4, “The toughest region in the
state of Alabama.” “You can just go down the list and we’ll be facing some tremendous
coaches and programs every time we walk on the field,” says Darby.
Did You Know? The Tigers are looking for their first winning season since
1994. THS will open the season at Alexandria for the first meeting between the
schools since 1962.
2016 Rewind: The Bearcats enjoyed one of the most
successful seasons in school history. Their only three
regular season losses came to the three teams ahead
of them in the final region standings. The Bearcats
Riley Benavides
were the measuring stick that displayed the depth and
strength of the region by picking up two playoff wins (at
Fultondale and against Lexington) by a combined score of 79-7.
Key Losses: The class of 2017 was one of the most successful in school history. The
class had experience and talent on both sides of the ball including: RB / LB Tyrik Hall,
LB Kyle Clapper, DE Matt Elston, RB / DB Paul Hubbard, WR Maurice Goodman,
WR Cody Ortiz and RB / LB Giovanni Mosley.
Players to Watch: The strength of the Bearcats will be upfront. The offensive line
returns all-state selection Riley Benavides (6’4” 290 lbs). He and fellow senior Brandon
Boyce will anchor a very big and talented unit. Seasoned quarterback Dalton Hamby
is back under center for the third season. The senior will have a lot of weapons to
pick from including junior RB Shamar Spinks and junior RB Caleb Allison. The wide
receiver corps features senior London Knight and junior Robert Gaines. Defensively,
Allison returns as a top linebacker. Knight and Gaines are talented defensive backs.
Sophomore Isaiah Woods (LB / NG / FB) is also expected to make an impact.
2017 Roundup: “I am happy with this team,” Head Coach Daryl Hamby said. “I like
the leadership that we have and they understand it is a tough region and we will have
to be prepared.” Last season’s run was one for the history books and look for Weaver
to feed off the confidence it built. The team returns five starters on both offense and
defense with eight seniors to step up and claim the leadership roles.
TALLADEGA COUNTY
CENTRAL TIGERS
Did You Know? The 2016 postseason run marked the Bearcats’
second trip to the quarterfinals in school history. It also tied the most
consecutive seasons (four) Weaver has qualified for the playoffs.
Class, Region: Class 1A, Region 4
Head Coach: Chris Mahand
2016 Record: 4-6
2016 Playoffs: Lost to eventual State Champion
Maplesville 61-6 on the road in the First Round of the
Class 1A playoffs.
Kylen Cross
Key Losses: Middle linebacker Kris
Emory is really the only key loss for the
Tigers from 2016. from defensive tackle Mikell Armbrester
and expects him to be a force in the
trenches.
Players to Watch: RB Kylen Cross
returns to the Tigers’ backfield as one of
the hidden gems in the area. The 6-foot
230-pound speedster has the ability to
run through or around defenders. QB
Durrell Maples will return for his third
season under center and RB Devlon
Kellar is capable of making big plays for
the Tiger s. Coach Mahand likes the effort 2017 Roundup: The Tigers are one of
the more experienced teams in Class 1A,
Region 4 and Coach Mahand understands
the expectations. “We’ll definitely have
a target on our back. But there are some
great teams in this region including
Wadley who will be loaded once again,”
said Mahand. The Tigers will open at
arch-rival Talladega on September 1.
Did You Know?: This season marks the 10 year anniversary of Talladega
County Central’s greatest team. The 2007 Tiger squad swept their way to a
14-0 record and a berth to the Super Six in Birmingham before falling in the
1A title game to Sweet Water 42-7. That Tiger team set the school record for
wins and is the only team to advance to a state championship game.
?
Did You Know?
Jacksonville Christian
Academy will suspend football
for the 2017 season. The
Thunder did not have enough
participants to field a team this
season. That decision means
Class 1A, Region 6 will only
have six teams competing for
four playoff berths this year.
?
2016 Rewind: After back to back winning seasons, the
Tigers slipped to 4-6 in 2016. TCC lost their first three
contests, but won four of the last six to qualify for the Class
1A playoffs for the fourth straight year.
2017 Pigskin Roundup the Magazine | 59