Fall gives teams big hopes
By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
It doesn’t matter if a high school football team is coming off a 12-win season or they struggled to win just one game: fall brings a renewal of hopes for the coming season.
Some have legimate reasons for optimism with a long list of returning starters or favorable schedules. Some are just glad to be able to put last season in the history books.
Hartselle was the only school in the Hartselle Enquirer coverage area to reach the playoffs last season and finished with a great 12-1 mark.
But the Tigers have plenty of holes to fill, including most of the team’s top receivers, a Class 5A Back of the Year nominee, starting quarterback and several defensive standouts including the team’s leading tackler.
Seven wins for a young and inexperienced team would be conservative, but this still is a team that has plenty of talent. A return to the playoffs should be easily within reach, even though several teams in Region 8 have improved since last season.
The team’s returning players have plenty of talent and there shouldn’t be a huge dropoff from last year’s third-round team.
Danville won just four games last year, but could easily double that this year with a roster filled with eight returning starters on each side of the football.
The Hawks are still young, but they have plenty of experience. And Levi George, one of the state’s top small-school running backs returns after rushing for nearly 3,000 yards over the last two seasons.
The three other schools - Brewer, Priceville and Falkville - will go through some growing pains this season.
Daniel Gullion has taken over the Brewer program, but the Patriots shouldn’t miss a beat. He was an assistant under Billy Coleman last year.
Priceville and Falkville were hit hard by graduation last year and will face some tough challenges while young players overcome inexperience.
Numbers have been a problem at several schools around the area, including Falkville. The Blue Devils will probably open the season with around 23 varsity players - making health a primary concern.
Sports editor Todd Thompson can be reached at 773-6566 or at todd.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com
