2008 at a glance in this neck of the woods

It just feels right, doesn't it?

Here's something we can do in blog form that we can't do in print: an unabashed look at East Central Alabama, and how each team will finish.

Before we start, let me say that I have a new passion in the sports world: the Alabama High School Football History Site, which must have taken painfully copious amounts of time to put together and is a valuable resource for anyone who's a geek about this kind of stuff (like ... ya know ... me).

On then, to some fearless predicting. As always, this is merely one man's opinion — feel free to shove it in our faces once the season begins.

In reverse order, by classification:
Coosa Valley Academy: 2-7 in 2007, AISA Class A, Region 1, Steven Mackin — third season, 5-14 career.
Seems like an up year for these guys — they played a number of agonizingly close games in '07 (this will become a theme), and need some early momentum to get over that hump. They have an experienced quarterback in Whit Lovelady, some talented skill people (starting with JB Ripley) and are comfortable enough with Mackin's system that they won't have any struggles on that end. Also, the schedule sets up well for them: they'll likely be 1-1 going into a Week 3 matchup with rival Cornerstone Christian — win there and everything sets up nicely for the next month.
One other thing: slowly but surely, this group of athletes is experiencing success. Some of this group — not all, but some — played key roles in the baseball state title in '07. And Ripley & Co. led CVA to the AISA regionals during the winter of this past year. So maybe things are finally clicking into place on the football end.
Prediction: 6-5, 2d round AISA playoffs.
ASD: 3-7 in '07, AHSAA NR, Paul Kulick — fourth season, 14-15 at ASD.
The Silent Warriors will always possess crazy amounts of speed, and they're still a dangerous team on the right Friday (or Saturday). But there's a definite drop-off in experience from last year's group to this year's, and the schedule is tougher, also.
Prediction: 3-7
Fayetteville: 6-4 in '07, 1A-R4, Jimmy Wright — third season, 8-12.
Like many small schools, the Wolves have spent the past three seasons — after their only playoff appearance in 2004 — re-stocking the stores left depleted by the graduation of a loaded senior class. Finally, the hour has arrived: Wright's third squad is big, experienced and on a hot streak — they closed '07 with three consecutive wins, then crushed Coosa Christian in the spring.
Of course, the AHSAA rewarded that effort by throwing them into a crazy-good Region 4: three of their region opponents are already ranked in the state's top 10. And of those three, two of them — Loachapoka and Wadley — are on the road. Not good times, really.
Still, Fayetteville believes it can compete for the postseason. And that's a good thing.
Prediction: 7-3, 1st round AHSAA playoffs.
Ragland: 8-3 in '07, upset in first round of playoffs, 1A-R5, Brian Mintz — fifth season, 95-103 career.
How do you make up for the disappointment of getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs (when you were a strong candidate to make the third or fourth round)? Well ... drawing a new-look Region 5 — in which every team other than Appalachian and St. Bernard is named "Christian" — helps a good bit. To say the Purple Devils are the odds-on favorite to win this region isn't much of a stretch; it's like saying I'm the odds-on office favorite for inappropriate jokes.
It helps, too, that Ragland has more Brocks (specifically receiver Jamiel) in waiting, and is changing its offense to suit the talents of quarterback Jamarcus Embry. Regardless, it should come down to their Oct. 24 visit from Appalachian to determine this year's region title.
Prediction: 11-2, 3d round AHSAA playoffs.
Talladega Co. Central: 14-1 in '07, lost in 1A finals, 1A-R4, Chris Mahand — third season, 24-13, career.
Few groups of athletes have accomplished as much as the TC class of 2008 accomplished — two playoff appearances, 25 wins, and the greatest season in school history (2007). So losing that group is tough, particularly given the team's leading rusher (Robert Reynolds) and leading tackler (Reggie Virges) were a part of that group, along with a do-everything guy like Charles Curry.
Still, quarterback Dion Duncan remains on the roster, and is poised to play like a senior in his final season. Also, there's receiver Eric Garrett and Vnonte Chapman, who will likely fill the void left by Reynolds. This team still features a great deal of speed, albeit in a tougher region (the aforementioned Region 4). Don't look for them to be back in the finals, but do look for another good run.
Prediction: 10-3, 3d round AHSAA playoffs.
Victory Christian: 2-8 in '07, 1A-R5, Scotty Smith — second season, 2-8 career.
Put it this way: either the Lions make the playoffs this year for the first time in school history, or I don't understand the world anymore.
Prediction: 6-4, 1st round AHSAA playoffs.
Winterboro: 1-9 in '07, 1A-R4, Adam Fossett — first season.
Here's an intriguing team — yes, the Bulldogs only avoided a winless '07 by driving the field late in Week 9 to defeat White Plains. Yes, they're on their third head coach in three seasons. Yes, they looked fumble-happy last week at Munford in their jamboree.
Winterboro's intriguing because of its athletes, like Bacardy McClendon and Rontavious McGhee. They can run for days, and Fossett — an assistant in '07 under Todd Evans — won't fiddle too much with the system that's currently in place, so there shouldn't be too much confusion.
The problem? Size, and attitude. The 'Dogs are perilously small in stature, and according to Fossett are "one injury away from putting a receiver on the offensive line." That's not promising. Still, look for them to pull at least one upset this fall. The Week 2 matchup at Fayetteville will determine a lot about where both teams are headed.
Prediction: 3-7.
BB Comer: 2-8 in '07, 3A-R3, Tripp Henderson — first season, 20-12, career.
Few programs are hungrier to be back in the postseason mix than the folks at BB Comer, and Comer has the personnel to do it. Only a few months ago, I told you that this team looked like a playoff contender ... if the coaching situation stayed the same and the program wasn't forced to adjust to a new head guy. Of course, then David Norred fled the premises, a completely new staff took the reins and now, once again, the black and gold is starting all over again.
To business, however: Henderson's single-wing offense is a goofy enough departure from the norm — with all the motion and ball fakes — that it will confuse the opposition and allow for some big plays. And with athletes like Michael Hale and Del Franklin, the Tigers have the playmakers to make those (like Hale's 75-yarder in the jamboree against Fayetteville last week).
Will it be enough to win a few, however? Comer's varsity hasn't been part of a successful campaign at all — even the 6-5 campaign of 2001 seems like a distant memory. Much like Winterboro, or half the other teams on this list, the key is the first few weeks. Pick up a win or two, get some momentum, and suddenly everything will look rosier.
Prediction: 5-5.
Childersburg: 2-8 in '07, 4A-R4, Jeff Bullen — eighth season, 93-96 career.
Folks from the riverbanks bristled last season when I implied in a column that their team wasn't equipped to win tough football games. The last two seasons have borne that out, however — Big Blue lost 6 games last season by 10 points or fewer, including one nightmarish game against Central-Coosa where the Tigers played just well enough to make the game a heartbreaker.
This season they've gotten out of the spread with the intent of punishing people on the ground. It's a good move, considering their quarterback and top two receivers from a year ago have all graduated and moved on. And it should pay off — though how much is up for debate, since the region got infinitely tougher during the offseason.
We'll see. The first three games — at Comer, vs. Anniston and at Central — are all winnable, and if they're 3-0 going into that home game with Lincoln ... well, who knows?
Prediction: 4-6.
Lincoln: 9-4 in 07, 4A-R4, Keith Howard — fifth season, 49-28 career.
If ever there were a poster child for speed being a killer, Lincoln would be it. The Golden Bears can run for days with athletes like Tiger Williams, Jonathan George, TJ Hoyt and DJ Howard. And those are just the top 4, by the way — there's speed up and down the roster.
A much-hyped Week 2 showdown with Cleburne County looms as one of "those games" that can set the tone for the rest of the year in Region 2. I think they have the stuff to win that region, or at least finish in the top 3.
Prediction: 12-2, 4th round AHSAA playoffs
Munford: 6-4 in '07, 4A-R4, Todd Smith — second season, 6-4 career.
The classic "nobody is talking about us" team, the Lions were a very close fifth in a supremely tough 3A region last season. They did graduate a strong senior class in the spring, but after watching them in last week's jamboree, I can confirm that Munford still has playmakers — specifically, quarterback Drakkar Holcombe and backs Tim Curry and Montrel Parker.
Now the tough part: Todd Smith's group is thin as a rail, sporting a roster of less than 30 (by contrast, rival Lincoln has 50-plus on its roster). An injury here or there and suddenly the Lions are in serious trouble. And that opening trio of games — at Clay Co., at Handley, vs. Heflin — is the sort of series that could result in nicks and bumps.
Don't be surprised if Munford comes on toward the end of the season, however. They get Childersburg and Anniston at home, followed by a trip to Central before a home date against the hated Golden Bears.
Prediction: 6-4.
Sylacauga: 2-8 in '07, 5A-R4, Matt Griffith — fourth season, 19-52 career.
A study in momentum, the Aggies are: two seasons ago, the senior-laden Aggies picked up a few early victories, developed some confidence and ended up snowballing into the playoffs. Last season, a now-young squad struggled, couldn't find its confidence and ultimately needed a few breaks just to finish 2-8.
This team is more experienced on both sides the ball, including quarterback Kelsey Pope and back Josh Crowe. They can score in bunches, and did so last year despite having 10 new starters.
Now comes the hard part: playing tough enough defense that can make that offense stand up. If they can do it, they might make a postseason run again. If not, well ...
Prediction: 7-4, 1st round AHSAA playoffs.
Talladega: 2-8 in '07, 5A-R4, Bill Granger — second season, 2-8 career.
Here's what Talladega needs, as much as anything else: a capable, energetic head coach who will stay in the system, employ capable, energetic assistants that can help change the culture and gradually sculpt a program that competes week-in and week-out. "Changing the culture" is one of the worst cliches in all of sports, but at Talladega, that's exactly what's necessary. Building a program from nothing takes time, even with the perfect head coach in place.
So we'll see if the Tigers show signs of that this fall. Last year's team was built around the talents of Tae Keith, one of the best pure athletes you'll ever meet (as well as someone who graduated and now plays at Jacksonville St.). So how do you replace that kind of athlete? Frankly, I have no idea.
Just remember: this season, like last season, is a stepping stone. Wins and losses don't matter as much as steps toward improvement. That's where the real wins come.
Prediction: 2-8.
Pell City: 6-5 in '07, 6A-R7, Jay Brown — seventh season, 58-41 career.
The Panthers had a weird season in 2007 that can't totally be encapsulated here. Suffice to say, when your best lineman suffers a compound fracture because he jumped up in the air, it's probably not your year. But they still did get back to the playoffs, and managed to give their fans two rivalry victories — against Hewitt and Clay — that they won't soon forget.
Now the bad news: in a region that's gotten progressively better, Pell City has basically stayed the same. Elliott Wilson gives them a better threat running the ball from the QB position, but Brown and his staff will have to avoid that too much, to prevent him getting hurt. And then there's Oxford, Gadsden City, Clay-Chalkville and Hewitt, all of whom have college prospects that are much-ballyhooed.
Prediction: 6-4.