MADISON – The 2019 high school football season kicks off tonight, Aug. 23, night with three of the four local schools hitting the field against out-of-state opponents. Only Sparkman is not utilizing the week to begin play, but Bob Jones, James Clemens and Madison Academy are ready to strap up and get their new campaigns underway.

Bob Jones travels to Memphis to face Christian Brothers, a team the Patriots defeated 17-16 a season ago. James Clemens opens their schedule at Madison City Schools Stadium by hosting perennial Georgia powerhouse school Grayson High from suburban Atlanta. Madison Academy opens its campaign under a new coach as Bob Godsey will lead the Mustangs in Class 5A play and the new era for the Mustangs to begin by hosting Briarcrest Christian out of Memphis.

A dynamite kickoff to the new season, to say the least.

JAMES CLEMENS

The Jets return 17 starters from the team that was 7-4 last season. Two quarterbacks may be used by head coach Wade Waldrop, entering his seventh season at the helm of the program, which won the Class 7A Region 4 Championship with a perfect 7-0 mark 2018. Juniors Connor Cantrell (5-10, 170) and Chase Starling (5-9, 195) will be used in a variety of offensive formations on offense. Running backs include seniors Dylan Blackburn (6-1, 205), Collin Moore (5-10, 180) and J.T. Elliott (5-9, 180) with sophomore speedster Dante Snodgrass (5-8, 165) expected to see playing time. Returning from a season-ending injury from a year ago will be Chris Baker (5-9, 190) who can provide firepower from different positions.

Chris Hope (6-0, 185) is being looked to provide leadership in the receiving corps.

The real muscle in the offense will come from an experience line led by UAB commit and First Team All-State performer Zach Taylor (6-4, 285). Waldrop said, “Zach is the name of the team of offensive linemen, but it’s a group of players up front.”

Seniors Jordan Johnson (6-0, 270), Ryan Keepers (6-2, 215), Dakota Bell (6-0, 230) and Christian Brown (6-2, 280) will provide all the muscle the line needs in making the offense potent.

Defense has nine starters returning. Six players will be expected to fill the gaps on the line led by seniors Lee Coleman (6-2, 270), Kimadre Edwards (6-0, 270), Tyler Bastow (6-5, 240), Tyler Davis (6-1, 190) and Jerell Mitchell (5-10, 185). Jaycen Ervin (5-9, 270) a junior will also be part of the mix.

The linebacker crew will be made up of seniors Tae Strother (5-11, 220), Nathan Blanton (5-9, 155) and Devon Hadaway (6-0, 170). “They’ve been in the system for a while and should be on track to have a banner season,” said Waldrop.

The defensive backfield should also be experienced led by seniors Tyrone Wilson (6-2, 190), John Granger (5-9, 155) and Collin Malone (5-10, 180) making the group ready to play.

Brothers Jesse Rowe (Sr., 6-1, 175) and Aaron Rowe (So., 5-10, 180) will handle the duties of kicking for the Jets.

“There’s no doubt we have a great opportunity before us,” said Waldrop. “Our schedule is the toughest I’ve had as a coach and this season we should know where we are after the first three games.”

BOB JONES

The Patriots return just 10 starters off last year’s team that went 6-5 overall and 3-4 in Region 4. They haven’t had a five-game losing season since 2007.

Head coach Kevin Rose will coach is 11^th season at the school and will rely on his son, Caden, to direct the offense as starting quarterback. Caden Rose (5-10, 170), an Alabama baseball commit, will have senior wide receiver Donovan Brown (6-0, 170) on board as a favorite target. Brown is a UT-Martin commit and like Caden Rose, will play some in the defensive backfield, too.

“We are going to have to play some guys both ways to deal with the depth issues,” said Rose, 49. “But I’m still excited about getting started and coaching this team as they are a close group and is made up of some very high character kids.”

Junior Slate Alford will be called upon in a relief mode at quarterback as he saw playing time last season and is well equipped to handle play calling when necessary.

Running backs will be led by seniors Jacob Guyton (5-8, 165), Aniyi Maxwell (5-10, 190) and Khali Griffin (6-0, 190) along with junior Deonta Farris. The offensive line should be in fine shape with three returning starters including senior Mike Lucente (6-0, 285) and juniors Drew Lawson (6-2, 260) and Ethan Dawes (6-0, 250). The group is expected to blow open holes for their backfield and provide for what could be an explosive offense in 2019.

The defensive line is regarded as a group who don’t have the finest statistics in physical stature, but possess big hearts and work hard. Seniors Jehan King (5-9, 220) and Derrick Weddle (6-2, 205) will head up the big heart group. The linebackers are led by seniors Walker Styles (6-0, 180) and Deondre Smith (6-0, 200) and both are expected to lead a nice bevy of linebackers to cover the entire field and make much needed plays.

Rose is counting on senior Jacob Fruehwald (5-7, 150) to handle the place kicking duties.

“We must be good on special teams to give ourselves a chance versus a very tough schedule,” said Rose. “With all three phases contributing we have to do a good job of holding our opponents to a low score.”

SPARKMAN

The Senators battled to a disappointing 4-6 record last season and this year only have four returners set to kick off the 2019 campaign. “We have experience coming up behind those four starters from players who played a lot last year, especially on the junior varsity squad,” said Leron White head coach of Sparkman. “We should be explosive.”

White enters his third season as head coach of the Senators and said gets many players ready on Monday nights (junior varsity) and plugs them in on Friday night games in varsity play. “We try and establish what we need through our entire program.”

The only returning starters on offense are seniors Genesis Reedus on the offensive line and wide receiver Jakevion Dobbs. White said of his wide receivers, “We have guys who can make bigger plays and are more explosive this year. We have more dynamic receivers and running backs.”

Carrying the ball will include senior Tavion Rupert and Jaylin Atkinson, a transfer into the Senators program from Hazel Green. Wide receivers will be led by senior Distan Findley and junior Cameron Foley. Those talents will be fed the ball by a two quarterback system that White hopes will spell havoc for their opponents.

Nick Sawyer started the last regular season game for Sparkman last year and is expected to be the opening game starter this year as a junior, but White will also use the talents of sophomore Luke Shomberg in the quarterback system. Add a depth-filled offensive line and you have what could be a dynamic offense that promises to put up more than the 16.8 points per game of a season ago.

The defense gave up nearly 23 points per outing in 2018, but is expected to rise in talent level and performance starting on the defensive line where White said he will have seven players looking to move into place. The corps of linebackers will five be deep and all having tremendous possibilities to make a serious run at an outstanding season of play.

“We feel we have a lot of depth on defense, including the backfield, as we don’t want to get into position to get tired late in games,” added White. “We want to stay fresh and that is a key for our defense.”

The player considered the top player on the Senators’ roster in 2019 is kicker Miles Tillman. The senior kicker has had several offers from D-1 schools, and according to White, “Is solid and we have no worries with Miles handling the place kicking and punting duties for us.”

“I’m excited and more comfortable in my position here at Sparkman going into this season,” said White. “The players we have are the ones we want with us.”

The Senators kick off the season at their new artificial turf football field on Aug. 30 versus Hazel Green.

MADISON ACADEMY

The Mustangs have four starters each on offense and defense and will look to those “Enormous Eight” to propel the squad to match or better last year’s team which went 10-2 overall, 7-0 in Region 8 in their first season in Class 5A.

This season when the Mustangs hit the field they will be guided by new head coach Bob Godsey who took over the program after three year coach Grant Reynolds resigned. Godsey coached 16 seasons at Hartselle and has the experience to help this program continue its winning ways of not having a losing season since 2002.

“The transition has been smooth as the players have been super receptive to a new staff, new defense and special teams,” said Godsey. “We have talented players, but we are thin in bodies.”

Madison Academy outscored its opponents by 17 points per game including 38 points an outing on offense. This season they hope to have similar success behind junior quarterback Avery Seaton (5-10, 195) who is thought to be the top quarterback in North Alabama. Senior receiver Slate Rucker (6-0, 150) should receive the bulk of Seaton’s darts.  Newcomers at the wide receiver position are Tim Spulock, Clay Pitsinos and Jailen Holmes. Evan Craighead (6-5, 203) and Josh Malone (6-1, 170) will handle the majority of the calls at running back to help compliment the passing attack of the Mustangs.

The offensive line has two starters returning. Senior Jay Ingram (6-0, 318) and junior Kaden Young (6-3, 270) will act like monsters of the midway in leading the support of the offensive backfield. “Godsey added on his thoughts of the line play, “Can the inexperience of the line, as well as, the defensive line develop as the year progresses, that’s our main concern.”

The defense was stingy last season allowing just 21 points per outing and this year’s squad could be just as productive. Craighead will play double duty as linebacker and be a driving force behind the squad’s ability to take charge. Defensive backs are led by seniors Josh Malone (6-1, 170) and Jacobi McBride (6-1, 165). Both of whom were starters last season. Sophomore talents will include the play of linebacker Chuck Moore (5-8, 194) and defensive lineman Jalen Arnold (5-9, 220).

Place kicker is Andrew Clark who is a newcomer to the squad and will be tested early against some tough opponents. The Mustangs kick off the season at home versus Briarcrest Christian a team the Mustangs have never met and will do so ranked No. 4 in Class 5A in the pre-season rankings.

“Our numbers of players are not where we want them, but that will improve with time,” said Godsey. “If we can remain healthy we have a chance to make a deep run into the season. It will take discipline and toughness to do that down the stretch.”