On
a night made for the first Elkmont vs Ardmore Alumni game, players,
cheerleaders and band members from years past gathered at Tiger
Stadium. These groups have been practicing and reliving bygone memories
as well as creating new ones. This game had been months in the
making.
Alumni Football USA
helped organize the game, which was open to anyone who graduated from Ardmore or
Elkmont.
“What they (Alumni Football USA) try to do is get a natural rivalry. In our
case, it’s always been Ardmore,” said Elkmont graduate Coty Johns.
“We started having people register about a week after that game,”
said Johns.
“We were the first to sign up and its been really strong since. We’ve
got
people from 1974-2011. We pretty much covered all generations." After
Johns signed up, dozens more followed, and not just football players.
but bands and cheerleaders from both schools.
“They texted me back in the summer and I actually thought it was a
joke,” said Lesley Garris, a 1989 Elkmont graduate. “I did some research
and saw that it was real
and decided to play.”
Garris did more than sign up. The former quarterback contacted former Elkmont
all-state players and recruited them to play. That
included 2007-08 all-state athlete David Solomon, 2006 all-state tight end Tim
Woolridge, 2003 all-state linebacker Jacob Black and 1999 all-state quarterback
Brandon Turner.
Game Results:
Alumni Football USA helped organize the game, which is open to anyone who graduated from Ardmore or Elkmont.
“What they (Alumni Football USA) try to do is get a natural rivalry. In
our case, it’s always been Ardmore,” said Elkmont graduate Coty Johns.
“We had a lot of people attend that (West-Clements) game and I hope that
we can do the same thing for Elkmont.”
Clements and West Limestone played an alumni game in October 2013, the
first such game to take place between the Limestone County schools.
The winner of Friday’s game will play West Limestone, which beat Clements 36-8, at a later date.
“We started having people register about a week after that game,” said
Johns. “We were the first to sign up and its been really strong since.
We’ve got people from 1974-2011. We pretty much cover all generations.”
Johns said Elkmont has about 36 players signed to play in the game,
which will be full contact with pads and helmets. Alumni Football USA
games are as close to the games you see on Friday nights in the fall,
except, of course, for players ages.
“I wanted to see the level of play,” said Johns about watching the West
Limestone game. “What kind of game it would be as far the hitting
goes. I wanted to see it for my own eyes before I committed.”
After Johns signed up, dozens more followed, and not just football
players. Friday’s game will feature bands and cheerleaders from both
schools. Tickets can be purchased from anyone playing in the game
through Sunday, at either school until the day of the game and at the
gate.
Half the proceeds from presold tickets go toward the schools while
tickets purchased at the gate go straight to Alumni Football USA. Those
looking for tickets over the weekend can visit the Piggly Wiggly in
Elkmont Saturday where Johns and fellow Elkmont graduate, Lesley Garris,
will be on hand to sell tickets at a car show, beginning at 10 a.m.
“They texted me back in the summer and I actually thought it was a
joke,” said Garris, a 1989 Elkmont graduate. “I did some research and
saw that it was real and decided to play.”
Garris did more than sign up. The former quarterback contacted former
Elkmont all-state players and recruited them to play. So far,
recognizable names include 2007-08 all-state athlete David Solomon, 2006
all-state tight end Tim Woolridge, 2003 all-state linebacker Jacob
Black and 1999 all-state quarterback Brandon Turner.
Johnny Stephens and Bob Whitt will coach the Elkmont team. - See more
at:
http://www.enewscourier.com/archivesearch/x493448835/Ardmore-Elkmont-alumni-game-a-week-away#sthash.FJBdVANm.dpuf
The
Elkmont football team won 20 - 6 over the Ardmore Tigers. Gery Jones
scored two rushing touchdowns and received offensive MVP. Brandon Turner
threw an 88 yard TD to David Solomon.
Gery Jones - Offensive MVP
David Solomon - Special Teams MVP
Jacob Black - Defensive MVP
The Elkmont Red Devils Alumni team will play West Limestone, which beat Clements 36-8 in an early game,
at a later date.
Link to post game interview: Elkmont
Donnie's Thoughts:
As
you get older, have you looked back and wished you could do something
one more time? When I graduated in 1974, I would come to Elkmont
Football games and think "man, I wish I could be out there." Well, last
night I got that chance. I got to do it with 5 nephews (Jamie
Harwell-Jeremy and Timmy Wooldridge- David and Brandon Solomon) my
son-n-law (Tony Mims) and my son (Coty Johns) whom all played for the
Red Devils. I got to play with young men who I had watched in years
past. Our team was coached by John Bob Witt. His dad was my coach back
during my high school years. The quarterback was Brandon Turner who I
helped coach in pee wee and others. I got to play with young men whose
dads played on the same team with me back then. with my wife Vickie and
my daughter Amanda Mims and sister-in-law, Deb Holt cheering on the
sideline. And today I feel very much blessed to be able to have been a
part of alumni game and to be able to run the football again against
Ardmore (2 carries 6 yards). That's was all I could ask for since sign
up and in all the practices was two carries and I thank the linemen up
front for this.
When
we broke the huddle, a couple of big lineman looked at me and said "Get
behind us Mr. Johns, we got you." Yes, it was only two plays but they
will last forever for me. When I got up from the ground as the last
second clicked off the clock, I looked at the score board. It flashed
Elkmont 20, Ardmore 6 and thought Ardmore NOMORE.
#1 Jamie Harwell – Class of ‘94
#2 Matt Roberts – Class of ‘98
#3 Jeremy Wooldridge - Class of ‘98
#4 Ryan Woods - Class of ‘06
#5 Michael Lloyd – Class of ‘02
#6 Jason Randolph – Class of ‘01
#7 Brandon Turner – Class of ‘01
#9 Heath Pitman - Class of ‘98
#10 Lesley Garris - Class of ‘89
#11 Josh Kennedy - Class of ‘97
#12 Brandon Solomon - Class of ‘09
#14 Gery Jones - Class of ‘99
#15 Chris Sharp - Class of ‘88
#20 Mike Adams - Class of ‘85
#22 Justin Defoe - Class of ‘08
#23 Brandon Batrum - Class of ‘05
#25 David Solomon - Class of ‘09
#31 Dustin Ward - Class of ‘13
#32 Gerald Jones - Class of ‘97
#33 Tim Hilliard - Class of ‘92
#36 Shaun Sims - Class of ‘97
#38 Michael Batrum - Class of ‘00
#44 Coty Johns - Class of ‘02
#44 Donnie Johns - Class of ‘74
#45 Jacob Black - Class of ‘04
#50 Jacob Marshall - Class of ‘13
#51 Anthony Mims - Class of ‘06
#52 Ken Wright- Class of ‘02
#54 Jared Smith – Class of ‘95
#55 Sean England – Class of ‘94
#56 Bronson Ellis – Class of ‘12
#57 Todd Clem – Class of ‘95
#75 Adam Woodfin – Class of ‘97
#77 Eric Chaney - Class of ‘11
#84 Nick McMunn - Class of ‘97
#87 Tim Wooldridge - Class of ‘06
#88 Jarrod Petty - Class of ‘10
Coaches:
Johnny Stephens—Offense – Class of
‘80
John Witt—Defense/Special Teams –
Class of ‘97
Mark Stephens—Defense/Personnel –
Class of ‘81
Michael Carter – Press Box Coach
Ryan Pylant – Trainer – Class of ‘05
Manager – Noah Sharp – Class of ‘17
Water Boys – Cason Clem, DJ Holden & Isaac Batrum
Team Photographers – Robby Newport & Haley Black
Alumni Band:
Mark McChristian – Band Director
Keila Powers Berzett
– Class of ‘82 Jeff Glaze - Class of ‘81
Marty McNatt – Class of ‘85,
Jacob McNatt – Class of ‘12
, Payton Ikard – Class
of ‘14,
Mike Ikard – Class of ‘88
, Pam Eaves Moss – Class of ‘87, Kyle
Morneault –
Class of ‘07, Tammy Davis Haney – Class of ‘83, Cynthia Wray Daniel –
Class of
‘83, Jennifer Tyler McNeil – Class of ‘89, Theresa Jeffreys Kyle – Class
of ‘86,
Belinda Daly Wray – Class of ‘86, Lisa Turner Williams – Class of ‘83,
Linda
Powers Hogan – Class of ‘78, Renea Eaves – Class of ‘83, Hunter Ennis –
Class of ‘15, Preston Ikard –
Class of ‘12, Dusty Birdwell – Class of ‘13, Rhonda Owen Spry – Class of
‘79, Quterrais Williams – Class of ‘14, Cody Wagoner – Class of ‘15,
Kelly McNeil –
Class of ‘17, Austin Reed – Class of ’16, Victor Mendez – Class of ‘14
Jada Appleton - Class of ‘03
, Kim Davis Knox –
Class of ‘03, Amanda Johns Mims – Class of ‘05, Jessica Lackey – Class of ‘07,
Laura
Huseth Dougherty – Class of ‘09, Bailey Witt – Class of ‘09
, Erin Mitchell –
Class of ‘10
, Casey Dugger – Class of ‘10
, Allie Jacobs – Class of ‘10,
Claire
Patterson – Class of ‘11,
Jane Grumbine Smith – Class of ‘91,Crystal Mizell
Newsom – Class of ‘91,
Debra Solomon Holt - Class of ‘72, Susan Legg
Pylant – Class of ‘72, Vicky Solomon Johns– Class of ‘74, Mona Scott Hill – Class
of ‘76, Regina Wilkins Clem – Class of ‘83, Cindy Colvett Wales – Class of ‘84,
Marcy Nash Hamilton – Class of ‘85, Pinky Davis Doyle – Class of ‘85, Ellen Daly
Emfinger - Class of ‘87, Dee Hardiman Sharp – Class of ‘90, Necole Hill Scroggins
– Class of ’93, Joni Terry – Class of ‘99
Great Photos of the game can be ordered from Down Home Portraits. Link to Album
