WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HAYLEVILLE LIONS?

Elkmont will be at Haleyville in the first round of the state playoffs tonight.  Kickoff is at 7 pm.  We haven't played Haleyville before so if you ask most people don't know about the Lions.  Here is the Times Daily Prep Preview of Haleyville.

 

 

 

Offense

The Lions are looking for balance in their offense this season.  "We would like to be a run-first team out of spread formations," said first-year head coach Bo Culver, who has also served as head coach at Phil Campbell and an assistant at Florence. "We have some returners at skill positions, but we are only going to be as good as our line allows us to be."

The line will feature only one returning starter in center Will Beckman. Culver said he will count on the senior for leadership in the trenches.

"Will has been doing a great job," he said. "We will need him to step up and really push the others around him."

At quarterback, Conner Kiser returns. Fellow seniors Jonas Dodd and Dillon Posey will join rising sophomore Brady Sherrill to round out the receiving corps.

Defense

The Lions plan on using the three-stack system, which includes a middle (Mike) linebacker and two outside backs positioned over the defensive ends.

"It's the same type of defense that Hartselle runs," Culver said. "We will be as multiple as we need to be. Defensive coordinator Todd McNutt has done an outstanding job."

Culver added that injuries and position changes have been a few obstacles that the defense has overcome during the offseason.

"We return Jesse Overton at nose guard," Culver said. "He has fought back from injury and has really worked hard at getting back into shape." Adam Broyles has also moved from defensive end from linebacker. Dakota Morris is also a senior inside linebacker who can provide leadership for us on and off the field. Each of these guys will have to play well for us to be successful this year."

Extra Points

With most schools need an adjustment period whenever a new coach takes over a program, Culver said that has not been the case at Haleyville. "I think the transition has been seamless," he said. "The kids really didn't have to learn a whole new system. We feel good about where we are. This is hands down the best coaching staff I have ever been a part of and I have been on some good ones."

The AHSAA reclassification that included seven divisions offered only minor changes to Haleyville's schedule. The Lions remained in Class 4A, but moved from Region 8 to Region 5 in the process. Rival Hamilton has moved from Class 3A and joins the Lions in Region 5.