FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - WEST LIMESTONE

The Elkmont Red Devils  will be traveling tonight as they lineup with the West Limestone Wildcats this evening.  Kickoff is at 7 pm. The Wildcats' Homecoming is this evening so allow extra time to get parked and into the stadium.

Elkmont's Area Leaders
Rushing:
Zeb Pankey - 23 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD

Interceptions:
Hunter Pitman - 3

Weather:
Clear skies, low humidity but still warm.  Kickoff temperature will be 70 degrees and will drop to 64 by the end of game. Breeze out of the northeast. Blankets and jackets for you cold natured fans.

Predictions:
Decatur Daily

Elkmont at West Limestone

Where: James Kennemer Stadium

What: Non-region game

Records: Elkmont (1-4), West Limestone (1-4)

Radio: Streaming on pasnetwork.net

Last meeting: West Limestone won last year’s game, 47-0

The skinny: Elkmont comes into the neighborhood rivalry after snapping a 15-game losing streak. Cameron Davis rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns in the 40-12 win over East Lawrence. … West Limestone suffered a tough loss at home to undefeated region rival Rogers, 15-11. Quarterback Graham Pepper is the Wildcats’ No. 1 threat on offense running and passing. … West Limestone leads the series 44-18-1 and has won four of the last five meetings.

The Daily picks: West Limestone

BLANKENSHIP TOO MUCH FOR RED DEVILS

Reed Blankenship ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more as West Limestone shut out Elkmont 47-0 Friday at Boss Hill Stadium in Elkmont.

Zeb Pankey led Elkmont with 49 yards rushing on seven carries.

Elkmont (0-6) hosts Colbert Heights for our Homecoming game next Friday.

Highlight of the Night:

One of our cheerleaders, Leah Seibert received lots of love from everyone. 

The Red Devils showered her with yellow flowers in tribute to her strength as she continues to battle cancer.

Video Link: Flowers for Leah

Photos Link: Down Home Portraits

WEST ROLLS IN SECOND HALF FOR WIN

Down Home Portraits

The Red Devils started the football game red-hot in staking a 23-14 halftime lead, but the visiting West Limestone Wildcats shut them out in the second half to win 43-23.

Alex Maples opened the first-quarter scoring for West with a 5-yard run, making it 7-0. But Elkmont responded just two plays later, when senior quarterback Jordan Nelson connected with receiver Noah Sharp on a perfect 44-yard touchdown pass.  West fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Elkmont converted on the next play when Nelson ran a quarterback keeper off-tackle to give the Red Devils a 14-7 lead. Everything seems to be going Elkmont’s way when Zeb Pankey recovered on onside kick for the host team. Daniel Valencia booted a field goal to extend the lead to 17-7.

In the next series, the Wildcats attempted to convert a fourth down deep in their own territory, but Hunter Coffman stopped it cold and Elkmont gained possession. Valencia added another field goal to extend the lead to 20-7.  Nick Freeman responded for West with a dazzling 38-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-14. West attempted an onside kick, but Pankey again was there to recover for the Red Devils.  

Nick Freeman responded for West with a dazzling 38-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 20-14. West attempted an onside kick, but Pankey again was there to recover for the Red Devils. Valencia would convert his third field goal opportunity and give Elkmont a 23-14 lead. Valencia would convert his third field goal opportunity and give Elkmont a 23-14 lead at halftime.

A 16-yard touchdown run by Blankenship trimmed the Elkmont lead to 23-21. Later in the third quarter West pulled ahead 27-23 on a Lancaster 1-yard dive.  Then the bottom dropped out of the Elkmont effort. They weren't able to score in the second half while the Wildcats tacked on 19 points. In the fourth quarter, Lancaster scored on another 1-yard plunge and finally Freeman scooted in from 10 yards out to finish the scoring at 42-23.

“We made some plays offensively and made some stops defensively. The first half was just about the best half of football we’ve played this season,” Elkmont head coach Sean Holt said.“I’m proud of our kids and how we played tonight,”

Stat Highlights:
Jordan Nelson - Threw 107 yards; 70 yards rushing
Zeb Pankey - 67 yard rushing



News Courier Link to Read Complete Article

ELKMONT FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - WEST LIMESTONE

It is going to be a beautiful night for football at the Hilltop.  Boss Hill Stadium will be hosting West Limestone tonight.  These two closely linked communities with families that are split between the schools traditionally turn out for the yearly braggin' rights game.  Don't wait to the last minute to get to this game if you want to find a seat.

Channel 48 will be live for their 4, 5, and 6 p.m. newscasts TODAY at ELKMONT for the 48 Tailgate Tour!

SPIRIT ACTIVITES:
*2:15 PM - PEP RALLY @ NEW GYM
*5:00 PM - TAILGATING
*5:30 PM - SPIRIT LINE WALK THRU
*7:00 PM - KICKOFF

WEATHER:
Look for clear skies this evening.  It will be about 80 degrees at 6 pm. We’ll still cool off quickly at sunset, giving us a cool 74 by kickoff. 

PREDICTION:

DECATUR DAILY
Where: Boss Hill Stadiium

What: Class 4A, Region 8 game

Records: West Limestone (1-3); Elkmont (0-3)

Last season: Elkmont won 49-13

The skinny: West Limestone is on a two-game losing skid, and Elkmont has lost three straight. … Elkmont is led by running back Eli Hobbs. … With Reed Blankenship out with an injury, Chase Lancaster has carried West Limestone’s offense. He has rushed for 324 yards and three touchdowns.

The Daily picks: West Limestone 20, Elkmont 14

ELKMONT MIDGETS COUNTY RUNNERUP

The last game of the season for the Elkmont Midgets was a win! The midgets hit the field ready for their last game against the West Limestone Wildcats. They stood strong until the end and finished off their season with a 20 to 14 victory.  They ended the season with 6 wins and 2 loses. They also finished #2 in the county in the midget division.  

These boys played hard every week and practiced just as hard to show the county just how amazing they truly are! Congratulations boys! You all did an awesome job! Congrats to the coaches as well, these boys played their best because of the way you taught them and your dedication to them week after week! Thank you for a Great Season! Looking forward to next year! Go Devils!

Hi

Hill Spirit wants to recognize our Midget team reporter; have loved reading about our young Red Devils.

DID YOU MISS THE COACH'S SHOW?

You can catch up with all the Red Devils Football News as well as Coach Holt's thoughts on today's game.  Archive Show Link

ELKMONT BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK

Elkmont entered James Kennemer Stadium on a mission toward its goal of having a winning season and doing what it can to be a playoff competitor in November.  So far so good for the visiting Red Devils, as they used almost 300 rushing yards behind their strong front five and pulled away from West Limestone to spoil the Wildcats’ senior night with a 49-13 victory.
 
“This was a region game, and we had to have it,” Elkmont head coach Sean Holt said. “It appears our guys might have learned a much-needed lesson after the Brooks game about how to finish things.”

Elkmont opened the game with a 10-play scoring drive aided by Pankey’s 27-yard run. Bailey scored on a 2-yard run for the 7-0 lead entering the second quarter.  West Limestone’s Peyton Boldin (8 of 19, 102 yards, two interceptions) connected with Blankenship for a pair of passes near the end of the first half, including a 30-yard touchdown.
It left the Wildcats down 14-7 with 1:15 left before intermission and the ball to start the second half.
 
Perhaps Bailey’s biggest contribution came on his 39-yard kickoff return past midfield, and Nelson came through in the clutch. His 13-yard pass to Bailey and 14-yard scamper set up a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Simmons, and the momentum swung 180 degrees in Elkmont’s favor before halftime.
 
“We worked on our two-minute offense in practice, and the score before the half was huge for us,” Holt said. “I was particularly proud of the way our guys came out and finished things in the second half.”

The Wildcats had a lengthy drive which covered half the third quarter but stalled after Jarod Smallwood’s sack on fourth down. Bailey continued his strong night by sacking Boldin deep in Red Devil territory, and Kaleb Wallace just missed a pick six of his own after an interception to set up Nelson’s 1-yard plunge into the end zone. Elkmont took over with a pair of big runs on Tucker’s 29-yard touchdown on a trap play along with Bailey’s 40-yard score after breaking three tackles. 

Bailey stepped in front of a Boldin pass near midfield and ran 47 yards the other way for a touchdown – the first of two straight West Limestone turnovers after Kody Clark’s fumble recovery. Colby Holt added a 2-yard score midway through the fourth quarter for a 49-7 advantage, and Elkmont continues to be strong in the kicking game. Seven of eight Alexis Hernandez kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Jared Bailey had a solid all-around evening with 78 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns and ran an interception back 47 yards for another score. Elkmont (3-1, 2-1), avenged a 25-23 loss one year ago and bounced back from its first loss of the season last week. Mike Tucker carried nine times for 82 yards and a touchdown, Zeb Pankey had 72 yards on seven carries while Jordan Nelson completed five of his six passes for 56 yards and accounted for two scores. Drew Thompson and Brent Stovall were Elkmont’s top two tacklers, as the Red Devils host New Hope (a winner against Pisgah) next Friday night for Homecoming.

SOURCE: ATHENS NEWS COURIER

ELKMONT TRAVELS TO WEST LIMESTONE

Friday Night is here again and it will be another exciting Red Devils Game.  Our team is traveling to West Limestone this evening.  After a disappointing loss to Wilson last week, Elkmont is looking for their third win and a step up in the regional standings. 

 West Limestone hasn't won a game yet and has struggled all season.  Kickoff is at 7 pm under a beautiful fall sky.  Don't forget to listen to the radio broadcast if you can't make the game.  Link is below.  Visit the radio website today to make sure everything is working before tonight's game.  You don't want to mistake any of your Red Devils.
Go Big Red!!! 

There may be an isolated shower pop up, but most of us will stay dry.  Should be a nice night for football; temperatures will be in the upper 70s at kickoff and the lower 70s as games are finishing


Elkmont at West Limestone

Where: James Kennemer Stadium

What: Class 4A, Region 8 game

Radio: Streaming on WKAC1080.com

Records: Elkmont (2-1, 1-1); West Limestone (0-4, 0-2).

Last meeting: West Limestone won 25-23.

The skinny: These old Limestone County rivals are playing for the 61st time. West Limestone leads the series 42-17-1. … With 16 seniors and eight juniors, Elkmont is enjoying a hot start, with wins against Brooks and Ardmore. … Led by Eli Hobbs, Zeb Pankey, Jordan Nelson and Jared Bailey, Elkmont’s rushing attack has been productive. … West Limestone is averaging 6.75 points per game and has been shut out twice.

The Daily picks: Elkmont 35, West Limestone 10

Class 4A - Region 8
School	Wins All	Losses All	Wins Region	Losses Region
Wilson	4	0	2	0
Deshler	2	1	2	0
Brooks	2	1	1	1
Central-Florence	2	1	1	1
Elkmont	2	1	1	1
Rogers	2	1	1	1
East Lawrence	0	3	0	2
West Limestone	0	4	0	2

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WEST LIMESTONE WILDCATS?

Coach:
Jordan Cantrell (first season)

Offense

West Limestone's basic offensive formation is the Wing-T, but the Wildcats will line up in a variety of formations to highlight their grind-it-out running attack. The big man on the West Limestone offense is tackle Dakota Siniard (6-5, 285, Sr.) who has committed to sign with the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. There's competition at quarterback between seniors Drew Blakely (5-8, 165) and Peyton Boldin (6-0, 175). Despite being limited by injuries last season, Blakely has the most experience. 

A group of young players will be called on to carry the ball. They are Reed Walker (5-7, 150, Soph.), Tanner Walker (5-7, 150, Soph.), Nick Freeman (5-7, 150, Soph.), Chase Lancaster (6-1, 180, Soph.) and Cody Shedd (5-7, 175, Jr.). "They are all a little different," Cantrell said. "We plan to rotate them between fullback and halfback." 

Three other starters return in the line to help Siniard. They are center Brayden Clem (5-9, 200, Jr.), guard Preston Moss (5-9, 240, Sr.) and tackle Matthew Sanders (5-11, 225, Sr.). Competing for the open guard position are Kelton Craig (6-0, 200, Soph.), Jesse Hayes (5-7, 150, Soph.), Cody Smith (5-9, 215, Soph.) and Joseph Willingham (5-7, 170, Jr.). 

Reed Blakenship (6-0, 175, Soph.) is expected to be a big-play maker at receiver. Other receivers are Alex Maples (6-0, 175, Soph.), Chayse Craig (5-10, 165, Sr.) and Cole Smith (5-7, 155, Soph.).

Defense

Seven or eight starters on offense will see playing time on defense in the Wildcats 4-2-5 alignment. "We have some strong defensive linemen returning," Cantrell said. Siniard, Moss and Clem will be in a rotation in the line. The defensive ends are Kelton Craig (6-0, 200, Soph.), Andrew Thornton (6-3, 185, Soph.) and Eli Rogers (5-10, 175, Jr.). Sanders and Chayse Craig are the two inside linebackers. Blankenship returns at free safety. Reed Walker is back at cornerback. Some of the young players will be expected to fill out the rest of defensive backfield.

Extra points

Cantrell takes over for David Arnsparger who was West Limestone's head coach for seven seasons (38-36) with three playoff appearances. Cantrell was one of Arnsparger's assistants for all seven years. He was the offensive coordinator last season. Arnsparger stepped aside to have more time with his family. He is coaching the West Limestone Middle School team.

West Limestone is the 12th largest school in the new Class 4A after the AHSAA reclassification with 356 students. Brooks (370) is the only school in 4A, Region 8 with a larger enrollment. West Limestone stayed in Limestone County with its three out of region games. The Wildcats play Elkmont, East Limestone and Ardmore.
 

The Wildcats have been to the playoffs three out of the last four years. Before that run, West Limestone had only been in the playoffs twice. In 1988, West Limestone went 4-1 in the playoffs with a loss in the 3A state title game to Thomasville.

source: Decatur Daily

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUMBLE AGAINST WEST LIMESTONE

The Middle School game was rescheduled to Tuesday instead of playing on a muddy field Monday. Haven't seen the score but the Hillspirit did pick up that the Middle School lost from a facebook post. Wish I had something more to post but here is the post: 

Good game EHS MS. Tough loss! Learn from tonight and move on to Saturday and BEAT EAST!!  Hold your heads high! We are proud of you!

Pictures of the game are available from Down  Home Portraits.  

To order click on link:   Pictures

The East Limestone game has been moved to Saturday with a kickoff time of 3 pm.

TURNOVERS SINK RED DEVILS

For the first time in 13 years, West Limestone enjoyed the short bus ride back to Salem after playing at cross-county rival Elkmont.

With the halftime score deadlocked at 14, the Wildcats took advantage of two key turnovers by Elkmont to defeat the feisty Red Devils 41-14 in a non-region tussle at a soggy Boss Hill Stadium Friday night.

Class 3A Elkmont (1-4) trails West Limestone 40-17-1 in a heated series that dates back to the early 1950s, but the Red Devils have dominated the rivalry in the past 13 seasons with a 9-3 record. During that span, Class 4A West Limestone (3-2), a former 3A school, beat Elkmont only in 2010 (35-34, 3OT), 2004 (20-12) and 1999, when the Wildcats earned a 34-28 road victory.

West took a 6-0 lead on a 4-yard Tucker McCormick run with 9:18 to play in the first quarter, but Elkmont seized a 7-6 advantage less than three minutes later in the quarter on a 27-yard TD by Dustin Ward and an Alexis Hernandez PAT.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats took a 14-8 lead on a 5-yard TD dash by Logan Pugh, but the Red Devils answered again when senior quarterback Bryant Wales connected on a 60-yard touchdown play to junior receiver Rhett Bailey, who was playing in his first game since sitting out the 2011 season and the first four games this season due to cancer.

With the halftime score tied at 14, Elkmont had the first possession in the third quarter, but West’s Matthew Reyer forced a fumble on a high snap and Pugh recovered the ball. The Wildcats’ offense took advantage of the turnover when Dillon Miller found the end zone from the Elkmont 4. The 2-point conversion failed, but West took the lead for good at 20-14.

West defensive back Drew Blakely picked off Wales on the next Elkmont possession, and the Wildcats turned the turnover into a 28-14 lead when Miller rushed for a 9-yard touchdown and Drake Lopez ran in the 2-point conversion.

West added 13 more points in the fourth quarter on a 51-yard scamper by Pugh and a 5-yard quarterback keeper by Caleb McConnell. The Wildcats went for two on Pugh’s score and didn’t convert, but Matthew Sanders booted the PAT on the second score for the 41-14 final score.

Pugh had a team-high 134 yards on 19 carries and a pair of touchdowns, and Miller finished with 18 carries for 118 yards and two scores.

Mike Tucker led Elkmont in rushing with 50 yards on six carries and finished with a team-high five tackles, and Ward added 43 yards on six rushes for one touchdown Wales finished 2 of 6 passing for 57 yards.

West outgained Elkmont 320-179, including 311 yards on the ground, and had a 15-5 advantage on first downs.

Athens News Courier

Pictures of the game are available from Down  Home Portraits.  

To order click on link:   Pictures

WILDCATS COMING TO TOWN

It's going to be a great night for football, slight chance of rain and in the 70s.  West Limestone is coming to town and it is always fun when these teams meet.  The winner gets braggin' rights for the whole year and since the communities are so closely connected that matters.  Rhett Bailey who thought he would never play football again has been cleared by his doctors for contact sports so we will hopefully see him on the field.  Wish him the best.  Gates open early for this game @ 5 pm; seats will be at a premium so find yours before 6:30 pm if you want one.



PREDICTIONS:

ATHENS NEWS COURIER

— GAME OF THE WEEK

West Limestone at Elkmont

7 p.m., Boss Hill Stadium

Why it’s important: It’s the midway point in the regular season and high school teams across the state will play nonregion games this week before hitting the final stretch in October. Many will play rivalry games, including this matchup between a pair of teams that have met 58 times dating back to 1952. Elkmont has won six out of the last seven.

Preview: These county rivals both found the win column last week after struggling in back-to-back weeks in region play. Elkmont played its best game of the season in a 28-14 win over West Morgan, rushing for 253 yards on the ground. West Limestone got its ground game going again as well, piling up 296 yards in a 36-27 win over East Limestone. There will be enough carries to go around in this county rivalry.

Last year: Elkmont won 27-20

Series history: West Limestone 39 –17 with one game being tied

News Courier prediction: West Limestone 25, Elkmont 24

DECATUR DAILY
West Limestone (2-2)   at Elkmont (1-3)
Where: Boss Hill Stadium
Last season: Elkmont won 27-20.
The skinny: Elkmont snapped a three-game losing skid last week with a 28-14 win against West Morgan. … Dustin Ward led the Red Devils with 104 yards and two touchdowns in the win. … Consistency has been an issue for West Limestone. The Wildcats snapped a two-game losing skid last week with a 36-27 win against East Lawrence. … Running backs Tucker McCormick and Dillon Miller lead the Wildcats offensively … West Limestone leads the series 39-17-1.

The Daily picks: Elkmont 20, West Limestone 13

School Schedule
Date Participants Req Site Location Game Name Results 08/31/2012 @ 07:00 pm Clements High School (3A)   Clements High School   W 54 53 09/07/2012 @ 07:00 pm Brooks High School (4A) R West Limestone High School   L 7 54 09/14/2012 @ 07:00 pm Central High School, Flor. (4A R Central High School, Flor.   L 12 62 09/21/2012 @ 07:00 pm East Lawrence High School (4A) R West Limestone High School   W 36 27 09/28/2012 @ 07:00 pm Elkmont High School (3A)   Elkmont High School     10/05/2012 @ 07:00 pm Wilson High School (4A) R Wilson High School     10/12/2012 @ 07:00 pm Rogers High School (3A) R West Limestone High School     10/19/2012 @ 07:00 pm Priceville High School (4A) R West Limestone High School     10/26/2012 @ 07:00 pm Haleyville High School (4A) R Haleyville High School     11/02/2012 @ 07:00 pm Ardmore High School (4A)   West Limestone High School

Team Roster
Jersey Num Name Position Grade Height Weight 2 Steve Romero wr 11 5'9" 175 3 Aaron Mcwilliams wr 12 5'10" 165 4 Alex Ritterbush db 12 5'6" 140 5 Peyton Boldin wr 10 6'1" 160 6 Isaac Ritterbush db 9 5'6" 135 8 Rudy Johnson rb 9 5'9" 145 9 Dillon Miller te/db 11 6'0" 170 10 Jeremy Thrasher rb/d 9 5'6" 140 12 Caleb Mcconnell qb 12 6'0" 165 14 Joseph Willingham te 9 5'3" 125 17 Austin Simms k 12 5'11" 175 21 Thomas Blakely db/qb 10 5'11" 160 22 Tucker Mccormic lb/fb 11 6'0" 168 23 Austin Province te/lb 11 6'0" 140 25 Logan Pugh rb 11 5'7" 160 27 Chayse Craig db/rb 10 5'10" 160 32 Forrest Lopez rb 12 5'9" 150 42 Jake Wallace rb/db 10 5'9" 155 42 Tyler Mewbourne fb/db 11 5'9" 150 44 Cody Shedd lb/rb 9 5'8" 150 51 Matthew Reyer c/lb 11 5'8" 180 53 Kyle Thornton lb/ol 12 5'9" 160 54 Jesse Hyatt ol 9 5'6" 155 56 Preston Moss ol 10 5'10" 200 59 Brayden Clem c 9 5'7" 160 60 Matthew Day ol/dl 10 5'11" 190 62 Joe Polk ol/dl 10 5'9" 280 65 Eli Rogers ol 9 5'7" 170 68 Jace Bates ol/dl 10 5'9" 240 72 Junior Fierro ol/dl 11 6'0" 210 73 Hunter Rouse c/dl 11 5'11" 240 74 Blake Curnutt ol/dl 9 5'11" 310 76 Dakota Siniard ol/dl 10 6'3" 245 79 Devin Widner ol/dl 11 5'11" 300 82 Matthew Sanders k/lb 10 5'7" 160 85 Andrew Robbins db 10 5'4" 145