OFFENSIVE LINE PAVING WAY TO SUCCESS

The News Courier has a great article on the team.  If you want a hard copy, you can still get one until Thursday at the office in Athens.

Elkmont’s football team is off to its best start since 2008 entering Friday’s game against No. 10 Deshler. While most of the players on this 5-1 team are the same that were on the team that lost eight games a year ago, there is one glaring difference.
“I think they are a year older and a year stronger,” said Elkmont head coach Sean Holt. “They’ve had another year in our Wing-T system. We’ve added to it and got comfortable with it. The Wing-T is all about hard work. You have to be physical and that’s the way we play.”

A big reason Elkmont is in contention to host an area playoff contest is the running game. Through six games this season, the Red Devils are averaging 285 yards per game on the ground. And, while Elkmont is loaded with talented running backs, look no further than an experienced offensive line for the reason.“It’s made a big difference,” Holt said about having experience. “They’ve all stuck with it. They’ve played the big boys in Region 8 the last few years and that helps.”

Tackles Travis Riggs and Eli Vining, guards Kody Clark and Brent Stovall and center Hunter Brazeal are opening the holes for Elkmont’s running backs. “I feel like we can run over more people this year,” said Vining. “It’s more of a power-based offense, so it’s more on us this year. This is the first year that we’ve studied the offense all year, so we know it really well. I think when we get into a game, once we figure out what we’re going to do, we run them over.”

The flip side is the extra attention opponents are giving to stop the run game.  Fortunately for Elkmont, quarterback Jordan Nelson is taking advantage of those opportunities. Nelson has thrown the ball only 32 times, but has completed 66 percent of his passes, averages 17 yards per completion and has four touchdowns to just one interception. “Teams are stacking the box and we’ve still accomplished what we want to do,” said Holt. “Last week, we threw it six times, but we were effective. The last three weeks, we haven’t thrown it a lot. But we’ve been successful when we have. Jordan Nelson has been really successful through the air.”

Elkmont has four players capable of carrying the load in Elkmont’s Wing-T offense, led by Mike Tucker with 546 yards and five touchdowns. All four backs have at least 250 yards and are averaging at least 5.5 yards per carry. “There is a lot of punishment in how we run the ball,” said Holt. “They can really get beat up so we swap them out. They can all play three positions. We run it to try to keep the other team honest by being able to run either direction with any of the backs. The offense is meant to keep the defense off-balance.”

Elkmont and its talented running game face their toughest task tonight against a Deshler team riding a five-game winning streak, including a 40-20 win over Wilson last week.  “They’re big, fast and deep,” said Holt about Deshler. “Those guys are playing one-way, so they can sub. They can bring in one of their defensive players on offense. They are very deep as far as their roster. That takes a toll.”
 
A win would move Elkmont into a three-way tie with Deshler and Wilson in Class 4A Region 8, while a loss would put the Red Devils in sole possession of third place. “We wanted to make the playoffs,” said Holt about their goals entering the season. “Hosting a playoff game would be a great goal for us now. But to get in the playoffs is the goal. Even if we don’t win (against Deshler), we’re still in good shape.”

Source:  Athens News Courier

ELKMONT HAS PEOPLE NOTICING

The Decatur Daily has a column today about the Red Devils and their 2-0 start this season. Evidently people have noticed and are starting to use the "P" word again when Elkmont is talked about.  It's early but even thinking about going to the playoffs again is exciting. Be sure to grab a copy today at the gas station or Pig for the full article.  

Link to article: DECATUR DAILY

Highlights:
Year of the Red Devils.
With Tennessee Valley high school football, this might not be a stretch. Elkmont. Heading into Week 4 of the regular season, the local Red Devils are perfect.  It has been a few years since we could say that. Elkmont has won its first two games for the first time since 2011and have a legitimate shot at stretching the winning streak to three games.

On Friday, as Elkmont stunned Brooks, a perennial Class 4A playoff program, social media was buzzing, with fans from across the Tennessee Valley talking about one of the area's biggest upsets of the season.

Now the fans at Elkmont get to join the postseason discussion. The playoffs aren't a pipe dream, either.  Looking at the schedule, the Red Devils should remain in the postseason hunt through the end of region play. That means lots of big games are on the horizon.  And with those high-stakes games comes the good stuff that makes high school football fun. Stadium enthusiasm should be on the rise. Same goes for campus school spirit.

Outside of Elkmont, a few football fans are scratching their heads.  Elkmont coach Sean Holt has 16 seniors and eight juniors, and he's been high on this group since they were newcomers making their first varsity appearances a few years ago.  And even though Elkmont hasn't enjoyed a winning season since 2011, Holt never viewed his Red Devils as a struggling program. Elkmont was stuck in arguably the toughest Class 3A region in the state, with championship contenders Madison Academy, Deshler, Lauderdale County and Colbert County. The Red Devils usually finished fifth or sixth in that region, but Holt never felt like his team was far off the pace.

ELI HOBBS - ATHENS NEWS COURIER PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Eli Hobbs made the most of his opportunities against Ardmore. The senior carried the ball six times for 156 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Red Devils to a 49-27 win to open the season. Hobbs averaged a remarkable 26 yards per carry against the Tigers.

ELKMONT BAG TIGERS

Grab a Decatur Daily today.  It has an article on the game for you scrapbookers.

Highlights:

Eli Hobbs and Michael Tucker combined for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries as Elkmont opened the 2014 season with a win over Class 5A Ardmore.

The teams exchanged rushing touchdowns in the first half, with Hobbs staking Elkmont to an early lead with a 20-yard scoring run midway through the first quarter. Ardmore tied the game early in the second when quarterback Garrett Miller scored from four yards out.

Tucker scored on a 22-yard run less than a minute later and Miller tied the game again with two minutes to play in the half with a 21-yard run.

Jared Bailey pushed Elkmont out front on a 3-yard scoring run with less than minute left in the half and the Red Devils seized control of the game when Jordan Nelson scored from a yard out on the first drive of the second half.

Miller's third touchdown run of the game cut into Elkmont's lead with 5:31 left in the third before Zeb Pankey pushed the lead back to two touchdowns with a 16-yard rushing touchdown with three minutes left in the quarter.

Ricky Lowery gave Ardmore hope late with a 1-yard touchdown run with just over seven minutes top play before Elkmont put the game away with rushing touchdowns from Hobbs and Bailey in the game's final five minutes.

Hobbs finished with a game-high 151 yards on six carries, while Tucker added 125 yards on nine carries. The Red Devils finished with 383 yards and seven touchdowns on 35 carries.

The Athens News Courier also has an article with pictures that makes today's issue worth picking up at the gas station and the Pig.

Highlights:

Ardmore knew what was coming and the Tigers still couldn’t stop it. Elkmont ran the ball over and over again, throwing just two passes in its 49-27 victory Friday.

“We’ve been working on the Wing-T for a year,” Elkmont head coach Sean Holt said about his team’s offseason preparation. “Our offensive line are in their third year in the system, the backs are all older. We’ve worked all summer on becoming a physical team and it paid off tonight.”

Ardmore had no answer for the rushing trio of

Mike Tucker, Eli Hobbs and Zeb Pankey. The Elkmont trio broke tackle after tackle and combined to ground out 363 yards in the season opener.
“I give all the credit to my offensive line,” said Pankey, who had seven carries for 72 yards and a touchdown. “This win was all about redemption. This is a new year.”

DECATUR DAILY PREP FOOTBALL BLITZ

Coach:
Sean Holt (fourth year, 12-20)
 
Offense:
The Red Devils' base offense will be the Wing-T, with two quarterbacks splitting the duties. They are Jared Bailey (5-11, 195, Sr.) and Jordan Nelson (6-1, 155, Jr.). "They both can run our offense and can do some different things," Holt said. "Playing both of them gives us depth at the position and lets us find who has the hot hand in a game." When Nelson is the QB, Bailey lines up as the lone running back behind him. The wingbacks are Mike Tucker (5-11, 186, Sr.) and Zeb Pankey (5-9, 175, Soph.). Eli Hobbs (5-10, 175, Jr.) is the lone wide receiver. Joshua Carter (6-1, 220, Sr.) is the tight end. When Bailey goes to QB, Pankey moves to running back. Hobbs is a wingback, and Nelson is the wide receiver.

Bailey, Tucker, Pankey and Hobbs combined for more than 2,000 yards rushing last season. Two other candidates at wingback are Preston Rouse (5-11, 180, Sr.) and Aron Moss (5-11, 180, Jr.). Colby Holt (5-11, 195, Jr.) could see time at running back.

"We've had a lot of good competition in the weight room and on the practice field," Holt said. Four seniors start in the offensive line. They are center Hunter Brazeal (5-10, 225), guards Brent Stovall (6-0, 225) and Kody Clark (5-11, 235) and tackle Eli Vining (6-1, 285). The other starting tackle is Travis Riggs (6-0, 270, Jr.). Another senior, Jon Jon Williams (6-3, 280), provides depth at tackle and tight end.

Defense:
Drew Thompson (6-2, 315, Sr.) and Adrian Walker (5-10, 290, Jr.) will be charged with clogging up the middle of the defense. The defensive ends are Carter and Stovall, with Williams helping out. Ethan Wilson (5-7, 240, Jr.) and Austin Moore (5-11, 235, Sr.) provide depth. Bailey and Pankey are the linebackers, with Clark moving around from a linebacker/end position. Holt will be at an outside stopper, along with Jarred Smallwood (6-2, 190, Sr.) and Jacob Anderson (5-10, 165, Sr.). Hobbs is the free safety. Rouse and Kaleb Wallace (6-1, 165, Sr.) man the corner spots. Noah Sharp (5-8, 135, Soph.) provides depth in the backfield.

Extra points
Holt is not excited about Elkmont (292 students) being the sixth-smallest school in Class 4A after the AHSAA reclassification, but there may be a positive. Being 4A for the first time gets the Red Devils out of 3A, Region 8 with the likes of defending state champion Madison Academy, Lauderdale County and Colbert County. Deshler, another power in 3A, made the jump with Elkmont to 4A, Region 8.

Alexis Hernandez (5-11, 175, Sr.) gives the Red Devils a weapon with his kicking leg. He had two 42-yard field goals last season. Holt estimates that half his kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Elkmont will dress about 35 players. Sixteen will be seniors. The last time the Red Devils had a senior class near that size was in 2011. Elkmont went 7-5 and advanced to the playoffs in what was Holt's first season. A junior class of eight gives Elkmont 24 players with lots of experience in a tough region.

Out of region opponents for Elkmont are Ardmore, New Hope and Clements. 
David Elwell
Source:  Decatur Daily - Link to Article

ELKMONT REVIVING PAST GLORY - DECATUR DAILY

There is an oak tree next to the Elkmont football field.  It overlooks the football practice field and has an end zone view of the happenings at Boss Hill Stadium on Friday nights. What the view is going to be like this season is always the talk of the town this time of year. Seniors Mike Tucker and Jared Bailey hope the tree has a view of a program that returns to the success the Red Devils experienced from 2007-'11.

 

During that five-year period, Elkmont had 33 wins, one region championship and four playoff appearances. Not bad for a school that before that run last visited the playoffs in 1999.  Don Jacobs was the head coach for the first three years of that success. He had the Red Devils in the playoffs all three years before leaving for Oneonta, a perennial power in 4A.  Tucker and Bailey were managers for the Red Devils during Jacobs' tenure. They remember the excitement in the town, at the school and on the field those seasons.

"The stadium would be packed and all anybody wanted to talk about was Red Devil football," Tucker said. "It was exciting." Bailey remembers how he and Tucker would look up in awe to the players and for what they did in bringing a jolt of excitement to the community. "I couldn't wait for my time to come," Bailey said. "Winning football games and making the playoffs was something we all wanted to be a part of."

David Wilson was the head coach the season after Jacobs left. The Red Devils slumped to 4-6.

Sean Holt took over the next season. The Elkmont native was the defensive coordinator under Jacobs. He got the Red Devils back to the playoffs in 2011 and they won a first-round game.

The Red Devils slumped to two wins in 2012 and three wins in 2013, but enthusiasm is high that better days are ahead in 2014. "We've got 16 seniors this season, and we are determined to make our senior season one to remember," Bailey said. "We've worked hard in the off season and this summer."  Numbers are a big part of football. Key numbers for any team are returning starters and seniors. "We have 35 players and that's a good number," Holt said, "but to have 16 seniors who have played a lot is really big. Actually, counting juniors, we have 24 players with experience returning.

"We've taken our lumps the last couple of years. I'm hoping that experience can pay off for us this season with some success."  Taking their lumps is a polite way of describing Class 3A, Region 8, where Elkmont played for the past two seasons. It was dominated by state champion Madison Academy. Colbert County, Lauderdale County and Deshler have been at worst just a step or two behind the Mustangs.  Nobody at Elkmont will use playing in 3A, Region 8 as an excuse for the last two seasons, but it's hard to find anybody complaining about moving up to 4A, Region 8. Brooks, Central Florence, East Lawrence, Rogers, West Limestone, Wilson and Deshler, which also moves up, will be tough competition for the Red Devils, but it won't be suffocating like the last two years.

Bailey and Tucker will be two key players for Elkmont this season. Bailey plays quarterback and running back. Tucker is a wingback. Bailey, Tucker and returning teammates Zeb Pankey and Eli Hobbs combined for over 2,000 rushing last season.

Elkmont played in a spring jamboree that saw the Red Devils lose to defending 2A state champion Tanner 14-10 in one half of play and beat Hubbard 14-0 in a second half.  "Yes, it was just a spring jamboree, but I think that experience gave us a lot of confidence," Holt said. "That may be what we needed more than anything. We've got the players. We just need players that are confident they can make the plays. We need playmakers."

  Contact David Elwell at 256-340-2395 or David.Elwell@DecaturDaily.com. Follow on Twitter @DD_DavidElwell.

Elkmont football at a glance

League: Class 4A, Region 8

Coach: Sean Holt; fourth season

Last season: Finished 3-7 and missed the 3A state playoffs

Past state titles: None

Past region titles: 1979, 1999, and 2008

Season opener: Aug. 29 at Ardmore

Elkmont schedule

Aug. 29 at Ardmore

Sept. 5 Brooks*

Sept. 12 Wilson*

Sept. 19 at West Limestone*

Sept. 26 New Hope

Oct. 3 at Central Florence*

Oct. 10 Deshler*

Oct. 17 Rogers*

Oct. 24 at East Lawrence*

Oct. 31 at Clements

SOURCE: DECATUR DAILY

ELKMONT - PRESEASON REVIEW

The football news is starting.  The first paper out of the box is the Athens News Courier.  If you missed Thursday's issue, you can pick up a hard copy at the newspaper office in Athens until Wednesday or until they sell out.

The Red Devils are working toward their first playoff appearance since 2011, and they will have to do it while competing in Class 4A for the first time in school history.

What Elkmont has on its side is experience, and lots of it. The Red Devils return 15 starters with more than two-dozen juniors and seniors who have played significant minutes on the depth chart.

“I feel like this year is going to be about the team, not about individuals,” said Elkmont head coach Sean Holt. “I expect them to step up because they are such an experienced group. They all have experience; even the guys not starting have played quite a bit.”

That experience starts with the offense, where eight players return with starting experience. Included among those returning starters is quarterback Jordan Nelson and four returning offensive lineman.

“The whole offense is experienced,” Holt said.

“We’ve got eight guys who can play offensive line and have experience, and that’s rare. You usually are trying to find guys who can play. We are two-deep across the board.”

Elkmont will need that collective experience after unexpectedly moving up a classification from 3A to 4A during summer realignment. The Red Devils move into Class 4A, Region 8, with cross-county rivals West Limestone and three other teams that made the playoffs last season.

“They weren’t in shock and worry because we moved up to 4A,” Holt said. “It’s not that we don’t respect those teams. We’ve played good football teams over the past couple of years.”

Elkmont was previously in 3A, Region 8, with two-time defending champion Madison Academy and perennial powers Colbert County and Lauderdale County. Another 3A power, Deshler, also made the move up to 4A and into Elkmont’s region.

While the region opponents change, one thing has stayed the same for Elkmont — opening the season against rival Ardmore.

“It’s a big rivalry game for us,” Holt said. “It an important game. It’s become a nonregion game for quite a while. It’s tough for a team to bounce back from that opening season loss.”

Along with changing regions, the new format allows teams to begin playing games Aug. 22 with the option of a bye week during the season. Elkmont will kickoff the season at Ardmore on Aug. 29 and play 10 straight games. The team begins practice on Aug. 4.

“I would like to have a good, old-fashioned jamboree, but we weren’t able to find one,” Holt said. “We will have a scrimmage that first Friday. We want to get ourselves prepared for that first game. Our kids already have playing experience, so for us, it’s that important.” 

source: Athens News Courier

RIVIALRY - OH, YES

Another good article on Elkmont football - the Decatur Daily does the best job of covering Elkmont sports among the local newspapers.

ARDMORE — Ten miles.
That is about how much distance separates the campuses at Ardmore High and Elkmont.

Being that close means there are few strangers in the two communities. A few of the football players are related. Lots of them are friends.

And when the two schools tee the football up tonight for one of Limestone County’s oldest rivalries, as usual, emotions will run high.
Ardmore travels to Elkmont today, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The rivals have been playing football since 1936, with Ardmore owning a 39-24 series lead, according to the Alabama High School Football Historical Society’s website.

“This is always one of our biggest games,” said first- year Ardmore coach Clint Legg, who spent the past four seasons with the Tigers as an assistant coach. “The stands will be packed. Almost everyone from both communities will be there. The atmosphere will be electric — what high school football is all about.”

In recent years, Elkmont has controlled the series, winning four of the past five contests. But Ardmore snapped a four-game losing skid in 2012 with a 22-16 win, and with growing roster numbers, a talented group of underclassmen and an enthusiastic new coach, the Tigers appear to be a program on the rise.

According to John Mansell, program director at AM-1110, which broadcasts Ardmore football games, the Elkmont rivalry draws the largest crowd either team will see during the season.
Elkmont principal Garth Garris said the school brought in additional bleachers at Boss Hill Stadium to handle the anticipated overflow crowd.

So, what type of game should fans expect? Ardmore has more players on its roster, but personnel wise, the athletes are similar.
Elkmont does not have much depth, with rosters numbers in the mid-20s. But coach Sean Holt expects good things from sophomore quarterback Jordan Nelson, and the Red Devils have a couple of big-play threats in running back Jared Bailey and receiver Rhett Bailey — who is playing his first Ardmore game since overcoming a bout with cancer in 2012.
 
Ardmore junior Garrett Miller is heading into his third season as a starter. For anyone wondering, Ardmore tight end Hayden Durrett was more than willing to give a prognosis.
 
“Expect a smash-mouth, emotional game,” he said. “Obviously, this is our biggest game of the year, and in my opinion, one of the best rivalries in north Alabama. I know every single player on their team, and they know all of us. That just adds to the hype.”

Since the week started, Legg said the Elkmont game constantly has been on his mind.
“I’ve been waking up every night at 2 or 3 in the morning,” Legg said. “I’m not nervous about our guys. They’ve done everything we have asked. What I’m nervous about is whether I did good enough of a job preparing them. In both of our communities, this is a very important football game. Emotions will be running high. They always do, but that’s one of the things that make this rivalry special.”

Article: Decatur Daily

RHETT BAILEY - ELKMONT SENIOR

Great Article in the Athens News Courier about Rhett Bailey, Wednesday - August 21.  You can get a copy at the News Courier Office in Athens until next Tuesday or it sells out.
 

The song “Lean on Me” best describes what Rhett Bailey and Elkmont are doing this year. The senior missed most of his high school football career with the Red Devils due to do a prolonged battled with cancer.

Bailey beat the odds last season and returned to the playing field. The senior is back for what he hopes to be his first full season as an Elkmont football player. His presence provides an obvious motivational boost, but he is also one of the best athletes on the team.

“For us, it’s important because he is such a good athlete,” said head coach Sean Holt. “He can tell the other guys to suck it up sometimes and they listen because of what he’s been through.”

After making the playoffs four out of the last five years, Elkmont struggled in Holt’s second season. The Red Devils went 2-10, suffering the program’s worst record since 2004 (1-9).

It was a marked change from the success Elkmont enjoyed in Holt’s first season at the helm. In 2011, the Red Devils enjoyed one of the best seasons in school history.

With one of the program’s largest and most talented senior classes, Elmont advanced to the second round of the playoffs, losing to eventual 3A runner- up Madison Academy.

Most of that team graduated, leaving Elmont with only a handful of returning starters to compete in an improved region.

The team predictably struggled with a schedule that included the 3A state champs, an improved Colbert County squad, perennial power Deshler and 4A semifinalist Lauderdale County.

Unfortunately for the Red Devils, those teams are on the schedule this year. The good news is most of Elkmont’s players have seen it all before, losing just five seniors off last year’s team.

Bailey and four other seniors — Nick Moore, Derek Lovell, Kris Gooch and Cody Thomas — will be the heart of the team. If Elkmont is to have success running the ball, they will have to find wide receiver Bailey and tight end Gooch enough to keep teams honest.

Defensively, the Red Devils’ strongest unit is the linebacking core where Gooch and Jared Bailey lead the most experienced position on defense.

Elkmont will travel to East Lawrence for a jamboree at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23. The Red Devils open their season against Ardmore on their home field the following Friday at 7 p. m.

WEST MORGAN PREVIEW

The West Morgan Rebels are coming to Elkmont tonight.  Kickoff at 7 pm. School Schedule
Date Participants Req Site Location Game Name Results 08/30/2012 @ 07:00 pm Priceville High School (4A) D Priceville High School L 20 36 09/07/2012 @ 07:00 pm Clements High School (3A) R Clements High School W 54 0 09/14/2012 @ 07:00 pm Colbert County High School (3A R West Morgan High School L 7 35 09/21/2012 @ 07:00 pm Elkmont High School (3A) R Elkmont High School 09/28/2012 @ 07:00 pm East Lawrence High School (4A) West Morgan High School 10/05/2012 @ 07:00 pm Deshler High School (4A) R West Morgan High School 10/12/2012 @ 07:00 pm Lauderdale County High School R Lauderdale County High School 10/19/2012 @ 07:00 pm Madison Academy (3A) R Madison Academy 10/26/2012 @ 07:00 pm Westminster Christian Academy R West Morgan High School 11/01/2012 @ 07:00 pm Hanceville High School (3A) D West Morgan High School

Team Roster
Jersey Num Name Position Grade Height Weight 1 RODNEY YOUNG Qb/LB 10 6'1" 185 6 JOHN KIRBY Rb/Db 9 5'11" 160 7 Keevis Metcalf Wr/Db 11 6'2" 170 8 ARTURO CONTRERAS Rb/Lb 12 5'8" 185 9 Derrick Cross Wr/Lb 11 6'0" 170 12 William Bryant Wr/Dl 11 5'10" 185 14 SHELTON STEWART Qb/Db 11 5'11" 175 15 Tytrilocus Gardner Rb/Db 11 5'8" 145 18 Alvaro Dorsett 9 5'5" 120 19 Randall Hill Wr/Db 10 5'11" 150 20 GABRIEL ROSILEZ Rb/Lb 10 5'7" 165 21 Demetrius Warren Rb/Lb 12 6'1" 215 22 Bradley Wilson Te/Lb 11 6'0" 195 23 ANTHONY BLACK Wr/Db 9 5'7" 140 26 RON MORGAN Rb/Lb 9 5'7" 160 29 Geneva Kyle Rb/Db 11 5'9" 160 32 BRANDEN TUCKER Rb/Lb 9 5'11" 160 40 JOSEPH CLEM Rb/Lb 12 5'10" 195 42 ANTHONY MORGAN Te/Dl 10 5'8" 205 44 Zachary Mills Rb/Lb 8 5'8" 185 50 Darius Teague G/DL 8 5'9" 180 52 DUSTIN BEASON C/Dl 9 5'10" 205 54 AUSTIN BOLTON G/Dl 11 5'11" 210 56 MATTHEW ROLIN C/Lb 9 5'9" 160 57 Salvador Jasso T/Dl 11 5'11" 235 62 Robert Kranick T/Dl 12 5'9" 185 64 Oliver Aviles T/DL 9 5'11" 170 65 DOMENIC ROGERS T/Dl 12 6'1" 280 66 Michael Garrard G/Dl 11 5'7" 170 67 Antonio Hernandes T/DL 8 6'0" 220 70 Jonah Collier G/DL 8 5'10" 215 76 LOGAN JOHNSON C/Dl 12 5'10" 200 78 Tyler Berryhill G/Dl 11 5'9" 185

PREDICTIONS

West Morgan (1-2, 1-1) at Elkmont (0-3, 0-2)                7 p.m., Boss Hill Stadium
ATHENS NEWS COURIER:

Preview: Elkmont will try to get its first win of the season against a West Morgan team that beat Clements 54-0 two weeks ago. The teams’ only common opponent thus far, Colbert County, beat both teams by four touchdowns. Elkmont has won the last five games in the series by an average of 12 points

News Courier prediction: West Morgan 20, Elkmont 14

DECATUR DAILY:

Last season: Elkmont won 31-6
The skinny: Playing in West Morgan’s run-oriented scheme, Demetrius Warren has averaged 141.5 yards during the past two games. … Dustin Ward rushed for 120 yards with a touchdown on 11 carries to lead Elkmont last week in a loss against Westminster Christian, while Bryant Wales added another touchdown run Elkmont’s defense is giving up 30.7 points per game while the Red Devils are averaging 10 points. … Elkmont leads the all-time series 16-10.

The Daily picks: West Morgan 14, Elkmont 13

WHERE DOES ELKMONT RANK IN THE COUNTY?

Top 10 teams, full-house backfields, a four-overtime game. That’s what I’ve seen through three weeks of the high school football season in Limestone County this season. It’s been a thrilling opening few weeks capped by Friday night’s game at Golden Eagle Stadium.  Jonathan's county team ranking for Elkmont: 

6. Elkmont — It appears to be a rebuilding year in Elkmont as the Red Devils returned just a handful of players with experience from last season. Elkmont’s offense found its legs in the second half against Westminster and will look to carry that momentum into Friday’s game against West Morgan.

Complete Article Link: News Courier

NEWS COURIER - ARDMORE VS ELKMONT

Kim WestFor The News Courier

ARDMORE — ARDMORE — Elkmont jumped out to a 16-0 lead before Ardmore scored 22 unanswered points to earn a 22-16 season-opening victory in front of a raucous, standing-room only crowd at Cooper Field Friday night.

Class 4A Ardmore (1-0) used a rushing attack that combined deceptive pitchouts and inside handoffs with punishing runs up the middle to overwhelm Elkmont, which hadn’t lost to the Tigers since 2007.

“We spotted them 16 points before we settled down and got into our game plan,” said Ardmore head coach Shannon Brown. “I felt like we had a very good game plan going into the game, and I’m very proud of my boys. I’m also very proud of Elkmont because they have a first-class group.

“This is a huge win for the program and this community. Winning a game that has a lot of emotion like this is an exciting way to start the season, especially with our volleyball team winning, too, and our band program is second to none.”

Ardmore outgained the Red Devils 266-92 on offense, including 228 yards on the ground, and held a 14-7 advantage on first downs.

Class 3A Elkmont (0-1) led 16-0 after the first quarter thanks to an explosive play on special teams and two Ardmore turnovers. Sophomore running back Chase Renew, who led the Red Devils with 20 yards on seven carries, fielded the opening kickoff near his own end zone and raced down the right sideline for an 80-yard return to the Ardmore 18-yard line. After senior quarterback Bryant Wales (4-of-12 passing for 39 yards and six carries for eight yards) was stuffed at the goal-line on third-and-goal, Renew barreled over the left side of the line at the 8:54 mark and Alexis Hernandez booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Elkmont senior Matthew Barnes scooped up a Tyler McCarley fumble in the middle of the field and rambled down the visitor sideline for a 68-yard touchdown with 8:23 remaining in the first. After an errant PAT, the Red Devils led 13-0.

On its second possession, Ardmore was progressing the ball downfield when Barnes picked off Tigers sophomore quarterback Garret Miller (2-of-7 passing for 38 yards, eight rushes for 14 yards) near midfield and returned it 27 yards before being tackled by Ricky Lowery. Elkmont faced third-and-5 at the Ardmore 10, but Wales’ completion to junior tight end Hugo Hernandez in the right flat gained only three yards. The Red Devils settled for a 25-yard Alexis Hernandez field goal to go ahead 16-0 with 4:23 left in the first.

Ardmore re-grouped on its third possession with an 11-play drive that covered 77 yards as McCarley, a senior captain and the team’s leading rusher, rushed six times for 38 yards. Miller faked a pitch to the right to McCarley and then gave the ball to senior Zach Ellis (10 carries, 44 yards) on an inside hand-off to score a 7-yard TD with 11:16 left in the second quarter. Miller faked again to McCarley on the 2-point conversion and scored on a keeper to cut the Red Devils’ lead to one possession at 16-8.

With Elkmont facing third-and-1 at its own 48, a host of Ardmore defenders flooded the backfield to wrap up sophomore Mike Tucker and force a Red Devils punt by senior Dustin Ward, (four punts, 47.5 average with a long of 55 yards).

Ardmore continued its comeback with nine-play, 85-yard drive as McCarley broke two runs of 9 yards, scored from the Elkmont 4-yard line at the 3:10 mark before halftime and converted the 2-point conversion.

Each team had a three-and-out to end the half with the game deadlocked at 16, but Ardmore, which won the coin toss, got the ball back right away in the third quarter thanks to deferring the ball until the second half.

The Tigers took full advantage of this opportunity by going on a 12-play, 70-yard drive to open the second half as McCarley (25 carries for 124 yards), rushed four times for 18 yards, Ellis ran three times for 13 yards and Miller had three QB keepers for 17 yards. Ardmore seized the lead when Miller rolled right on first-and-10 at the Elkmont 18 and found senior captain Hayden Durrett in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. Ardmore led 22-16 at the 5:33 mark after the Tigers’ fake PAT failed.

The Ardmore defense had six tackles for negative yardage, three pass breakups and one forced fumble, and held Elkmont to 53 yards rushing and 92 yards of total offense. Carson Pack and Creagan Lewter each had a sack, while McCarley, Lewter and Jesse Rich each had four tackles.

Barnes led Elkmont with two takeaways, while Tucker had seven tackles and also recovered an offensive fumble. Ben Ferguson and Tommy Gooch each had a sack for the Red Devils.

This Friday Ardmore will host Butler at 7 p.m. to open 4A, Region 7 play, while Elkmont will host Colbert County at 7 p.m. in Class 3A, Region 8 play.

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The Red Devils are coming off one of the biggest upsets in school history when they defeated a 10-0 Hanceville squad in last year’s second round of the playoffs. That team had 13 seniors who accounted for 17 starting positions on offense and defense.

 In order for Elkmont to compete this year, they need solid performances from several inexperienced players. Head Coach Sean Holt has gone back to the fundamentals this August, but no matter how well his kids play at practice he knows things are different on Friday nights.