MEET YOUR ELKMONT RED DEVILS

Nice article about your Elkmont Red Devils today in the Decatur Daily High School Football Preview. Get your copy today for those scrapbooks

Elkmont prepares for rugged Region 8

There's an old saying about "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
Elkmont football coach Sean Holt would like to see his team follow that advice with a little twist:
Holt wants his football team to just get tough enough to compete in Class 3A, Region 8.
Holt has never accused his Red Devils of not being tough. It's just that in their region you have to really play tough to survive. It's one of the more physical regions in the area.

Reclassification that took effect in 2012 moved powerhouse Madison Academy into Region 8. Deshler, a power in 4A, dropped to 3A and moved into the region. Colbert County, one of the state's most successful programs, bounced back from some lean times last season to make the playoffs. Lauderdale County, another region foe, has had double-digit wins the last three seasons.

"All four of those schools made it to the quarterfinals of the playoffs before they started knocking each other off," said Holt, who is entering his third year as Elkmont head coach. "Madison Academy went on to win the state championship. It's power football with a lot of speed mixed in. There are players in this region who will be playing college football someday. It's a challenge. We don't match them in speed. We have to get stronger and play stronger." Elkmont's offense averaged 13.6 points a game. The defense allowed 39.5 points a contest.

Offense

Holt is counting on his offensive line to win the line-of-scrimmage. Hunter Brazeal is the center. The guards are Kody Clark and Brent Stovall. Eli Vining and Jon Jon Williams are the tackles.

"I've told them they are the key to our success," said Holt. "Linemen never get any of the glory, but they have to compete for us to have a chance to win."

Sophomore Jordan Nelson takes over at quarterback. Holt says what he lacks in experience will be outweighed by his leadership abilities.
"My job is to get the ball to the guys that can make the plays," said Nelson. 

The list of Red Devils who can make plays starts with the Bailey brothers. Rhett, the senior, plays wide receiver. Jared, the junior, is a running back. "We have to get the ball to Rhett," said Holt. "We will use Jared in the Wildcat (formation)."

Mike Tucker, a junior, and Zeb Pankey, a freshman, will be counted on at running back. Sophomore Eli Hobbs will be another weapon at wide receiver. "They can all make plays and we have to take advantage of their talent," said Holt.

Defense

The Red Devils will defend out of the 4-2-5 alignment. Holt feels the struggles from last season will pay off this season with an experienced group "We will be better," said Holt. "We are stronger. We have to be stronger to play the kind of defense we need to play."  
The nose guard is junior Drew Thompson. Last season was his first to play football. 

Sophomore Adrian Walker will be at tackle.  The defensive ends are Clark and Joshua Carter, both juniors. Jared Bailey and senior Kris Gooch are the linebackers.
 
Tucker, Hobbs, Pankey and Rhett Bailey will roam the secondary.

Article: Decatur Daily  (has a video)

School Schedule 
08/30/2013 @ 07:00 pm Ardmore High School (4A) @Elkmont High School 

09/06/2013 @ 07:00 pm Colbert County High School (3A) @ Colbert County High School 

09/13/2013 @ 07:00 pm Westminster Christian Academy @ Elkmont High School 

09/20/2013 @ 07:00 am West Morgan High School (3A) @ West Morgan High School

09/27/2013 @ 07:00 pm West Limestone High School (4A)@ West Limestone High School 

10/04/2013 @ 07:00 pm Madison Academy (3A) @ Madison Academy

10/11/2013 @ 07:00 pm Clements High School  @ Elkmont High School - HOMECOMING

10/18/2013 @ 07:00 pm Deshler High School (3A) @ Elkmont High School 

10/25/2013 @ 07:00 pm Lauderdale County High School @Lauderdale County High School 

11/01/2013 @ 07:00 pm Wilson High School @ Elkmont High School - SENIOR NIGHT

ROSTER REPORT

VARSITY BOYS FOOTBALL: FALL 2013

NO	NAME	POS1	HT	WT	GRD
	Anderson, Jacob (Jacob)				11th
	Bailey, Jared (Jared)				11th
	Bailey, Rhett (Rhett)				12th
	Brazeal, Hunter (Hunter)				11th
	Carter, Joshua (Joshua)				11th
	Clark, Kody (Kody)				11th
	Gooch, Tommy (Tommy)				12th
	Hernandez, Alexis (Alexis)				11th
	Hobbs, Eli (Eli)				10th
	Little, Christopher (Christopher)				9th
	Lovell, Preston (Preston)				12th
	Moore, Austin (Austin)				11th
	Moore, Nicholas (Nicholas)				12th
	Nelson, Jordan (Jordan)				10th
	Pankey, Zeb (Zeb)				9th
	Rector, Charles (Charles)				9th
	Riggs, Travis (Travis)				10th
	Rouse, Michael (Michael)				11th
	Stovall, Brent (Brent)				11th
	Thomas, Cody (Cody)				12th
	Thompson, Leslie (Leslie)				11th
	Tucker, Michael (Michael)				11th
	Valencia, Carlos (Carlos)				9th
	Vining, Eli (Eli)				11th
	Walker, Adrian (Adrian)				10th
	Wallace, Christopher				11th
	Wiedenbeck, Noah (Noah)				11th
	Wilson, Ethan (Ethan)

 

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE EAST LAWRENCE EAGLES?

From Alabama to Montana and back.
Ernie Ferguson logged quite a few miles this offseason in his quest for the perfect offensive scheme to fit his East Lawrence High personnel.

More than 4,000 miles later, the East Lawrence High coach believes he has a solution.
At East Lawrence, an option-style offense will remain.
But the scheme and philosophy underwent drastic overhauls.
"This is of a run-pass option with more pre-snap reads," Ferguson said. "I went to Montana to talk to a high school coach who runs this offense, and it's different than anything I've used before. We're changing things up significantly to fit the players we have and don't have."
So why the drastic change?
In high school sports, graduation affects personnel. And East Lawrence's roster lost one of the area's dynamic, and versatile, playmakers: Former quarterback Terrence Deloney, who last season accounted for almost 3,000 yards and 37 touchdowns.
Ferguson said new quarterback Allen West is capable of leading East Lawrence's offense, but has different skill sets than Deloney.
"I started out as a wishbone coach, and then moved to the spread option, so for me as a coach, this is really stepping out of the box," Ferguson said. "We're still going to be a running team, and the veer and counters are still in our package, but overall, it's significantly different and suits the players we have now."

Offense

West enters his debut season with huge shoes to fill. During the last few seasons, Deloney was a fixture for East Lawrence at quarterback, consistently making big plays as both a runner and passer.
Since taking over as East Lawrence's starting quarterback in the spring, West has been one of the busiest players on the Eagles' roster. According to Ferguson, with the new offensive system, West is being asked to do more on the field than any quarterback he has coached.
"With all of the pre-snap reads and post-snap reads, we're throwing a lot of responsibility at Allen," Ferguson said. "He has handled it well, and really has made a lot of progress this offseason."
West already has won the confidence of his teammates.
"Allen isn't as fast as Terrence, but as a quarterback, he does some things better," running back Dakota Millwood said. "For one, he's a better passer, so we're going to be able to spread the ball around more. He's a perfect fit for this system."
With the season quickly approaching, West said he is beginning to gain confidence. Having Millwood returning at running back, along with depth at the running back positions, has helped.
"There has been a lot thrown at me, but I'm catching on," said West, who played some quarterback in 2012 as Deloney's backup. "Some of the reads were difficult at first, but it's like anything else, it gets easier the more you do it."

Defense

Because so much time this offseason was devoted to the new offensive scheme, Ferguson said since fall practice began in August, more emphasis has been placed on improving East Lawrence's defense.
On defense, East Lawrence returns just four starters. In 2012, the Eagles gave up 26.2 points per game.
"My coaching background has always been on offense, but I would rather us be better on defense," Ferguson said. "I would rather win 2-0 than 99-98 any day of the week. We're devoting a lot of time to getting better on that side of the ball, working on fundamentals, tackling, etc."
Ferguson said linebacker Ben Copeland and defensive back Tyler Mitchell have filled leadership roles on East Lawrence's defense.

Prognosis

With just nine returning starters — five on offense, and four on defense — East Lawrence's offseason had a rebuilding theme. The Eagles finished the 2012 season with a 4-6 record and missed the Class 4A playoffs.
Ferguson said the players made progress in the weight room, gaining size and strength, and on the practice field, that's translating into positive signs.
"Strength wise, we had nowhere to go but up," Ferguson said. "And we had a very good offseason in that aspect. I can see signs of progress, but because we don't have a lot of depth, a lot of how successful we are is going to depend on keeping everyone healthy and on the field. If we can stay healthy, I think we could be better."
Despite having so many new starters on the field, East Lawrence's players enter the season with optimism.
"We've definitely improved," Millwood said. "I can see it. All of us can see it. A lot of people already are writing us off, and that's fine, because we all feel like we're going to surprise a lot of people this year."

East Lawrence at a glance

Coach: Ernie Ferguson; third season
2012 results: 4-6; 2-5 in Class 4A, Region 8.
Jamboree:  Elkmont
Region 8 Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. Lawrence County
Returning starters: Four on offense; four on defense.
Big games: Aug. 30 vs. Lawrence County; Sept. 20 vs. West Limestone; Oct. 4 vs. Priceville.

Source:  Decatur Daily

MEET THE ELKMONT VARSITY CHEERLEADERS

This year's high school cheerleading squad is a combined Varsity/JV.  These ladies have put in a lot of time and work over the summer to get ready for football season.

Varsity: Jensen Pugh, Tori Williams, Rachel Adams, Montana Ray, Callie Wales, Maddie Hobbs, Adriel McMahan, and Jayne Anderson.

JV: Chloe Murphy, Leah Seibert, Olivia Spencer, Madison Scroggins, and Hope Hice

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.

ALRIGHTY FRIENDS & FAMILY SUPPORT YOUR ELKMONT MICRO MINI FOOTBALL PLAYERS THIS YEAR.
Elkmont, Alabama, or Auburn keychains (while they last), and custom Red Devil decals...$5.00 each.  Message or post on Jason Shawley's facebook page to order or more information.

STEAK AND WEENIE GAME - QUARTERBACK SUPPER

ELKMONT FOOTBALL SEASON HAS STARTED

The Steak and Weenie Intersquad Game/Quarterback Club Supper officially started the 2013 Elkmont Red Devils Football season.  In an annual tradition, the Quarterback Club invites the community to a free hamburger supper to meet the varsity, JV football players and cheerleaders before game  This year the youth football teams were included in the festivities and were introduced at half time.

The Quarterback Club wrapped 400 hamburgers and poured drinks for the Elkmont faithful that

came out to enjoy seeing the red and white teams square off against each other.  Senior Rhett Bailey took the reins of the white team as quarterback.  Jordan Nelson captained the Red.  After a spirited game, the white team won 14 - 7 and were rewarded with the steak dinner.

The Red Devils have another week to practice before playing in the Jamboree, August 23 at East Lawrence High School @ 7 pm.  The next week brings our big rival game vs Ardmore Tigers, August 30.  Kickoff: Boss Hill Stadium @ 7 pm.  Always a hard hitting emotional game, it will be a full house so get there by 6:30 to find a seat.

Thoughts from the Elkmont Youth Football Program:
I want to think Coach Holt his players and staff for working with me on getting the youth football involved with the Elkmont High School football team.  Practicing with the older players Friday night and being part of the introductions last night at the Steak and Weenie Game meant a lot to these young players. Our young kids truly look up to these high school players, and I can speak for my son's personal experience.  He made new friends with Senior Red Devil #88 Cody Thomas.

I believe it was a success Saturday night, these kids got a taste of the high school stadium and worked the crowd and they had a blast. They got to see their partners from practice camp Friday night in uniform and playing last night. Definitely a motivator for a small boy just

stepping into football or moving up the ranks, getting closer and closer to playing on the Elkmont Red Devils school teams.

Jason Shawley

As always Downtown Portraits was there to cover anything Elkmont, click on Steak and Weenie Game  to see 116 great photos.  These are available to order.

YOUTH FOOTBALL MEETS VARSITY

The youth football program had the opportunity to work with the varsity football team and coaches, August 16.  Our young Red Devils had a great time being with the "big boys".  These varsity players that took the time to be a little player's buddy will always have a number one fan; someone to whisper to his friend in the hallway when he sees his varsity player, "That's my friend."

Thoughts:
"I want to give an amazing huge thank you to Elkmont High School Red Devil Football players & coaches. What a fantastic night! Thank you Coach Holt & Staff for helping us make this happen, let's have a great year, GO RED DEVILS!"       Jason Shawley

"My son had a blast with the Elkmont Varsity Football team and Staff last night during their practice. Those BIG BOYS (my player's words) was awesome with the small kids. So proud to be from this little town where people care about the kids!  Thank you to all that helped; he has not stopped talking about it or PRACTICING!" 
 A Parent

YOUTH FOOTBALL NEWS

LET'S PLAY SOME FOOTBALL
The last Elkmont Youth Football signups (Ages 4-13) will be at the Elkmont School Open House AND the Piney Chapel Open House, August 15th.  Jason Shawley and several of the other youth football coaches will be there to answer your questions and sign up your player or cheerleader for the 2013 season.  There is a $75 signup fee and a copy of birth certificate required. Fee covers uniform, equipment, and trophy at the end of season. IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR, YALL JOIN US!!!!

SPONSORS NEEDED: Player Sponsors:
If you or your business be would be willing to sponsor a football player this year who can't afford the signup fee, please contact, Jason Shawley; Phone: 256-374-4638  Facebook link: Jason Shawley  We have a handful of young men that love the game, but due to hardship the families can not pay the $75 fee. 

Team Sponsors:
The Elkmont football program is looking for team sponsors.  Not only would you help with the cost of jerseys but you would also be helping us update our equipment.  All the teams are assigned their equipment from the Limestone County Youth Football Program.  Most of this equipment has been handed down for years.   Many of the helmets and protective pads need repair or replacement.  The coaches often use their money to provide for their players.  Please consider sponsoring a team; your support would be greatly appreciated.

PLAYER INFORMATION:
August 16 - Youth football (ages 4 - 13) will be practicing with the Elkmont High School varsity players and coaches on the high school field @ 6 pm.

August 17 - The youth players will be recognized at the Elkmont Red Devils Steak and Weenie Game.  Be sure to be there by 6:30 pm

August 19 - start of full contact practice; Field #2 Elkmont Baseball Field.  Practices are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6 - 8 pm. 

Game schedules should be available the first week of September.

Don't forget to visit the Elkmont Football Blog for all things Elkmont Football

SUPPORT ELKMONT FOOTBALL

Many people think that the school pays for the football program, field maintenance and transportation to games.  It does not.   Lots of schools have a pay to play policy, such as $600 per varsity sport at some of the larger schools in the state.   Elkmont chooses to fund its sports differently.  Our football program is self supporting with help from the Quarterback Club. This year the football players are selling discount cards to help cover the expense of fielding a football team.

These cards are $20 each with discounts from Domino's Pizza, Applebee's, Arby's, Roosters, Pizza Hut, Krystal, Express Oil Change, Quizno's, Captain D's, Panda Express, Little Caesars and El Olmeca. Each player has been asked to sell 8 of them.  You can purchase them from the varsity football players. Please consider supporting our team by buying a card.  We need to circle the wagons around our Elkmont community. If we don't take care of our own, who will?