By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison had a 21-0 lead Friday night before Dallas County picked up a first down, with less than 2 minutes to play in the first half.

The Panthers’ fast start, explosive offense and suffocating defense allowed them to take a 33-14 win on Homecoming despite five fumbles and nine penalties.

Still, coach Brad Abbott said the mistakes weren’t the result of a hangover from last week’s close loss to rival Chilton County in the season opener.

“We lost our focus in spurts,” Abbott said. “I thought we could have got maybe two more scores there before the half. But we had a good week of practice. I was pleased with the play of all the guys. It’s a region win.”

The positives from Friday far outweigh the negatives.

Jemison (1-1, 1-0 Class 4A, Region 4) scored on its first two possessions. Junior Javae Swindle, after running for a long touchdown the first play from scrimmage last week, took Jemison’s second play from scrimmage 64 yards for a score and a 6-0 lead.

Senior quarterback Scott Clements connected with junior Eddie Hubbard for a 23-yard touchdown about 3 minutes later, and a Clements pass to freshman Randy Satterfield gave Jemison a 14-0 lead.

Swindle scored on a screen pass from Clements with 3:33 left in the first half, and the point-after made it 21-0.

Unofficially, Clements completed 18 of 19 attempts for 239 yards and four touchdowns, including one to Satterfield in the fourth quarter.

That came after DCHS (1-1, 0-1) got on the board with a blocked punt returned for a touchdown.

Abbott said Jemison’s usual snapper in that situation was out of the game with an injury.
The Hornets got even closer on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Justin Moore to Keymiya Harrell about halfway through the fourth.

Swindle was Jemison’s leading rusher with 99 yards, unofficially, on eight carries.

By Scott Mims

You could say Thorsby defied the odds Friday night to beat the Francis Marion Rams 37-14 to go 2-0.
The victory was sweet because the Rebels have won as many games as they won all year in 2009 — and they won Friday night with two main starters on the sidelines, Marcus Bray and Tanner Bush.
“It feels good to be 2-0, doesn’t it?” coach Billy Jackson asked the team after the game. They answered, “Yes sir.”
The first half was hard fought on both sides. Andrew Farris connected with C.J. Melendy for a 38-yard touchdown in the first, but the Rams’ LaDarius Tabb returned the ensuing kickoff for a 78-yard sprint to the end zone. Demetre Williams tacked on 2 extra points.
Thorsby gave up a fumble on its next drive but forced the Rams to punt. Then it was Farris charging over the goal line for a short TD.
In the second quarter, the rescue squad was called out to check on injured Frances Marion player Radge Turner. He got back on his feet, but a personal foul was called against Thorsby.
Toriance Herring scored a 25-yard touchdown with 6:44 left in the half, putting the Rams up 14-12.
Tabb recovered a Thorsby fumble but the Rebels’ Bo Hoffman had a sack in the backfield. Then Trent McClain intercepted and went on to score a 41-yard touchdown.
Farris took part in Thorsby’s last three touchdowns, passing to Stephen Mims and Nathan Oldroyd for 38 and 12 yards, respectively, and running one himself from 24 yards out.
In his post-game speech, coach Billy Jackson acknowledged that the Rams (0-2) were bigger and faster than the Rebels position for position, but the Rebels played with a lot of heart and wouldn’t quit.
“They rose to the occasion tonight,” Jackson said. “We are by far not where we want to be, but we’re trying to make strides.”

By Stephen Dawkins

The Thorsby Rebels on Friday showed just how far they’ve from year one to year two of coach Billy Jackson’s tenure with a 33-6 win over Verbena.

Last season, Thorsby’s meeting with its county rival in Week 1 resulted in a hard fought 14-6 loss. This season’s opening game was the Rebels’ coming out party.

“We’re not there yet by any means,” coach Billy Jackson cautioned, but he did note his team’s improvement and credited that improvement to his coaching staff, especially strength coach Keith Williams. “They’ve got confidence in themselves because of the time they spend in the weight room.”

Thorsby is now halfway to its 2009 win total with nine games left to play.

Verbena, meanwhile, heads into region play next week against Wadley still with many questions to answer.

The Red Devils moved the football well on occasion behind the running of junior quarterback Bay Lucas (who led the team with 58 rushing yards, unofficially) and backs Dustin Short and Kelly Dorsett, but mistakes cost the visitors.

Verbena finally scored with 1:13 left on a three-yard run by Dorsett, a senior, but the game had been decided much earlier.

Thorsby senior Marcus Bray intercepted a pass on Verbena’s first possession and ran it back for a touchdown, and Eduardo Rico added the extra point.

Neither team could take control until Thorsby senior quarterback Andrew Farris led his team on a 91-yard drive that cumulated with Farris faking a handoff and running it up the middle three yards for a score with 16 seconds remaining in the first half.

The hosts ended any suspense on their first possession of the second half when, on third down with 13 yards to go for a first, Farris found Bray across the middle and then watched the receiver break several tackles and race down the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown.

Thorsby scored later on a beautifully executed reverse pass from Farris to a wide open junior Stephen Mims and on a fumble recovery in the end zone by senior Dylan Crocker.

By Stephen Dawkins

Jacob McKinney’s interception in his end zone saved a 27-26 win for Chilton County on Thursday over football rival Jemison.

The visiting Panthers fought back from a 20-8 third quarter deficit and were a two-point conversion away from taking the lead with 22 seconds remaining in the game when McKinney, expecting a playaction pass, jumped in front of a slant route.

“We talk about playing the next play no matter what happened the play before,” said CCHS coach Brian Carter, who improved to 2-1 in the rivalry. “We made the last play.”

Most in attendance—and there were a lot of them for the season opening clash—probably would have thought that deciding play would have gone in Jemison’s favor because the visitors had all the momentum.

A four-yard run by senior J.J. Agee and a point-after by Zach Headley about 3 minutes into the second half gave CCHS a 20-8 lead, which seemed insurmountable because Jemison had only mustered one first down on eight plays from scrimmage.

But the Panthers clawed back into the game thanks to deep passes by senior quarterback Scott Clements and long runs by junior running back Javae Swindle.

Clements connected with junior Chase McCary on the drive following Agee’s score, but the two-point attempt failed.

CCHS sophomore quarterback Cameron Cummings answered with a three-yard run and Headley added the extra point to make it 27-14, but with 8:15 left in the game, Clements faked a handoff right, rolled left and found Eddie Hubbard down the visitors sideline. Hubbard caught the ball over his shoulder and outran the defense, but the two-point conversion failed to leave the score at 27-20 CCHS.

The Jemison defense held Chilton to a three-and-out on the next possession, and the Jemison offense marched 69 yards for the last score of the game, a three-yard run by Swindle.

Then came McKinney’s heroics.

“It’s incredible; there’s nothing like it,” the senior said about earning a win over a rival in his last season.

Swindle finished with 157 yards on 13 carries, but 124 of those yards came on only two carries, one of which was a 65-yard touchdown run on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
But the story of the first half was the CCHS running attack. With a quarterback, Cummings, who had never before thrown a pass in varsity action, the Tigers stayed on the ground to build their lead.

Cummings ran 20 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns, and Agee added 103 yards and two scores on 18 carries. Senior Joe Looney also punished the defense with several tough runs.

Senior Dylan Jackson (nine tackles and an interception) and Richard Hilliard (eight tackles and a fumble recovery) were the standouts on the CCHS defense.

Clements completed eight of 15 passes for 203 yards.

By Justin Averette

Thorsby beat Class 4A West Blocton in two scrimmages Friday night.

The second-string teams played 24 minutes first, with the Rebels winning, 13-6. After the break, the varsity starters squared off for another 24 minutes, which saw Thorsby come back to win, 8-7.

During the second scrimmage, both teams turned the ball over. Thorsby gave up two interceptions, including one in the end zone, but Dylan Crocker recovered a Tiger fumble that led to the Rebels’ game-winning touchdown.

West Blocton scored earlier in the second scrimmage off a short run by Justin Clements with 19:12 to go in the half.

Thorsby wouldn’t answer until 2:15 to go in the game with a 23-yard pass from quarterback Andrew Farris to Stephen Mims.

Despite the interceptions, the Rebels had several big offensive plays. A reverse to Marcus Bray gained 54 yards on Thorsby’s first drive. Kalup Nunn and Farris had several nice runs.

During the first half, backup quarterback Nathan Oldroyd completed his first seven passes, many of them to receiver C.J. Melendy.

Oldroyd had an 8-yard touchdown run. Bo Hoffman also ran in from 3 yards out to account for the team’s second touchdown of the first scrimmage.

B.B. Evans had a 49-yard reception in the game, while Hoffman had a 37-yard run.

By Davis Potter | Special to the Advertiser

It may have only been a decorated scrimmage, but Jemison’s rushing attack had the looks of being in midseason form.

The Panthers racked up 233 rushing yards on Thursday and rolled over Montevallo, 34-7, in both team’s annual jamboree at Panther Stadium.

Running back Javae Swindle led the way for the Panthers’ ground game, finishing with 94 yards on eight carries and one touchdown.

Fellow tailbacks Trahe Smith, Isa Bentley and Dustin McDaniel added to the attack, combining for 139 yards on the ground.

“We were just flat,” Montevallo coach Jamie Williams said. “(Jemison’s) got a heck of a team, and they just took it right at us.”

Bentley set the tone on the opening possession of the game. On the fourth play from scrimmage, Bentley took the handoff off the right side and raced 39 yards to give Jemison a 6-0 lead with 10:55 left in the first quarter. The touchdown run capped a 4-play, 65-yard drive.

Montevallo looked poised to draw even on its opening drive, as the Bulldogs drove the ball to the Panther 1-yard line in four plays. On third-and goal, however, the snap sailed over quarterback R.J. Scaife’s head, resulting in a turnover.

Another touchdown run – this time by Swindle – combined with a 2-yard Scott Clements touchdown pass with 2:10 left in the second frame increased the lead to 20-0 at the half.

The Bulldogs avoided the shutout when Scaife took a direct snap on fourth-and-goal and dove over the goal line for a 1-yard scoring plunge with the clock showing 59 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Jemison also plays its first game of the season next week. The Panthers will travel to Chilton County on Aug. 26.

By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison’s new Municipal Complex is benefitting the city’s police force — and other local officers.

The first half of a statement analysis training course was held in the Complex auditorium earlier this month, and the second session is scheduled for Sept. 23.

“There is a technique you can use in analyzing those statements to tell if they are being truthful or deceptive,” Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer said. “You can use this on victim statements as well.”

All law enforcement officers in Alabama are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education courses per year. The course at Jemison, which was taught by instructors from Auburn University at Montgomery, will cover 16 hours worth of material.

“My philosophy is if you don’t get the training and have the tools to do the job, you can’t do the job as successfully as you need to,” Fulmer said.

Fifty-seven officers from local and state agencies attended the training.

“This class went very well, and I believe these officers, after receiving this type training, will be very prepared and able to do their job much more efficiently,” Fulmer said and also thanked Deputy Chief Marc McMinn for scheduling the training.

Fulmer also said he is pleased Jemison was able to host such a course.

Fulmer’s officers normally would have to travel to receive training, so hosting it saves the city money. The course also serves as an opportunity for out-of-towners to see Jemison.

“We now have our own facilities that will accommodate large groups of people, and we are excited about being able to offer these training classes,” Fulmer said.

By Stephen Dawkins

The senior class of Thorsby’s 2009 volleyball team will be remembered as the group that took the Rebels to unprecedented heights, the sub-state round of the playoffs.

The 2010 senior class will be tasked with keeping the program at its newfound level of success.

But with the loss of so many players to graduation off last year’s team, Thorsby this season will rely on several younger players to keep the momentum going under coach Ginger Williams.

“We’re definitely more inexperienced,” Williams said. “I’m pleased with what we’ve done so far, but when things don’t go our way, how we react, that will be the thing.

“We’ll see.”

Seniors Holly Smith (setter), Kendra Dawson (outside hitter/defensive specialist), and Crystelly Olivos (defensive specialist) and juniors Sade’ Archie (middle blocker) and Desiree Evans (outside hitter) all saw playing time last season.

But Olivos will take on a much more significant role this season, and Archie is switching positions, from outside hitter.

Three more players—senior right side hitter Kayla Smith, junior defensive specialist Krysten Hendrix and freshman middle blocker Jennifer Spivey—were called up to the varsity squad at the end of last season to provide depth and to gain invaluable experience.

Williams recalled a conversation she had with Spivey as the Rebels were preparing for the upcoming season: “She said, ‘I’d be scared to death if I didn’t get to go to sub-state with y’all.’”

One likely starter, seventh grader Emily Spain, didn’t have the luxury of getting her feet wet at the varsity level, adding on to the team’s inexperience.

This year’s team should rely more on its defense than on power hitting, Williams said, and the coach’s growing tenure at the school should also provide an advantage.

Dawson and Smith have been playing for Williams since her arrival and have helped establish expectations for how things are done—and pass those expectations on to younger players.

“Now, they know how the program is ran,” Williams said. “They know what is expected. As coaches, we get to coach, not stand there and nit-pick. Now, they do that themselves.

“They warm up without being asked; they take the net down after practice without being asked. It’s nice.”

By Justin Averette

A tea Saturday afternoon at Fountain Chapel AME Church honored the historic accomplishment of 2010 Peach Queen Jessica Swindle.

Swindle was crowned Miss Peach back in June, in process becoming the first black woman to hold the title.

Several community leaders addressed Swindle, praising her accomplishments, encouraging her to continue to work hard and wishing her good luck in the future.

“I’d like to say congratulations to Miss Swindle and encourage you to keep on keeping on,” County Commissioner Bobby Agee said. “I also want to thank you for being a role model for other young people.”

Other community leaders who spoke were Clanton Mayor Billy Joe Driver, Clanton City Councilman Greg DeJarnett, Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed, Maplesville Mayor Kurt Wallace, and Probate Judge Bobby Martin.

“We really appreciate Miss Jessica Swindle,” said Driver. “We are proud of you.”

“It’s been a long road, but you’ve persevered and gotten here,” Martin told Swindle.

Swindle was also presented with several scholarships and gifts.

A reception followed the ceremony in Fountain Chapel’s fellowship hall. The tea was sponsored by the West End Neighborhood Watch

Swindle is the 18-year-old daughter of Dwight and Madeline Swindle. This month she will start college at Alabama A&M University.

By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison volleyball this season might replace experience with raw talent.

Five members of the 2009 team were lost to graduation, leaving coach Leighsa Robinson searching for replacements. Robinson thinks she has found them, but they might need some seasoning to reach their full potential.

“The girls I’ve got coming in have the potential,” Robinson said but added they are also inconsistent. “Sometimes we look like we’ve never missed a beat, and other times we look like we’re having to replace some players.”

Sophomore Haley Smitherman will likely replace scoring machine Tabatha Cork, Robinson said, when the Panthers open their season Aug. 19 at Montevallo.

“She’s got good hands and blocking ability and hits the ball well,” Robinson said.

Stepping in at middle blocker for Codi Mims will be sophomore Shelby Griffin and senior Kortney Robinson, who at 6 feet tall provides a presence at the net.

“Were going to be a much stronger blocking team because of her, and she’s hitting the ball well,” Leighsa Robinson said.

Kortney Robinson played two years ago but not last season.

Others to see significant playing time include junior Hallie Amos and freshman Denten Ellison.

Leighsa Robinson said Ellison is “showing a lot of potential. It’s a quicker pace game than what the middle school plays, and it’s just a matter of her settling in and getting comfortable with her position.”

To help with that transition, Robinson will use a libero position for the first time in her tenure as Jemison’s coach. Ellison, playing libero would be substituted for defensive specialist Tanya Liveoak, a junior, when Ellison’s position rotated to the back row. So, Ellison would be able to help the team by using her skills at the net but then let a more experienced defensive player come in to handle opponents’ serves.

“The serve receive is a lot different,” Robinson said. “Having a person that specializes in defense is just going to add to our defense.”

Using the libero will allow Robinson to keep at least two strong defensive players on the court at all times, which is significant because the other regular contributor lost from last year’s team was defensive specialist Dallis Vanderslice.

Senior Emily Smithey and junior Morgan Posey are two of the players that will be counted on to provide defense.

The most experienced player on the team will be setter Kasi Wells, both because of senior status but also because of her time spent playing club softball.

“She’s brought a lot to the table this year,” Robinson said. “We’ll be able to run a little different attack. It’s just a matter of the other people catching up.

It’s like having a quarterback that is seasoned and that knows the game. She’s able to teach others and share what she knows. Our team, I think they lean on her a lot.”