By Robert Hudson | Selma Times-Journal

When the Jemison High School Panthers took the field against Dallas County High School, they were on a mission, as they swatted the Hornets 57-0.

Jemison head football coach Merritt Bowden said his team was focused entering the game.

“We talked all week and just tried to focus on us, on getting better as a team,” Bowden said. “Right now the guys have bought into that and continuing to play hard on every snap.”

The Panthers asserted their dominance right out the gate, as Eddie Hubbard returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.

A two-point conversion put the Panthers up 8-0.

After recovering a Dallas County fumble on the ensuing offensive possession, Jemison quarterback Tre Bryant found a wide-open Javae Swindle for a 27-yard touchdown pass to put the Panthers up 14-0 with 11:25 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers then held the Hornets to a three-and-out, and four plays later Bryant hit Hubbard who broke the screen pass for a 31-yard touchdown to put the Panthers up 22-0 with 4:46 left in the first quarter.

Hubbard said his team played as unit, which pushed them to victory.

“What we kept focusing on was one thing, and what we focused on is oneness. We focused on being one team, one unit.” Hubbard said. “Me being a senior, I knew that I had to lead my team. They’re going to follow me in what I do, so I lead by example and played my heart out.”

Turnovers were the name of the game for the Hornets as they gave the ball away five times, all fumbles. Three of those fumbles were recovered by Panthers defenders for touchdowns.

Dallas County head football coach Willie Moore said Jemison was a much better team.

“We know they were a very dangerous team, they’ve got a lot of athletes, they’re a seasoned team,” Moore said. “They’re a much better football team. They’re program is in a different stage than ours is.”

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Every time Chilton County thought it had a chance, Jemison’s Javae Swindle showed the capacity crowd at Panther Stadium otherwise.

Swindle ran for 268 yards and two touchdowns—and set up two other scores—as JHS topped rival CCHS, 29-13, in both teams’ season opener.

The first half featured few significant offensive plays except for those made by Swindle.

The senior back took a handoff 74 yards for a touchdown on Jemison’s second offensive possession, and Cruz Martinez’s extra point made it 7-0.

Jemison’s other scoring drive started with 1:59 remaining in the half. Quarterback Tre Bryant found Randy Satterfield for a 34-yard pass on the first play of the possession, and then two Swindle runs advanced the ball to the 1-yard line.

Kevin King punched it in, but the point-after was missed.

Chilton County’s offense, meanwhile, seemed stuck in neutral thanks to penalties, busted plays and the JHS defense storming the rushing lanes.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard with 8:31 left in the third quarter when Michael Seaton plowed ahead for six yards on a 4th-down-and-2 play. Stephen Horn’s extra point closed the gap to six points at 13-7.

Jemison running back Javae Swindle leaves behind a pile of Chilton County defenders on his way to the game’s first touchdown in the first half. (Advertiser Photo/Jon Goering)

But Swindle needed only two plays to stretch the lead again. He scored from 48 yards out with 8:03 on the clock. Tre Bryant threw to Satterfield for the 2-point conversion.

Chilton quarterback Chance Britnell found Jarvis Rogers for a 27-yard touchdown play with 3:34 left in the third, but Swindle responded again.

This time, it was a 40-yard run to the CCHS 1-yard line. Bryant then scored on a sneak.

Bryant demonstrated his athleticism again as the point after snap was mishandled, but Bryant stood up and ran to his right and found the end zone for two points, concluding the scoring.

“Our playmakers made plays,” said Jemison’s Merritt Bowden, who like CCHS’s Donnie Hand was coaching for the first time in the rivalry game. “Last year, they scored early and got deflated (CCHS won, 27-26). We knew we wanted to finish strong.”

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

When Merritt Bowden and Donnie Hand take their positions on opposing sidelines Thursday night at Panther Stadium, it will be for the first time as coach of Jemison and Chilton County, respectively.

But the two men are familiar with a rivalry that defines high school football in Chilton County.

The new coaches at the two largest schools in the county are also graduates of those schools, so Bowden and Hand understand how important a win over their rival would be to the fan bases.

“It’s not like somebody coming from the outside and someone has to tell them how big of a game it is,” Hand said. “Being from here, nobody has got to say, ‘Hey, you’ve really got to win this one.’”

Hand’s Tigers will be looking to establish momentum before region play rolls around in Week 2 in the form of a visit from Demopolis, a program only two seasons removed from a Class 5A state championship.

CCHS ditched the spread offense when former coach Brian Carter departed, and Hand has installed a straight-ahead, smashmouth scheme relying on a big, skilled offensive line and a trio of running backs.

The Chilton offense will try to chew up yards and time in an effort to keep the ball away from what should be a potent Jemison attack.

The Panthers return the Chilton County area’s leading rusher in Javae Swindle (1,881 yards and 24 touchdowns on an average of 156.8 yards per game and 10.4 yards per carry) and receiver in Eddie Hubbard (52 receptions for 1,077 yards and 13 touchdowns) but will rely on a new quarterback, senior Tre Bryant.

“We know they’ve got speed and more speed,” Hand said. “We have to keep them from having any big plays passing, and we’ve got to keep the running back inside, not let him get outside for big plays.”

JHS will have extra motivation because Chilton County has won two consecutive games in the series, and six of the last seven.

The game begins at 7 p.m. at Jemison High School.

The players will be as excited about getting the season started as the fans.

“They’ve been talking about this week for a while,” Hand said.

Other than the annual rivalry game against Chilton County, Saturday might be the most important day of the year for the Jemison football program.

Panther Day will bring the opportunity for fans to see their favorite teams just before their seasons begin—and to help raise money for the programs.

The day will include scrimmages or practice games played by the Jemison school and youth teams at Panther Stadium.

Jemison’s youth teams will play Thorsby. The Mites will play at 10 a.m., the Midgets at 11 a.m., the Minors at noon and the Majors at 1 p.m.

Jemison Middle School will scrimmage at 2 p.m., and the varsity will scrimmage at 3:30 p.m.

Jemison youth football league President Brad Jackson said Panther Day raised more than $4,000 last season for the youth, middle school and high school programs.

“The little guys get excited about being out there at the stadium, and they look forward to hanging out with the older kids,” he said. “It’s pretty neat for them.”

The event will carry a $5 all-day admission, and concessions will be available.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Merritt Bowden has made many coaching stops. But his next one is to lead the school he graduated from.

Bowden will be Jemison’s next football coach, replacing Brad Abbott, who gave up the position after seven seasons.

Bowden, a 1987 JHS graduate, comes to Jemison from Oak Mountain, where he has coached the past two years, most recently serving as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach.

“Jemison has been on my mind for a long time,” Bowden said. “I think anytime you go to a school where it helped lay a foundation for you, it sticks with you. It has stuck with me for a long time.”

Bowden’s hiring as a physical education teacher at Jemison High School was approved at Tuesday’s meeting of the Chilton County Board of Education.

Before his position at Oak Mountain, Bowden was assistant strength and conditioning coach at Jacksonville State University for two years and a defensive graduate assistant at Auburn University for two years.

He has many ties to the county, having coached Thorsby’s football team from 1998-2000 and again in 2003. Bowden has served as an assistant coach at both Jemison and Isabella.

Bowden said he plans to meet with the team Thursday and then begin evaluating film from games last season.

Bowden’s background comes more from the defensive side of the ball. He said he likes to run a 4-3 defense that attacks.

“I believe in bringing a lot of pressure and creating turnovers,” he said. “But I’m smart enough to know we are going to make this defense fit our players.

“There’s definitely some quality players there. We want to start every game fast and finish every game strong.”

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

The 2010 season was one of remarkable production from two local quarterbacks: Jemison’s Scott Clements and Thorsby’s Andrew Farris.

Both will graduate this month, creating opportunities but also casting doubt on the upcoming season.

Jemison’s football team, at least, has a signal caller with experience on this year’s roster. Rising senior Trey Bryant started two games last season when Clements went down with an injury.

Bryant will team with one of Jemison’s best ever groups of offensive ball handlers (running back Javae Swindle and receiver Eddie Hubbard were both candidates for The Clanton Advertiser’s Player of the Year honor last year) to form a potent offense–if an offensive line can be completely rebuilt.

“We’ve got to find five guys that can play together there and make 22 (Swindle) look good,” assistant coach Jon Clements said.

The Panthers are practicing without a head coach having been named to replace Brad Abbott.

Thorsby’s quest to replace Farris was complicated by the school’s baseball team, which included many football players, advancing all the way to the semifinal round of the state playoffs, meaning those players were unavailable for football practice.

“We’ve been trying to get what we could done without everybody out there,” THS coach Billy Jackson said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces because we lost a bunch offensively and defensively. We know what we want to do, we’re just trying to find guys who can fit into that.”

Jemison and Thorsby will each hold a scrimmage at 1 p.m. Friday.

Jemison senior Markis Lucas (seated, center) signed on Tuesday to play college football at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa.

Lucas played defensive end for the Panthers Lucas signed a National Letter of Intent in a ceremony in the school library that was attended by (clockwise from top left) JHS principal Alan Thompson, football coach Brad Abbott, younger brother D’Marco Lucas, mother Trimeeka Lucas and stepfather Dion Hawkins.

By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Hunter Cowart once wondered whether it was worth the work it would take to continue his football career.

Cowart’s decision paid off Wednesday as he signed to play college football at Faulkner University.

The Jemison senior was the county’s only participant in National Signing Day, the first day high school athletes across the country can make their college choices official.

Some of the most high profile athletes announced their intentions in front of packed gymnasiums—and television audiences.

Cowart’s event in the Jemison library was more subdued—and his decision was made obvious by the Faulkner University paraphernalia surrounding the papers he was to sign—but the opportunity for Cowart to further his career was significant because it wasn’t always a given.

As a junior, Cowart played much of the season through a shoulder injury. He also required knee surgery after the year, and he was unsure he wanted to commit to the long road to recovery.

“I really debated whether to keep playing, whether it would be worth it,” Cowart told a group of about 30 friends, relatives and coaches.

Cowart said he prayed for a sign, and woke up one day to find he was included on the All-State team compiled by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

He figured maybe he was good enough at football to pursue a career.

After talking with coaches from several schools, Cowart said he decided Faulkner was the right fit because of its proximity to home.

Cowart played center and guard during his time on the Jemison offensive line, and Faulkner assistant coach Duane McWhorter said Cowart will get a look at the same two positions at the next level.

“His coaches raved about his character, his work ethic, the way he handles his stuff in the classroom,” McWhorter said. “Once we found out how good of a football player he was, it was a no-brainer.”

Jemison junior running back Javae Swindle was named first-team all-state in a list compiled by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

Swindle last season rushed for 1,881 yards and 24 touchdowns as JHS finished with a 7-5 record after losing in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs.

Class 1A
QB- Matt Hamner – Maplesville
RB- Kendarius Fritts – Linden
RB- Frank Senn – Pleasant Home
RB- Austin Crowe – Parrish
WR- Antonio Bennett – John Essex
WR- Jarmaine Jones – Hubbard
TE- Collin Jarbo – Gaston
OL- Damien Dickinson – McIntosh
OL- Tyler Luker – Sweet Water
OL- Terrell Garrett- TCC
OL- Patrick Jones – Addison
OL- Dustin Sanders – Hubbard
PK- Taylor Brackin – Shoals Christian
ATH- Malcolm Cyrus – Autaugaville

DB- Marcus Reese – Cedar Bluff
DB- Anthony Robinson – Linden
DB- Floyd Jones – Hubbard
DB- Hunter Anderson – Kinston
LB- Terris Lewis – Linden
LB- Devann White – Sweet Water
LB- Eddrick Harris – R.A. Hubbard
LB- Casey Atchison – Maplesville
DL- Ryan Chamblee – Collinsville
DL- Chris Payton – St. Jude
DL- Trayun James- Sweet Water
DL- Cameron Legg- Lynn
P- Justin Langdale – Coosa Christian
ATH- Emmanuel Johnson – McKenzie

Back of the Year- Kendarius Fritts – Linden
Lineman of the Year- Ryan Chamblee – Collinsville
Coach of the Year- Nicholas Vinson – R.A. Hubbard

Class 2A
QB- Austin Grammer – American Christian
RB- Ki-Shawn Powell- Reeltown
RB- Ishmael Riggins- Sulligent
RB- D.D. Dawsey – Cottonwood
WR- Sammie Coates – Leroy
WR- Parker Barrineau – American Christian
TE- Hunter Roberson – Lexington
OL- Daniel Johnson – Lineville
OL- Jamar Williams – Reeltown
OL- Ben Laster – Hatton
OL- Tywaun Cawthorn – Westminster
OL- Cody Carter – New Brockton
PK- Kyle Cooke – Westminster
ATH- Ardarius Stewart – Fultondale

DB- Caleb Mayo – West End
DB- Brent Reed- Leroy
DB- Zack Atherton- Pleasant Valley
DB- Austin North- Cottonwood
LB- Shaquille Roberson – Reeltown
LB- Tony Johnson- Sulligent
LB- Surgeo Carr- Leroy
LB- Josh Price- Cottonwood
DL- Scott Kerley – Lineville
DL- Gabe Richards – Wicksburg
DL- Dylan Parker – Hatton
DL- Patrick Duffie – Horseshoe Bend
P- Ham Holberg – Cottage Hill
ATH- Tyler Anderson – Elba

Back of the Year – Sammie Coates – Leroy
Lineman of the Year – Shaquille Roberson – Reeltown
Coach of the Year – Steven Hooks – Westminster

Class 3A
QB- Mitch Stults – Hamilton
RB- Dedrick Forsythe – Leeds
RB- Cody Staten – Cordova
RB- Anthony Herbert – T.R. Miller
WR- Mark White – Trinity
WR- Noah Willis – Piedmont
TE- David Reeves – Greensboro
OL- Chris Mitchell – Washington County
OL- Caleb McAnnally – T.R. Miller
OL- Deion Nickson – Pike Co.
OL- Robert Freeman – Luverne
OL- Tommy Johnson – Cordova
PK- Andy Pappanastos – Trinity
ATH- Greg Howard – Gordo

DB- Jamaal Johnson – Piedmont
DB- Jonathan Rose – Leeds
DB- Kameron Jackson – Madison Academy
DB- Ray Ray Kimbril – Glencoe
LB- Jamie Major – Piedmont
LB- Charles Miller – Leeds
LB- Weston Epperson – Trinity
LB- Maleki Harris – Cordova
DL- Javiere Mitchell – Leeds
DL- Matt Humphrey – Glencoe
DL- Ronnie Sheppard – Leeds
DL- Mickey Jackson – Piedmont
P- J.D. Strawbridge – Trinity
ATH- Demario Lanier – Gordo

Back of the Year – Jonathan Rose – Leeds
Lineman of the Year – David Reeves – Greensboro
Coach of the Year – Rodney Stidham – Hamilton

Class 4A
QB- Kyle Caldwell – Dadeville
RB- Chris Dukes – UMS-Wright
RB- Troymaine Pope – Anniston
RB- Javae Swindle – Jemison
WR- Cameron Poe-Mitchell – Fayette County
WR- Alvin Scott – Oneonta
WR- Montel Hale – North Jackson
OL- Marvell Bell – Bibb County
OL- Randy Foster – Deshler
OL- Storm Cabiness – Jackson
OL- John Marx – Thomasville
OL- Dustin White – North Jackson
PK- Harrison Lewis – Thomasville
ATH- Alex Taylor – West Limestone

DB- Jemel Morris – Deshler
DB- Chris Davis – Thomasville
DB- Khaleem Jones – North Jackson
DB- Josh Spence – Beauregard
LB- James Jones – Thomasville
LB- Cory Hampton- Fairview
LB- J.R. White – Deshler
LB- Quinton Royal – Anniston
DL- Rod Crayton – Dadeville
DL- Tyler Nero- Escambia County
DL- Diaheem Watkins – Bibb County
DL- Cody Rodgers – Jackson
P- Jordan Shipp – Corner
ATH- Tyler Hayes – Thomasville

Back of the Year- Kyle Caldwell – Dadeville
Lineman of the Year- Diaheem Watkins – Bibb County
Coach of the Year- Mike Battles – Bibb County

Class 5A
QB- Will Lang – Hartselle
RB- DaMarcus James – Demopolis
RB- Brent Calloway – Russellville
RB- Jordan Huff – St. Paul’s
WR- Danny Woodson – LeFlore
WR- Marvin Shinn – Vigor
WR- Chris Ervin – Pleasant Grove
OL- Reese Dismukes – Spanish Fort
OL- Kelend Smith – Pleasant Grove
OL- Nick Maxey – Briarwood Christian
OL- Shaq McMeans – Greenville
OL- Daniel Hollimon – Russellville
PK- Wilson Whorton – Briarwood Christian
ATH- Jameis Winston – Hueytown

DB- James Bradberry  - Pleasant Grove
DB- Trey Cochran-Gill – Tallassee
DB- Brett Guzay – Muscle Shoals
DB- Eric Dixon – Vigor
LB- T.C. Robinson – Tallassee
LB- Seth Dodd – Fort Payne
LB- Mason Drummond – Walker
LB- Blake Dees – Spanish Fort
DL- Robert Flowers – Columbia
DL- Kartrayle Blount – Pleasant Grove
DL- Chris Rabb – Hueytown
DL- Patrick Howell – Vigor
P- Zac Fowler – Spanish Fort
ATH – Kyle Crabtree – Fort Payne

Back of the Year – Brent Calloway – Russellville
Lineman of the Year – Reese Dismukes – Spanish Fort
Coach of the Year – Bob Godsey – Hartselle

Class 6A
QB – Jamal Golden – Wetumpka
RB- Justin McArthur – Hoover
RB- Alonzo Harris – Gadsden City
RB- Terrance Timmons – Davidson
WR- Jaylon Denson – Hoover
WR- John McCrary – Mountain Brook
WR- Collins Moore – Bob Jones
OL- Blake Burks – Hoover
OL- Hayden Naumann – Decatur
OL- Thomas Manzie – Davidson
OL- Danny Williams – Tuscaloosa County
OL- Terrence Jennings – Stanhope Elmore
PK- Josh Bowen – Davidson
ATH- Christion Jones – Minor

DB- E.J. May – McGill-Toolen
DB- Kevin Lacey – Wetumpka
DB- Willie Woodyard – Fairhope
DB- Trae Elston – Oxford
LB- Vinnie Sunseri – Northridge
LB- Reggie Ragland – Bob Jones
LB- Sharmaine Washington – Lee-Montgomery
LB- Michael Pierce – Daphne
DL- Allan Carson – Oxford
DL- Toyvian Brand – Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
DL- Tyler Roberts – Hoover
DL- Shaquille Wallace – Decatur
P- Cameron Haynes – Pelham
ATH- Berniquez Brown – Florence

Back of the Year – Jamal Golden – Wetumpka
Lineman of the Year – Vinnie Sunseri – Northridge
Coach of the Year – Glenn Vickery – Daphne

By Brent Maze | Alex City Outlook

DADEVILLE – Dadeville ended Jemison’s playoff run with a 32-26 win on Friday.

Dadeville received the opening kickoff and took the lead on Quen Pearson’s 1-yard touchdown run. Kyle Caldwell’s kick was good to make it 7-0 less than 4 minutes into the game.

Jemison answered four minutes later. Scott Clements hit Randy Satterfield for a 58-yard gain, setting up Javae Swindle’s 1-yard touchdown to tie the game.

The Tigers retook the lead when Deshawn Redden took the Wildcat snap and ran 14 yards for paydirt.

In the second quarter, Clements rolled out of the pocket and found Swindle sneaking out of the backfield into the secondary. The two connected for a 21-yard passing touchdown to tie the game up once again.

The Panther defense stiffened on the next possession, forcing the Tigers into punt formation. However, Caldwell decided to fake the kick and tried to connect with Kieran Sturdivant. Swindle knocked the pass away, and Jemison took over at midfield.

Shortly after that, Clements hooked up with Edward Hubbard for a 16-yard touchdown strike, but the kick failed, leaving the Jemison with a 20-14 lead.
Dadeville responded and took the lead on Caldwell’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Sturdivant right before the half. The kick put the Tigers up 21-20 at the half.

Jemison took advantage of yet another failed fake punt. A fourth down completion from Clements to Swindle set up Swindle’s 2-yard touchdown run, giving Jemison a 26-21 lead.

Dadeville cut the lead to 26-24 on Caldwell’s 39-yard field goal to end the third quarter.

Then Jemison looked to put away the Tigers when it drove inside the Dadeville 20-yard line, but a holding penalty forced the Panthers into a fourth down play.

Andrew Padgett stepped in front Jemison’s Rodell Chisolm to make an interception to end the drive.

Dadeville’s drive almost began with disaster. Caldwell was about to be sacked near the goal line, but he evaded the defender and found Sturdivant for a 36-yard gain.

Then as the Tigers looked like it might have to try a game-winning field goal, but a horse-collar penalty gave Dadeville one more shot to put it in the end zone.

Pearson took it in from 4 yards out to give Dadeville a 30-26 lead. After a illegal touching penalty on the two-point try, Caldwell scrambled 18 yards, diving for the pylon to give the Tigers a 32-26 lead.

Caldwell, who rarely plays on defense, sealed the game as he intercepted Clements’ final pass.

Caldwell finished the game 16-for-21 for 205 yards and one touchdown while Sturdivant caught five passes for 113 yards. Clint Westbrook had 50 yards on eight carries while Pearson had 49 yards on nine carries.

Jemison was led by Swindle with 115 yards on 25 carries and two receptions for 42 yards. Clements finished 13-for-19 for 239 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns. Satterfield also had four catches for 69 yards.