By Scott Mims

A new athletic training facility was once just wishful thinking among coaches at Thorsby School.
But it is soon to be a dream come true.
Thanks to the efforts of the school’s booster club, parents, students and other generous individuals, plans are underway for a structure that will provide breathing room for the school’s athletic programs.
Once complete, the building will house multiple weight stations, practice equipment and more.
“It’s going to make it possible for us to get all our kids from every sport into one facility to be able to work them out, and that’s huge,” said Billy Jackson, Thorsby’s athletic director and football coach.
The building will measure 75- by 85-feet. One side will house approximately 14 weight training stations—doubling the capacity of the existing field house. On the other side will be batting cages, practice pitching mounds and other types of equipment. The building will also contain restrooms and a coach’s office.
Currently, there is not enough room for the school’s 200-plus athletes to train under one roof simultaneously. In order for everyone to get time in the weight room, varsity and junior varsity must alternate training days.
“Weightlifting is the backbone of any program,” Jackson said. “If your kids are not working out and getting stronger, everyone else is. It’s tough to compete with the bigger schools.”
An indoor training area will also come in handy on rainy days, especially for the school’s baseball team. It will end the inconvenience of splitting the students into groups between the field house and gymnasium.
The old field house, which was built in the early 1990s, will likely be turned into a full locker room.
“I think it will be very beneficial to all sports here at Thorsby,” said baseball coach Ab Argent. “It’s something we desperately need. We need a bigger area to accommodate our kids—male and female athletes.”
School Principal Russ Bryan thanked Sen. Hank Erwin for a $10,000 gift toward the facility. He also thanked the athletic booster club for helping the school reach out and locate resources to fund the project.
An architect is working on plans to present to the Board of Education and the State Building Committee in June.

By Scott Mims

Several Thorsby Rebels have spent long hours in the weight room during the off season, and this was evident Monday during the Rebels’ spring scrimmage.
Eric Camarillo, Marcus Bray and Andrew Farris all have bulked up, as have others, but coach Billy Jackson reminded them that they must train consistently to be in shape for the upcoming season.
“We’re much further along this spring than we were last spring,” Jackson said, “but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
Forty-eight players suited up Monday, and Jackson said he wants to see all of them on the field this fall. In the meantime, they must work to build endurance and know where to line up defensively and offensively.
The players seemed to be pretty evenly matched Monday, as the White Rebels tied the Maroon Rebels 18-18. Bray was a standout on the field, scoring all of the touchdowns for the White team.
But it wasn’t just the veteran players who drew attention Monday.
“We saw some kids that kind of surprised us,” Jackson said.
Perhaps the least experienced part of the team is the offensive line. With only two out of five offensive linemen returning from last year, the Rebels certainly must rely on players to step up to leadership roles.
“I’m proud of our team,” Jackson said. “We’ve got 48 kids, and I think our program will be making strides if we can keep them all out.”

By Stephen Dawkins

Thorsby senior Kevin Brasher on Tuesday signed to play football for Faulkner University in the fall.
Brasher’s ceremony in front of some family and friends in the school library is proof that hard work can go a long way.
“His work ethic is second to none,” Thorsby coach Billy Jackson said. “You couldn’t ask for a better kid.”
Brasher said he visited Faulkner a couple of weeks ago and liked “the coaches—just all the people down there,” he said.
Faulkner coach Duane McWhorter said Brasher’s grades are more evidence of his willingness to work.
“The first conversation I had with his coach, he talked about his work ethic and he talked about that he’s a good person,” McWhorter said. “Secondly, he’s a good football player.”
McWhorter said he envisions Brasher playing the slot receiver position in the Eagles’ offense.
Brasher was a starting strong safety and backup fullback for Thorsby.
Jackson said he thinks the role will suit Brasher.
“I think he’ll do well for them,” Jackson said.

By Stephen Dawkins

Of the 46 players named to The Clanton Advertiser’s 2009 All-Area Football Team, 14 are from North Chilton County schools Jemison and Thorsby.
First-team selections, pictured to the left, were:
• Patrick Sims, tight end, Jemison, Sr.
• Hunter Cowart, offensive line, Jemison, Jr.
• Justin Nemec, defensive line, Jemison, Sr.
• Isa Bentley, linebacker, Jemison, Jr.
• Erick Camarillo, linebacker, Thorsby, Jr.
• Dustin Wilson, linebacker, Thorsby, Jr.
• Javae Swindle, defensive back, Jemison, So.
Second-team selections were:
• Kalup Nunn, running back, Thorsby, Jr.
• Marcus Bray, wide receiver, Thorsby, Jr.
• Cody Greer, wide receiver, Jemison, Sr.
• Dillian Simmons, tight end, Thorsby, Sr.
• Cole Langley, offensive line, Thorsby, Sr.
• Darius Smith, defensive line, Jemison, Sr.
• Jacob Chapman, defensive back, Jemison, Sr.
Selections were made based on coaches’ nominations, statistics and team success.
An effort was made to present the 24 best players on the first team—and the next 22 best on the second team—so positions were adjusted accordingly.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Advertiser’s annual football honors, not surprisingly, feature a North Chilton flavor.
Our player of the year is Jemison running back Javae Swindle.
Though many close to the program were probably already aware of his ability, Swindle burst onto the county football scene as a sophomore, leading the area in rushing yards and receptions. Swindle also returned a kickoff for a touchdown and intercepted three passes on defense.
Swindle was often focused on by opposing defenses, and he found a way to get his yards anyway. More than a little bit of that had to do with his supporting cast.
If Swindle was contained early in a game, several other Panthers could be turned to, and the offensive line contintued trying to open up holes.
Swindle, the fresh face, provides an interesting contrast to our coach of the year, Maplesville’s Brent Hubbert, who has been around Chilton County football for most of his life.
Hubbert, and Swindle, are deserving of the honors, but another development in county football that deserves special recognition is the progress made by Thorsby under first-year coach Billy Jackson.
Sure, the Rebels only won two games, but that’s two more than they won in 2008.
The significance of the season is best measured in attitude instead of wins and losses, though. Jackson convinced his players that if they gave it their all, success would follow.
The Rebels continued to play hard even as their losing streak grew to 17 games, and it paid off in the end.
The success was limited, but it was there. And with a core group of juniors that should be stronger and more experiened next season, Thorsby should be able to build on that success.

– Dawkins is the sports editor for The North Chilton Advertiser.

By Stephen Dawkins

High school football coaches can take one hat off the crowded rack in their offices.
Mentor, drill instructor, groundskeeper and custodian—sure. But not counselor, not for those coaches lucky enough to have a team chaplain.
At least four of six county football teams have chaplains, who take on an important role for teenagers trying to focus on football instead of problems with girlfriends, family life, drugs and school—or the purpose for their existence.
“We feel like, as coaches, counseling is now part of our job description,” Maplesville coach Brent Hubbert said. “It’s good to have someone who can do it from a religious background. It takes the pressure off of us.
“We’ll have one every team I coach, if possible.”
Kirk Smith, pastor at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Randolph, is in his third season as chaplain for the Red Devils.
Another local chaplain, Marc Hodges, said he decided to begin serving as Thorsby’s chaplain five years ago because he wanted to be able to offer encouragement to people that were receiving criticism from many different directions.
“I believe that all kids need a non-threatening adult in their lives,” said Hodges, youth pastor at Victory Baptist Church in Jemison. “They get authority from teachers, coaches and their parents.
“We were looking to just encourage, let them know that somebody cares.”
Hodges tries to make at least one practice a week. He goes to the pep rallies on Fridays and then talks to the team during its pregame meal. Finally, Hodges prays with the players before and after games.
“Sometimes, the coaches are getting on them pretty good, and then I just come over and offer some encouragement,” Hodges said.
Chilton County High senior quarterback Taylor Hughes said not all players might take the messages seriously, but others take them to heart.
Hughes, whose father, Tony, is a former CCHS chaplain and pastor at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church, said many players appreciate having a chaplain available to listen to their concerns.
“I think it’s important to be able to go to somebody that is not going to make you run for something you did,” Hughes said.
Though Hodges ministers to players, he takes a different approach than he would with his church youth. Some of the players have never set foot in a church and are unfamiliar with most, if not all, of Christian teachings.
Also, the players haven’t voluntarily walked into a church in hopes of hearing a Christian message. So, Hodges avoids “ramming Jesus down their throats,” especially because some players might follow a different faith.
“I talk in a lot of generalities at first: God made them and wants them to do their best,” Hodges said. “We’re trying to minister to them and present them an option of a life with Christ.”
Hodges said there have been no instances in his five years of players or parents that opposed having a religious leader around the team.
“I’ve worked really hard to earn their trust,” Hodges said. “I try to show them that I really care about them. I believe with all my heart that I can’t share Christ effectively without showing Christ first.”
Hodges said he’s helped guide several players toward Christianity but emphasizes that building a congregation is not his purpose.
One current player is part of Hodges’ youth group at Victory.
“We’ve seen several of them accept Christ, and it has been fun to see them grow,” Hodges said. “They may not come to my church, but if they just live according to the 10 Commandments, they’ll be better off.”
Sometimes, messages really hit home.
Hodges talked to the Rebels the week after they had snapped a 17-game losing streak with a 28-6 win over Shades Mountain Christian on Oct. 9. He wore a shirt that got muddy during the postgame celebration.
The message was to forget about what has happened in past and keeping focused on the goals ahead.
“Just as silly as you think it is that I’ve got this dirty shirt on, it’s just as bad to walk around thinking about last week,” Hodges told the team.
And when quarterback Andrew Farris’ fumble in the next game, at county rival Isabella, was returned for a touchdown that gave the Mustangs the lead, Hodges was quick to reiterate his point.
Farris forgot the fumble and led his team to a 32-30 win in overtime.
“That was just the neatest thing,” Hodges said.

By Stephen Dawkins

THORSBY – What has been a special season for Thorsby didn’t end that way.
The Rebels on Oct. 30 concluded a year that saw them snap a 17-game losing streak, defeat county rival Isabella and play inspired football, except for maybe Friday’s game, a 48-0 loss to Winterboro.
The outcome was even more disappointing considering it was senior night, and Thorsby’s 11 football seniors—along with other senior athletes—were recognized at halftime.
The ceremony may have inspired the hosts a bit, as they played much better in the second half, but it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome a miserable first half.
Winterboro (7-3, 6-1 Class 1A, Region 4) showed off its excess of runners early. Six different Bulldogs carried the football in the first 4 minutes of the game.
Troy Garrett (twice), Courtney Evans (twice) and Josh Taylor all ran for touchdowns in the first half.
Thorsby (2-8, 2-5 Class 2A, Region 4), meanwhile, could get nothing going offensively. The Rebels were 0-for-5 on third-down conversion attempts and could manage only two first downs in the first half.
The Rebels did much better after the break, moving the chains eight times.
Thorsby drove to the Winterboro 15-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but backup quarterback Nathan Oldroyd was intercepted by Vincent in the end zone.
Oldroyd played most of the second half after starter Andrew Farris went down with a knee injury.
Oldroyd also led the Rebels deep into Winterboro territory late in the game but was sacked at the 10-yard line as time expired.
Winterboro in the second half scored on a 45-yard run by Garrett and a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown by Vincent.
Unofficially, Winterboro totaled 299 yards, 181 on the ground.
Dillin Simmons was Thorsby’s leading rusher with 47 yards on nine carries.
Oldroyd completed four passes in 10 attempts for 30 yards.

By Stephen Dawkins

ISABELLA – The Thorsby football team might get used to this winning thing.
The Rebels (2-6, 2-4 Class 2A Region 4) on Oct. 16 won their second consecutive game—one week after snapping a 17-game losing streak.
“We’ve been preaching to them that, in the past, when something went wrong, we’d drop our heads and don’t recover until two or three plays later,” Thorsby coach Billy Jackson said. “We told them to compete and play every play. If something goes wrong, let’s just pick it up and play the next play.”
Isabella actually scored five touchdowns to Thorsby’s four, but the difference turned out to be point-after tries. Isabella didn’t convert any of their opportunities, while Thorsby racked up eight points solely on 2-point plays.
The game ended, fittingly, when Isabella’s Willie Stacy was brought down inches from the goal line on a 2-point conversion attempt seconds after Stacy had run for a touchdown on the first play of Isabella’s overtime possession.
Thorsby got the ball first in OT but, after receiving a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, started on the 25-yard line instead of the 10 because the team’s bench was still insisting it had been shorted a down at the end of regulation.
A fourth-and-7 from the Isabella 11-yard line with 17.5 seconds left in regulation should have been third down, Thorsby fans, players and coaches contended. A field goal attempt was short and wide left, so the game went into an extra period.
Thorsby’s junior quarterback Andrew Farris wasn’t concerned about the penalty, though. In fact, it gave him just enough room to connect with senior Dillin Simmons in the back of the end zone on the second play of the Rebels’ possession.
Farris then found sophomore receiver Stephen Mims on a slant for the 2-point conversion that would wind up being the difference.
The Mustangs (1-7, 0-6) took an early 12-0 lead. Senior quarterback Allen Edwards kept the football 9 seconds into the second quarter, ran into a pile of humanity at the line of scrimmage, and then looked to his right before deciding to run back left for 28 yards and a score.
Less than 2 minutes later, Edwards threw to fellow senior Austin Anderson. The pass was played well and even tipped by Thorsby junior defender Marcus Bray, but Anderson was able to catch the tipped ball with one hand and race to the 2-yard line, where Stacy ran it in from.
The Rebels (2-6, 2-4) got on the scoreboard before halftime when a short Farris-to-Bray pass turned into a 56-yard score after Bray broke a tackle then broke away from the Isabella defense.
Farris passed to junior Eric Camarillo for the 2-point conversion to make it 12-8 Isabella.
Thorsby took a lead 16-12 with 1:18 left in the third quarter when Farris ran it in from 3 yards then Kalup Nunn ran in the 2-point conversion.
Then things really heated up.
Farris had a first down run early in the fourth quarter, but somehow Isabella’s Dylan Green came out of the pile with the football and raced about 75 yards for a score.
Again, the point-after try was no good.
Farris gave the visitors the lead again with a quarterback sneak and also converted the 2-point play with 8:10 left in the game, but Isabella tied it on a 2-yard run by Edwards on the next possession.

By The Clanton Advertiser staff

Thorsby High School did something last Friday that it had not done in almost two years: win a football game.

Since then, the Rebels have gone on to beat county rival Isabella in an exciting overtime game this past Friday.
While everyone on the team, the coaching staff and even the water boys were glad to have that monkey off their backs, the last two years probably taught the young men valuable lessons about life.

Everybody likes to win, and that is the goal of any contest. But football, like many high school sports, teaches important lessons about teamwork, perseverance, working hard to achieve goals and more.

The Rebels should soak in this win and last week’s too. May they have more this season and in the future.
But when times weren’t so good, Thorsby players continued to go out each week and fight hard, even though they did not win a game last year.

It takes a lot of dedication to go to practice  and the weight room every day and stay focused on the goals at hand.
The team is now reaping the reward for that work, and that’s something we could all learn from.

By Justin Averette and Stephen Dawkins

THORSBY – The football game didn’t start out as planned for Thorsby, but the Rebels persevered and snapped a 17-game losing streak with a 28-6 win over Shades Mountain Christian on Oct. 9 to conclude homecoming week.

“It’s like, not a monkey, but a gorilla off our back,” first-year coach Billy Jackson said.

Jackson said earlier in the week that homecoming can potentially provide extra distractions for a team, and the Rebels started off slow.

The game was delayed about an hour and a half by lightning, and then Thorsby lost a fumble early on a sloppy field and allowed Shades Mountain to take a 6-0 lead on an 11-yard touchdown run by Bradley Kidd.

The Rebels would answer quickly, though. Dillian Simmons and Kalup Nunn scored on running plays, and quarterback Andrew Farris added another touchdown with a 10-yard run with 1:07 to go in the first half.

The last score of the game was a pass from Farris to Dillian Simmons.

“We told the kids all year, ‘If you’ll stay focused and work, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel that’s not a train,’” Jackson said. “They battled and kept their heads up and continued to play.”

The Rebels (1-6, 1-4 Class 2A, Region 4) might be a playoff long shot, but their season could quickly become a success if a suddenly confident team could defeat county rival Isabella (1-6, 0-5) on Friday.

“Now, you can just let loose and play,” Jackson said. “I think they were tense about getting that first win. Now, you feel like you’re playing with the house’s money.”