Patrick Johnston – Eufaula Tribune



The Eufaula Tigers will feel blue tonight. And that’s a good thing. At 10 p.m. they will hoist a blue Alabama map above their heads – the trophy rewarded to the football state champions.

If you’re from Athens, I hate to rain on your parade. Please come to Legion Field tonight and support your team. From what I’ve heard they’re a good squad.

I hesitate to call them Cinderellas, because Cinderella couldn’t defeat an undefeated Fort Payne team by 34 points, or win at Briarwood.

We’re expecting a war tonight. This prognosticator predicts a close game.

But Eufaula isn’t going to lose. Why? Here are a few reasons:

• Call us one-dimensional all you want, but no opponent has stopped us yet this season.

We don’t just run the ball. We run the veer. Forget three yards and a cloud of dust. We gain three yards, then five yards, then two yards, then 60 yards for a touchdown.

It’s fun football. You won’t get bored watching it.

• Why? Because our players are Mach 5 quick.

Quarterback, Jerrel Jernigan, is lightning in a bottle. He’s not big –only 5-foot, 9-inches. But when he hits the outside and makes a couple defenders miss, there’s no stopping him.

• So you key on Jerrel and stop the offense, right? Nope.

Tailback, Chris Williams, is called Cadillac for a good reason. Fullback, Shyrone Parker, runs like a tailback. So does his back-up, Xavier Crews. Our offensive line is underrated, but really good.

• By the way, we can pass.

We’ve completed eight touchdown passes this year. Chris Wilson and Devin Crews are speedy receivers who have burned defenders for big yardage.

• We’re really good on offense, but we’re even better on defense. We allow fewer than 10 points per game.

Senior linebacker Terrance Thomas is called Bubba, but the name doesn’t fit. He’s a smart guy who has committed to Memphis. And he’s a player. Last Friday against UMS-Wright he intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble.

If he doesn’t give you fits, Kwmane Johnson, Satero Hardy, Courtney Upshaw, Crews and other front seven defenders will. They can hit. Our secondary is opportunistic, intercepting 32 passes this year. UMS-Wright threw three.

• Our coaching staff is among the best in the state – regardless of classification. Head coach Dan Klages is a winner. He’s led the Tigers to two region titles in three years. He’s a motivator – the kind of guy you’d run through a brick wall for.

• Tradition. Yeah, it‚s been 25 years since we’ve won a state title. But once we get here, we never lose. EHS is 2-0 in state title games. The third time will be a charm, too.

• We don’t play many close games. But when we do, we win. Last year we won three overtime games, including one against rival Stanhope Elmore and one in the playoffs. This year we rallied from 13 points down at St. Paul’s and won by three at Greenville.

• E-Town is coming. Our community is bonkers over the team’s recent success.

That’s not surprising. We usually have more fans than the opponent – even on the road. Just ask St. Paul’s.

And we’re loud. The band rocks. We even have guitars. Our fans are loud. And they wear really bright red.

• Final reason: Do you really think an eagle can take a tiger? Prediction: EHS 24, Athens 17



Justin Graves – Athens News Courier



Some people are calling Athens High’s football season a Cinderella story, but the fact that the Golden Eagles are playing for the Class 5A state title is no fluke.

Before the season started, the expectations on this year’s team were high. With Athens returning 17 seniors and almost all the starters from teams that advanced to the semifinals in 2004 and the quarterfinals in 2005, this year’s team was quickly drawing comparisons to the ’75 and ’76 championship teams.

Athens hit its stride in the playoffs, posting sound victories over No. 8 Briarwood Christian, No. 2 Fort Payne, Hartselle and J.O. Johnson.

Athens travels to Birmingham tonight to take on Eufaula in the Class 5A state championship game at Legion Field. The Golden Eagles are playing their best football of the season right now, but so far the Tigers have been perfect – building a 14-0 record).

Athens has a shot to win its first state championship in 30 years tonight. By the way things are lining up, the Golden Eagles appear to have more than a good shot.

Here are a few reasons why Athens will be successful in the Super 6:

• Athens has one of the most talented corps of players in the state. With two finalists for Mr. Football – quarterback Rob Ezell and defensive lineman Alfred McCullough – and multiple players who have either committed or getting heavy attention from Division I programs, the Golden Eagles more than possess the talent required to win a state championship.

• Ezell is the prototypical big-game quarterback. The senior standout may not have compiled the daunting statistics he did in 2005, but his 2,000 plus passing yards with 18 touchdowns through 10 games was still impressive. He also rushed for over 700 yards with four touchdowns through 10 games.

• Athens doesn’t only have a go-to receiver; it has five who are equally as talented. Jaquez Pride may lead Athens’ receiving corps with 42 receptions for 1,278 yards and 12 touchdowns, but Vincent Azzarello, Dewon Tisdale, Justin Brown and Jeremy Stinnett are all equally as dangerous. Pride has also rushed for over 500 yards with eight touchdowns.

• The Golden Eagles’ defense is not only fast, but you will also see their defensive front on Saturdays next year. Led by 6-foot, 2-inch, 300 pound McCullough – who has committed to the University of Alabama – Athens is as big and athletic on the defensive line as any high school team in the state is. He is backed by 6-foot, 2-inch, 290 pound Karlos Jones who leads the defensive line in tackles and sacks.

• Shot-yardage situations are no problem for Athens. Athens runs an exciting spread offense that throws the ball about 25 per game. But the most exciting part of the Golden Eagles’ offensive attack is its short-yardage package. Athens brings in its near 300-pound defensive lineman – Jones – and pounds it up the middle for first downs.

• What better way to prepare for the veer option than with a hall of fame triple-option quarterback? Cody Gross made the triple-option famous at UNA by winning three national championships from 1992-1995, and now he’s passing on his knowledge to the Golden Eagles’ defense.

Gross took over duties as Athens’ scout team quarterback this week to help prepare the defense for Eufaula’s veer option.

No matter who brings home the state championship tonight, the one thing that’s certain is this should be an outstanding football game. Prediction: Athens 24, Eufaula 21