The Sports Ledger www.TheSportsLedger.com
Alabama Ledger www.AlabamaLedger.com
PAGE 2B August 2026
Photo Courtesy of Andy Vance
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN FOOTBALL - Members of the Cornerstone Christian Academy football program, including players, coaches and cheerleaders pose for a preseason group picture. DeKalb County Football Preview 2026 CROSSVILLE The roaring Lions are
FYFFE For Veteran football Benefield, the 2025 season did not end the way he may have wanted, as the Red Devils finished the year at 8-3 overall. However, that is in the past and Fyffe is now focused on the 2026 season. The Red Devils will be competing in Class 2A Region 8, after reclassifying from Class 3A last year. Fyffe opens the season at Central Clay County on August 21. The Red Devils will welcome county rival Sylvania the following week on August 29, before jumping into region action at Section on September 4. GERALDINE The Geraldine Football team traveled to Arab for a fall jamboree on Friday, August 14. The varsity half finished tied 21-21, and after one possession each to begin the third quarter Arab pulled ahead 28-21. The JV players battled in the second half and the final score was 35-31. Geraldine quarterback Jon Beck coach Paul Wade was 5 of 6 passing for 60 yards. He also ran the football 10 times for 78 yards and a touchdown. AJ Carter, Jordon Lankford, and Trevor Norwood also scored touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Lucas Phillips made a 30 yard field goal. Geraldine, under the direction of head Coach Michael Davis, won the Class 3A Region 8 Championship last year and the Bulldogs are hoping for Back-to-back titles this fall. That quest begins when region action starts on September 4 at North Jackson. The Bulldogs will open the season against Anniston on Aug. 21 at home. IDER Second year Ider head football coach Josh Clements believes his team is more mature this year and hopes they can improve from finishing 2-8 last fall. However, that may be challenging as the Hornets have moved up to Class 2A Region 8 this year. Ider competed in Class 1A last year.
back. After three season without a varsity football team, the Crossville Lions are set to return to AHSAA varsity competition this fall. The move could not come at a better time, as the Lions are also celebrating the 100th year of football at Crossville, as well as the 40th anniversary of Lions' 1986 State Championship team. Crossville is hoping to kick off the historic season on August 21 with a win, but the Lions better be ready to face an improved Asbury team. However, should the Lions win, it would be their first varsity victory since 2020. The Lions were winless in the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Crossville is under the direction of head coach Jason Walker. COLLINSVILLE The Collinsville High School football program is already off to the a good start this fall. The Panthers rolled to a 35-6 victory over Appalachian in the team's fall jamboree. Although it is still preseason, the win was impressive. Collinsville finished last season at 8-3 overall, while Appalachian went undefeated in the regular season and was 11-1 overall. Does the win give the Panthers more respect going into 2026? Well, it should. Collinsville moves down from Class 3A to Class 2A and the Panthers have several returning starters from last season. But as Coach Ernie Willingham said "not so fast." Six of the Panthers 11 opponents from last season are the same. Collinsville's first rematch this year will be in the season opener against Sylvania on August 21. The Panthers defeated the Rams by just two points last fall, winning 28-26. FORT PAYNE Fort Payne tuned up for the 2026 season with a Jamboree against Plainview. The Bears had a 20-0 lead after the varsity half. Fort Payne has moved down to Class 5A this year, after being in 6A last fall.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
CHEERING FOR THE BULLDOGS - The Geraldine High School Varsity Cheerleaders took time for a picture during the football program's Jamboree game at Arab on Friday, August 14.
Cherokee County Football CEDAR BLUFF The Cedar Bluff Tigers football program will be under the direction of first year head coach Cole Murphy this fall. Murphy recently replaced former coach Garrett Crane, who finished 11-20 during his three year stint with the Tigers program. Last year Cedar Bluff finished 3-7 in Class 2A. This year, the Tigers are competing in Class 1A Region 8. Cedar Bluff will begin the season with two road games, traveling to West End for the season opener on August 21 and to Gaston on August 28. The Tigers will open home and region action against Ragland on September 4. CHEROKEE COUNTY The Cherokee County Warriors also have a new head football coach this season, as Bayley Blanchard has been hired to lead the program. The Warriors have been working hard under Blanchard's leadership this off season and that showed on Friday, August 14 as the program picked up 14-0 win over North Jackson during fall Jamboree action. The Warriors will officially kick off the 2026 season against rival Piedmont on August 28. Class 4A Region 8 action will start the following week on September 4 at Hayden. GAYLESVILLE The Gaylesville Trojans are looking to rebound from a 3-7 season last fall. The program will begin that quest on August 28 against Lindsay Lane Christian. Gaylesville is coached by Brian Knapp. SAND ROCK The 2026 Sand Rock football team will be under the direction of second year head coach Tanner Nelson. The Wildcats open the season on August 28 at Spring Garden.
PLAINVIEW Based on the Plainview Bears' performance in the 2026 fall jamboree at Fort Payne, the program is ready to pickup where it left off last season. Yes, that is a good thing, because last fall the Bears finished with a 13-1 overall record, falling to Anniston in Class 4A State Semifinals. However, as Veteran coach Dale Pruitt said recently "last year was last year." This year, Plainview will be playing in Class 3A Region 8. The Bears lost six starters last fall on both sides of the football and are building a new identity. Well, that identity seems to be working, because Plainview played well in the recent jamboree at Fort Payne. The Bears went up 7-0 and pulled ahead 14-0 midway in the second quarter. Although an official score was not tallied, Plainview reached the end zone with seconds left in the varsity half to go up 20-0 over the Wildcats. The Bears' real test will be in the season opener on August 21 at Good Hope. The game will be a rematch from the third round of the state playoffs last fall.
SYLVANIA Sylvania Rams second year head football coach Brad Waldrop said his program has been focused on how to be a better team this year. This includes becoming stronger in the weight room, becoming more flexible and mobile, and more explosive on the football field. The Rams put that in action during a fall Jamboree against Ider. The varsity half ended in a scoreless tie, while the Sylvania JV squad added two touchdowns in the second half for a 14-8 victory. The Rams officially open the 2026 varsity season against Collinsville on August 21. Sylvania will be back in action the following week at Fyffe. VALLEY HEAD Valley Head Coach Charles Hammon believes that if his program can take care of the football, manage the clock and stay healthy, then the 2026 football season should be successful. The Tigers have a young squad, with four seniors, six juniors and three sophomores. The Tigers are in Class 1A Region 8A this year.
Brandon Boswell h Pharmacist/Owner h 256-524-2981 “Caring for You Like Family”
Best Wishes for a great season!
588 South Valley Avenue P.O. Box 498 Collinsville, AL 35961 (256) 524-2981 (256) 524-2987
GREAT SMILE COACH - Collinsville Head Football Coach Ernie Willingham during the 2026 DeKalb County Football Media Day. Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
“Caring for you Like Family” Brandon Boswell, PharmD Pharmacist/Owner
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online