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PAGE 5B August 2024
Collinsville Panthers Move up to Class 3A
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger Most football articles are about a particular star player, something a coach may have said, or about the entire team's number of wins or losses. It’s not often that other positions are the primary focus, even though all positions and players are important to any team. For the Collinsville Panthers, the offensive line took center stage at the 2024 Dekalb County Media Day. This year’s group has been together for the past couple of seasons, and they were a big part of helping the Panthers reach the opening round of last year's Class 2A state playoffs. Collinsville finished the season with an 8-3 overall record, falling to Southeastern 28-21 in the playoffs. “These guys have worked really hard,” said Collinsville Head Coach Ernie Willingham about the
offensive line and his entire team. Willingham said that the Panthers offensive line works well together, and the group has gained valuable experience over the past two seasons that will benefit the team this fall. The offensive line only allowed Collinsville quarterback Mason McAteer to be sacked once last season and that was in the state playoffs. McAteer has been the Panthers starting quarterback for the past two seasons. With an experienced offensive line, a returning starting quarterback, and several young key skill guys, Willingham believes that Collinsville is ready to kick off the 2024 season, which begins on August 30 at Cedar Bluff. I think we’re really, really talented at a lot of positions,” said the Panthers head coach. “I think we’re ready to make the next steps.”
“We’ve got several young starters on both sides of the ball, and they know what it’s going to take to compete at a high level,” he said. The Panthers will indeed be competing at a higher level this fall, as the program is making a change from Class 2A up to Class 3A Region 8. Last year, Collinsville finished third in region standings, behind the Fyffe Red Devils and Pisgah Eagles. The Panthers are hoping to get over the hump this year and Willingham believes his team is ready for the challenge, as the program has been stepping up conditioning and intensity during preseason workouts. Collinsville’s 36 player team will put its hard work to the test in a showdown against DeKalb County rival Fyffe on September 6. The game will also serve as the Panthers first Class 3A
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Region 8 matchup of the 2024 season. Other Region matchups this year include Whitesburg Christian (September 13), at Asbury (September 19), at Geraldine (October
4), at Sylvania (October 11), Brindlee Mountain (October 18), and at Holly Pond (October 25). In addition to the non-region season opener, the Panthers will be out
of region play two other times this fall. Collinsville will host Sand Rock on September 27 and compete against Valley Head in the regular season finale on November 1.
Pisgah Football Has High Expectations For 2024 Season
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger Last fall the Pisgah Eagles football program had one of the best seasons in school history. The Eagles closed out the 2023 regular season ranked No. 5 in the state. Pisgah’s offense scored 652 points, the team finished with a 12-2 overall record and reached the Class 2A State Semifinals. “I’m super proud of the way last year went,” said Pisgah Head Coach Luke Pruitt who pointed out that the Eagles came up short of winning it all last year. Both of Pisgah’s losses were to Fyffe and the Red Devils went on to win the state title last year. Despite coming up short, Pruitt said the program’s expectations are high and a new standard of winning has been set at Pisgah over the past few seasons. “Last year’s seniors changed the trajectory of our program,” said Pruitt. So, could this be Pisgah’s year to advance to the state championship? It very well could be since Fyffe moved up to Class 3A. “Our goal this year is to win a region championship, host a home playoff game, knock the door down and get to the state championship and win that as well,” said
Pruitt. “That’s something that’s attainable and it’s our number one goal this season. If Pisgah can win a non-region matchup against the Red Devils in the season opener on Thursday, August 29, the program might even finish with a perfect 10-0 regular season and attain their preseason goal. Of course, that means winning the next nine games, which will be difficult based on the talented teams on the Eagle’s schedule. However with nine seniors, along with eight players back on offense and nine on defense, it should be an attainable task. Following the season opener rematch against Fyffe, Pisgah will be on the road at Section on September 6 and at Pleasant Valley on September 13. The Eagles will fly back home to battle the Plainview Bears on September 20. Pisgah’s remaining schedule includes trips to Randolph (September 27) and Sand Rock (October 4). The Eagles will host Cedar Bluff on October 11, before taking their final road trip of the regular season to Gaston on October 18. The final two regular season home games will be against NSM (October 25) and Sylvania (November 1).
The Fort Payne High School football program recently posed for a group picture. The Wildcats reached the second round of the state playoffs last fall, and the team will soon begin its quest for another chance at post season competition. Fort Payne will open the 2024 season with back to back non-region Wildcat battles. Fort Payne will travel to Scottsboro on August 23 and host Guntersville on August 30. Fort Payne will play two other non-region games later in the season. This includes a home game against Mortimer Jordan on September 27 and the 2024 regular season finale at Pelham on November 1. Fort Payne will compete in Class 6A Region 8 and the Wildcats are set to open region action at Southside on September 13. Other region games include: Mae Jemison (September 20), at Buckhorn (October 4), Gadsden City (October 11), at Hazel Green (October 18), and Lee Huntsville (October 25). Photo Courtesy of Andy Vance Fort Payne Wildcat Football 2024
Photo Courtesy of Andy Vance
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger Sylvania Head Football Coach Tanner Nelson speaks at the 2024 DeKalb County Media Day.
The Sylvania High School football program will be under the direction of a new head coach this fall, as Tanner Nelson is now in charge of the program. Nelson inherits a Sylvania program that finished the 2023 season with a 10-3 overall record. The Rams also reached the third round of the AHSAA State Playoffs. Nelson said his focus this preseason has been on getting ready for the Ram's season opener against North Jackson on August 23. He said that the Chiefs will be a "very good team" and that his program is "not looking ahead" to future games. However, at some point the Rams will have to prepare for the other games on the 2024 schedule, some of which will be tough competition. Sylvania's schedule includes homes games against Holly Pond (Sept. 6) and Geraldine (Sept. 13). The Rams will begin a three game road stint at Whitesburg Christian on Sept. 20, before traveling to DeKalb County rivals Plainview (Sept. 27) and Fyffe (Oct. 4). The remaining games include Collinsville (Oct. 11), Asbury (Oct. 18), at Brindlee Mountain (Oct. 25) and at Pisgah (Nov. 1). Pisgah and Fyffe were the only two teams to defeat the Rams during the Regular season last fall. Sylvania Football Under New Leadership
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