As football kickoff inches closer around the country, MaxPreps forecasts the top five teams in the state of Alabama for the 2009 season.
1. Prattville
So what did you expect? The Lions have won three straight 6A state championships and six league titles in a row while establishing themselves as the top program in Alabama. The bad news is that close to 40 seniors graduated from last year’s 13-1 team. The good news is that over 100 players return. That is not a misprint. Leading the way is quarterback Sam Gibson, an all-state pick who passed for 1,170 yards and ran for 535 yards last year. He’ll be joined on offense by Corey Shelton, a mercurial athlete at 5-6, 150 who earned all-state honorable mention honors last year. On defense, the Lions have one of the top defensive backs in the state in Nick Perry, who had 37 tackles and four interceptions last year. Last year the Lions’ lone loss came against St. Xavier of Ohio. This year Prattville has another tough out-of-state matchup as it travels to New Jersey to take on Don Bosco Prep on Sept. 25.
2. Hoover
The Buccaneers came within three points of getting back to the top of the 6A division, falling to Prattville 16-13 to finish the 2008 season 13-2. Hoover won three state titles in a row from 2003 to 2005 and could make a run at Prattville for the 2009 crown. The Bucs have one of the state’s top linebackers in John Probst (6-1, 205) who was a second team all-state pick last year. Meanwhile Maudrecus Humphrey was an honorable mention all-state pick after catching 50 passes for 824 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hoover also has one of the state’s best linemen in Ross Saxon (6-0, 255). Finding a quarterback to lead the offense will be coach Josh Niblett’s biggest challenge on offense. The Bucs face their toughest regular season test on Sept. 11 when they travel to play Camden County.
3. Vigor
The defending 5A state champions were named the top team in the Alabama Sports Writers Association preseason poll last week, putting them just ahead of Russeville, which Vigor (15-0) defeated for the state title last year 50-30. The offense will once again be powered by Jalston Fowler, a 6-0, 240-pound monster who rushed for 1,182 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. He’ll have plenty of room to run behind all-state offensive lineman Quinterrius Eatmon (6-6, 320) and up-and-coming junior Thomas Williams (6-4, 283). Vigor carries a 15-game winning streak into the season and figures to get its toughest tests in week five when it travels to play Opelika.
4. Davidson
The Warriors will try to get one step further this year after finishing 11-3 in 2008 and seeing their season end in the 6A state semifinals with a 25-6 loss to Prattville. Davidson returns the elusive Jarrell Smith, who ran for 1,435 yards as an option quarterback and threw for 543 yards. Fullback Darian Craig will take some of the load off of Smith after rushing for 500 yards as a junior. The Warriors should shine on defense thanks to a stellar secondary that includes Chris Hughes (6-0, 209) at safety and Ricky Lewis (6-2, 175) and Donel Knight (5-9, 171) at cornerbacks. Pat McNeil, a 6-2, 265-pound defensive tackle, anchors the line while Al Fletcher (6-1, 210) is the top returning linebacker. Davidson faces its toughest test on Sept. 25 when it plays at McGill-Toolen.
5. Russellville
With eight starters back on offense and defense, Russellville could be poised to knock Vigor off the top of the 5A mountain. The Golden Tigers are 73-11 over the past seven seasons including 13-2 last year when they lost to Hartselle during the regular season and Vigor in the 5A state finals. Quarterback Joey Howe (6-6, 220) returns after a huge junior season when he threw for 2,659 yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s joined by junior running back Brent Calloway, who had a sensational sophomore season with 1,106 yards and 20 scores. Howe also has a solid target at tight end where Mason Willis (6-2, 187) was a 5A all-state selection after grabbing 34 passes for 477 yards. Jessie Green, a 5A honorable mention all-state pick, leads the defense at linebacker where he racked up 100 tackles as a junior.
Others considered: UMS Wright Prep (13-2), Mountain Brook (11-2), McGill Toolen (9-3), Opelika (8-3), Auburn (12-1).