Eagles eye big improvements
Cris Bell is ready to move on from the 2018 football season.
The Oak Mountain High School head coach watched his team go 2-8, which included an 0-7 mark in Class 7A, Region 3.
“I didn’t get it done, and I didn’t get our kids across the board to buy in,” said Bell, who is entering his eighth season with the Eagles. “But we need to move forward.”
Bell said that his team lost its identity last season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Instead of sticking to its split-back veer, option-based attack, it settled into what Bell called a “finesse mode.”
His offense became pass-oriented and featured more plays from the shotgun formation than he would have liked.
“We just weren’t a physical football team offensively,” Bell said. “...If you’re not coming off the ball and hitting people in the mouth, then you’re going to struggle offensively.”
The Eagles scored only 29 total points in their final five games after posting 118 points in their first five. This year, their coach plans to recommit to an option offense. Bell will be calling plays for the first time in a few years and said he will aim to establish the run while incorporating the pass.
If the Eagles can create the dynamic offense Bell envisions — and buckle down on defense — they could have a chance to advance to the playoffs despite graduating 18 starters from their 2018 squad.
“I don’t want to sit there and write that off,” Bell said. “I think that’s something if we are constantly improving, continually improving, then I think we’ll be in that conversation at the end of the year.”
OFFENSE
Evan Smith is only a sophomore, but this will be his second season as Oak Mountain’s starting quarterback.
He played exceptionally well as a freshman, throwing for 861 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 755 yards and seven touchdowns.
“He certainly has a chance to be the best football player I’ve ever coached,” Bell said. “He’s just a heady, solid young man.”
Bell will work directly with Smith this season as the team’s quarterbacks coach. His pupil’s development likely will play a key role in determining the direction of Oak Mountain’s season.
Smith, who stands 5 feet, 11 inches, is one of only three returning starters on the Eagles’ offense. The others are senior running back Jonathan Bennett and junior wide receiver Noah Young.
Bennett will lead a running back corps that also includes Devin Holden, Judah Tait and Hasani Burns. Young highlights a receiving corps that will benefit from the contributions of Kyle Percer, Zach Paisley and Harrison Miller.
Bell will lean on those guys to spark the explosive plays that dwindled toward the end of last season.
“We’ve got to be able to grind it out,” Bell said, “but we’ve also got to be able to find ways to get chunks of yards on one play.”
Up front, Oak Mountain graduated its entire offensive line. It will now rely on Drew Padgett, a 6-foot-7 senior tackle, Drew Rowland, Zach Bailey, Nic Rigdon, Alex Mathis and Zac Hollington to clear the way.
“We need them to jell in a hurry,” Bell said.
DEFENSE
The Eagles allowed more than 28 points per game last season. That number will need to shrink if they want to improve their standing in the region.
Oak Mountain returns just two starters in Will Pfaffman, a senior linebacker, and Chase Schwender, a junior safety. They will be tasked with spearheading the turnaround.
Pfaffman will be joined at linebacker by junior Juston Taylor, who saw some snaps last fall, Braxton O’Brien, Colin Herring, Cameron Atkinson, Colton Johnson and Reynolds Jones. In the secondary, Schwender will play alongside KJ Jackson, Dean Null, Jimmy Harris, Zach Taylor and Eli Hackbarth.
“We have a chance to have more team
speed defensively than we’ve had in a long time,” Bell said.
Jacob Goldfon, a senior, and Micai George, a junior, will anchor an Eagles line that will also see Caleb Webb, Gavin Nelson and Jacob Payne play key roles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sam Johnson, a senior, will punt for the Eagles and could also handle kicking duties. He is the nation’s top-ranked punter in the Class of 2020, according to the Kohl’s Kicking recruiting website.
“He’s got a big leg,” Bell said.
SCHEDULE
Oak Mountain will open the season against 6A rival Chelsea before kicking off 7A, Region 3 play against Hewitt-Trussville, Thompson and Hoover. Those have been the region’s top three teams the past couple of years.
“It is what it is. They’re in the region,” Bell said. “We’ve got to play them at some point.”
The Eagles will face 6A opponent Pelham in their fifth game then close out region play against Mountain Brook, Tuscaloosa County, Spain Park and Vestavia Hills.