Experience gives Eagles hope for 2020
Editor's Note: As of press time, the high school football season was still set to begin Aug. 21. It was unclear whether the season would be altered due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oak Mountain High School head football coach Cris Bell sees a combination within the Eagles’ 2020 roster that gives him hope that this fall will be different.
The combination of talent and returning experience. The Eagles haven’t had both of those in tandem — particularly the experience factor — in several years.
“Typically, when we’ve had that experience, it has played out well. It’s been a plus for us,” said Bell, who enters his ninth season leading the Oak Mountain program.
Bell wants to see his team take the momentum it finished the 2019 season with and keep the ball rolling heading into this fall. After a rough start last season, the Eagles played well three of their last four games and finished with a 4-6 record.
This fall, they will be looking to break into the Class 7A playoffs for the first time since 2016.
OFFENSE
Oak Mountain has six full-time returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, beginning with plenty of stability at the quarterback position. Junior Evan Smith, a dynamo with the ball in his hands, has two years of starting experience under his belt.
Smith already possesses a dozen college offers, and the Eagles are aiming to take even more advantage of his abilities this fall.
“We made some adjustments to some things we’re doing offensively,” Bell said. “We’re still running options, still going to be under center, but we’re going to do some things to take advantage of his skill set a little more.”
The Eagles offense relies heavily on tailbacks as well. Judah Tait started last year, averaging nearly six yards per carry. He will see a good deal of time at the A back position, along with Aiden Laughlin and Trey Vassell. Mark Johnson is a versatile sophomore who is a candidate to break out at the B back spot. Cade George, Ja’Quarius Davis and Corbitt Grundhoefer will also be in the mix in the backfield.
Noah Young is Oak Mountain’s key returner at wide receiver. He stands over 6-foot-3 and holds a handful of college offers. Tyler Do-Bui and Titus Tucker will play plenty at wide receiver. Both of them, along with Garrett Murphy, also possess the ability to play quarterback. Ethan Hammett and Harrison Miller are other candidates to catch passes from Smith.
Up front, Bell is extremely confident about what he has returning. Alex Mathis and Nic Rigdon will anchor the guard spots, while Drew Rowland is back at right tackle. Chris Mattox is expected to slide in at left tackle after gaining experience last year. The center position is up for grabs, with Nolan Fuqua, Charlie Serra and Alfredo Hernandez battling it out.
DEFENSE
With as much as the Eagles have back on offense, they have more full-time returners on the other side of the ball. Oak Mountain’s defense — a unit Bell said must improve from last season when it gave up 30 points per game — has seven starters back, plus another whose season was cut short due to injury.
There is plenty of depth on the line, with Gavin Nelson, Micai George and Braxton O’Brien all returning. Mason Burnett and Andrew Lee will also provide plenty of snaps in the rotation, with Zach Smith, Jacob Katona and Luke Oswalt also in the mix.
The linebacker position is where there is a relative lack of experience for the Eagles. Cam Atkinson, a junior weak side linebacker, played last year, but behind him there are players such as Mattox Vines, Zach Hauck, Preston Miller, Tucker Boswell and Murphy looking to nail down spots.
Dean Null is moving to the Bandit, a hybrid position, this fall, with Carter Lehman and Jake Helgason backing him up.
Oak Mountain has a pair of cornerbacks it has confidence in on the outside, with seniors Zach Taylor and Jimmy Harris returning as starters (Harris missed most of last season due to injury).
“We’re going to be real solid there,” Bell said.
Chase Schwender will hold down the free safety spot, with Eli Hackbarth taking over at rover. Devan Moss, Quest Agee and Hogan Morton will help out in the secondary as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Morton will take care of the place kicking duties for the Eagles, while Murphy is likely to take over punting. Null will serve as the team’s long snapper on punts and extra-point field goals. Taylor, Moss and Johnson are likely to be in the mix as returners for punts and kickoffs.
SCHEDULE
Oak Mountain will open the 2020 campaign with a pair of non-region home games against Chelsea and Pelham, local rivals that the Eagles conquered last fall. Prior to a Week 5 open date, the Eagles open Region 3 play against Gadsden City, Vestavia Hills and Hoover.
“There’s no time to exhale in any of those five weeks,” Bell said. “In our region, there’s no easy road.”
Oak Mountain finishes out the region slate against Spain Park, Tuscaloosa County, Thompson and Hewitt-Trussville.