Photo by Todd Lester.
Briarwood Football
Briarwood’s Blake McKenna (21) is one of two returning starters at the receiver position.
The faces are mostly the same inside the Briarwood Christian School football office, with one notable exception.
Fred Yancey is no longer occupying the head coach’s seat. Following 29 years as the Lions’ head coach, Yancey retired at the conclusion of the 2018 season. His tenure ended on a high note, with the Lions combining to post a 35-6 record over his final three campaigns.
Enter Matthew Forester, who was promoted to head coach from the defensive coordinator spot. Forester played at Briarwood in the late 1990s, helping lead the Lions to the 1998 state championship game. He was on Yancey’s staff as an assistant for the past 13 years, including the last eight as defensive coordinator.
Forester will remain in charge of the defense, and Bobby Kerley is also returning to coordinate the offense. But things are not exactly the same for the Briarwood football team, in terms of anything from offensive schemes to practice times and structure.
“For them, it’s adapting to the newness of it all,” Forester said. “We’ve been around them forever, I’ve known them since they were little, but at the same time, everything is new.”
Last fall, the Lions finished 9-3 and made the state playoffs for the 26th consecutive season, despite it being what Forester called a “growth year.” There were veterans like running back JR Tran-Reno, defensive lineman Dalton Brooks and linebacker Mark Hand leading the charge, but a bevy of younger players surrounding them.
“There were young guys in key spots,” Forester said. “We needed those young guys to kind of step up.”
OFFENSE
Kerley remains as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, but the Lions are adjusting some things on the offensive side of the ball this fall. The goal is to be able to run the ball well with an explosive running back behind a veteran offensive line, complemented by a play-action passing game able to cash in on opportunities.
The Lions have implemented a scheme that is “simpler for our guys but deceptively difficult for a defense.” They plan to utilize more bunch formations that allow them to exploit mismatches.
Jonah Carroll returns as a junior quarterback after starting much of last season. Forester said the game has slowed down for him after his first year under center and that the year of experience should benefit him significantly. Luke Prewett returns as a dynamic running back, with blocking back Christian Ferguson also returning to the fold. Andrew Hill should garner some carries as well.
Brooks Donnelly and Blake McKenna are back at wide receiver, with guys like Luke Reebals and James Hancock among those battling for repetitions at the third receiver slot.
Georgia Tech commit Trent Howard anchors a Briarwood offensive line that has plenty of experience. Carson McKeen, Alex Miller, Christian Pearson, Clayton Rasmussen and Harris Smith are among those expected to receive time on the line.
Photo by Barry Stephenson.
Briarwood Football
Chase Travis (6) is part of what should be a strong secondary.
DEFENSE
Forester relinquished the linebacker position he coached along with coordinating the defense in recent years, but he will still handle the latter task. Now that he is the head coach, not being in charge of a specific position has given him the luxury to float and help out anywhere else he’s needed.
Under Forester’s watch, the Lions have surrendered 12.7, 10.6 and 11.1 points per game over the last three years. He’s hopeful the defense can keep the positive momentum rolling this fall.
The Lions have five returning starters on that side of the ball, and roughly seven total that have played significant snaps. Three of those seven are on the defensive line, with Turner Murphy, Parker Will and Cole Garner back. Forester also mentioned Daniel Corbin and Miller Stubblefield as other linemen with a chance to make an impact.
At linebacker, Cal Reebals and Luke Hand have plenty of experience and will be joined in the fold by Tyler Waugh and Parker Hutson.
Alaster Harris and Chase Travis are two cornerbacks that Forester feels strongly about. Pair them with Andrew Jones, Cal Higdon and Eli Steadman in some combination at safety, and the Lions should have a top-notch secondary.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Lions have one more year to enjoy the consistency of Noah Nall, who will do it all in the kicking and punting game. Nall made 5-of-7 field goals a season ago and averaged 35.5 yards per punt. Briarwood will need to find a new long snapper and punt returner, as Bryce Perrien occupied both roles exceptionally last fall. Prewett has experience returning kickoffs.
Photo by James Nicholas.
Briarwood Football
Noah Nall (43) has been a reliable kicker for the push few seasons.
SCHEDULE
Ramsay knocked off Briarwood to win Class 5A, Region 4 last fall, snapping the Lions’ 20-game winning streak in region play. The Lions host Ramsay and Pleasant Grove this season, the two other teams in the region with winning records. Also in region play, Briarwood gets Woodlawn and John Carroll at home, while traveling to play Wenonah, Parker and Fairfield.
Outside of region play, the Lions open the season in their annual jamboree game at Vestavia Hills on Aug. 23, host Chelsea the following week, hosts Hartselle on Sept. 27 and concludes the season at Hueytown.
