Lions start with Lott as they step up to 6A

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Fred Yancey is embarking upon his 25th season at Briarwood Christian, so you wouldn’t expect him to be daunted by a little thing like moving up to 6A from 5A in the new reclassification.

He’s not daunted, but he can do the math. 

“There’s a lot of excitement and a lot of apprehension to compete at this new level,” Yancey said. “Now every team on the schedule will be double our size and it makes it tough. It stretches us thin.”

For a private school, though, Briarwood has good numbers, with 70 players out in the fall. “We are really blessed at Briarwood that our parents like their kids to be in the program.”

Those 24 years of continuity is a big reason why Briarwood is strong year in, year out. Yancey’s record at the school is 234-75, a remarkable .757 winning percentage.

Yancey may be apprehensive about the move up, but he was downright nervous back in 2000 when Briarwood jumped from 3A, a classification in which the Lions had just won the state championship, all the way to 5A.

“I truly thought we’d never win another game,” he said. All the Lions did that first year was go 11-2. In 2003, they went 13-2 and won the 5A state crown. “We’ve had some very special seasons since then. Our kids rose to the occasion and our coaches rose to the occasion.”

So he’s been there before. “I’m concerned about going to 6A but I’m not unmotivated. I’m excited.”

In Class 6A, Region 4, Briarwood will be paired again with Homewood, the region champion in the Patriots’ and Lions’ old 5A region last season. John Carroll Catholic also moves to the new region.

Yancey has built his Briarwood teams on strong defense, and he returns five starters there. Only two come back on offense, but fortunately one of those is junior quarterback Walker Lott. The 6-2, 210-pound junior already has an offer from Jacksonville State.

“Walker’s doing real well,” Yancey said. “He ran a 4.56 in his 40, and for a boy his size that’s a nice time. He’s throwing the ball real well. He had a terrific year for us as a 10th-grader last year and we think he’s one of the real fine quarterbacks around.”

John Rutledge has moved from defensive back to wide receiver to give Lott another threat. He’s built rapport with his quarterback already.

“I think from the beginning of the summer until now we’ve really clicked a lot,” Rutledge said. “We have good chemistry.

“We’re big buddies already. His locker is right next to mine. I’m excited about playing with him this year.”

While Yancey is optimistic about the offense, he’s got to replace his starting running back from a year ago, find an offensive line that can protect Lott and replace all three linebackers.

“But that’s the way is usually goes around here,” Yancey said. “A lot of times our kids don’t start until their senior years. They come up through the program though and know what we expect.” 

For example, “We like John moving over to play receiver, we think he gives us some speed and some ability, and has courage. But he’s unproven. We have to replace all three linebackers, but we have some guys we think could be pretty good.

“But until they get under the lights, they’re unproven.”

He does have a proven weapon in punter Chandler Wilkins, a three-year starter who Yancey is counting on to have a big season.