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Andalusia
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Opp
Pleasant Home
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ProGraM 23
Projected
1A Region 2
Finish
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Florala
Brantley
Ariton
Zion Chapel
Providence Chr
Pleasant Home
Kinston
McKenzie |
10 0
8 2
7 3
7 3
6 4
4 5
2 8
2 8 |
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2006 Season Outlook
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| Coach - Arlton
Hudson - 1st Year - 2nd time around. 1 of 4 coaches to lead
Florala through and undefeated season. 1998 Wildcats went
10-0. Hudson is 146 - 64 lifetime. |
| 2005 Record / Results
- The '05 graduating class left a mark during it's Sr. year -
average 46 points a game, amazing over 5200 total offensive yards, and allowing approximately 11 a game.
The 554 points for the season ranks it as one of the best ever
in the State of Alabama. The Wildcats made the 2nd
round of the play-offs for only the second time in the past 30
years, before losing to American Christian in Tuscaloosa. 4 of
the graduating seniors will play sports at the next level, and their
departure will be felt.
2005 Season
|
W |
L |
Pct |
PF |
PA |
|
10 |
2 |
.833 |
554 |
135 |
Florala's
2005 Graduates at the next level
|
Jerome Tomberlin |
Football |
Bucknell University |
| Xavier Jones |
Basketball |
LBWCC |
| Robby Evans |
Baseball |
OWCC |
| Dusty McDonnell |
Baseball |
ESJC |
| Tyler Rasberry |
Baseball |
LBWCC |
|
Pre-season - The
Wildcats started 2006 in dismal fashion. In January, Doug
Vickery left as head coach for 2A Flomaton - and a long 7
months passed as the Florala Wildcat football players
waited for the Covington County Board of Education's special
session June 15, 2006 to hear who the new football coach would be.
Almost 7 full months without an off-season plan, spring practice, or
a coach's scheme. After Coach Arlton Hudson's approval by the
board, the Wildcats were given less than 80 days to see who would be
on the team, learn new plays, and prepare for their opening game
against 3A Headland. Early projections had the Cats with
approximately 12-18 players - with little playing experience.
Coach Hudson hit the ground running - talking with prospective
students, parents, faculty members and the Wildcat faithful
After the first week of practice ended the Wildcats had 27 players.
|
Offense - Although
over-all inexperienced, the one bright spot could be this years'
Offensive line -- 1A All-State Offensive Lineman Josh Hattaway,
Bobby Fleming, and Sr. Kyle McCoy are all
gathering college looks.
Jarred Martin will get the start at center, Cliff Goolsby will add
speed and strength at the guard position, and whatever youth concern
coaches may have of Freshman Zach Taylor he makes up with size.
Florala could rotate Senior Travis McCulligh in at guard or move
McCoy in at Tackle and place TJ Fleming at the TE position.
|
Projected Offense |
| |
NAME |
|
Off |
H |
W |
|
10 |
Kyle McCoy |
12 |
TE |
6'3 |
250 |
|
75 |
Josh Hattaway |
12 |
T |
6'6 |
280 |
|
55 |
Bobby
Fleming |
12 |
G |
6' |
255 |
|
52 |
Jarred Martin |
11 |
C |
5'10 |
200 |
|
57 |
Cliff
Goolsby |
11 |
G |
5'10 |
195 |
|
70 |
Zach Taylor |
9 |
T |
6'1 |
255 |
| |
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|
|
|
11 |
Taylor Benton |
12 |
QB |
6'2 |
195 |
| 6 |
Ro
Williams |
12 |
RB |
5'7 |
160 |
| 1 |
Reggie Gundrum |
11 |
FB |
6' |
195 |
| 2 |
OJ
Chambers |
11 |
RB |
5'9 |
180 |
| 4 |
Michael Carson |
11 |
SE |
6 |
170 |
Although Bucknell University signed the Wildcats leading rusher last
year in
Jerome Tomberline, Florala should be fine at the running
back position. Joining Sr. Ro Williams in the backfield will be
Juniors Reggie Gundrum and OJ Chambers. Tennessee transfer Danny Bise will also see action in the backfield
as will Michael Carson and Calvin Mulkey.
The one glaring gap was
the loss of 3 year starting Quarterback and first team All-State Robby Evans, backup Tyler Rasberry
graduated, and this years potential starter, Michael Peterson, transfer
to a Private School.
Early in the preseason two players new to the QB position were taking snaps in Coach
Hudson's offense - returning RB/DB Ro Williams (Sr.) and
Baseball Pitcher Taylor Benton (Sr.) - Benton emerged as the leader
and athletic TJ Fleming moved into the #2 spot. "Ro is just to
valuable of a runner and receiver out of the backfield to have as
quarterback, but we may still run him in situations at the QB spot".
|
Defense - Every
team has a strong side of the ball that picks up the other side.
This years Wildcat defense should excel picking up the inexperience
that could show when Florala has the ball. The Defensive front
will have size and strength and the secondary should have cover
speed to contain opposing offensives. One bright spot through
the preseason has been the personal growth of Jr. Dominique Moore.
At 6'6 and 323 lbs opposing runners will
have to look for another hole to run through - the only
problem is the other tackle is 6'6" 280 lb All State Senior - Josh
Hattaway. Closing zones on the end and turning runners up the
middle will be Defensive ends Sr. Kyle McCoy and Stephon McLaughlin. At the
Linebacker positions will be 4th leading tackler from last year as a
sophomore - Jarred Martin and Florala fans are already excited about
Reggie Gundrum playing Middle linebacker. Reggie's dad, "Bull"
Gundrum was an All-State Linebacker for the 1973 undefeated
Wildcats. Another surprise to the defensive is Cliff Goolsby,
who comes to play 120% on every down. "Cliff is all out - all
the time. He is what you want in a player - just doesn't quit
until he hears the whistle."
|
Projected Defense |
| |
NAME |
|
Off |
H |
W |
|
10 |
Kyle McCoy |
12 |
DE |
6'3 |
250 |
|
75 |
Josh Hattaway |
12 |
T |
6'6 |
280 |
|
54 |
Travis McCulligh |
12 |
NG |
5'8 |
170 |
|
77 |
Dominique Moore |
11 |
T |
6'6 |
340 |
| 9 |
TJ Fleming |
11 |
DE |
6' |
190 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 6 |
Ro
Williams |
12 |
CB |
5'7 |
160 |
|
52 |
Jarred Martin |
11 |
LB |
5'10" |
200 |
| 1 |
Reggie Gundrum |
11 |
LB |
6' |
195 |
|
57 |
Cliff
Goolsby |
11 |
LB |
5'10 |
195 |
| 3 |
Calvin Mulkey |
11 |
CB |
5'8 |
150 |
| 5 |
Danny
Bise |
11 |
S |
6' |
175 |
The secondary will be led by the
experience of Sr. Ro Williams and adding the excitement of transfer
Danny Bise this year's Defense could shut down opposing teams to
keep low scoring opportunities for the Offense.
|
| Outlook - With the
graduation of 14 Seniors no one expects the Wildcats to repeat
the success of last season's 10-2 record. Only 4 seniors with
playing experience return - and the Wildcats were without a coach,
game plan, or direction
until mid June.
The departing coach scheduled a tough non-region schedule for one of
the smallest 1A schools with two 3A games and a
2A game. If the Wildcats can avoid injury they should make a
return to the play-offs with a deceptive record and could reach the
third round. Expect loses at the upper schools although an
early win at Headland could be in the air. Preseason #1 Brantley should win region
2 followed by Ariton, Florala and/or Zion Chapel.
The Wildcats could finish as well as
8-2 or as low as 4 - 6. However, something is in the air for the
Wildcats and it the smell of Victory... This group wants to prove
that there are a lot more victories left in the Wildcats.
Although the schedule is extremely tough - the competition could pay off for
the post season run... Look for the
Cats to finally get over the hump in Brantley... |
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