Higginbotham continued on the path to being a head coach by joining another famous Alabama high school coach. The Jefferson County Board of Education is committed to ensuring all information placed on its public website is accessible to individuals with disabilities. We have to learn how to close teams out, said Valley head coach Audwin Howard. Kendarius stepped up, Howard said. It is what it is, thoughno excuses; its squarely on my shoulders. The PAT was successful and Clay led 39-0 with 7:15 remaining in the third. The early growing pains the team went through and its ongoing improvement are nothing new to a veteran coach like Mitchell. The Mountie offense took to a ground attack with their thunder and lightning stable of running backs. The two Higginbothams finally squared off against each other as head coaches. The two teams met for 48 straight years. Christian Thomas, who had nine receptions, tallied over 275 yards of total offense, and scored two touchdowns, was excited after the win. The Mounties fell on the road to #2 ranked and undefeated Briarwood Christian 28-7 this past Friday night. On first down, Malique Steel made a tackle for a loss of five yards. The Mounties and Tigers have played 26 times previously, with Bessemer holding a 14-11-1 edge in the series. The Mounties dropped their second game of the year last Friday night to the 2nd ranked Indians of Pinson Valley. The other starter at tackle is 6-foot-1, 280-pound Caleb Price. The Mounties overall record stands at 3-6. On first down, the Yellow Jackets scored on a 58-yard touchdown run up the middle. The Mounties have perhaps the two youngest coordinators in the state. Pre-K applications will be available from Sunday, January 15, 2023 to Sunday, February 26, 2023. Head coach George Bates was excited about the win. Despite the challenges, Nelson remains optimistic, we can build this program up; its just going to take time, Nelson said. Quarterback JCaius Moore completed six passes on nine attempts for 69 yards. Oxford quickly moved the ball inside the Mountie ten-yard line, but the Valley defense stiffened and forced Oxford to settle for a field goal. Leading the offense is last years offensive coordinator, Kyle Dickerson. Mrs. Brown graciously donated the video recording system that the Shades Valley football program desperately needed. Senior Karr Staggs moves from the defensive side of the ball to the right guard spot. I want to keep working so I have an opportunity to play when I get out of high school.. One of my goals is to have everybody on the same page., Whetstones resilience has impressed his position coach, Robert Nelson, Jr. NyDarius has shown a special ability to press on through adversity by not letting both on and off the field situations stop him from coming out and being with his teammates.. Steele wants his legacy at Shades Valley to be that of building a foundation for the future of Mountie football. 291 TELEPH O NE 332-4601 SALEM. This marks the third straight game for Valley on the road. The Mountie offense could not find a rhythm and had to punt. This game will be won up front. Bryant would pass away four weeks after the bowl game. However, through all the changes, Coach Nelson has been pleased with the effort of his team. I wouldnt be here if I didnt think we could win, said Mitchell. Go to School Page . Nelson is ready for that journey. Proudly Managed & Hosted by Adam Black Media The drive reached the 10-yard line, but the Mounties could not come away with any points and headed to the locker room trailing 36-0. All those guys up there are really good thinkers, Mitchell said. No player on our team has ever played in a playoff game. On the defensive front, Caleel Holifield, Chris Ingram, and Landy Saxton are projected to be the starters. This will be the 19th region game between the two teams. prior written permission of Advance Local. Former Mountie and 2022 Auburn SEC Legend Ben Tamburello was also in attendance. However, neither team could generate any offense, and the two teams headed to the fourth quarter with the Eagles holding a 36-0 lead. Former Mountie head coach Bill Smith leads the Vikings. Shades Valley is going to get better. Additional support should come from the city of Irondale and the business community. He was the first head coach of the Alabama team in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game and coached the team a second time as well. It was muddy, but definitely a race to remember, said Lindsey. While he may joke around when he is off the field, the humble Steele is all business when the black helmet goes on. Pell City wasnt finished and put together a nine-play scoring drive. Part of the Jefferson County School System, it was established in Fall 1949 on Hermosa Drive near Homewood as a replacement for Shades Cahaba High School. The Cougars tied the game at 54 apiece with 3:28 remaining. The coaches have done an excellent job, and I know we are going to get better, Nelson added. Unlike previous Shades Valley administrations, the current administration fully supports Nelson and his football program. The hard work and discipline he learned from Dye and his offensive line coach, Neil Callaway, ultimately paid off for Tamburello. Nix saw the move as an opportunity for Shades Valley to grow. As the game went on, they began to wear down, and depth became an issue. Shades Valley (2-6, 2-3) takes on the Woodlawn Colonels (1-7, 0-5) this Friday night at Frank Nix Stadium. Vizzina has competed 75% of his passes for 1,083 yards and 13 touchdowns. Players of the Week have been selected for the Stanhope Elmore game. They know that we arent where we need to be, but I do think they know we are headed in the right direction, Mitchell said. apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The leader of the new offense will be sophomore signal-caller Earl Woods. N/A; OG N . The school's website describes the JCIB as "a school within a school" that is a part of the Shades Valley campus. After graduation Wedgeworth will attend Alabama, Georgia, or Mississippi State on a full academic scholarship to major in Business and Marketing. The Yellow Jackets moved to the Valley 8-yard line but handed the ball back to Valley on downs with 2:50 remaining. Thomas, who runs a 4.4 forty-yard dash, is a handful for opposing defenses. We have been trying to piece an O line together, Nelson said. The Mounties put together a long drive and drew blood first on an 8-yard scamper by junior quarterback Steve Brown as time expired in the first quarter. Junior cornerback Erin Callens and senior cornerback Jacob Mahand were standouts for the Mountie defense. Additionally, Harley will coach the quarterbacks, and Jackson will coach the defensive backs. The two teams exchanged punts on their next two series with the Mounties fumbling the punt return at their 28-yard line with 5:42 remaining. I played up to my 8th-grade year., Irvin, a standout basketball player for the Mounties, decided he wanted to focus on basketball. Hes a class act. Senior cornerback Marlen Sewell and junior safety Cameron Harris continued their strong secondary play by adding two interceptions for the Mountie defense. One player that excelled was running back David Ware. Senior Damion Dick played both ways and made key blocks from the left guard position. There is no better tournament than high school football playoffs. The 2022-23 edition of the Mounties, led by senior guard Sean Crawford, is looking to improve on last years 17-9 record. The Mounties kick off their 100th season against Clay-Chalkville this Friday night. The Rockets scored 26 points in the second half to pull away from the Mounties. Junior Kinley Harris, 14th place, and senior Tristan Teer, 5th place, made the 7A All-State team for the Huskies. My experience at Shades Valley was great. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. A Valley penalty moved the ball back to the Tigers 36-yard line. He just knew he was going to a new school, a predominantly white one, that required an hour-long bus ride each way that passed five or six other high schools. Vestavia mounted a drive on their next possession and kicked a field goal with 5:20 remaining in the second quarter. For over fifty years, Shades Valley was THE premiere program among Jefferson County schools. Irondale- The Center Point Eagles went on the road and pulled off a huge 36-20 region win at Shades Valley. The Mounties began a drive from their own 23 with 6:02 remaining in the game and went to work. The Tigers converted the two-point conversion and tied the game. Golf opened up a whole new perspective and thought process within him as well, said his mom. Even though Holifield wont be contributing on the field, hes helping his teammates by reading what the offensive line is doing and helping the defensive line make adjustments. Brian B.Moe Moore, on Where Are They Now? Hopefully, over the next few days, we can get over it and get back to work, he said. Shades Valleys resurgent season ended with a loss in the playoffs to state runner-up Jesse Lanier. Later, the opportunistic defense had big stops with interceptions by Joe Lewis and Cameron Harris. On the next drive, the Mounties converted a fourth down conversion on a 28-yard pass from junior quarterback Steve Brown to junior wide receiver Kendarius Irvin. The junior quarterback had 305 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns. The Tigers scored first on a 59-yard run by Jalen Williams. I observed a group of freshmen and sophomores that will soon become upperclassmen. JaMarcus Jackson led the Mounties with 12 points. LIVE HERE https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&q=https://v.ht/ncBOWLIVE TODAY Shades Valley vs. Pell City | Shades Valley vs Pell Cit. Richardson then made the jump to the collegiate level. Coach Jamie Mitchell is working hard to correct those lapses in execution that have plagued his team. Defensively the Mounties continue to improve each week. The Mounties could not move the ball, and the two teams headed to overtime. Valley led 7-6 after the successful PAT by Jair Aguilar with 9:49 in the first quarter. Pell City put together a 15-play drive and moved to the Valley two-yard line, but the Mountie defense, with the help of a Johnny Steele tackle for loss, held the Panthers out of the end zone. He has always clicked with older people.. Irvin feels he can play football in college. Mitchell brings a new attitude to the Valley program and two state championships in the largest classifications in Mississippi and Arkansas. Gone is the spread and in its place is a run-heavy pro-I-formation offense. The Mounties will have to lean heavily on a stable of young but talented, running backs to have the success that Mitchell is accustomed to. The junior linebacker had 14 total tackles (2 tackles for loss) in the Mountie victory. Otis Leverette of Modernday Fitness has overseen the Mounties strength and conditioning program. That move proved to be the right one. The Shades Valley sideline and crowd erupted. Justin Mitchell and Martee Pope are also new additions to the coaching staff. Moore often tells people that his college playing experience almost mirrors his experience at Shades Valley. He took a deep breath and waited for the snap. The important thing is to stay positive, keep a smile and try to improve your situation., Ford continued to be involved with the team anytime he had the chance. Dickerson believes that a key to getting the offense on track is getting the ball to Christian Thomas and wide receiver Dacorian Thomas more often. Sophomore Tithe Byrd, one of the highlights of fall camp, will be in the rotation along with 6-foot-2, 230-pound Josh Little. Shades Valleys record fell to 0-6. The pass was ruled incomplete, and the scoring drive continued. Part of the legacy he left was an example for the alumni to follow., https://www.trussvilletribune.com/2022/11/16/cougars-roll-over-mounties-73-49-remain-undefeated/. Shades Valley mounted two more drives to the 36-yard line and inside the 10-yard line but could not score. The game can be seen on the NFHS Network at 7:00 pm. Mountie Head coach Rueben Nelson Photo credit: marvingentry.com. Al Weathers will be the holder. The kid is a hard worker, and I cant say enough good things about him. Nelson believes that Guerrero is the best kicker in the area and deserves a chance at the next level. Im going to need about twelve receiving touchdowns this year, Steele joked. He has been a pleasure to get to know over the past five months, and I think that he can go somewhere and play college football.. He has a sharp offensive mind and good working knowledge of the spread offense and several other concepts. Bryant added ten rebounds and two blocks. After graduation he served in the United States Army from 1965-67 with a tour in Vietnam. Jordan Pearson showed that he can really run the football, Nelson said of his senior running back. Senior Kendarius Irvin added 11 points and 4 rebounds. Once Alabama offered me, L.S.U., Kentucky, Tennesse, and Auburn offered, Tamburello said. I wanted to win every game, but it didnt turn out like that, but we did win by seeing these guys grow into young men.. The Mounties have played a brutal schedule to start their 100th year of football. The visitors section was well represented by the Mountie faithful that made the trip. John Kelley was from Cahaba Heights, Glenn Sisk and Bobby McDanal were from Irondale. I gave 100 percent for him every day.. Radio: None They have two or three other guys on defense with multiple offers that just havent committed yet, said Mitchell. We are disappointed, but we will regroup and correct mistakes and get ready for the next one, Nelson said. Sophomore Israel Howard looks to be in the rotation as well. Birmingham picks: Who wins Taulia vs. Tyson showdown in Class 7A? We tackled the guy inside the 20, we then got a turnover and were starting inside the 20 instead of getting it out around the 35. He began playing with the A.G. Gaston Jaguars when he was five and is working hard to get the opportunity to play running back at the next level. Woods is a talented playmaker with experience and a lot of potential. The offensive line is young but deep. Christian Thomas was the Mounties leading receiver with three receptions for 59 yards. An interesting non-region scheduling note is that the Mounties will not face the Vestavia Hills Rebels for the first time since 1974. Mitchell was also pleased with his kickoff coverage as it had been the teams achilles heel. Our offensive line got a chance to compete against some good competition from two good football programs, he said. When the Shades Valley football team plays its 1,000 game this Friday night on the road at Chelsea, youll find Paschal in his traditional spot. 2021 Shades Valley Mounties Football Preview. There is just something about the contact that I love., Defensive line coach Robert Nelson, Jr. has been pleased with Tolberts play this season. Senior wide receiver Al Weathers IV was the leading receiver with four receptions for 58 yards. Little did he know that almost a decade later, he would be playing on the west coast as a University of California Golden Bear. On Shades Valleys next possession, the Mounties moved the ball to the Eagle 32-yard line, but the drive stalled, and Valley turned the ball over on downs with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers were penalized for kick catch interference, and the Mounties started from the Fairfield 36-yard line. All rights reserved. An apparent 10-yard touchdown run by junior Ethan Johnson was called back due to a penalty. The Mounties defeated the Bearcats 28-14 in a game that was tight until the closing minutes. Christian Thomas had a huge game with 114 yards on seven receptions. He has been a great influence on his little brother, said his mom. With 30 seconds remaining in the quarter, quarterback Steve Brown hit Christian Thomas with an eight-yard scoring strike to get on the board. The Mounties travel to Oxford and open region play next Friday. Athletic updates and historical stories are posted almost daily to his Facebook page and Twitter feed. Tamburellos childhood hero offered him a scholarship that night. The Mustangs then turned the ball over on downs after driving into Shades Valley territory. He is one of the best defensive backs in the statea hidden gem, said Hannah. Quarterback Steve Brown had an extremely productive night for the Mounties. Micah Thomas decided to lace up the football cleats and snap on the chin strap one more time. The Mounties were unable to move the ball and were forced to punt for the 4th time in the first half. Im glad we had an off week and a chance to get all of our players healthy, said Nelson. Shades Valley High School / Homepage Welcome to Mountie Nation! Against Huffman, Guerrero was five out of five on PATs, averaged 39 yards on five punts and two touchbacks on kickoffs. Malique Steele had eight total tackles, and Kordelle Steele had seven total tackles, a sack, and two tackles for a loss of yards. Micah was born with an old soul, says his mother. A victory would be only the fourth playoff win for Shades Valley since 2000. Coach Rueben Nelsons squad needs a win to remain in the hunt for a Region 5 playoff spot. Valley drove to the Tigers 16-yard line, but the drive stalled, and the Mounties turned the ball over on downs. The coaches are pushing, and the players are starting to respond.. Reebals is averaging almost 7 yards a carry and has scored seven touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Christian Thomas had an outstanding performance for the Mounties. Bruce scored on a 2-yard run, and after a successful PAT, Center Point pushed their lead to 22-0 with 2:27 remaining in the first quarter. Donations of ANY amount will be greatly appreciated by Coach Rueben Nelson, his staff, and players. Birmingham picks: Who wins Taulia vs. Tyson showdown in Class 7A? Kyle DeRamus, Carlos Ford, and Terrence James will be working to see playing time. They will be pumped up and play us hard. Sign In. Dickerson called Pearsons performance his breakout game. Pearson continues to play exceptionally well down the stretch after a few injuries. I have seen those things and believe this staff can replicate the previous success. Last spring he took up golf. Brandon Jones, a junior, will start at one inside linebacker position while juniors JT Gelpin and Kai Finch will compete for the other spot. Furthermore, Valleys special teams, which had been a strength through the seasons first three games, took a step backward. The Mounties jumped out to a 11-5 lead in the first period behind an aggressive defense. If you can help someone or make a change, why not go for it?. Unfortunately, an injury during his senior season in 1995 cut his playing career short. We came out and did what we needed to do to take home the W.. After a short punt, Oxford started on their 42-yard line. Senior Christian Thomas had nine receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the losing effort. This weeks Defensive Headhunter Award goes to Ethan Johnson. During the Bulldogs incredible run in the playoffs, Moore blocked a punt against New Hampshire for a safety and added another block against James Madison. A huge three-pointer by the Cougars Victor Odiari, 8 points, pulled Clay to within one, 60-59, with 61 seconds to go. 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