In his first year as their head coach, Steve Davis hopes to see Springville’s Tigers rebound from last year’s 3-7 season.

“We were three plays from being 6-4,” he recalled, having served as a longtime assistant coach for the team.  “That was tough.  The kids deserved a better record than that, but the final is what it is.”

This season shows more promise, Davis believes.  “Everybody we play, we at least feel like we’ve got a shot.  What we’re working on is getting the kids to believe we can win.”

The current AHSAA realignment has contributed to the Tigers’ new outlook.

“We don’t have to play Pinson or Walker now,” Davis said.  “It has levelled things out now for teams like us who were having to go up against teams that were bigger and had way more kids out than we did.  That’s tough.  Having things the way they are now has really helped us to be able to compete.”

The Tigers now reside in Region 6 of Class 5A, along with Alexandria, Anniston, Hayden, Lincoln, Mortimer Jordan, Moody, and St. Clair County.

“(Moody and St. Clair County are going to be fun games for us.  When you grow up in small towns, it naturally leads to friendly rivalries, and that’s fun for the kids, as well as their parents and grandparents who may have gone to and played for these schools.  We love playing each other.”

Davis said he expects seasoned leadership from the Tigers’ seven seniors this year, but the team will also rely heavily on its junior and sophomore classes, both of which Davis describes as “big.”

Springville is on the road Friday night for a pre-season jamboree at Boaz before its season and home opener against Sylacauga at 7 p.m. August 28.

“We have really exciting games to start the season,” Davis said.  “After Sylacauga, we have Moody at home, and then we’re at St. Clair County.  We’re just looking to get better and worry about ourselves, and we’re confident that if we can do that, the wins are going come.”