2016 Ragland Purple Devils

Following a disappointing 3-8 season with a first round elimination in the AHSAA 1A playoffs, the Purple Tigers found new leadership in incoming first year head coach Brian Alred, who was the defensive coordinator at St. Clair County High School last season. 

Coach Alred painted an optimistic and unifying picture when describing what he hopes 2016 will bring for Ragland. “We hope to put a hard-nosed group on the field this season who will play together as a team,” Alred said. “We have been working very hard since we came in and the players have bought into what we want to do offensively and defensively.”

On the offensive side of the ball Alred said he will be relying on senior running back Jadon Killings to provide the bulk of the rushing yardage for the Purple Devils. “We expect him to be a leader on that side of the ball,” said Alred. “Another person we will be counting on is (quarterback) Stoney Merritt. Primarily we are going to be a running team based out of the Wing-T.”

On defense Ragland will be basing out of a 4-2-5, with safeties dropping in and out of the second level. Anchoring this defense will be two impressive young linebackers who are hard nosed and play downhill – Dylan Lively and Keith Garden. “These are two guys that have played in this system before, so they know what to expect out of it. 

Key Games of 2016: Week Seven at Victory Christian School used to be a foregone conclusion for Ragland. Year in and year out the Purple Devils would beat on and beat down the intrepid little academy’s football team with impunity. Not so much now.

The Lions’ firepower and hunger for more success after 2015 will give Ragland an important test. Victory Christian may have a diminished running game, and if Ragland’s defense can contain quarterback Harrison Cheatwood, the Purple Devils could get an upperhand against a regional opponent late in the schedule. This game will have serious playoff implications, and it is Ragland’s if they want it.

 

Preseason Notes – As the new face of Ragland football, Coach Alred was asked about what kind of impact he wanted to make on the young men in his charge at his new school. 

“The biggest thing I’m trying to do right now is to coach them not only from an ‘X-and-O’ standpoint, but from a spiritual standpoint as well. One thing that is new that we are bringing in is the FCA Huddle (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) here with our team. We are trying to coach them from a physical standpoint to a mental and spiritual standpoint to make them better young men and one day better fathers and good husbands to their wives.”

 

Players to watch

#10 Jadon Killings – RB

Killings is a Mr. Everything for Ragland. The senior did it all last season – returned kickoffs for touchdowns, successfully opened up defenses as a downfield receiver, threw for touchdowns, intercepted passes playing defense, and then there is the running … yeah – that. 

In 2015 Killings broke off ten runs of over 45 yards on his way to his 1,000+ yard season. The Purple Devils’ most lethal weapon has speed to burn, breaks and bounces off of tackles, and exhibits superb vision and instincts. If healthy,  Killings should have another unbelievable season and leave Ragland as one of its greatest players in history.

 

#25 John Brewer – DE

Ragland has the good fortune of having a senior defensive end leading the charge for a turn around season in 2016. At 6’3” and a solid 185 lbs., Brewer repeatedly exhibited a very quick first step on the edge in 2015 and created significant chaos in opposing backfields throughout the season. Brewer was very successful as a blindside defensive end, registering seven sacks, two batted balls and one interception in 2015. Brewer has put on weight during the offseason, and is expected to dramatically improve the Purple Devils’ D-Line in 2016.

 

Ragland Purple Devils’ schedule

08/19/2016 7:00 PM CDT Ohatchee High School Joan Ford Stadium 

08/26/2016 7:00 PM CDT Ashville High School Joan Ford Stadium

09/02/2016 7:00 PM CDT Talladega Co. Central High School Joan Ford Stadium

09/09/2016 7:00 PM CDT Coosa Christian School Joan Ford Stadium

09/16/2016 7:00 PM CDT Wadley High School Joan Ford Stadium

09/23/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Tarrant High School Fultondale High School

09/30/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Victory Christian School VCS Football Field

10/07/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Winterboro High School Bulldog Memorial Stadium

10/14/2016 7:00 PM CDT Donoho School Joan Ford Stadium

10/21/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Appalachian High School James E. Carr Stadium