St. Clair County High School football players push hard on the field ahead of their upcoming scrimmage on Aug. 18. Photo by Danny Moore

High school football is back folks. 

The St. Clair County High School football team has practiced summer long, three to four days a week since June. The team is looking to pick up where they left off and to reach the semifinals again. 

Last year they won 10 out of 14 games with the help of 20 seniors. 

This year new talent must emerge.  

A few athletes will start on both sides of the field. Braxton Ragland (a transfer from Leeds) will be one of them. He’s a fast receiver and punt returner who will either play safety or defensive back. 

Jovon Ousley is a big Defensive end and Tight end. He also will play both sides.  

Ragland and Ousley are both seniors this year. 

Other notable seniors are: Austin Wyatt, Isaiah Smith, Gage Ivy, Skyler Mizzell, Christian Oglesbey, Aaron Foster, Austin Heflin, Rodney Jones, Justin Walker.

Although St.Clair County is Division 5A, the Saints will play in a different region this year. They will face off against new opponents such as John Carroll, Mortimer Jordan, Center Point, Central Clay and more. 

At practice, the players were only in their helmets and they are not allow to go “full contact” until August 9. 

Still, they practiced hard in the heat from 2-4 p.m.

The trainers made sure the players were hydrated with plenty to drink. One trainer said everybody was healthy this year, so that’s a great sign. 

Coach Glover has turned the program around. Before he got there, the Saints went 3-7. With his help they went 10-4. 

Right now coaches say it’s too early to determine how good they will truly be. But they look in good shape to me. The coaches didn’t necessarily call it a rebuilding year, they’re just going to take it one game at a time. 

August 18 the team will split up to play each other in the Meet the Saints scrimmage at 5:30 p.m.