Saints football coach Lance Smith enters the 2016 campaign with a very interesting mixture of young, yet experienced players providing him with a talented collection of athletes that allows him to build a long-term plan to bring success to Odenville.  “Right now we only have eight seniors, but we also have a good number of returning starters on offense. We’ve also got several starters returning on defense, so we are still pretty much a young team with lots of game experience.”

Smith recognizes there is still a lot of work he and his staff need to do through August. “We’ve still got a lot of growing to do before our first home football game. It will be interesting if our young guys come along and get a lot better. If they do I think we have a pretty good shot at having a decent season this year.”

Smith has been pleased with the work his players are putting in during training camp. “Our players are working hard right now, we just have to keep continuing to try and get better every single day, every rep in practice, every single second.”

Key Games of 2016: Saints fans are going to get a great opportunity to see two teams that almost mirror one another when arch-rival and regional opponent Moody comes calling on October 14. Both teams rely on powerful running backs (Justin Mayo for St. Clair County, Gabe Webb for the Blue Devils) as well as deep passing threats in receivers Grayson Beatty for the Saints and Kyle Ivy for Moody to generate yardage and win football games. If these four players negate each other during the game, St. Clair County’s more seasoned offensive line led by center Tyler Sloan and left tackle John John Braswell will together bring 500 pounds of leverage to really test the Blue Devils in the fourth quarter of what should be a very close, hard-fought game.

Preseason Notes: This season will bring about the final year for St. Clair County’s fascinating journey with kicker Kylee Harrell, who made national news for being one of the very few female football players to not only participate, but contribute in a very meaningful way to the success of the football program she plays for.

Through Harrell’s focus on being the best kicker she could be and her engaging and positive outlook, the senior has put a very sunny spotlight on Odenville with what appears to be effortless a class and dignity that has resonated from her throughout her community and the county. Harrell has come to embody the kind of person that St. Clair County schools can produce, and a great season for Odenville’s favorite daughter would be a fitting end to her football career.

Players to Watch:

Grayson Beatty – WR/OLB

The Saints leading receiver from 2015 returns for his junior year faster, stronger and better than ever. Beatty, who caught 32 passes for over 500 yards last season, is blessed with great receiver size (6’2” 195 lbs.) and is exceptional at running routes to create space to catch the ball. Coach Smith plans to move him around a bit on offense to make him a threat to run the ball as well. Beatty also plays defense as a starting outside linebacker who was second on the team in tackles in 2015.

“(Beatty) has done a great job this offseason working in the weight room and attending summer camps to improve. Grayson is a lot bigger and a lot stronger, so we are expecting big things from him.”

Jalen Cunningham – DT

At 6’3” and weighing 315 pounds, the Saints are blessed with an SEC sized defensive lineman who still has two more seasons of football to play at Odenville. Cunningham started every game last year during his sophomore year, displaying enormous strength and balance crucial to disrupting the running attacks of his opponents. Cunningham has shown that he can dominate the line of scrimmage and it will be interesting to see how much improved he will be this season.

Justin Mayo – RB

The Saints big and powerful running game is led by the 230-pound Mayo who the fans in Odenville have seen is a strong, physical runner who came on strong late in the season and contributed over 500 yards on the ground last year as the team’s second running back. Mayo has shown a lot of leadership during the offseason as a senior who will be counted upon by the Saints coaching staff to provide direction for the younger guys on the field.

St. Clair County Schedule

08/26/2016 7:00 PM CDT Lincoln High School Mickey Venable Field

09/02/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Shelby County High School Charles “Papa” McCombs Stadium

09/09/2016 7:00 PM CDT Pleasant Grove High School Mickey Venable Field

09/15/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Woodlawn High School Lawson Field Stadium

09/23/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Saks High School Jack Stewart Field, Saks AL

09/30/2016 7:00 PM CDT Briarwood Christian School Mickey Venable Field

10/07/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Fairfield High Preparatory Clements Field

10/14/2016 7:00 PM CDT Moody High School Mickey Venable Field

10/21/2016 7:00 PM CDT Wenonah High School Mickey Venable Field

10/27/2016 7:00 PM CDT at Springville High School Tiger Stadium, Springville