Folks around Prattville are still giddy about the Lions' state championship win over national power and reigning crown-bearer Hoover.
A lot of folks in the Birmingham area rejoiced after the Lions defeated Hoover. After four years of rule by the Buccaneers, they were ready for a change. Of course, winning brings a price -- it is called envy.
Prattville will now have the bulls-eye on its back next fall. The Lions have been in a similar position for the past five years since Bill Clark took over the program. Prattville has won the Region 4, Class 6A championship six consecutive seasons.
Prattville will graduate 25 seniors from the state championship team. However, the Lions will return 35 juniors to mold the nucleus of the 2007 team.
Some of the juniors returning include all-star running back Justin Albert, wide receiver Dekendrick Moncrief, defensive linemen Jarvis Nixon, Greg McCall, Brandon Goebel, Hayden Fendley and Cornell Sullen; offensive lineman Chanse Guyon and linebackers Terrence Williams, LaAngela Albright, Terrell Jackson and Mario Marshall. Brian Egan, a weapon with his left foot, is just a sophomore, so the kicking game should be in excellent hands with Egan and punter Joshua Allen returning.
Prattville will lose some excellent defensive backs, but Clarence (L.C.) Morris, Zach Brownell, Brady Sutley and Reggie Dozier all return.
There will be many others who will come through the spring workouts and make a name for themselves. Ronald Harper's freshmen team had a number of outstanding performers who will make a splash at the next level.
The region will be tougher thanks to the addition this year of Stanhope Elmore and Wetumpka. Both schools will be much improved in 2007. The Mustangs earned a spot in the playoffs in their first season. The Indians missed the playoffs barely, due to costly turnovers in the fleeting minutes of the Jeff Davis game.
Wetumpka Coach Chad Anderson probably cannot wait for spring practice with his talented quarterback, Tevon Washington, returning for his senior season. Washington could very well be the Larry Smith of 2007. Kendall Lacey (6-5,200) returns for his senior season as a wide receiver and defensive back, a very talented youngster. All told, there are 18 juniors returning, including 11 linemen.
Jeff Foshee will return 21 juniors at Stanhope Elmore, plus sophomores Mardavian Martin and Isaac Salter, and freshmen Charlie Long (defensive end) and Courtney Richard (line), who played last fall.
Selma improved vastly last fall, and Sidney Lanier under L.C. Cole, the surprise runners-up in the region, will continue to get better. Carver has a ton of skilled athletes, and I look for Gene Allen to turn Robert E. Lee around. Duane McWhorter will have Jeff Davis ready to rumble next fall.
Bill Clark should pick up a lot of hardware on the fried chicken circuit this winter as the coach of the year. He'll earn it next fall.
Remember, the price of success brings with it a lot of envy. Everybody will bring their "A" game when they line up against the Lions in the fall of 2007.
JIMMY WHITE covers sports for the Progress weeklies. He can be reached at
or at 334-365-8907.
2006 News Archive 
