Tigers, Hawks dominate all-area football team
By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
Logan Cain would have gladly traded any post-season honors for a chance to continue his senior season.
After a disappointing end to the 2008 season where the Tigers were knocked out of the Class 5A state playoffs by rival Russellville, Cain wanted more in his final season in a Hartselle uniform.
Hartselle never got farther than the quarterfinals this year, but Cain posted incredible numbers defensively for the Tigers. His play this season earned him the Hartselle Enquirer’s top defensive player honors.
He is joined on the all-area team by Hartselle quarterback Will Lang, the offensive player of the year.
Hartselle head coach Bob Godsey made it a clean sweep in the top honors by being selected as the all-area team’s coach of the year after leading the Tigers to a 10-win season and a second-straight region championship.
But the end to the season wasn’t the storybook finish the Tigers were seeking. A loss to McAdory in the quarterfinals put a damper on an otherwise successful season.
Cain finished his senior season with a team-high 132 tackles in 13 games with 13 stops for losses.
He also finished with five sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery as the Tigers’ leader both on and off the field.
Hartselle came into the season with an unproven commodity at quarterback in Lang. After losing four-year starter Luke Bole to graduation, Lang stepped right in and helped lead the Tigers’ to a school record 420 points this season.
The junior threw for 2,685 yards with 17 touchdowns. He ended the year with 213 completions in 306 attempts - a 70 percent completion rate.
Godsey, the fourth winningest coach in Hartselle history, had to replace a talented senior class from last year’s team that included four all-state players from the squad that went 12-1.
The Tigers retooled and went on to win their first eight games of the season on the way to a second-straight Class 5A, Region 8 championship.
Godsey won his 100th career game when the Tigers beat Athens in the second round of the playoffs.
He has led the Tigers to six winning seasons in his seven years at Hartselle.
The all-area honors didn’t stop with Godsey, Cain and Lang, either.
Hartselle led the all-area team with 13 players, including Cain, Lang, offensive lineman Chad Hampton, offensive lineman Drew Butler, wide receiver Payton Sittason, athlete Malcom Fossett, defensive lineman Robby Reece, defensive lineman Austin Borden, defensive lineman Cody Anders, wide receiver Will Tiffin, linebacker Jake Kimbrell and defensive backs Jackson Reeves and Jake Wallace.
Reece and Reeves were both first team all-area selections in 2008 and came up with strong seasons this fall.
Reeves finished with seven interceptions this season despite suffering a broken thumb in the first game of the season.
The Tigers advanced to the the third round of the Class 5A playoffs before falling to McAdory. Hartselle finished with a 10-3 record.
Danville had seven players earn all-area honors from the team that finished 7-4 and reached the Class 3A state playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Danville’s season ended with a first round loss in the playoffs to Madison Academy,
Representing the Hawks on this year’s team are Correy Gillies, Levi George, Jessie Posey, Mario Cortez, Clint McAbee, David Cortez, and Tyler Beck.
Mario Cortez and McAbee were first-team all-area selections last year. Mario Cortez made three field goals this season.
Brewer running back Philip Newby earned his second-straight all-area nod. He was joined by Brewer teammates Michael Chatman, linebacker Matt Crowe and defensive back Tyler Parker.
Falkville was represented on the all-area team by offensive lineman Cody Kelsoe, defensive back Tyler Anders, defensive lineman Blake Wilhite and kickoff specialist Aaron Lee.
Running back Tanner Schell and linebacker Ross Looney were the lone first team all-area players from Priceville.
