Caleb Suggs

Hartselle Enquirer

The Hartselle Tigers football team suffered a rough start to their 2017 season as they fell to the James Clemens Jets in the spring game last week.

The Jets jumped on the Tigers early and ultimately won the game 37-6. Hartselle’s new look offense struggled against the talented Jets. It will take a lot this year for Hartselle, as they will have to replace senior quarterback Trevor Oakes, senior running back Jordan Stover and senior receivers Seth Garner and Chandler Briggs as well as three senior offensive linemen. The Tigers also will have to deal with the departures of starting receivers Garrett Wade and Connor Burks who left the team to pursue other interests.  Hartselle’s lone returning players with experience will be receiver Mac Meyer, fullback Adam Hampton, running back Taylor Easterling, offensive linemen Jake Johnson and Alec Lovett. Luke Godsey, who spent last year at receiver, will be the team’s quarterback.

The defense will return a wealth of experience as every starter saw action in some extent last year. However, the Tigers will have a new defensive coordinator as former coordinator Oscar Glasscock departed for Mountain Brook High School.

Hartselle will face a tough schedule this year as they will have to go on the road to face Cullman, Athens, Muscle Shoals, Austin and Decatur.