Cougars aim to build on strong season

Defense stole the show for the 2017 Clay-Chalkville High School football team. 

For first-year head coach Drew Gilmer and defensive coordinator Sean Talsma, the Cougars allowed opponents just 13.6 points per game and posted five shutouts.

“That was a special group,” said Gilmer of the unit that helped lead the Cougars to an 11-win season. “They were fun to coach. We’ve got several of those guys back.”

It was a flip of the script for a program that made its mark outscoring anyone and everyone from 2012-2015. Over those four seasons, the Cougars won a state championship, played for another and averaged nearly 45 points per game. 

Last season’s defense was statistically the Cougars’ best since 2011, and Gilmer believes this year’s version can be even better.

“The biggest thing there, they did a lot of good stuff last year, but we also saw some areas that we’ve got to improve in order to beat the teams that we’ve got to beat,” Gilmer said.

The offense certainly held up its end of the bargain as well, averaging 31 points per contest. Offensive coordinator Jon Clements got the head job at Corner, allowing the Cougars to bring back Shawn Sutton, who was the offensive coordinator at Clay-Chalkville in 2009 and 2010.

“The great thing about it is it’s not really a new system,” Gilmer said. “Our system that we have was actually his system when he was here with Coach [Jerry] Hood, it’s just kind of evolved and changed a little bit.”

Heading into Gilmer’s second year as head coach — he also served as an assistant on Hood’s staff for seven years at Clay — he feels more at ease and can focus more on the on-field aspects of the program.

“You’ve kind of got everything working the way you want it to work,” Gilmer said. “Now, really it just comes down to the day-to-day operations. Everyday, can we come to work and get a little better?”

OFFENSE

Willie Miller enters his senior with two years of starting experience already under his belt at the quarterback position. Miller showed great improvements last fall and Gilmer said he “has gotten a lot better.”

“He’s throwing the ball well and he’s gotten more dynamic in his running ability,” Gilmer said. “He had a really good spring for us and I’m really excited about where he’s at and where he’s going.”

Damione Ward will serve as the Cougars’ backup quarterback this fall. Courtney Braxton will lead the running game for the Cougars this fall, as he has established himself as a consistent force.

“He’s kind of pulled himself away from the rest of the pack,” Gilmer said.

At receiver, Roderick McCloud and Terrill Cole have graduated, but there is still plenty of talent in a deep core of wideouts. Logan Pruett returns as the leading producer, with younger players like Jamichael Thompson, Tristan Jones and Antonio Miles looking to step up as well.

Anthony Lougheed, Josh Austin, Demarcus Burris and Kelvin Slaughter will help Clay at tight end and fullback.

On the line, Jack Jones is a guy that Gilmer “would take 100 of,” and he will anchor the Cougars at center.

DEFENSE

Alabama commit DJ Dale returns as the leader of not just the Cougars’ defensive line but the entire defense.

Gilmer said, “DJ’s going to anchor everything. He does a phenomenal job. He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player.”

L.C. Purifoy made his presence felt on the line last fall as well, and he returns alongside Dale. Gilmer mentioned Meris Mollel and Jamarr Posey as others who could contribute on the interior. On the ends, look for Judah Walton, Jaden Johnson and Tez McKinney to get many of the snaps.

Leroy King will serve as the Cougars middle linebacker. Gilmer called King a “phenomenal player” that is going to “do great things.” He’s the only one on that unit that has experience, with Alfred Thomas, Jonathon Harris, Daunte Davis and Levert Jefferson among the players battling for playing time.

The secondary should be a strength for the defense, as the Cougars only lost JaMarlin Sewell as a starter. Drew Heller, Jaylin Mack and Andru Ransaw all return for another season. Cameron Ware played a great deal last season as well.

“[There is] a lot of experience in the back half, so I feel really comfortable back there,” Gilmer said.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Jaren Van Winkle returns as a known commodity for Clay-Chalkville, as he will handle the kicking portion of things after having a solid season last fall. The punter’s role is still yet to be determined.

SCHEDULE

Two of Clay-Chalkville’s three losses last fall came to crosstown foe Pinson Valley, once in the regular season and again in the Class 6A semifinals. The two teams will meet up once again on Sept. 14 in a region contest. Also in Region 6 are Gardendale, Huffman, Oxford, Pell City and Shades Valley.

The Cougars begin the season with a trip to Griffin (Georgia) and follow that up with a game against James Clemens. They conclude the regular season against Gadsden City.