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Photo by James Nicholas.
Running back Kenji Christian (5) made the most of his opportunity last fall to become the Indians’ top rusher.
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Photo by Todd Lester.
Pinson Valley WR/DB GaQuincy McKinstry (1) is rated as one of the top athletes in the country. He will spend most of his time on offense this fall for the Indians.
Editor's Note: As of press time, the high school football season was still set to begin Aug. 21. It is unclear at this time whether the season will be altered due to the impact of COVID-19.
Sam Shade knows he has inherited a fortunate situation as the new Pinson Valley High School head football coach.
More often than not, new coaches arrive at a program in need of a spark. That is not the case with Shade and the Indians.
Over the last three years, Patrick Nix led Pinson Valley on the most successful run in school history, with the Indians winning the Class 6A state championship twice and advancing to the semifinals last fall.
Nix is now at Central-Phenix City, and Shade now leads a program in as good of shape as an incoming coach could ask. But he knows that guarantees nothing on the field this fall.
“My approach has always been it doesn’t matter what you did the year before, this is a new season,” Shade said. “The biggest thing is trying to get guys better.”
Shade has learned from some of the best over the last 30 years, as a player and a coach. He played for Ronald Cheatham at Wenonah and Gene Stallings at Alabama, where he lost five games in four years and played on the 1992 national championship team.
Shade played in the NFL from 1995-2002, before embarking on a coaching career that has taken him from the high school ranks, to college and even to a year on the NFL’s Cleveland Browns staff. But this will be his first head coaching gig.
OFFENSE
The Pinson Valley offense has been nothing shy of prolific over the last few years, averaging over 34 points per contest last fall. Shade sees some key players returning at key positions that should allow the Indians to produce at a high level once again.
Up front, Rayvon Crum and Martiez Claughton are both senior offensive linemen with plenty of experience. Crum will play the critical left tackle spot while Claughton should take up one of the guard spots.
The Indians have a couple of high-level targets on the outside in GaQuincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry and Jaquel Fells. McKinstry is a five-star athlete and one of the most highly-sought after players in the country. He has played extensively as a cornerback in recent years, but Shade said he will spend most of his time on offense for his senior season.
“He’ll do whatever we ask him to do,” said Shade, noting McKinstry’s leadership skills. “He’ll get some snaps over there [on defense.] We’ve got to gauge the amount of reps we can give him on defense while still being effective on offense.”
Kenji Christian is a senior running back that took advantage of his opportunity last fall.
“Kenji got in there and showed what he could do, and the rest is history,” Shade said.
Mike Sharpe is also a running back with plenty of talent and experience.
The Indians will have a new quarterback following the graduation of Barry White, and Zach Pyron appears to be the guy given the first crack at it. Pyron led Fyffe to the Class 2A state title last fall and transferred to Pinson Valley in the winter. He will be a junior this season.
DEFENSE
While Pinson’s offense has grabbed many of the headlines in recent seasons, the defense has been just as stout, allowing just 13 points per game each of the last two years.
The Indians have the most experience in the secondary, with three seniors back there in Amon Scarbrough, Tomas Wesley and Kaniji Chandler, who transferred in from Gardendale.
Shade said Scarbrough is one of the vocal leaders of the team, and Wesley is a ball-hawking safety.
Up front, Julian Peterson is looking to put together one more productive season along the Pinson defensive line. James Perkins is another senior that will contribute along the line.
“He’s a good one to coach. Just a good kid, very coachable, works hard,” Shade said of Peterson.
Alijah May, Kennedy Thomas and Noah Steen (who played at Center Point last year) are three linebackers Shade feels good about as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pinson Valley has some holes to fill on special teams, particularly with the graduation of kicker Chris Soto.
“We’ve got some guys that have been working there this summer, so hopefully they can go out there and get it done,” Shade said.
The Indians should be solid in the return game, with the likes of Fells and McKinstry to return kickoffs and punts.
SCHEDULE
Highlighting the non-region portion of Pinson Valley’s schedule is a season-opener against Class 7A foe Hewitt-Trussville, which knocked off the Indians 40-33 last fall.
In Class 6A, Region 6, the Indians will no longer have to deal with Oxford, the team responsible for two of their three losses last year. Region opponents for Pinson Valley include Clay-Chalkville, Gardendale, Jackson-Olin, Jasper, Minor and Mortimer Jordan.
“We’ve got to be at our best in order to be ready,” Shade said.
