ALICEVILLE, Ala. — To classify Charles Moody as being excited about his first head coaching job might be an understatement.
The former Alabama A&M All-American is pumped about making his debut this season with the Aliceville High School Yellow Jackets.
“I am very excited, elated, and ecstatic,” Moody said. “This is a great opportunity, and I am really looking forward to making the most of it. The main thing we want to do this year is have fun. If you are having fun that means you are winning. This is my second season here, and I am honored they have given me this opportunity.”
Moody will make his coaching debut tonight when Aliceville visits Central Tuscaloosa in a preseason scrimmage. The team will kick off its regular season Aug. 26 with a game at Greene County. After three grueling week of preseason camp, the Yellow Jackets are ready to dress out and to hit an opponent.
“We had an intrasquad scrimmage last week and everybody played really well,” Moody said. “I thought we got a lot accomplished in that work. Our kids have a great attitude and have been working very hard during the offseason. Now they are looking forward to hitting somebody on another team. It has been a long time coming, and we are ready to get started.”
The Yellow Jackets will rely on a veteran-laden defense as they try to improve on last season”s 6-4 mark. With Moody as defensive coordinator last season, Aliceville reached the postseason before being knocked out in the first round.
“The defensive will have to carry us early in the season,” Moody said. “That is where our experience is. We only have seven seniors. The team is a good mixture of players from ninth through 12th grade. I have leaders in every grade. We have three captains, who are seniors, and another who is a junior.
“Then we have some young players who we are counting on to contribute and be leaders this year. They know the expectations of the program, and I think will do a good job in meeting those expectations.”
Some of the youth will be on display in the offensive backfield. The quarterback will be sophomore Christopher Crowell (6-foot, 175 pounds), while the fullback will be freshman Jeremy McMullen (5-11, 245). Running backs are seniors Terry Mayhew (5-8, 175) and Marquise Colvin (5-8, 170). Wide receivers include senior Demario Lanier (6-1, 190) and sophomore Joe Robinson (6-5, 175). The tight end is junior Gerald Sterling (6-5, 240).
“Our quarterback is a natural-born leader,” Moody said. “We have to work on his reads and his ability to make quicker decisions. However, he has all the abilities. Our fullback is a freshman, but he is talented as well. We are multiple on offense. We have the potential to be able to do pretty much whatever we want to do, whenever we want to do it.
“That is the type of team you want to have where other teams can not predict what you are going to do. We will be scouting ourselves throughout the year to make sure we don”t create tendencies.”
Offensive linemen include senior Darrius Hughes (6-5, 300), sophomore Victor Windham (5-10, 315), junior Demetrius Bell (6-1, 255), senior Jay Lavender (6-3, 350), junior Harry Mccaa (5-10, 310), and freshman Isiah Wilder (5-10, 265).
“We are working hard on the offensive line,” Moody said. “Even though we have a lot of juniors and seniors, it is a whole new line. They will have to jell for us to be successful on offense. If your line is together on what they are doing, you have a chance to have a successful offense.”
Defensively, the Yellow Jackets plan to continue their ball-hawking aggressive style of play, which was a trademark of last season”s team.
“We brought back a lot of players on that side of the ball,” Moody said. “I really think we are going to be strong defensively. Our only weakness is we are trying to find a set defensive tackle. Other than that, everybody has experience and everybody has played. I think we are going to be fine on that side of the ball.”
Defensive linemen include Sterling and junior Demetrius Windham (6-3, 190) at ends, with Hughes and Mccaa at tackles. Linebackers include Mayhew, sophomore Marquez Marshall (5-11, 190), freshman Jakari Garner (5-8, 160), and sophomore Ladarius Jackson (5-10, 165). Safeties include senior Tremaine Jackson (5-8, 175) and Lanier. Cornerbacks include junior Thomas Colvin (5-11, 160) and Marquise Colvin.
Tremaine Jackson will handle punting and place-kicking duties.
“Everybody has been very positive and optimistic during summer and fall workouts,” Moody said. “We have had some great practices the last few days. As we have gotten closer to getting ready to play games, you can tell the team has become more focused. They are dedicated and they working hard with a passion.
“But it comes back to having fun. Football is meant to be fun. The main thing we want to do as players and coaches is have fun. If you put in the effort, work hard and have fun, you will wind up being successful.”
While Moody hopes for a return to the postseason, he expects a dogfight in a deep and talented Class 3A, Region 4 race.
“We have a very tough region,” Moody said. “Gordo made the semifinals last year. They return most of their front seven defensively. They have a lot of size and overall strength. Hale County and Greensboro will have a lot of athletes. Montevallo was young last year, so we know they will have everybody back. Northside and Sumter County will be improved. Sipsey Valley is a new school. We really don”t know what to expect there.
“However, we do know they will be pulling kids from Tuscaloosa County, so that means they should have some good ballplayers.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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