Inside the Huddle-Fyffe Red Devils

Inside the Huddle-Fyffe Red Devils

Featured image: Fyffe players stretching before running


By Marla Jones, Sports Editor

marla@southerntorch.com

Inside the Huddle–Fyffe Red Devils
Players have to run several sets each day

FYFFE, Ala.—When you mention football in Dekalb County, you naturally think of Fyffe. The Red Devils are a powerhouse in football. They have made back-to-back appearances in the State Championship games and have a State Championship ring on their fingers to prove it.

Inside the Huddle–Fyffe Red Devils
“Coach Marla” overseeing the high knees exercise

This week, I went inside the huddle with the Fyffe Red Devils.  While at Fyffe, I had the opportunity to actually be the “Coach of the Day”.  Growing up, I played with Barbies, when I mean playing with Barbies, I actually mean, cutting all their hair off to make my big sister cry. I never thought that one day I would get to be a “coach.”  Coach Benefield turned over the reins and let me call out the exercises, time the players and even show them a thing or two.  I guess this is where all the people in elementary school, that picked me last for the dodgeball team are kicking themselves.

Inside the Huddle–Fyffe Red Devils
Garrett Thrash at a Fyffe early morning workout

Fyffe has great community support for their “Red Devils.”  While at practice, several people came by and blew the horn to show the team support while they were out on the field sweating.  Wait, sweat? Thats one thing I did not see them do.  Benefield has fine tuned machines that do not sweat.  I had leg cramps after practice because I had sweated so much but the heat did not phase them one bit.  Getting the team adjusted to the heat will only benefit them when the helmets and shoulder pads get put on.

THE RECORD:

Fyffe finished the 2015 season with a 13-2 record and lost to Elba 36-22, in the final round of the State Playoffs.

PREPARATION:

The summer workout schedule for Fyffe is Monday thru Thursday, beginning at  5 p.m..  Official practice with helmets and shoulder pads will begin the first week of August.

PLAYERS:

The Fyffe Varsity Football Team has twelve returning seniors.  The team has six returning defensive starters and seven offensive starters for the 2016 season.

COACHES:

Coach Paul Benefield will return as Head Coach for his nineteenth season at Fyffe. His coaching teams consist of: Coach Brian Mashburn- Offensive/Defensive Line, Coach Brad Thomas- Defensive Backs,  Coach Steve Edge-Linebackers, Coach Rodney Coots-Middle Linebackers, Coach Tim Cochran and Coach Brad Martin-Junior Varsity.

SCHEDULE:

The Red Devils will start their season game on August 19, 2016 with a Jamboree game at Maplesvlle.  They will play a half with Maplesville and a half against Sweetwater.  Regular season play will begin at home against next door neighbor, Geraldine on August 26.  The Red Devils will host Asbury for a regional game on September 2.  They will travel to Westbrook on September 9 before hosting Ider on the September 16. The Red Devils will be traveling for three weeks as they go to face neighbor, Plainview on September 23.  On September 30, they travel to Sand Rock and then on to Collinsville on October 7.  On October 14, they come home to play Section, travel to Gaston on October 21, and then host their final regular season against Cleburne County.  The Fyffe Red Devils have a very hard schedule this season but they have the know- how and the skills to play again in that championship game in December.