Inside The Huddle with the Crossville Lions

Inside The Huddle with the Crossville Lions

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

CROSSVILLE, Ala. — For our second stop on this season of Inside The Huddle, we stopped in to see the Crossville Lions.

The Crossville Lions’ motto comes from Head Coach Dusty Darnell, “Quit being satisfied with just being enough.” The Lions are putting in the time to be more than enough this season through camps, workouts and endless hours of practice time. 

The Crossville Lions Varsity Football team is no stranger to adversity. The team has made it through rough times and adapted the developing changes in their leadership. 

Block by block, the Crossville Lions are rebuilding their foundation back. They have 25 former guys that wore the black and gold that have given back to the team thus far. Their goal is to get 100 former Lions to donate $100 to be a Lion Pride donor. Their support will go to support pre-game meals, upgrades to the field house and stadium, and equipment needs. Donations can be made to the Crossville Athletic Club.

The Lions finished their 2018 season with a 2-8 record, with 1-5 in region play. 

Coach Darnell begins his second season as Head Coach for the Lions with two returning seniors. His returning starters on offense include: 

  • OL: Ben Fountaine (Jr.), Alfonzo Lopez (Jr.), Chris Lopez (Jr.)
  • WR: Kolby Lesley (Soph.), Trace Allen (Jr.)
  • RB: Harley Hicks (Jr.)

His returning starters on defense are:

  • DL: Ben Fountaine (Jr.), Chris Lopez (Jr.), Alfonzo Lopez (Jr.)
  • LB: Harley Hicks (Jr.), Ernesto Lopez (Jr.), Hunter Haston (Jr.)
  • DB: Alex Chacon (Jr.), Colton Adkins (Jr.)

The coaching staff includes Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator Dusty Darnell, Co-Defensive Coordinator/Asst. Head Coach Chuck Dutton, Co-Defensive Coordinator Ian Richards, Co-Offensive Coordinator Michael Davis, Brian Pool (WR), Danny Smith (DL), David Hinton (OL), Jonathan McGill (OL), Johnny Chacon (OLB), and Ty Cole (QB). 

After observing the Crossville Lions in action, I look for the team to go the distance.