Featured image: Sports Editor, Marla Jones exercising with the players.

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor

marla@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala.—In Dekalb County, we know football fans are anticipating the upcoming football season as much as we are.  Football is a way of life for us.  Weddings are planned around games.   Each week until the season starts, Southern Torch will visit every school in Dekalb County and give you the inside scoop on each team.  This week's featured team is the Plainview Varsity Bears.   While at Plainview, I had the opportunity to meet the players and even help in their workout.

Plainview finished the 2015 season with a 6-5 record and lost 37-19, in the first round of the State Playoffs, to Oakman High School.  The Bears are putting the past behind them and are looking forward to the 2016 season.  “Improving every day as a team” is their motto.

PREPARATION:

The summer workout schedule for the Bears is Monday thru Thursday, 8-12 p.m.  Coach Goodwin takes into consideration the hectic schedules most players have.  New Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) rules have recently went into effect dealing with spring and fall ball. New rules permit playing time in the month of June and July for baseball and basketball.  Some players on the team, have basketball workouts in early morning, football workouts and summer baseball games in the evening.  Official practice with helmets and shoulder pads will begin the first week of August.

PLAYERS:

The Plainview Varsity Football Team have eight returning seniors and are a relatively young team..  The team has six defensive starters and five offensive starters returning for the 2016 season.  The coaching staff is looking for new faces to fill in for the players who left last year.  “We are excited about some of the candidates, We are not certain as who will step up until they get playing time under their belt.”  said Head Coach Dustin Goodwin. “Our goal is to continue to improve as a unit thru the summer and season.”  When asked about who the shining stars would be this season, Coach Goodwin was hesitant to point out just one player.  “It is a group effort and we will not know who will stand out until the first game.”

COACHES:

Coach Dustin Goodwin will return at the helm of the Plainview Varsity Bears Football team for his second year.   Pat Vinson will also return for his second year as Defensive Coordinator. This year, Coach Doug Haynes, former Head Coach at Pisgah High School, joins the staff as Offensive Coordinator.  Coach Brett Benefield, will oversee the Receivers and the Secondary.

SCHEDULE:

The Bears will start their regular season game on August 19, 2016 as they travel to face Sardis.  Their first home game will be played against Sand Rock on August 26, 2016.  They face North Sand Mountain, Pisgah, Geraldine and Fyffe before having a bye week on September 30, 2016.  On October 7, games resume for the Bears as they travel to Brindlee Mountain.  Rival game against Sylvania will be on October 14, 2016 at Sylvania.  They will then play New Hope and for their last game, they will face new opponent to the schedule, Moody.  The Plainview Bears face a competitive region but have the skills and leadership to fair well this season.