Featured image: The Wildcats have the speed to succeed.
By Marla Jones, Sports Editor
FORT PAYNE, Ala.—Fort Payne High School Varsity Football is a powerhouse in Class 6A. They have strength and leadership to make it deep into the playoffs. They possibly could bring home the Blue trophy and a State Championship ring. Strength is something they definitely can boast about. They have players who have broken state records in weightlifting. The seventeen seniors returning this season will be great leadership for the team.
This week, I went inside the huddle with the Fort Payne Wildcats. While at Fort Payne, I had the opportunity to see the team in action as they prepared for the 2016 season. When I showed up at the early practice at 7 a.m., the players were fired up and ready for their workouts. Did you hear me say 7 a.m.?? I still had bed sheet prints on my face and they were jump roping like little speed demons. After their stretches, I had the privilege of leading a few exercises. The team joined in and did my signature exercise the “Pretty Ballerina” without any complaints. I even threw in a few pirouettes for good measure. Without a doubt, some of the team could be great ballerinas if football does not work out for them.
In the weightroom, it was all business. The players came in from during their outside workouts and took no prisoners. Music was blaring, weights were dropping and sweat was flying. The weight room looked like something from a college team. The players take strength training very serious.
THE RECORD:
Fort Payne finished the 2015 season with a 8-3 record and lost to Briarwood Christian School 30-26, in the first round of the State Playoffs.
PREPARATION:
The summer workout schedule for the Fort Payne is Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, beginning at 7 a.m. Coach Ellis offers three different practice times, 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. Coach Ellis does not have any practices on Wednesday to allow players to attend church. He also gives them Friday, Saturday and Sunday off to spend time with family. Official practice with helmets and shoulder pads will begin the first week of August.
PLAYERS:
The Fort Payne Varsity Football Team has seventeen returning seniors. The team have five returning defensive starters and four offensive starters for the 2016 season.
COACHES:
Coach Paul Ellis will return as Head Coach for his thirteenth season at Fort Payne. He has been a coach at Fort Payne for a total of twenty-two years. His coaching teams consist of: Coach Heath Vincent, Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach, Coach Darrell Prater Co-Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach, Coach Richard Camp and Coach Eric Varnadore- Defensive Line Coaches, Coach Kenny Chadwick- Offensive Line Coach and Coach Todd Phillips-Wide Receivers
SCHEDULE:
The Fort Payne Wildcats will start the 2016 season at home against Chattooga, Georgia on August 19, 2016. They will travel to Scottsboro on August 26, 2016 for the annual “Top Cat” battle. They will be on the road on September 2, 2016 as they face Southside for a region game. They will have an off week on September 9, 2016 before hosting Cullman for a region game on September 16, 2016 . On September 23, 2016 the Wildcats will host Etowah. Homecoming will be on September 30, 2016 as they face Brewer for a region game. The Wildcats will travel to Oxford for a region game on October 7, 2016 and then will travel to face Albertville on October 14, 2016 for another region game. The Wildcats will host Pell City for their last region game of the season of October 21, 2016. On October 26, 2016 the Wildcats will finish their regular season play against Anniston at home.+
