By Erik Harris
CLAY – Not that top-ranked Clay-Chalkville had any hopes or dreams of flying under anyone’s radar in 2015, but the noise it made at last weekend’s Middle Tennessee Football Classic didn’t take long reach the ears of every football team in Birmingham, including the Cougars Week 2 opponent.
Minor, under the direction of second-year head coach George Bates, is a trending team in Class 6A. The Tigers are coming off a 7-4 season that ended in the opening round of the state playoffs at Muscle Shoals.
Like last year, Clay-Chalkville is Minor’s first opponent of the season. And like last year, the Tigers will take the field as a major underdog on Friday night. The host Cougars won last year’s version of the series by a 46-14 margin.
One thing will be different: This matchup will take place at Minor Stadium, where Bates’ team went a perfect 5-0 last fall. The last of those wins was an impressive 27-9 outing over Pinson Valley.
Defensive coordinator Sean Talsma and his new-look Cougar unit won’t have to worry about two of the problems Pinson Valley dealt with last October. Quarterback Haywood Spencer and his favorite target Mike Chisem have since graduated, taking their big-play potential with them.
Replacing Spencer at quarterback will be either Dre’quan Pritchett or Jay Jackson. Sophomore receiver Delonte’ Evans is expected to have a big season after scoring nine touchdowns as a freshman in 2014. However, cornerbacks C.J. Toney and Amari Holloway appear to be capable of covering Birmingham’s finest after holding sixth-ranked Blackman (Tenn.) to five receptions on 14 attempts for 32 yards last Saturday.
Clay-Chalkville will need to keep a sharp eye on Minor’s all-purpose back Jaylond Adams, who is a proven threat to score from anywhere on the field. Adams and running back David Mitchell should avoid linebacker Terry Brown, who gobbled up 2 ½ tackles for loss against Blackman.
Follow Erik Harris on Twitter @jeharris2.