By Gary Lloyd
PINSON — This isn’t the same Woodlawn team from last season.
In 2013, the Colonels posted an 0-10 record, averaging a meager 8.2 points per game. They were shut out in four games.
Last week against Class 2A Tarrant, Woodlawn won 42-38, its first victory since Week 8 of the 2012 season. It scored more than half the points in one game than it did all of last season.
Pinson Valley junior right tackle Jackie Gulley goes through a blocking drill this summer.
file photo by Ron Burkett
Pinson Valley will have to be ready when it kicks off against the the Class 6A, Region 6 Colonels at 7 p.m. Friday at Willie Adams Stadium.
There are some similarities in these teams. While Woodlawn has been at the Class 6A level for the past two years, it has just 60 players in its program this year. First-year head coach Louis DeArman said over the summer that his team has a lot of speed but not a lot of size and strength. Pinson Valley doesn’t have Class 6A depth right now.
One of Woodlawn’s question marks heading into this season was the offensive line. The same can be said about the Indians. Woodlawn is running a new offense, the Wing-T. Pinson Valley has a new offensive coordinator in Jon Clements, who is running more of a play-action style with dual-threat quarterback Errius Collins. The offense exploded for 42 points against Oneonta last week.
DeArman is a former Pinson Valley coach, serving two years as defensive coordinator. Woodlawn managed plenty of points to get by Tarrant last week, especially in the running game, but expect Pinson Valley to score almost at will Friday night to go 1-0 in Class 6A, Region 6.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
