BY NOAH GRIFFITH
FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA ––
Lee-Scott football has the task of replacing last year’s senior class of 18, including AISA Back of the Year George Myers, in its search for a second consecutive state championship.
The Warriors have just seven seniors this year, but according to head coach Buster Daniel at iHeart Media Days last Wednesday, the seniors last year laid the groundwork for this team and future teams to be successful by setting the standard in a 13-0 season that ended with an AISA 3A State Championship.
The coaches made sure to have the future in mind last season and regularly gave underclassmen playing experience. That was, of course, made a little easier considering the Warriors won every game by double digits.
“We were lucky enough to get a lot of guys that start this year in games last year,” said defensive coordinator Jacob Ozment. “We’ve got a lot of guys with in-game experience from last season that weren’t necessarily starters but got 75+ snaps on the defensive side while scores were close.”
Pitching seven shutouts last season, Lee-Scott has a lot to replace on the defensive end. Ozment named several guys as key returners, including senior defensive back Miles Zachry, senior linebacker Jonathan Meyers and junior defensive back Tyler Kennedy.
Zachry is also going to be on the other side of the ball at receiver, but he’s also taken snaps at quarterback. He is versatile on the field, but when Daniel introduced him at media days, he introduced him as the first pilot he’s ever coached. Zachry has had his pilot license for about three years, and he’s not even out of high school. And this season, he’s trying to lift the Warriors to their first ever back-to-back state titles in football.
“Last year, we put in a ton of extra work to maintain those shutout games,” Zachry said. “Coach Oz and coach (Clay) Samford, they do a great job of getting us ready each week. I think if we just keep that up, we’ll have another good season.”
Under offensive coordinator Rick Wade, Lee-Scott set a school record, scoring 44 points a game last season. But it’s taking a team effort to make up for the losses on offense last season, too.
It will be tough to replace the production of last year’s AISA top running back with just one guy, so the Warriors have three guys rotating in the backfield: (Jonathan) Meyers, Kennedy and junior Banks Sims.
They also have the luxury of a returning quarterback, junior Pelzer Reeves, and Ozment said the starting job is his to lose.
The Warriors know they are the team to beat in AISA 3A this season after dominating everyone but Glenwood by more than 30 points, and defeating Glenwood twice — the latter time for a state championship.
“I think our guys know how important it is for them to step into so many roles that have been opened from guys that have left from last season,” Ozment said. “We’re fortunate that coach Daniel encourages us as coaches to keep challenging players each day to be proud of what all was accomplished last season but remember that last season, was last season. We’re going to get everyone’s best game each week. Who wouldn’t want to knock off the defending champions?”
LEE-SCOTT ACADEMY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
– Aug. 17: vs. Chambers Academy
– Aug. 24: OPEN
– Sept. 1: vs. Monroe
– Sept. 8: vs. Morgan
– Sept. 15: @ Glenwood
– Sept. 22: vs. Macon-East
– Sept. 29: @ Autauga
– Oct. 6: vs. Bessemer
– Oct. 13: @ Valiant Cross
– Oct. 20: @ Fort Dale
– Oct. 27: @ Edgewood