Cullman County football coaches speak at media day:
The 2025 season for local football kicks off in a month from now:
GDW Analysis:
It's a month until the 2025 Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) football season begins.
For the seven schools in the Cullman County system, the head coaches and players were involved Monday in the 8th annual CCBOE fall sports media day from the board office conference room.
Gameday Weekly got reports from the teams with the start of fall practice for each to begin two weeks from Monday on August 4.
Our report on each is how they were assigned by the organizers of the event that is now a tradition being held in the later part of July.
Vinemont Eagles:
Coach Stephen Robinson pointed out the Eagles lost 13 seniors from the 2024 squad that was 7 & 3 in the regular season and a playoff qualifier for the 5th consecutive year.
Robinson noted that 3 teams the Eagles play in 3A, Region 5 will have new coaches.
New personnel on the sideline is reported at Gordo, Oakman, Midfield.
Vinemont opens the season August 22 at Burl Vest Stadium vs. the Falkville Blue Devils.
Hanceville Bulldogs:
Second year coach Levi Estes told the media the Bulldogs have between 4 to 5 starters back on both sides of the football. They have leadership in QB Hunter Black. Estes gave praise for Black's time taking snaps last season under tough situations.
Hanceville is in the season opener on a Thursday night, August 21 in going to Cranford Stricklin Stadium and battle the Cold Springs Eagles.
Cold Springs Eagles:
Brendan Voce is ecstatic of the Eagles meeting the Hanceville Bulldogs for the season opener August 21.
The game is on a Thursday evening and the only one locally.
Voce is hoping in the future the Eagles can add some more county opponents. He replied on the value it means for county schools to play county opponents as many times possible in the regular season.
The Eagles and Bulldogs have just 9 matchups in the history of the rivalry with Hanceville posting victory 6 times.
Good Hope Raiders:
For an incredible turnaround of 10 wins in 12 games last season after a 3 & 7 record in 2023, the Raiders seek more success in 2025 with Alan Scott in his 11th year at his alma mater.
Good Hope won the regional title for the first time with Scott, taking down 7 opponents in 4A, Region 5.
Scott described the current Raider team's strength being leadership.
Good Hope will play a jamboree game at Pisgah August 22. The season opener for the Raiders is August 29 at James Shabel Stadium against the West Point Warriors.
Holly Pond Broncos:
Four victories got the Broncos on improvement in the first season for coach Will McDaniel.
The Broncos set a school record with 324 points, averaging 32. 4 per contest.
In the four wins for the Broncos, Holly Pond scored 74 on Hanceville, 54 against Brindlee Mountain, 44 vs. Asbury and 48 in the finale against Cleveland.
They missed the playoffs by one game, a 25 to 24 loss to Whitesburg Christian on the first Friday of October.
Holly Pond heads to Blount County for the opener August 22 with the Appalachian Eagles.
Fairview Aggies:
Since 2020, Fairview football has been the best of the county by accounting for 48 victories and just 11 losses. A 10 & 1 tally during the 2024 season was the third time in the last 5 years George Redding's group achieved double digit triumphs.
Fairview is at 50 people waiting to begin the 2025 season Redding said. Eight players with starting experience are back on both sides of the football.
Redding is thrilled to have skilled positions back on the offensive side. They are having to find some depth in the line of scrimmage from losing several to graduation.
The Aggies have added an opponent to give them 10 games in the regular season.
Fairview visits Fultondale on August 22. The home opener will be the following Friday (the 29th) vs. the Springville Tigers.
West Point Warriors:
Things have gone well for West Point in the offseason according to 2nd year coach Kevin McCravy.
The numbers are up in participation with McCravy reporting 78 while visiting with the media Monday.
The offseason has been nothing but work in order to restore success with the 5A school.
West Point claimed a pair of victories in early October against Priceville on a game winning TD as time ran out and a 28 to 7 victory a week late at East Limestone.
The Warriors fell in close games to Haleyville, Good Hope, Hayden and Ardmore.
West Point will be on the road on opening night, the 22nd with a trip into Winston County to play the Haleyville Lions.
Photo of Vinemont High School, the first school up during Cullman County fall sports media day Monday at the CCBOE conference room.
Photo courtesy of Cullman County Schools.
