Tigers take field this spring for first time after state title

All four county football teams have been hard at work this spring on the field getting a head start preparing for the 2012 football season.

For the Handley Tigers though, this spring’s showdown against Pinson Valley will be the first test in defending its 2011 state championship.

Handley head coach Mike Battles said the spring has been productive, even with a rash of minor injuries.

“We’ve been banged up a bit, but we’ve gotten to work with a lot of younger kids,” Battles said.

Handley lost a handful of top players to graduation after last season, including running backs Quay Hunter and Breyon DeBerry, linebacker Chris Dillard and all four defensive backs.

The spring has been useful in finding players to fill the spots left vacant by graduating seniors.

Despite some losses at key positions, Handley also has its fair share of areas where excellence is proven. The offensive and defensive lines remain largely intact and starting quarterback Trae Kyles will return as a senior.

“The ones we’ve expected to do well have done well,” Battles said.

In the backfield, Duran Zachery returns this spring as the Tigers’ number-one running back. Jerreion Williams and Coby Floyd have seen time in the backfield and may factor into the spring game.

The area with the most concern is in the defensive secondary, where Handley is replacing all four starters.

“They’ve got to come through because we lost all four last year,” Battles said. “They’re coming along well. They have a lot of work to do. If you’re not tough back there, you’re going to get beat. They’ve got a lot on their shoulders.”

Battles also said the linebacker corps will be young, but should be solid.

“We’ve got three young linebackers we think are going to do well for us in the future,” Battles said.

Battles said he feels confident in the starters on both sides of the ball, however the depth needed to be a real threat come fall will take time to develop.

“I think our first bunch is ready to go,” Battles said. “We can line up our first group and play with anybody. We just don’t have many spare parts. On defense, we think we have 11 then two or three more that can go. There’s jobs to be won and to be lost.”

Handley will debut another big change on the field this spring after the departure of offensive coordinator Ron Watters. Patrick Henderson will take over play-calling duties for Handley.

“He knows everything we do,” Battles said. “He was the natural choice. There’s some things we’re going to do different, but I won’t go over them in the newspaper.”

Handley will face a true test in Pinson Valley this Friday in Roanoke. Pinson Valley had an 8-2 record during the regular season last year in class 5A and made it to the second round of the state playoffs where it lost to Hartselle, the eventual 5A state champions, 22-21.

Pinson Valley returns 34 seniors to this year’s team.

“We’re really looking forward to getting out there,” Battles said.