Hayden Dyer

STAFFNEY LOOKS TO HAVE BIG YEAR IN CCHS BACKFIELD

Written by ZACHARY SEIFTER Photos by BRANDON SUMRALL

He always saw himself as a linebacker.

A leader of the defense and a ferocious tackler, that is how Chilton County High School’s Kevin Staffney Jr. saw himself.

That has changed recently, however.

Staffney, entering his senior year at CCHS, is now the starting running back for the Tigers for a second consecutive year. In his freshman and sophomore years, he was a starting linebacker, but had to make the switch to offense when one of the team’s running backs left.

It was not an easy transition, according to Staffney. He went to several camps trying to get a feel for the position, and had to spend a lot of time and reps in practice getting comfortable with the new position.

The work he put in paid dividends. He finished the 2020 season with 528 yards off 124 rushes, good for an average of 4.26 yards per rush. He put up those numbers despite missing time with an injury.

In 2021, he is hoping to accomplish even more.

“(I want to) break more tackles and get more yards a game,” Staffney said. “Be a more complete back other than just a power back … Be able to catch the ball out of the backfield and break for more runs.”

Staffney will play a large role in trying to improve a Tigers offense that was lackluster in 2020. CCHS scored an average of just over 14 points per game. It is a large reason why the team stumbled its way to a 1-9 record.

Staffney will not have to pick up the offense alone. He, and the rest of the offense, will have the benefit of learning from new offensive coordinator Rishard Davis. The former Maplesville star was a state title winning head coach in Arizona. Now, he takes the reigns of the CCHS offense, and will turn to his senior running back to help carry the load.

“The plays he’s brought in … we’ve been learning it slowly,” Staffney said. “But (we’re) progressing fast. I like him, he’s a cool guy.”

With a new coach comes a new scheme, and having to learn a new scheme has resulted in some expected hiccups and growing pains for the CCHS offense. However, Staffney has grown more comfortable in the offense, as have the rest of his teammates.

“During the spring, we didn’t really get it,” Staffney said. “Now, we’re getting it better and better … We’re going to have it down pat by time the season starts.”

The new coaches and new schemes have created optimism in the CCHS locker room. That optimism is also fueled by seniors like Staffney, who have shown an extra sense of urgency and want to go out with a bang in their final year. They may have had a rough 2020 season, but try convincing Staffney that the 2021 CCHS team does not have what it takes to win.

“Last year we didn’t have the leadership,” Staffney said. “This year, we have probably 12, 13 or 14 seniors, and half of us have been starting since freshman [year]. So, we have a lot of varsity experience … We have that leadership, and we’re going to bring that leadership with us and we’re going to be good.”