Tyler Staples DB Sr 61 94 Jamon Smith DL Sr

By Shane Paschal Founding member, ahsfhs.org

IRONDALE — Looking ahead to the early season matchups for the Shades Valley Mounties, it’s pivotal for this team to find early success to build on the foundation that head coach Reuben Nelson began laying last season.

The Mounties finished 3-7, but that’s not the whole story. Because this is Shades Valley’s first season in The Tribune’s coverage area, here is a quick scouting report on the teams the Mounties will be facing as they try to climb those early hurdles and work toward a playoff berth.

Shades Valley’s first contest of the season is a non-region away game against the Stanhope Elmore Mustangs. Stanhope Elmore is from Millbrook, near Prattville, and we play them at Foshee-Henderson Stadium at Stanhope Elmore High on August 19. In 2021, Stanhope Elmore was 5-5 overall and 2-4 in Class 6A, Region 3, finishing in fifth place in their region.

Stanhope Elmore’s current head coach is Brian Bradford, who is entering his sixth year with the school and ninth year as a head coach overall. He has a coaching record of 39-46, including a three year stint at Chilton County where he went 9-21, and an 30-25 record with the Mustangs. Bradford is 1-1 against Shades Valley as a head coach.

Stanhope Elmore will be led on offense by returning QB, junior Jacob Bryant. Josiah Scott and Jackson Thomas, a Troy commit, will be targets for Bryant. Orenthal Martin, who plays both receiver and running back, is another Mustang threat on offense.

FAIRFIELD

Shades Valley’s second game of the season is on the road at the Fairfield Tigers on August 26.

In 2021, Fairfield was 7-4, and 5-2 in Class 5A, Region 5, good enough for third place in their region. Among their victories were wins over Carver, Center Point, Cordova, Ramsay & Wenonah, while their losses were to Jackson-Olin, Parker, Pleasant Grove & a first round playoff lose to Fairview.

Shades Valley holds a 12-9 advantage over Fairfield, but the teams are an even 5-5 at Clements Field.

Fairfield’s head coach is Shepherd Skanes, who is entering his first season with the Tigers, and third overall as a high school coach. Skanes was head coach at Ellwood Christian the previous two seasons, with a record of 0-17. Skanes was head coach at Concordia College from 2005-12, compiling a record of 33-40 during his tenure. SV’s Nelson has a 7-5 record as a head coach against Fairfield, during his years at Midfield & Ramsay.

OXFORD

Week three begins with the Mounties’ third straight away game, this one against the Oxford Yellow Jackets on September 2.

In 2021, Oxford was 7-5, and 5-1 in Class 6A, Region 7, finishing in first place in their region. Among their victories were wins over Arab, Chelsea, Fort Payne, Pell City, Scottsboro & Springville, while their losses were to Central-Phenix City, Gadsden City, Southside-Gadsden, Thompson & a second round playoff loss to Pinson Valley.

Shades Valley’s series with Oxford dates back to 1932, but that was the only meeting until 2002. They became region opponents from 2006-11, and most every matchup was hard fought even though Oxford dominated the series. In that first meeting in 1932, Oxford took a 25-7 win in Oxford. The two teams did not meet again until 2002 when Oxford moved up to 6A after being a longtime 5A powerhouse. The two teams met 8 times in 10 years between 2002-11, with six of those matchups being region contests. Shades Valley’s first and only victory in the series came in 2009 in a thrilling 2117 win at Frank Nix Stadium. This will be the 12th all-time matchup with Oxford. Oxford won the first six meetings between the teams, and leads the overall series with a 10-1 record.

Oxford’s head coach is Sam Adams, who is entering his second season with the Yellow Jackets, and ninth overall as a high school coach. Adams was head coach at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa the previous seven seasons prior to coming to Oxford, with a record of 56-29. Adams was an assistant at Hoover in 2012 & 2013, helping the Bucs to state titles both seasons.

HUFFMAN

Shades Valley’s fourth opponent of the season, and first home game, is a Region 6 contest with the Huffman Vikings on September 16. In 2021, Huffman was 2-8 overall and 1-5 in Class 6A Region 6, finishing in sixth place. Huffman’s wins were over Benjamin Russell and Woodlawn.

Huffman opened in 1968, and has 274 wins and five region championships in 54 seasons of football. The Vikings have appeared in two state title games in 1973 and 1985, finishing runner-up both times.

The Mounties series with Huffman dates back to 1977, and Shades Valley narrowly leads 15-14, though on the field, Huffman leads 1514. A 2007 Huffman forfeit is the difference. Although Huffman opened in 1968, the Mounties did not face the Vikings until the 1977 state playoffs. The teams would not face each other again until the 1984 season, but since 1984, they have met 28 of 37 years. The series is tied at home 7-7, but without the forfeit, Huffman would hold the 8-6 lead. Shades Valley leads 8-7 in away games, with Huffman holding a 7-5 record at Lawson Field, and Shades Valley leading 3-0 at Huffman’s new field.

Huffman’s head coach is Marlon Bush, entering his first season with the Vikings, and as a head coach overall. Bush was Huffman’s defensive coordinator last season, and before that spent two years at Hoover, and six years at Ramsay on Mounties head coach Rueben Nelson’s staff. Bush graduated from East Limestone in 1997, and UAB in 2002. This will be Bush’s first head coaching experience against Shades Valley, while the Mounties’ Nelson is 1-0 against the Vikings.

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