The Lake Life Blog

The regular season has come to a close for 2018, and four teams are left standing. Clay Central, Handley, Randolph County, and Wadley will all host playoff games as 2-seeds in their respective regions. 

The Randolph County Tigers will be tasked with welcoming the Lauderdale County Tigers to Wedowee to open the playoffs. While the Tigers are ranked #1 in Class 3A, it was Piedmont who claimed the region 6 crown, winning the tie-breaker by owning the head-to-head matchup that was played in mid-September. 

Lauderdale County is 4-6, with all four wins coming over region opponents. The Tigers finished third behind Colbert Heights and #7 Westminster Christian. 

Wadley, under first year head coach Jonathan Farr, are in the playoffs as the 2-seed after an impressive 7-2 regular season. Their lone loss came to the #1 Lanett Panthers, who ended as region 4 champions. Coach Farr looks to become the first first-year head coach in Wadley history to win a playoff game, as his Bulldogs welcome 1A power Brantley to Curtis Lynch Memorial Field on Friday night. Brantley enters the game at 7-3, finishing third in 1A Region 2 behind Elba and region title owner Georgiana. This will be the 2nd time that Wadley has faced Brantley, the Bulldogs in red clad defeated Brantley in 2007, 21-20 in a comeback effort for Brantley at home. 

Handley's topsy-turvey region has finally gotten figured out, as they claim the 2-seed in 4A Region 4. In the first round, the Tigers will host an old friend in Trinity out of Montgomery. This will be the seventh time that these two teams have faced each other, with Trinity winning the first five meetings. Handley won the most recent match, 28-14 in the 2007 playoffs. Trinity has had a down year, entering the game at 4-6, but has won three of their last four games to close out the year. 

Finally, Clay Central will be rewarded in the first year of Danny Horn's return by hosting a playoff game as the 2-seed in 5A Region 5. Their only region loss came to region champ Mortimer Jordan on a bizarre final play that involved a blocked field goal resulting in a touchdown. The Blue Devils won that game, 32-27. The Volunteers from Clay Central will host Corner from 5A Region 7 in round one. Much like many opponents from the 2018 season, Corner and Clay Central have never met on the gridiron before Friday. Corner and Clay Central share a mutual opponent, the Jasper Vikings. Jasper defeated Corner 35-20 on September 14, and got the best of Clay Central two weeks later, 10-7, scoring on a last-minute field goal. Corner finished third in region 7, with a 6-4 record, 4-3 in region.  

The regular season came to a close last Friday night for our area High School Football teams, and for two teams, they ended the season on a high note. 

RANDOLPH COUNTY 28 WADLEY 0

This game was much closer than the scoreboard indicated. Randolph County led the game 7-0 at the break, with the only score coming on a turnover due to a busted play on a Wadley punt. The Tigers ultimately pulled away in the second half for the win. 

Both teams are qualified for the playoffs in their respective classifications, and will host round one games this upcoming Friday night. 

CLAY CENTRAL 45 HANDLEY 7

The Volunteers from Clay County had a great end to their season, by defeating Handley 45-7 on the road. 

Clay Central did most of their damage in the first half, scoring 38 points to take a 38-0 lead going to the locker room. Handley's lone score came in the 3rd quarter at the 4:10 mark. 

Much like Randolph County and Wadley, both Handley and Clay Central will host playoff games at their home stadiums this Friday night. 

DONOHO 56 WOODLAND 0

The 2018 football season has come to a close for the Woodland Bobcats, it ended with a shutout loss at Donoho last Friday. The Bobcats end the season with a 2-8 record, with wins coming over Fayetteville and Gaston. 

Be sure to visit tomorrow, as we give you a guide to first round playoff games for our area teams. 

Here it is, the regular season finale. "Football Weather" is in full effect as most games will see temperatures in the high 40's at kickoff. Oh, and it's non-region rivalry week. Here's a preview of this week's games. 

Woodland (2-7) at Donoho (7-2)

In the season finale for the Woodland Bobcats, they hope to spoil the final regular season game of the year for Donoho on the road. Donoho, who has been known to be streaky over the last few seasons, have won seven games this year, and will host a round one playoff game. For Woodland, who entered this re-classification cycle as the smallest 2A school in the state, playing a local 1A team is beneficial says Coach Jeremy Stanford. 

"We need to be playing schools that are nearby, that we can keep on our schedule, we could possibly be in their region (next re-classification cycle in 2019)."

Clay Central (6-3) at Handley (5-4)

In what has become a solid rivalry game, the Vols and Tigers meet for the seventh time on Friday night. Both teams finished second in their respective regions, and will have one last test before hosting playoff games next week. In his first year back in Clay County, Danny Horn has gotten the Volunteers on the right track, losing three games by just 13 points. Handley has won two straight, and wants to keep that momentum going into the playoffs. 

Wadley (7-1) at Randolph County (8-1)

Here it is, the big one of the week. Wadley wrapped up the 2-seed in 1A Region 4 last week with a win over Notasulga. For Randolph County, they need a win and a Piedmont loss to win 3A Region 6. Both teams have one loss, and are hungry to get after each other.

"It will be a great challenge for our guys to come out and play hard," says Wadley head coach Jonathan Farr.

​Wadley has shut down premiere athletes all season long, Friday's match with RCHS will be the ultimate test for the first-year head coach and his squad against the best team in 3A, who has athletes all over the field. 


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Heading into Friday night, there were a few teams in our area who needed a win in order to clear up their rather cloudy playoff picture. For those teams, they got it done. Clay Central, Handley, and Wadley both know where they are heading, while Randolph County still needs a little help this upcoming Friday night. 

West End 25 Woodland 22

So much like Clay Central has experienced this season, Woodland fell in heartbreaking fashion involving special teams. Tied at 22 with less than a minute in regulation, the Bobcats attempted a field goal that was unsuccessful. Once West End took over, they broke open a play that gave them great field position with 3.2 seconds remaining. The Patriots ran one more play, setting up shop at the 30 yard line as time expired. However, there was a personal foul called on Woodland, setting up an un-timed down. West End kicked a field goal to end the game, which was their first win of the season. Woodland will finish the 2018 season on the road at Donoho next Friday. 

Clay Central 14 Center Point 0

The Volunteers wrapped up the 2-seed in 5A Region 5 with a road win at a rainy, cold Center Point. Center Point had a methodical drive brewing in the first quarter, which was aided by several Clay Central penalties. However, the defense stood up when they needed to, and kept the Eagles out of the end zone. Clay Central will close out the regular season at Handley on Friday. 

Handley 35 Talladega 21

After a very emotional week, the Tigers from Handley were happy to get back on the football field and play. Handley picked up a much needed win over Talladega, which clinched the 2nd-seed in 4A region 4. Handley hosts Clay Central this Friday night to close out the regular season. 

Randolph County 35 Pleasant Valley 6

Randolph County's route in the playoffs has yet to be determined, but Friday's win at Pleasant Valley helps. Eyes will be on Piedmont and their game with Geraldine. If Piedmont beats Geraldine, no matter the result of Randolph County's game with Wadley, Piedmont wins 3A Region 6. If Piedmont loses, and Randolph County wins, then the Tigers from Wedowee are crowned champions. Demarcus Davis had two rushing touchdowns and two interceptions on defense in the win for RCHS. An inter-county rivalry awaits RCHS, as the Tigers host Wadley on Friday night. 

Wadley 33 Notasulga 6

Although it was expected, Wadley sealed up the 2-seed in 1A Region 4 by defeating Notasulga, 33-6 on Friday. Trevor Cameron and Dalton Brown each had two touchdowns. Wadley puts all of their focus on Randolph County, they meet in Wedowee on Friday night. 

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I had the privilege of spending a little time with Principal Steve Giddens during the first week of classes at Randolph County High School to learn more about him and the upcoming year at RCHS. This is a man who loves his job, the students of RCHS, and he is excited to take on his first year as principal of RCHS. But take it from me, do not call him Mr. Giddens, this man is a coach through and through.

​Q- What has you most excited about for the upcoming school year?
A- I am excited about getting to know the kids and watching them grow.

​Q- What is your favorite part of starting a new school year?
A- See the excitement on the kids’ and faculty/staffs’ faces. To see them be excited about football, volleyball, cheerleading, seeing their new friends. Most people say they dread school, but I don’t think that is really true.

Q- How would you describe your school to someone from another town?
A- We are a small school that represents Wedowee and who we are. We are proud to be from RCHS, we love this place, we love each other, we take care of each other, and we defend each other.

Q- Who is the unsung hero of your school?
A- Coach Allen Whaley. He gives a lot of his time, and his love of the students of RCHS, the athletic teams. He is here 12 months a year – He doesn’t have to be here all day, but he stays all day. The kids know he loves them. He is an inspiration because he gives of himself so willingly.

Q- What is Friday Night Life like for your school?
A- It is the only place to be! Football games are the heartbeat of the town. It represents the best of what we have to offer. They love it, they are excited. Most people that live in Wedowee, went to RCHS, and played. Their dad played, their grandfather may have played, and now their son is playing. Everyone is connected – the band plays, cheerleaders cheering. It is the only place to be.

Q- What is your big goal for the 2018-2019 school year?
A- Every child feels important and feels loved. We teach them and at the end of the year, they are glad they belong to RCHS. That is our goals for students and our faculty/staff.

Q- How can the community support you/the school in achieving this goal? 
A- I am proud of the relationship that RCHS has with the town of Wedowee. Anything we ask for – financial, man power, support – they give it to us. They help take care of RCHS and we help take care of the town of Wedowee. We love their help, and we want their help to make this the greatest high school in the state. They have been so good to us, so just for them to keep doing what they are doing.

Q- If you could pick a theme song for your school, what would it be?
A- Eye of the Tiger

Q- Tell me something good. Something fun, unexpected, or interesting that readers might not know about your school.
A- The neatest thing to me is taking the principal job at RCHS. It was never a part of the through-process. But Clifton “Stick” Drummonds is the assistant principal, and it is neat to be back with him. I coached him in 7th grade, and now it is a neat feeling to be back with him. He is a great guy, and he is good for this place. I am glad to be back working with him.

Wadley High School is led by Principal Lori Carlisle, and she is excited about the opportunities and plans for the upcoming school year. She has a clear vision for what it means to be a part of the Wadley Bulldog community. The mission of Wadley High School is to provide a learning environment which prepares students to be productive members of society. Ms. Carlisle and her team work towards this goal every day, and they have track record of success. Discover more about Wadley High School from the woman herself:

Question: What has you most excited about for the upcoming school year?

Answer: I am not sure I could pick out one thing. We are so excited as about everything from academics, athletics, extracurricular. We are just having a real sense of excitement in the air.

Question: What is your favorite part of starting a new school year?

​Answer: It is a new start. It is a fresh beginning. Each student, teacher, administrator gets a chance for a fresh start. Opportunities to do something new or different, and an opportunity to try something again, and maybe get it better.

Question: What about your school are you most proud of?

Answer: The most recent thing is a report that came out in al.com in March. We have 87% of our graduates attending college. There are only 19 schools with more than 80%, and we were ninth in the state. We outdid schools with a ton more resources, and we were ninth in the state! That is a credit to our parents, our teachers, our students, everyone working hard to have a rate that high.

​Question: Who is the unsung hero of your school?

Answer: All of our support staff, but if I had to pick one it would be my custodian, Tim Bennett. He is so loved by our students, our staff, everyone. He would do anything for anyone. The kids know how much he loves them, and they respect him.

Question: What is your big goal for the 2018-2019 school year?

Answer: For every kid to buy into something that we do here. I want every student to be actively involved in something, whether it be the yearbook, or pep band, athletics, FFA, etc.  Whatever it is, I want them to be invested in what we do here. For athletics, I want to win a state championship.

​Question: How can the community support you/the school in achieving this goal?

Answer: I could not ask my community to do anything more than they are already doing. They pour into this school with everything they have, and I could not imagine asking them for anything else. They are the heartbeat of this school.

Question: How would you describe your school to someone from another town?

Answer: To describe the school is to describe the community. The school is a family, the community is a family, and we are really intertwined. We work together, and I would include Southern Union in that too. We work together to make sure that our kids are taken care and loved. Wadley High School could not operate without the support of the community.

Question: What is Friday Night Life like for your school?

Answer: I don’t know if the population triples or quadruples, but it is the place to be! There is not a seat left in the stands, the community is there. There is nothing like it.

​Question: If you could pick a theme song for your school, what would it be?

Answer: When we do well academically with math tournaments or FFA – I play We are the Champions. We don’t do that for athletics, because it doesn’t necessarily show our humility. But We are the Champions fits us even when we don’t win, because we are still winners because we are trying; we are competing; and we are learning.

Question: Tell me something good. Something fun, unexpected, or interesting that readers might know about your school. 

​Answer: Cam Newton’s wide receiver on Auburn’s 2010 national championship team, Terrell Zachary, is one of our assistant coaches. Oh, and this is fun, our football stadium is named for Coach Curtis Lynch, and our new head football coach, Jonathan Farr is his great nephew.

Principal Greg Foster is a veteran administrator at Handley High School, and it is evident that he is passionate about his students’ success and safety. After getting to spend some time with Mr. Foster, you can hear his dedication to the school, the students, even the alums who make up the larger Handley family. Read on to learn more about Mr. Foster and the 2018-2019 school year.

Question: What has you most excited about for the upcoming school year?
Answer: The preparation and the professional development to prepare the students for the ACT. We have put a lot of time in the summer getting ready for this. All of the juniors have to take the ACT, but it doesn’t start with the juniors.  Our professional development centers on this. We are excited about our plans and preparations.

Question: What is your favorite part of starting a new school year?
Answer: Having an opportunity to see the students. They grow tremendously over the summer, and to see all of the gains they have made. That is my most favorite part getting to see them and share with them. It is all about building relationships so that you can hopefully have an impact on their lives.

Question: How would you describe your school to someone from another town?
Answer: Family. We always talk about the Handley family. We support each other. We do what we need to do be successful. Even when they leave, we continue to be a support system. They continue to be a part of what we do, and we love to see what they are becoming.

Question: What about your school are you most proud of?
Answer: Our 96% graduate rate and college readiness rate. When students come into the 9th grade. They come in as a co-hort, and our goal is to get them from 9th-12th grade and graduating. This is the highest rate you can get, and we are 3 points above the state average. Coming from a small town with 57% poverty rate, and we are one of only 9 schools in the state to get this rate, and most of those are in the larger areas such as Birmingham, Huntsville, and Montgomery – and Coffee County. That is pretty remarkable.

Question: Who is the unsung hero of your school?
Answer: Kelli Hendon, our school counselor and testing coordinator. She seems very attune to our students. She is there for them. She know their transcripts, she knows the courses that they need to be in. She is constantly in conversations about their life goals. She is a role model for them and she goes far and beyond for our students.

Question: What is Friday Night Life like for your school?
Answer: Exciting. This is a time when the entire community – parents, community leaders, churches, student body, administrators, younger kids. Everyone comes together to cheer on the Handley Tigers. No matter what you are dealing with, you can put that aside for three hours and just enjoy win, lose, or draw. We want to win, but we always come together as a family, and it just bring happiness.

Question: What is your big goal for the 2018-2019 school year?
Answer: You hear a lot about things that are going on in schools – shootings, bullying, and our big goal is to continually create a safe environment for all of our students so they are able to learn. We have a new intercom system being installed, more safety features, changing door systems, check-in system, so that our students feel safe

Question: How can the community support you/the school in achieving this goal?
Answer: The community does. We receive the county sales tax. Our city council does a great job of supporting us financially, and we are able to fund these things to continue to create a safe environment. That is support is why we are able to do the things we do.

Question: If you could pick a theme song for your school, what would it be?
Answer: Roar – Katy Perry.

​Question: Tell me something good. Something fun unexpected, or interesting that readers might know about your school.
Answer: We teach our kids to be proud. We tell them you don’t lose. Even at the end of the game no matter what the scores say, you don’t lose. You continue to fight, and we teach them to compete. That is the thing that our kids enjoy the most, and they don’t want to lose. They don’t care what it is. We believe in what we do. We are definitely creating an environment where students can be successful when they leave.
 

The playoff picture, for the most part, will be straightened out following Friday night's games. Wadley and Clay Central will look to solidify their place as 2nd seed in their respective regions, while Randolph County and Handley still have a ton to figure out. 

The region finale's for our local teams are upcoming and are sure to provide quality entertainment. 

Clay Central (5-3, 5-1) at Center Point (5-3, 5-1)
With Clay Central losing a heartbreaker to Mortimer Jordan a few weeks ago, this week's game with Center Point will decide the 2nd-seed in 5A Region 5. Both teams are coming in with identical records, and have lost to the same region opponent, region champ Mortimer Jordan. The Eagles fell to Mortimer Jordan 28-20 in week two, Clay Central lost to the Blue Devils on October 5, 32-27. Outside of games with Mortimer Jordan, both teams have gotten through their region schedules relatively unscathed. Clay Central's closest region win was against Munford by 21 points, 35-14; Center Point's was a 15-point win over St. Clair County, 22-7. This Friday night's bout will be one to watch and will be a wonderful ending to a great region schedule. 

Notasulga (4-5, 3-2) at Wadley (6-1, 4-1)
1A Region 4's seeding has not been set in stone yet, but one can assume that the current standings will stay the same. Lanett, Wadley, Billingsley, and Notasulga have qualified for the playoffs. Billingsley defeated Notasulga last Friday night to take third place in the region. This week, #1 Lanett faces #3 Billingsley, and #2 Wadley hosts #4 Notasulga. With the higher numbers coming into their games as heavy favorites, the seeding is likely to remain the same. Wadley will play their final regular-season home game this Friday night and is expected to host a first-round game, a great way to begin a challenging postseason. 

Randolph County (7-1, 5-1) at Pleasant Valley (5-3, 3-3)
Now that the least confusing playoff scenarios for Wadley and Clay Central are discussed, let's move on to something a little more challenging. Randolph County went on the road and defeated the #1 Saks Wildcats, which put a tie-breaker in place, with three teams suffering one loss in region play. RCHS, Piedmont, and Saks are now in a three-way tie for first place in 3A Region 6. For a breakdown of what tiebreakers come into play, I would suggest liking "Tiger Den Media" on Facebook. A friend of Lake Wedowee Life, Jeremy Wortham, has broken down how RCHS could win the region championship. It's a complicated process, but it is one to follow if you're a fan of high school football. 

Handley (4-4, 3-2) at Talladega (4-4. 3-2)
The RCHS scenario is a strange one, but not as much as the one that Handley has found themselves in. Handley grabbed a win over Leeds last Friday to qualify themselves for the postseason. With two losses, Handley could still win 4A Region 4 with a win on Friday night (What?!?). Lincoln, who currently leads the region with one loss, faces Elmore County on Friday. If Elmore County wins, there will be a three-way tie for first place. If that's the case, Handley wins the region. A Lincoln loss would give them two losses against two teams that Handley defeated (Elmore County and Holtville), as long as the Tigers defeat Talladega this Friday. If anything else happens, well, I'll have to do more research. Be sure to stay tuned to Monday's recap for a full response. 

West End (0-8, 0-5) at Woodland (2-6, 1-4)
With a loss at Westbrook Christian last Friday night, the Woodland Bobcats have been eliminated from playoff contention. All is not lost, however. The Bobcats have two games remaining and have a chance to increase their win total from three wins a year ago, to four. Winning two games to close out the year would give this team a reason to smile, and confidence heading into offseason workouts. 

​On a sunny, fall-like Wednesday afternoon in October, the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association and all of their volunteers stopped for a meal at Rice Pavilion at Lake Wedowee. The 37 volunteers had just wrapped up another solid day of cleaning trash and other debris around the lake, as part of the “Renew Our Rivers” campaign, that has just wrapped up their 27th year. 

Following the wonderful lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches, Brunswick stew, and cookies provided by WM Grocery; Sheila Smith, Bob May, as well as Marlon and Betty Glover,  sat down for a discussion on how far the campaign has come over the last two decades, and how much the local community has helped the cause. 

Today’s journey has improved since beginning in 1992, says Bob May, one of the organizers of “Renew our Rivers.” May says that the effort began with less than 10 people on one boat, and would last upwards of six days, from 8 AM to dark. 

“We would spend two days just on one cove, it was a lot of work,” says May of the first lake cleanup. “I’d lose ten pounds in the week that we were doing it.”

Not only has the number of volunteers increased, but the amount of trash collected has dropped since the project began. 

Marlon Glover told us that the number of refrigerators, washing machines, tires, and even stranger items such as bowling balls were alarming. 

More volunteers began to come out, and the event became more organized and was then given the title of “the Tallapoosa Trashout,” says Sheila Smith of the Alabama Power Shorelines, who has also been a part of the efforts since the inception. Alabama Power then began to consolidate all 37 cleanup efforts into one campaign and became what it is known today as “Renew our Rivers” 19 years ago. 

The Lake Wedowee version of “Renew our Rivers” has been called the most organized lake cleanup efforts in the state, and it all goes back to the volunteers. 

In 2018, “Renew our Rivers” on Lake Wedowee averaged 36 volunteers per day, ranging from members of the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association to community members who took a few vacation days to help out. Even the Randolph County High School fishing club sent members out to help with cleanup efforts. 

The volunteering does not stop at just cleanup. Local restaurants and grocery stores have donated food and water to volunteers, and others have donated boats to provide transportation around the lake. 

“This community is wonderful at donating,” says Betty Glover. Mrs. Glover took the time to thank Lakeside Marina, WM Grocery’s deli, and Crystal Barnes with Hunter Bend Realty for feeding the volunteers, in addition to Small Town Bank and Perryland Foods, who donated water and snacks respectively.  

“Renew our Rivers” has also seen an abundance of boats donated to aid in cleanup efforts. Randy Morris at Wedowee Marine donated three boats, as well as gas; Alabama Power and other local donations had the number up to nine donated boats. 

From humble beginnings filled with bologna sandwiches and six-day efforts to a growth in community involvement, “Renew our Rivers” is stronger than ever. Marlon, Betty, Bill, and Sheila all say that the event is more than just collecting trash and providing a better lake for residents and wildlife, it has become a fun experience full of memories and meeting others who share a love for our lake. 

For more information on “Renew Our Rivers”, as well as everything going on with the Lake Wedowee Property Owners Association, visit www.lakewedoweepoa.com

As we move into the last stretch of the 2018 season, playoff pushes are becoming stronger than ever. So far, three of five local teams have qualified for the playoffs in their respective classes, with Handley and Woodland needing just one more region win to qualify. Each game is important, including the slate this week. 

Randolph County (6-1, 4-1) at Saks (7-0, 5-0)
Jack Stewart Field- Saks
RCHS leads all-time series, 2-0
Last Time: RCHS 33 Saks 6 (1963)

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