CULLMAN – With the football season beginning in two weeks, the Cullman Bearcats waited for the moment Friday evening to get into full gear, with pads popping with plenty of intensity.
It was the first day the Alabama High School Athletic Association allowed teams to go to full dress. The Bearcats spent the evening at Oliver Woodard Stadium under conditions in the 90s, knowing the weather will be similar Aug. 19 when they head to J.P. Cain Stadium to meet the Hartselle Tigers.
Once the stretching exercises were done, the Bearcats broke into groups with the assistant coaches taking their position players and working on a series of fundamentals.
Quarterbacks Ross Crocker and Fletcher Jennings began practice on their techniques, from footwork to throwing the ball. The Bearcats operate out of the spread formation and were in the process of improving their timing and accuracy in throws and completions made.
The linemen were getting instructions on pass protection blocking, plus rolling out if plays turn out to be runs instead of throws.
The defensive linemen were going through blocking areas with the secondary focused on coverage in man-to-man and zone series.
Leverage drills included the backs and receivers in one area and the linemen in another blocking and tackling inside a circle.
Then after a brief break, it was back to the groups working on executing, from the QBs to the receivers, and the linemen going through intense contact drills.
Now that they are permitted to be in full gear, it's full speed ahead for the Bearcats with Hartselle waiting for Mark Britton's squad to visit them on the third Friday of August.
Never before have these two rivals played in a season opener. It is the first time in years that Cullman and Hartselle are not paired in the same region by the AHSAA. The 'Cats are in Region 7 this season with the Tigers remaining in Region 8.
So Britton and Hartselle's Bob Godsey agreed the game would become a season opener for the next two years.
Cullman is 0-8 under Britton in games played at Hartselle since he became head coach at his alma mater in 2001.
The last time the Bearcats won at Cain Stadium was in 1997 with Mike Bates coaching the squad. Cullman claimed a 24-21 victory.
Cullman fell by the score of 14-13 to the Tigers last season at Oliver Woodard Stadium. The last time the Bearcats visited Hartselle, the Tigers claimed a 28-0 shutout on Oct. 24 of 2014.
Whichever team wins this year will take the all-time lead in the series. It's even at 45-45-4 going into the 95th battle between the pair.
The Bearcats believe their experience, with Crocker and Jennings at quarterback, plus Erza Banks at running back, Caiden Lynn, Dawson Drake and Dillon McSwain at wide receiver and Hunter Brannon, Tyler Nunnelley, Colton Oden and Trevor Crider up front puts them in a position to begin the season with a win.
Cullman is opening on the third weekend of August for the third consecutive year since the AHSAA began allowing teams to play a regular game that weekend back in 2014. The last two seasons, the opener has been with another rival- Arab.
This time, the Bearcats changed up opponents, with the matchup set to be one of the featured attractions in area high school football.
