Holly Pond Broncos

HOLLY POND — As a high school football coach, Holly Pond’s Mike Bates has seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows.

It wasn’t too long ago when he led St. Paul’s to the Class 5A state championship, hoisting the blue map at Legion Field at the end of the 2007 season.

Bates left the game for a few years after the fall of 2008, only to return to the sidelines in 2013 with the Broncos. To say last season was a tough one would be putting it mildly, as they went 0-10 while being outscored 406-109.

“It’s a lot harder on them than on me,” said Bates, who’s also made stops at Curry, Cullman, Bob Jones, Lawrence County and Marion County. “There’s not much I haven’t been through. I’ve been where they give you a trophy at the end of the year, and I’ve been where you didn’t win a game. The only thing those two things have in common, is usually you have good kids on both of them. Your job is to coach them.”

With a full season — and perhaps more importantly, a full offseason — behind Bates and the Broncos, things are starting to look up. As many as nine freshmen started last season, as did several sophomores. On top of that, Holly Pond will lean on 10 seniors — eight of which will start this season — for leadership.

“We know more,” Bates said. “We’ve had a year to be together, had a really good offseason program and we’re much stronger. Now, we’re not as strong as those guys who’s been lifting four years, but you can tell we’re practicing at a different speed.”

Another positive about the 2014 version of the Broncos is the competition that’s going on during practice.

“Last year, it was a struggle … that would be a light way to put it,” Bates said. “We didn’t have enough people who knew what was going on to really give us a look. You don’t get better if you don’t have competition, and there wasn’t much competition for jobs last year as this year. We’ve got guys pushing people to be better. That part makes us better.”

Bates and the Broncos have their sights set on a playoff spot, which would mark perhaps one of the biggest turnarounds in high school football in recent memory.

To do so, they’ll have to figure out how to finish in the top four of Class 3A, Region 6. Holly Pond will take on Hanceville, Oakman, Susan Moore, Vinemont, Winfield and Winston County in region play this season.

Bates likes the schedule, even though it’s certainly not an easier road than last year.

“One of the things I like about the region we’re in is, we have something in common with them,” he said. “Holly Pond played Susan Moore for years, and there’s Vinemont — a county school — and Hanceville — a county school — that we didn’t have last year. I know financially and rivalry-wise, I like this alignment a lot better for us.”

To get where Holly Pond is wanting to go, they’ll lean heavily on one of the many young quarterbacks in Cullman County — sophomore Michael Lambert.

He started last season as a freshman, playing all 10 games.

“He got the devil beat out of him, and he never came out,” Bates said. “He’s a tough kid and a really hard worker in the weight room.”

While Bates was somewhat coy about his offensive and defensive schemes this year — referring to both of them as “multiple” — expect to see a spread offense that can take advantage of Lambert’s throwing and running ability.

“He’s a smart kid who can throw the football,” Bates said. “He’s athletic, a basketball player, too, so I feel real good about him.”

Lambert will look to a weapon the Broncos didn’t have last year — senior transfer receiver Matt Doyle. He, along with senior tight end John Phillips, were described by Bates as the “leaders of this team.”

Sophomore Kelby Alexander and senior Dakota Burks will also provide threats across the middle and downfield as split ends.

On the ground, it will be a rushing attack by committee. Senior Tony Vazquez was having a solid season last year until breaking his collarbone against Fairview, and he figures to carry a lot of the load in the backfield. Senior Cris Hernadez, as well as sophomores Trey Hill and Caleb Jones, will also get their share of carries.

There’s senior experience on the offensive line, anchored by center Justin Woodruff and tackles Jordan Patterson and Nathan Curry. Junior Trevor Brannon and sophomore Jacob Wilson will likely start at the guard positions. Seniors Mike Hayes and Luke Calvert, as well as sophomore Jason Foshee will also see playing time across the front.

With about 40 players on the roster, several Broncos will specialize on either side of the ball.

Junior Dustin Hardin-Pierce is one of those, as he’ll be counted on primarily as a defensive end. Foshee and Calvert will see the majority of their playing time on the defensive line, while Curry will switch over from offensive line to provide a big rush on the defensive front.

Junior Alex Diaz and sophomore Zac Naler will fill the inside linebacker positions, while Jones and Burks will handle the outside linebacker duties.

Alexander, Doyle and senior Ryan Wilcutt will anchor the secondary.

“This is a really good group of kids, and they do everything you ask them to do,” Bates said. “I like being around them, and they’re real responsive to coaching. That part’s fun.

“I think we’ve got a chance to do some good things.”

Aug. 22 at West End (jamboree)

Aug. 29 at Brindlee Mountain

Sept. 5 at Oakman*

Sept. 12 vs. Collinsville*

Sept. 19 vs. Susan Moore*

Sept. 26 at Fairview

Oct. 3 at Winston County*

Oct. 10 vs. Vinemont*

Oct. 17 at Hanceville*

Oct. 24 vs. Winfield*

Oct. 31 at Plainview

* Class 3A, Region 5 game

Who: Mike Bates

Previous positions: Head coach, Marion County, 1981-86; Lawrence County, 1987; Curry, 1989-92; Cullman, 1993-2000; Bob Jones, 2001-03; St. Paul’s, 2007-08

Years at Holly Pond: Entering second

Overall record: 150-120

Region record: 49-54

Last year: 0-10, 0-7

Region titles: 5

Playoff appearances: 10

Playoff record: 10-9

Advanced past first round: 6

Best season: 14-1, 5A state title at St. Paul’s in 2007

Worst season: 0-10 in 2013