FOOTBALL FRIDAY: Autauga Academy looking for improvement in passing game
Autauga Academy won the Hustle-Up 7-on-7 AISA division recently. (Contributed)
By TIM GAYLE
If there was one weakness that was prevalent throughout Autauga Academy’s 2022 season, it was the lack of a consistent passing attack.
Second-year coach Trey Dunbar thinks he may have that issue resolved this season.
The Generals participated in the Hustle Up 7-on-7’s AISA division last weekend and came away as the champions, defeating Lee-Scott Academy in the championship game.
“Throwing the football was our weakness last year,” Dunbar said. “So coming out of this, our weakness last year, now I think we throw the ball extremely well. We’ve got really good receivers and a really good quarterback.
“It’s a huge confidence booster. The way we ran the ball last year, toward the end of the year we were getting huge box numbers. Now, they’re going to have to pick. They can’t load the box on us and play man coverage.”
Autauga competed in a pair of 7-on-7 camps at UAB and Alabama, then were invited to participate in the Hustle Up event at the Hoover Met in a division for AISA schools.
“It was a good deal,” Dunbar said. “Our kids got a chance to develop. At the UAB camp, for example, our pool consisted of Tupelo (Miss.) High, Hoover High, Gardendale, Banks (Academy) and us. We went and took our lumps, but it was good for us to compete. At this (Hustle Up) 7-on-7, there were five teams on our schedule up there. We played four of them. So it was good for us to play some teams on our schedule.”
Autauga defeated Heritage Christian, Cornerstone Christian and Edgewood in pool play to advance to the quarterfinals, where Glenwood defeated Edgewood, Lee-Scott beat Cornerstone, Autauga beat Abbeville and Bessemer beat Chambers. In the semifinals, Lee-Scott defeated Glenwood, while Autauga beat Bessemer. In the finals, Autauga defeated Lee-Scott to complete a 6-0 run through the tournament.
Dunbar said he looks forward to regular 7-on-7 camps where the Generals can face public schools that give them a different look.
“Obviously, there are some good AISA teams and there are some bad public schools,” he said, “but it’s good for us to go out and compete against other people and it gives our kids confidence that they can go compete against anybody.”
In this case, however, an Autauga team that opened last season with three wins before losing the final seven games could use an opportunity to play some of its 2023 opponents in 7-on-7 workouts.
“It’s definitely changes the outlook,” Dunbar said. “It gives you confidence in what you’re doing.”
The Generals open the season on Aug. 25 with their arch rival Edgewood, so the Hustle Up experience was a nice way to end the summer for senior quarterback Mason Ehmen.
“He’s not the same player he was last year,” Dunbar said. “He’s just more confident. This year has been big for him. But everyone of my kids made plays. All four receivers and the running back caught touchdown passes,” including tailback Landon Henry, tight end Evan Peak and receivers Damien Dickerson, Cam Wright and KeWilliam Cleveland-Cook.
Defensively, Henry had two interceptions in the championship game with Lee-Scott.