Talkin’ Football
- Updated: August 5, 2024
Turns out, the new captain of Donoho’s football ship has a “pirate’ side, plans to use it with a returning quarterback and a receivers room that’s tall, deep.
Editor’s note: High school football practice starts this week, and East Alabama Sports Today editor Joe Medley has begun his annual round of preseason visits to football-playing schools in Calhoun County. Check out East Alabama Sports Today’s Facebook page for live interviews each weekday leading up to season openers. Columns and key facts will also appear at EASportsToday.com and related social-media platforms.
ANNISTON — Bill Smith has coached long enough to have tried different playbooks to match different personnel.
As Donoho’s first-year coach surveys his first Donoho team, he observes two things. One, he has to look up at tall receivers a lot. Two, he’s got a lot of tall receivers and second-year starter at quarterback who can get them the ball.
“I’m going back to Mike Leach days,” he said.
Donoho done gone and hired it small, Class 1A version of “The Pirate,” and he has ideas about how to use the treasures he’s found.
Last year’s 0-9 record would indicate a dearth of treasure, but one can find treasure in the hunger such a season fuels. Add an offseason of development, and there’s reason to hope for improvement.
The Falcons must overcome the loss of senior All-Calhoun County fullback/tight end Richard Goad. All-County defensive back Marcus Lawler transferred to Oxford.
They leave behind a roster of 30 players in grades 7-12, but Kai Cleckler has an arm. He showed is as a catcher in baseball. He spent the 2023 football season, his first season of football, learning how to use it in another sport.
He comes into 2024 with a year’s experience.
“Not only is he a two-year quarterback, he’s a two-year football player, even though he’s a senior,” Smith said. “He’s cerebral. He’s got a good arm. He moves well enough that we can run him some and be a dual-threat guy. Good leader.
“I’m looking for great things out of Kai Cleckler.”
Cleckler has an intriguing target in the 6-foot-5 Hayes Farrell, an All-County in 2023 as a tight end/defensive back and sometimes quarterback.
“He moves well for a tall kid,” Smith said. “We plan to get him the ball in a lot of different ways. Good hands, and was a really good hitter and tackler last year as a safety. We’re going to move him around.”
Farrell’s brother Luke, a freshman, stands 6-1.
Jordan Cameron, a 6-3 wide receiver, came back out for football after sitting out in 2023. Receiver James Benkwith, an All-County pick in 2023, also measures at 6-3.
“One of our best position groups on the team is wide receiver, with Hayes, James and J.C.,” Smith said. “Throw in a couple of rising ninth-graders in Phoenix Rainey and Noah (McClendon).
“Noah is 6-4 and a rising ninth-grader, 6-3 and a half, and Noah is a little shiftier, a little quicker, so I’ll be using them various ways.”
How much Donoho will improve on 2023’s record will depending on how well the Falcons navigate the realigned Class 1A, Region 6, along with Fayetteville, Victory Christian, Wadley, Winterboro and Woodland. A non-region schedule which includes a home game with improved Pleasant Valley, which made the 2A playoff last year, will bring more challenges.
But the Falcons look to be entertaining.
“I want to run the ball, but I’ve got to interviews the last 15 years of being a head coach,” Smith said. “One of the first things they ask is, what kind of offense are you going to use?
“My answer to that is, what kind of players will I have?”
Falcon facts
Things to know about Donoho football heading into the 2024 season:
—Bill Smith enters his first season as Donoho’s head football coach. He’s 77-85 in 16 seasons as a head coach at Crossville, Shades Valley, Munford, Huffman and Talladega. His teams have made seven playoff appearances, with the 2015 Munford team reaching the Class 4A semifinals.
—The Falcons went 0-9 in 2023, finishing last in Class 1A, Region 6.
—Key graduation losses from 2023 include All-Calhoun County FB/TE: Richard Goad.
—The following All-Calhoun County picks return: senior TE/QB/DB Hayes Farrell, senior WR/DB/K James Benkwith and junior LB/OL Ethan Bailey.
— Player to watch: Senior QB Kai Cleckler stepped in last year after Will Folsom transferred to Ohatchee and returns as a second-year starter. Seventh-grade LB/DL. Daniel Story. Senior WR Jordan Cameron is back out for football after sitting out in 2023. Senior LB/OL Cash Worley returns, as does OL/DL Beef Johnson.
— With a new realignment cycle starting this season, not much has changed for Donoho. The Falcons remain in Class 1A, Region 6, aligned with Fayetteville, Victory Christian, Wadley, Winterboro and Woodland.
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