As others still try to figure out ways to honor the 3A 2018 championship football team from Flomaton High School, attention in the field house is focused on the 2019 season with the Hurricanes wrapping up spring training this Friday night with a spring jamboree at Flomaton.
Flomaton, Washington County, Monroe County and Southern Choctaw will gather for a 7 p.m. kickoff in Flomaton in a unique format of four quarters of football. Admission will be $6 and both concession stands will be open.
In the first quarter, the Flomaton offense will play against the Washington County defense and the Monroe County defense will play against the Southern Choctaw offense.
The second quarter will feature Flomaton's defense against the Washington County offense and the Monroe County offense against the Southern Choctaw defense.
In the third, Flomaton's offense will play against Southern Choctaw's defense and Monroe County's defense will play against Washington County's offense.
In the fourth quarter, Flomaton's defense will take on the Southern Choctaw offense and Monroe County's offense will take on Washington County's defense.
Flomaton head coach Doug Vickery said the Hurricanes lost 11 seniors off the 2018 team that captured the Class 3A state title with a 23-12 win over Piedmont at Jordan-Hare Stadium at Auburn University on Dec. 6, 2018.
He said while the team took time to celebrate the historic championship, focus quickly turned to 2019 and said the team has responded well.
“Obviously we were excited to win,” Vickery said of the 2018 team. “But sometimes as coaches you worry about kids being complacent thinking the next win will come easy and they don't have to work as hard.”
He said that mentality was quickly erased as football players went through winter and spring workouts.
“The winter workouts were awesome,” Vickery said. “The kids were fired up. They had a mindset of 'no day off'.”
Flomaton began spring practice a few weeks ago with 46 players on the roster. The Alabama High School Athletic Association limits spring training to 13 days – three days of conditioning and 10 days of practice. Friday night's jamboree will be Flomaton's 10th day of practice.
Vickery said four permanent captains for the 2019 team have already been named in Daquan Johnson, Alex Cash, Sam Smith and Tank Franklin.
At least two of those players will be involved in every pregame coin toss next season.
Vickery said he's been impressed with the progress the team has made over the spring and said the run to the state championship will pay dividends in more ways than one.
“We had five extra games, which means we had five extra weeks of practice,” Vickery said. “That really helps.”
He said by playing at Jordan-Hare Stadium, those coming back will not be overwhelmed when they head into other venues next season.
“Although we lost 11 seniors who contributed a lot last year, we've got a lot of people coming back that have quality game experience,” he said.
He said spring practice goes by real quick, but noted he feels the offensive line can be a strength for the Hurricanes next season.
