ELKMONT VARSITY RED DEVILS BASEBALL UPDATE - DUST DEVIL AT THE DIAMOND

The Elkmont varsity baseball team has played several games recently.  They played very poorly and lost to Tanner 16-7 at Tanner’s field.  Also visited West Limestone and split a double-header.  Winning the first game, 8-4, and then losing the second game, 14-4. Elkmont then returned home to host ABS. The Red Devils played their best game of the year and won 3-2.  In the ABS game the team played excellent defense – did not make an error and turned in several outstanding defensive plays.  Ben Ferguson picked up the pitching win against West Limestone.  Jared Bailey notched a win against ABS.  Both pitched excellent games in the two wins.  Elkmont’s record now stands at 4-5.

Observations:  

Elkmont is improving with every game and the basketball players that started baseball late are beginning to shake off the rust as they play more games.  Cole Glass is doing an outstanding job as the lead-off hitter.  His on base percentage is very high.  He is also stealing bases and scoring runs.  The team has cut down on the number of strike outs and is putting the ball in play more often.  The pitching is decent and the defense is making fewer errors.  The play of the outfield has been very strong.

Prediction:  The Dust Devil believes the Red Devils will make the playoffs.  I still have a question if it will be as Area Champion or as runner-up.  It depends on the team’s continued improvement over the next couple of weeks.


To follow Varsity, JV, and Middle School games throughout the season, click on the Elkmont Baseball Blog

ELKMONT BASEBALL BEGINS - DUST DEVIL AT THE DIAMOND

The Elkmont varsity baseball season has started and they have already played four games. The Red Devils'  record stands at 2-2.  Elkmont lost to Brewer 14 - 3, but played without six starters who were still playing basketball.  Elkmont also lost to East Lawrence, 10 - 5, when those six players joined the team and played their first game without any practice.  They were able to get in a couple of days of practice with the full varsity team before their next game.  Since then, the Red Devils have won their next two games; beating Falkville, 17 - 4 and Addison, 12 - 5.  Against Falkville, Cole Glass had three hits and Jared Bailey hit a grand slam.  Tyler Thomas pitched well against Addison picking up the win and the whole line up hit well.


OBSERVATIONS:
The team will be an excellent defensive team.   Both the infield and outfield are solid and the catcher position is strong.  The Red Devils also will be an excellent hitting team with both power and speed.  In particular, the first five batters will be a tough out every time.  Elkmont is well coached.  Coach Holt knows the game and continues to work with the players no matter the score.  


The Dust Devil sees two weaknesses that this team must improve in order to have a winning season and make the playoffs.  The first weakness is the number of strike-outs.  Even though Elkmont is an excellent hitting team and has scored enough runs so far, but good varsity teams seldom strike-out and put the ball in play to force the other team to make outs.  The second weakness is pitching.  The Red Devils have several good pitchers but none are dominate yet.  Ben Ferguson, Tyler Thomas, Michael Haney and Skyler Gant have the potential to become that top level pitcher.


PREDICTION:
The Dust Devil believes that Elkmont will be a fun team to watch and hitting and defense will be the strength of the team.  He also believes that the strike-outs will be reduced as the players get more practice.  The real question is the pitching.  The Dust Devil is going to watch a few more games before predicting if the Elkmont Red Devils will have a winning season or make the playoffs.


Don't forget to check the Elkmont Baseball Blog for more information about the various teams.

ELKMONT WINS AT NORTHWEST REGIONAL - DUST DEVIL IN THE GYM

On Thursday afternoon at Wallace State, the Red Devils advanced to the Elite Eight by beating the Holly Pond Broncos, 72-62 in overtime.  Elkmont came out in a tight zone to try to contain Holly Pond's big center, Thomas Hays.  The Broncos took advantage of this by making shot after shot from outside to take a commanding 31-15 lead in the second quarter.  At this point, it looked like the end of the season for the Red Devils, but as they have shown throughout the season, they continued to fight and never give up.  The most important part of their comeback win was the last few minutes of the second quarter where they cut the lead to nine at halftime.

In the second half, Elkmont turned up the defensive pressure with a mixture of man and zone trap defensives.  The Red Devils forced several turnovers and pulled ahead by four early in the fourth quarter.  Holly Pond was not finished and surged back ahead by six with only two minutes left in the game.  Once again, it looked as if it might be the end of the line for the Devils, but a clutch three pointer by Hayden Huseth and a put back by Cole Glass tied the game, 62-62 with eight seconds left.  The Broncos missed a contested shot at the buzzer and the game moved into overtime.


In overtime, Elkmont took control early with a basket by Matthew Barnes and a three pointer by Daniel Logan.   The Red Devils outscored Holly Pond, 10 - 0.  The Broncos tried to get back into the game by fouling.  Elkmont made their free throws to finish off the 72 - 62 win.


OBSERVATIONS:

Great comeback win for Elkmont; very entertaining game to watch.  Good officiating, but definitely "no blood, no foul" under the basket for both teams.  Clutch plays were made by all four senior starters.  

Skyler Gant had a great game with 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.  

Daniel Logan also had a big game with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.  

Cole Glass had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks.

Hayden Huseth had 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.

Matthew Barnes added 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.

Bryant Wales chipped in with 4 points and 2 rebounds.

This was one of the best wins in Elkmont history.

PREDICTION:

Next is Carbon Hill on Saturday.  The Dust Devil watched them beat Sheffield in overtime in another great game.  They are an excellent team; play great defense; and are long and tall.  However, if Elkmont plays well and make a good percentage of 3 point shots, they can win.  The Dust Devil predicts a one point victory by Elkmont and a trip to Birmingham.

ELKMONT WINS TRIP TO WALLACE - DUST DEVIL IN THE GYM

On Friday night in the Red Devils' gym, Elkmont beat Lauderdale County, 57-44, to earn a trip to the Northwest regional at Wallace State.  The crowd was loud and the basketball game was physical and intense.  Elkmont played an excellent game.  The Red Devils jumped out to a 21 point lead in the first half.  In the third quarter, Lauderdale County made a run and cut the lead to nine but Elkmont responded to pull the lead back out and finish strong.  Cole Glass led the way with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 2 big dunks that really got the crowd on its feet.  Skyler Gant had 13 points and 7 rebounds; Daniel Logan added 10 points and 6 rebounds.  Every player who played contributed to the win.  At the final buzzer, the celebration began; the students stormed the floor to enjoy the win with the players.  The players and coaches then cut the nets down to end a great night.

OBSERVATIONS:
The Red Devils record is 21-9 and they are peaking at the right time, playing their best ball of the year.   The team has developed their roles well.  Cole Glass is playing dominant basketball inside on both offense and defense.  Hayden Huseth and Daniel Logan are providing three point shooting and defensive toughness.  Skyler Gant is handling the ball well and driving to the basket for scores and assists.  Elkmont is also getting nice contributions from Matthew Barnes, Bryant Wales and Andrew LaBathe.  Recently, a fan of a rival school told the Dust Devil that, "Elkmont is not overly talented but they are tough and mean enough to play with anybody."  The Dust Devil agrees and thinks that the team's experience and willingness to never back down has made them an excellent team and led them to a great season; and, it's not over yet.


PREDICTION:
This is only the third time in school history that the Red Devils have made it to the regionals.  The Dust Devil predicts that Elkmont will make it to the Elite Eight.  The Devils beat Holly Pond by three points in a great game that comes down to the final seconds.

GOOD WEEK FOR RED DEVILS - DUST DEVIL IN THE STANDS

On Monday, Elkmont traveled to Westminister and won 51- 41.  After a poor first half, the Red Devils came on strong in the second half for the win.  Daniel Logan led Elkmont with 16 points.  On Thursday, the Red Devils went to Athens Bible School and won 64 - 44.  Elkmont played well and the bench played the fourth quarter.  The Red Devils had four players in double figures - Hayden Huseth and Daniel Logan with 13 points each and Cole Glass and Skyler Gant, both added 10 points.  Rhett Bailey came off the bench to add 8 points.  On Friday night, it was Senior Night for the five seniors; Cole Glass, Daniel Logan, Skyler Gant, Hayden Huseth and Drew Weaver.  After honoring the seniors, the fans were treated to a well played basketball game with Elkmont beating New Hope, 60 - 50.  Cole Glass and Daniel Logan had 20 points each and Logan added 11 rebounds.  Hayden Huseth had 11 points and Skyler Gant had 8 assists.  Elkmont's record now sits at 17 -9.

OBSERVATIONS:
Elkmont is playing well going into the last regular season game on Monday against Ardmore.  The Red Devils host the Area Tournament on Friday and it is crucial that they win the tournament and host the sub-state game.  Cole Glass and Daniel Logan are playing their best basketball of the year.  Hayden Huseth has regained his shooting touch and Skyler Gant is running the team, setting up his team-mates with opportunities to score and playing great defense.


PREDICTION:
The Dust Devil predicts that Elkmont bests Ardmore on Monday and prevails in the Area Tournament.  However, count on the championship game being a barn burner against West Morgan.

AREA TOURNAMENT BRACKETS ON THE ELKMONT BASKETBALL BLOG

COUNTY TOURNAMENT WEEK - DUST DEVIL IN THE STANDS

Last week the Red Devils played in the Limestone County Tournament at East Limestone High School.  In the first round, Elkmont played Ardmore.  It was a typical Elkmont-Ardmore game that was hard fought and came down to the wire.  Elkmont won 63-60 in overtime when Daniel Logan hit a three point shot with 3 seconds left in overtime.  Logan led Elkmont with 26 points and 12 rebounds and Cole Glass added 16 points and 7 rebounds.  

In the tournament semi-finals Elkmont played Tanner.  The game was tied 20-20 at halftime, but Tanner pulled away late to win 67-50.  Daniel Logan led Elkmont with 17 points and Cole Glass added 8 points and 8 rebounds.  Both Daniel Logan and Cole Glass were selected to the All Tournament Team.  The team’s record currently stands at 14-9.

Observations:  Elkmont played fairly well in the County Tournament.  It is critical that the Red Devils finish strong in their final four regular season games.  They need to be playing well going into the Area Tournament.  This week’s schedule is Westminister on Monday, ABS on Thursday and New Hope on Friday.  Elkmont needs to win all three games.

Prediction:  The Dust Devil predicts that Elkmont will play well this week and pick up three wins.

ELKMONT PLAYS WELL - DUST DEVIL IN STANDS

Last week Elkmont lost to East Limestone, 83-78, in double overtime in a hard fought game and then beat West Morgan, 73-60.  In the East Limestone game, the Red Devils played poorly and fell behind until 1:26 left in the third quarter.  At that point, they started making shots and playing harder.  The last quarter and the two overtimes were excellent basketball with both teams making many clutch plays and shots.  Elkmont had chances to win at the end of regulation and in the first overtime, but could not pull it out.  The Red Devils had four players in double figures in scoring – Daniel Logan had 18 points, Cole Glass had 17 points, Haden Huseth had 16 and Skyler Gant added 15.  

The West Morgan game was exciting to watch as both teams ran up and down the court and made shots.  Elkmont was behind to start the fourth quarter, but pulled away at the end to get the win.  Haden Huseth led Elkmont with 26 points and Skyler Gant added 17.

Observations:  It was a good week because the team came out of their shooting slump.  The Red Devils played well at the end of the East Limestone game and the whole West Morgan game.  The West Morgan win finished up Area play.  Elkmont finished 6-0 in the Area and will get to host the Area tournament.  This is the time of the year to be playing well.  It looks like Elkmont is getting good senior leadership and if they can continue to shoot well and play hard, they can finish the season with a long tournament run.

Prediction:  The Dust Devil predicts a first round with over Ardmore in the County Tournament and a tough loss to Tanner in the semi-finals.

Tough Week for Red Devils - DUST DEVIL IN THE STANDS

                                                        Tough Week for Red Devils

The Elkmont Red Devils started last week ranked #7 in the 3A state rankings.  However they went 1-2 last week and played poorly in all three games.  The week started with a lackluster 50-40 win over Danville.  Cole Glass led the way with 20 points and 7 rebounds.  Elkmont then traveled to Tanner and lost 50-30.  No Red Devil player scored in double figures.  The week ended with a home loss to West Limestone 45-31.  Again no Red Devil player scored in double figures.

Observations:  Elkmont did not play like a good team last week.  They shot very poorly and the offense was painful at times.  All teams go through slumps, but it is getting late in the season and the Red Devils must pull out of their slump quickly if they are going to be successful in the playoffs.  On the positive side, the team is still playing hard and playing excellent defense.  If they can improve on offense, they can get back to playing well.

Prediction:  The Dust Devil predicts that Elkmont recovers and upsets East Limestone on Tuesday and beats West Morgan on Friday.

ELKMONT RED DEVILS TAKE TWO - DUST DEVIL IN THE STANDS

This week saw Elkmont beat Clements 52-38 to achieve a 4-0 record in Area play and beat rival Ardmore, 59-48.   Both games were on the road and made Elkmont ‘s overall record 11-5 for the year.

In the Clements game, the Red Devils played poorly in the first half, but came out strong in the second half to take control of the game.  Hayden Huseth led the way with 16 points and 7 steals.  Skyler Gant added 10 points and Cole Glass led the rebounding with 9.

In the Ardmore game, the Red Devils played well.  Foul problems slowed them in the first half but they took control in the second half.  Cole Glass had a monster game with 23 points and 13 rebounds.  Skyler Gant has 13 point and 8 rebounds.  Daniel Logan added 10 points and 8 rebounds.

OBSERVATIONS:

Elkmont had a good week; getting an Area win on the road and beating rival Ardmore on the road.  The Red Devils are playing well and appear to enjoy playing together.  Hayden Huseth had an outstanding game against Clements with 16 points and 7 steals.  Cole Glass had his best game as a Red Devil with a dominating performance of 23 points and 13 rebounds against Ardmore.  Elkmont is at its best when Cole Glass is being aggressive on offense; Skyler Gant is slashing to the basket and Hayden Huseth and Daniel Logan are making outside shots.  When all of these things are working, Elkmont is a very good team.  The team weaknesses are foul shooting and lack of a deep bench.  The foul shooting must improve to be successful in close games.

PREDICTIONS:

Elkmont will beat Danville to sew up an Area Championship; lose to Tanner on the road (nobody gets a good whistle when they play Tanner on the road) and upset West Limestone at home at the end of the week.

Photographer:  Down Home Portraits

SEYMOUR TOURNEY RESULTS - DUST DEVIL IN THE GYM

Between Christmas and New Year's Day, the Red Devils traveled to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for three days to play in the Seymour Christmas Basketball Tournament.  Elkmont played three good teams  and had all three games came down to the last play of the game. 


Elkmont beat McMinn Central High School, 68-65.  The Red Devils were led by strong performances from Cole Glass and Hayden Huseth.  Glass had 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.  Huseth had 21 points, 6 rebounds and made 5 three point shots.


Elkmont lost to a strong George Washington Carver team from Memphis, 52-50.  The Red Devils played well and almost pulled off the upset.  Elkmont was led by Skyler Gant with 19 points and 7 rebounds; Cole Glass with 12 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocked shots and Daniel Logan with 10 points and 6 rebounds.


The Red devils lost to the host team, Seymour, 49-46.  Elkmont did not shoot the ball well in this game, but still had a chance to tie the game on a last second three point shot.  The Red Devils were led by Skylar Gant with 15 points and Hayden Huseth with 12 points.


Hayden Huseth made the All-Tournament team with his overall strong play in the tournament.  He had a total of 36 points, 8 made three point shots and made a three pointer to tie the game against G.W. Carver with a few seconds left in the game.


OBSERVATIONS:
This tournament was a positive experience for Elkmont.  For the most part, the team played very well against strong competition.  They also were able to do things together and hopefully got closer as a team.  The Red Devils' overall record is now 9-5 and the Dust Devil thinks a 20 win season is still very possible.


PREDICTION:
The biggest game of the year is the game at Clements on January 3.  If the Red Devils can win this game, they will be in great position for an Area championship and the honor of hosting the Area tournament.  The Dust Devil predicts a tough 5 point win at Clements and also a win over Ardmore at the end of the week.

RED DEVILS DROP 2 - DUST DEVIL IN THE GYM

Elkmont lost to Tanner 52-49 on Monday and 62-55 to East Limestone on Tuesday.  In the Tanner game, Elkmont led by 4 with less than four minutes in the game but could not make free throws and key shots late in the game.  Against Tanner, Skyler Gant had 11 points and 7 rebounds, Cole Glass had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Daniel Logan had 10 points and 7 rebounds.  In the East Limestone game, the Indians pulled ahead in a close game in the early part of the fourth quarter to take the win.  The Red Devils were led by Daniel Logan with 16 points and 8 rebounds.  Skyler Gant contributed 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

OBSERVATIONS:
Elkmont played pretty well in both games, but should won the Tanner game and could have won the East Limestone game.  Against Tanner, the Red Devils failed to hold the lead in the last four minutes and against East played poorly in the fourth quarter.  These losses will not hurt Elkmont if they learn from them and continue to improve.  It is important that Elkmont play well and build closer bonds as a team during their Christmas tournament trip.

PREDICTION:
The Dust Devil has been scouting the Red Devils' opponents in the Christmas tournament in Tennessee and predicts that Elkmont will win two and lose one on the the trip.  

ELKMONT WINS TWO

Dust Devil would like to congratulate Elkmont on breaking into the 3A top ten  with a #8 ranking.


Last week, the Red Devils beat Westminster at home, 48-37 and went on the road to beat Danville, 65-41.


In the Westminster win, Daniel Logan had 14 points and 8 rebounds.  Cole Glass added 11 points and 6 rebounds.  Hayden Huseth had 5 assists and 4 steals to go with 6 points.  Bryant Wales came off the bench to contribute 7 points and 4 rebounds.


In the Danville win, four Red Devils scored in double figures.  Hayden Huseth had 18 points, Skyler Gant and Daniel Logan had 11 points each and Cole Glass added 10.  Elkmont made 10 three pointers in the game - Hayden Huseth made 6, Daniel Logan had 3 and Drew Weaver added 1.


OBSERVATIONS:
Elkmont did not play well in the Westminster win but played an excellent game in the Danville win.  At 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the Area, Elkmont is in perfect position for continued improvement and long post season run.  The Dust Devil enjoys watching this team play because they play unselfish and play hard.   They also appear to really enjoy playing together.


PREDICTION:
Elkmont has two tough games this week with the #1 ranked 2A team, Tanner and East Limestone coming to visit the Elkmont gym.  A split of the two games would be a successful week and that is what the Dust Devil predicts - a loss to Tanner and a win over East Limestone.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL RED DEVIL FANS

LAST SECOND SHOT BEATS REBELS - DUST DEVIL IN THE GYM

Elkmont went on the road Friday night and beat West Morgan on a Hayden Huseth last second three point shot, 50-47.  In the first quarter, Elkmont came out hot and took a 7-0 lead and at the end of the quarter led 15-11.  Cole Glass got into foul trouble and the Red Devil shooting turned cold in the second and third quarters.  The Rebels led 23-22 at halftime and 35-28 at the end of the third quarter.  In the fourth quarter, the Red Devils turned up the defensive pressure and came back to take a 3 point lead.  With 15 seconds left, West Morgan made a 3 pointer to tie the game.  Huseth's winning shot at the buzzer set off a celebration from the Elkmont players, coaches and fans.  Skyler Gant had a strong all around game with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals.  Huseth had 13 points and Daniel Logan added 10 points and 6 rebounds.

OBSERVATIONS:
This was a big win for Elkmont; going 2-0 in the Area, 6-1 overall and winning on the road, in  a difficult place to earn a win.  It was not a pretty win; Elkmont did not shoot well and was down 7 in the 4th quarter.  Elkmont continued to battle, picked up their defense and made key steals and free throws down the stretch.  Experienced, senior led teams win games like this and the Red Devils found a way to win.

PREDICTION:
Elkmont has games against Westminster at home and Danville on the road next week.  The Dust Devil predicts two more wins this week.

RED DEVILS AT 5-0, DUST DEVIL AT THE GYM

Game Summary:
Elkmont won two more games early this week to move their record to 5-0.  On Monday night, the Red Devils beat Athens Bible School 65-41.  Elkmont pulled out to a comfortable lead early and Coach Garris was able to play the bench for most of the game.  Tyler Thomas led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds.  Daniel Logan had 14 points and Matthew Barnes added 11.  

On Tuesday, Elkmont won their first Area game of the year over Clements 49-43.  This game was a physical, hard fought, half court game; not pretty to watch but still a win for Elkmont.  Hayden Huseth led the scoring with 11 points and Andrew Labathe added 10.  Cole Glass had 10 rebounds and Daniel Logan had 8.

Observations: 
The Dust Devil thinks Elkmont did not play well in either game; however, often a mark of a good team is when it doesn't play well and still wins.  Elkmont's defense continues to be solid.  The team passes well and is unselfish.  It will be interesting to see the team progress as the schedule gets tougher in the next few weeks.

Predictions:
The Red Devils travel to West Limestone on Friday.  The Dust Devil predicts that Elkmont will play well but West Limestone's size will be the deciding factor in a five point loss for the Red Devils.  The Dust Devil also predicts that the team will win the Area and win 20 games this year.

check the Elkmont Basketball Blog for box scores

ELKMONT WINS TWO IN THANKSGIVING TOURNEY

Elkmont's Thanksgiving tournament was a round robin format.  One day was lost because of a weather scare, so Elkmont only played two games.  The Red Devils stayed undefeated with a 63-32 win over Riverside Christian Academy and a 56-44 win over Pope John Paul II High School.  

Against Riverside, Cole Glass and Hayden Huseth led the way.  Glass had 16 points, 9 rebounds and Huseth had 17 points.  Against John Paul II (Huntsville Catholic), Huseth had 17 points, Glass had 12 and Daniel Logan had a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds.  Box scores are available at the Elkmont Basketball Blog.


Observations:
The Red Devils are playing very well and look like a determined team on a mission.  Their team defense is the strength of the team and their shooting is surprisingly good for this early in the season.  Matthew Barnes and Bryant Wales are playing well off the bench.


Predictions:
This week Elkmont hosts Athens Bible School on Monday and Clements on Tuesday.  They travel to West Limestone on Friday.  Clements is the first area game and it is very important to get off to good start in the area.  The Dust Devil predicts a 20+  point win over ABS; a tough but solid win over Clements; and a 5 point loss to West Limestone on the road.

ELKMONT WINS OPENER - DUST DEVIL AT THE GYM

ELKMONT WINS OPENER - DUST DEVIL AT THE GYM

The Red Devils shook off some football rust in the first quarter to score 23 points in the second quarter and take a 15 point lead into halftime.  Skyler Gant made a 3 pointer from just inside midcourt to end the half.  Elkmont continued to play well in the second half and won 61-38 over New Hope in the Indian's gym. 

OBSERVATIONS:

Considering they only had four days of practice, winning by 23 points on the road against a decent New Hope team is a great way to start.  Elkmont plays outstanding defense, plays hard and is very unselfish.  Against New Hope, Skyler Gant, Hayden Huseth and Daniel Logan played very well.  Gant handled the ball well, made several pretty mid-range jumpers and took the ball strong to the basket.   Huseth played great defense and was excellent at releasing and finishing several fast break baskets.  Logan rebounded well, played excellent inside defense and made several beautiful outlet passes to Huseth for easy baskets.  Andrew LaBath played solid at the point position.  The bench came in and contributed.

The Dust Devil believes that Cole Glass was the MVP of the game.  Not starting because he missed a practice during the week, he came in focused and determined, quickly stole the ball and made a dunk over a New Hope Indian to spark a Red Devil run.  He rebounded well and scored a game high 16 points.

PREDICTION:

Elkmont will play well and win 2 of 3 in their Thanksgiving Tournament that starts Monday @ 8:30 pm in the Red Devil gym.

Scores by Quarters

1st  Elkmont 8,   New Hope   6

2nd Elkmont 31, New Hope  16

3rd Elkmont 41,  New Hope  29

4th Elkmont 61,  New Hope  38

Scorers:

Cole Glass           16 points

Hayden Huseth     14 points

Andrew LaBathe     7 points

Bryant Wales          4 points

Skyler Gant          13 Points

Dan Logan             7 Points

Went 6 for 10 at Free Throw Line, New Hope was 6 for 14.


Watch the action on youtube.  Click on GAME.

PRE SEASON REPORT - DUST DEVIL AT THE GYM

The Dust Devil stopped in and watched a Red Devil basketball practice this week.  Garth Garris' squad has a chance to be very good this year.  They are experienced with four seniors who have been key players on the varsity the last two years.

It looks like Cole Glass at center, Daniel Logan at power forward, Skyler Gant at small forward, Hayden Huseth at second guard and Andrew LaBath at point guard.  Bryant Wales and Matthew Barnes will most likely be the first two players off the bench.


The strengths of the team will be experience, outside shooting, team speed and excellent defense.  The weaknesses will be lack of team size, lack of depth, and inability  to score in half court sets.


Prediction:  
It will take a few games to shake off the rust from football but by the time Area play comes around, Elkmont will be playing well.  The Dust Devil predicts an Area Championship for this team.  Their season starts this Friday at New Hope.

ELKMONT LOSES TO MADISON ACADEMY - DUST DEVIL IN THE STANDS

Elkmont's football season ended with a 42-0 loss to Madison Academy last Friday night in the second round of the state playoffs.  The Red Devils ended with a 7-5 record.

The Mustangs were the better team; however, Elkmont did not play up to their ability.  Madison Academy scored early and often.  The Red Devils' defense could not stop the run or the pass.  The offense had four turnovers and could not get any offense through the air.  Even though, it was a disappointing end to the season,  this team has a lot to be proud of.

• Beat county rivals - Ardmore, West Limestone and Clements
• Returned to the 3A state playoffs after missing them last year
• Upset 4th ranked and previously undefeated Hanceville in the first round of the playoffs
• In a four year span, this senior class won more football games during their career than any other class in Elkmont High School history.

The Seniors were:

Sloan Hawkins:  Strong senior year, high motor, strong and tough, made a number of big plays on defense this year.

Bronson Ellis:  Amazing he was able to come back and play this season; strong and tough, hard worker, played better and better as the season progressed.

Cole Glass:  Outstanding career, excellent speed and jumping ability, a threat to score at anytime, made big plays this year running, pass catching, on defense and on special teams.

Skyler Gant:  Outstanding all around player, excellent speed and quickness, strong defensive player, great punt returner.

Logan Murphy:  High energy player, physical, aggressive, made a number of big plays on defense, outstanding punter.

Dillion Ferguson:  High motor player, always goes hard, made plays on the defensive line.

Juan Hernandez:  Great team player, hard worker, second string kicker, could have stepped in at anytime and done a good job.

Matt Newsom:  Great attitude, team player, did everything he was asked to do.

Austin McNatt:  Made some big plays as a receiver, effective starting cornerback.

Daniel Logan:   Three year starter, played a great deal as a freshman, effective offensive lineman, hard hitter, excellent tackler, outstanding linebacker.

Hayden Huseth:  Exciting player, fast and quick, made big plays both on offense and defense.

Cody Martin:  Three year starter, played a great deal as a freshman, excellent offensive lineman, physical player, excellent tackler, outstanding linebacker.

Jose Hernandez;  Three year starter, outstanding kicker, good team player.

The Dust Devil has enjoyed covering the football Red Devils this year from the stands. 

Coming soon: THE DUST DEVIL IN THE GYM - covering the basketball Red Devils; look for his articles on the Elkmont Basketball Blog.

DUST DEVIL PLAYOFF SPECIAL EDITION

The Dust Devil had the opportunity to watch some video of the Hanceville Bulldogs; very good team and with a 10-0 record deserves their top five ranking.  Hanceville has a good but not great defense; weak passing game; good offensive line; excellent fullback and a fast quarterback.  They also have an outstanding tailback, #6 Diamond Simmons,  who has speed, quickness, moves and runs hard all the time.  He can break a big play at any time.  Simmons also plays safety and makes it hard to throw deep passes against the Bulldogs.  Hanceville has only scored under forty points once this year and they got thirty-four that game.  However,  they have not played a very tough schedule; only two of the ten opponents have a winning record.

Elkmont has improved during the year and appears to be peaking at the right time.  The defense is playing outstanding football.  The offense is playing better and has the ability to make big plays at any time.  The kicking, punting and other special teams are as good as it gets in 3A football.


The Dust Devil also should mention the Elkmont coaches.  Normally, 3 different head coaches in 3 years is the recipe for a bad year, but Sean Holt and his staff have done an excellent job with this year's team and have them in position to win this playoff game.


There are four keys to beating Hanceville.  

1. Winning the turnover battle.  If Elkmont does not at least stay even in turnovers, they will not win the game.  
2. Defense must limit big plays.  Hanceville scores lots of times on long runs.  When their running back does get loose, Elkmont must tackle him for a 15 yard gain, not a 60 yard touchdown.  Play physical and make them work the ball down the field
3. Must move the ball consistently on offense and have a good mix of running and short and medium pass plays.  Must score at least three touchdowns to win.
4. Must get strong performances from everyone that plays on Friday night.  Sloan Hawkins, Jake Marshall and Bronson Ellis all need strong games for Elkmont to win.

The Dust Devil believes Elkmont is going to play their best game of the year and sticks with his earlier prediction; Elkmont 24, Hanceville 21.  
Game time  - 7 pm, Hanceville High School, Nov. 4.
Look for Hanceville Bulldogs Pre-Game Look tomorrow on the Elkmont Football Blog.

RED DEVILS WIN AT COLBERT COUNTY - DUST DEVIL IN THE STANDS

Elkmont won their most important game of the year, Friday night at Colbert County.This win puts the Red Devils in great position for a return to the playoffs.

GAME SUMMARY:
In the first quarter, Elkmont finished a nice drive with a touchdown on a two yard run by Daniel Logan. The PAT was good and Elkmont led 7-0.  Jose Hernandez executed an onside kick that Cole Glass recovered for the Red Devils.  The first quarter ended with Elkmont ahead 7-0.


In the second quarter, the Red Devils' defense continued to play well.  Elkmont executed another successful onside kick-off with Jose Hernandez kicking and recovering the football.  Ben Ferguson intercepted an Indians' pass.  The offense bogged down and it looked like the Red Devils were going to punt.  Bryant Wales threw a pass to Chase Renew on a fake punt for a first down.  The offense's only score this quarter was by Jose Hernandez's 37 yard field goal.  The half ended with Elkmont ahead 10-0.


In the third quarter, Colbert County drove the ball down to the Elkmont 2 yard line.  On a running play, the tailback fumbled the ball and Cole Glass caught the ball in the air and ran 98 yards for a touchdown.
The PAT was good.  The Red Devils led 17-0 at the end of the third quarter.


In the fourth quarter, the Elkmont defense and special teams continued to play well and they maintained their shutout.  The final score was Elkmont 17,  Colbert County 0.


OBSERVATIONS:
This was a great win for the Red Devils.  It almost assures a playoff spot and make Elkmont's record 5-3.  The defense played outstanding football for four quarters and held Colbert County to under 150 yards total offense.  The special teams were nothing less than great.  Jose Hernandez's kicking and Logan Murphy's punting were exceptional.  The offense however did not play well and did not have a first down in the second half.  Overall, this was a big win and one that will be remembered for a long time.


PREDICTION:
The Dust Devil believes the offense will play better and the defense and special teams will continue their outstanding play.   Elkmont 21, Clements 7.


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