Pre-season Power Poll #10

#10 – Lineville Aggies

Head Coach: Steve Giddens

2007 Record: 5-6 [lost to Tanner in 1st round]

Key Dates in ’08 – Cleburne County – Week 1, Lanett – Week 3, Clay County – Week 4, Handley – Week 5, Ranburne – Week 7

Star to Watch – Demetrius Lindsey - All-purpose back

For the first time since 1994, the Lineville Aggies enter a football season on the heels of a sub-.500 season. Last year, head coach Steve Giddens and company finished 5-6 complete with a rare first round exit in the playoffs.

The year wasn’t all bad for Lineville. They wrapped up the region schedule with a 5-2 record and actually hosted Tanner in the opening round. But the abundance of youth and the subsequent lack of leadership took its’ toll.

This season expect the Aggies to flourish thanks to the lessons learned in 2007.

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Youth will still be the name of the game for Lineville in ’08, but it won’t be anywhere near what it was in ‘07.

“We’re going to have some awfully good leaders on the field next year, even though a lot of them will be young,” Giddens told Sports Report and Highschoolgameday.com writer Jay Pace back in the spring.

Michael Harris will be a little more learned this season under center heading into his 2nd year as a starter. Senior T.C Brown, a three-year starter at offensive tackle, will anchor a dependable front line. But the player to watch is Demetrius Lindsey, who made his head coach’s eyes light up when asked of him. The youngster is expected to make plays all over the field.

While the offense brings back a good core it will be the defense that carries the Aggie banner throughout the first part of the season. Linebackers Deke Boyd and Jonathan Lebrija bolster a defense that held opponents to two scores or less in 6 games last year.

Lineville could very well begin the year with a 1-4 record due to counters with Heflin, Lanett, Handley and Clay County. But before the end of the year, they’ll be able to catch fire in time for post-season play. So don’t bet on a first round exit, especially considering last year’s loss to Tanner marked the first since 2000 the Aggies were done with football after the opening round.

2008 Schedule:

8/29 – Cleburne County [A]

9/5 – Horseshoe Bend [A]

9/12 – Lanett [A]

9/19 – Clay County [H]

9/26 – Handley [H]

10/3 – Ohatchee [A]

10/10 – Ranburne [H]

10/17 – Randolph County [A]

10/24 – Woodland [H]

10/31 – Westbrook Christian [A]