Football 2025: SPARKMAN SENATORS

The simple definition of the word resilience is to successfully adapt to stressors. A prime example of the word’s meaning is Sparkman High football. The 2025 squad is said to be resilient as Sparkman head coach Ronnie Watson explained, “This group is working toward the word of excellence. A lot of the guys have had to go through personal, life issues and many of our seniors will be taking their first snaps at varsity play. They didn’t give up through their high school career and kept pounding away. I’m proud of them as they have stayed the course.”

With eight starters returning on offense, five on defense and only a couple athletes returning in the special teams area, the Class 7A Region 4 Senators look to improve on last year’s team which went 5-5 on the season including 4-3 in region play while scoring 23.8 points and allowing 23.2 points per game. Watson is looking to this squad that features 33 seniors and juniors and 34 sophomores to improve greatly.

“We’ve got a very good schedule put together a couple years ago to make sure we are tested early and chances to see different styles of games and our schedule will be a huge test for us and should be good for us,” said Watson, in his third season as head coach and 16th overall at Sparkman.

OFFENSE
Watson will see some young, but experienced players play key roles in the newest campaign of the school located on Jeff Road in Harvest. Keaton Williams (QB, 6-1, 190, Jr.) will pick up where he left off last season where he started nine games coming into the starting quarterback position due to injuries of others in 2024.

“We could line him up anywhere,” said Watson of Williams who has tons of athletic ability, a high football IQ and a great arm. In his 10 games he played in last season he was 112/224 for 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns. He also scampered for 218 on 59 carries and five TDs. Williams is receiving a bundle of interest from college and by the end of the season could have as many as 10 scholarship offers. Watson will have several with experience in a backup role at signal caller.

Running backs are led by two juniors and a sophomore. Brayton Lawson (RB, 6-0, 185, Jr.) fought hard to get playing time a season ago as Watson said, “He’s explosive and is a hard worker.” He had 118 carries for 642 yards and four scores in 2024. Wayton Marbury (RB, 5-10, 210, Jr.) will run alongside with some backup help from Zyon Gray (RB, 6-0, 215, So.) a true sophomore expected to ease into playing time.

The receiving corps is led by the player Watson said, “Has the best hands of any player I’ve seen and is a big leader.” Zayden Bodner (WR, 6-0, 195, Sr.) averaged 32.5 yards per catch a season ago and is expected to take the ball and run again this fall. He’ll be lined up with other returners from last year including Kameron Reynolds (WR, 6-0, 170, Sr.) whose great hands hauled in 41 catches for 451 yards and three TDs a season ago and Nate Davis (WR, 5-9, 165, Sr.) who had 24 catches for 167 yards in 2024. At tight end, Watson has the luxury to have two players who can and will play several positions. Carter Brown (TE/RB, 6-210, Sr.) and Carter Lindsey (TE, 6-230, Sr.) who are regarded all-purpose players who can catch and block. Lindsey is listed as the “sniffer” position, which is an offensive player who creates mismatches. Watson is also excited to see a very talented junior in Josh Naylon (WR/QB, 6-0, 170, Jr.) take to the field after limited playing time a year ago.

The Senators up front will include a new face at center, Walter Pruitt (C, 6-0, 275, Jr.). The remainder of the offensive line should be very adequate for Sparkman with guards Cam Anderson (G, 6-2, 345, Sr.) and Noah Medlen (G/LS, 6-1, 245, Sr.) as Medlen will also handle the long snapper duties. At the tackle positions, Jaidyn Johnson (T, 6-1, 270, Sr.) and Mikael Fore (T, 6-0, 310, Sr.), both seniors, will start the season all settled in. If the push can come from the OL, look for some explosive offense coming from Harvest.

DEFENSE
Gone from the 2024 squad on defense are the three leading tacklers, which means Watson will have new faces and new talents to get in position to hound opposing offenses. At defensive line, battles within have spotlighted the off-season at Sparkman as several have fought their way to the forefront. The group includes Jaire Haynes (DL/OLB, 6-180, Jr.), who will also see playing time at outside linebacker depending on the set the defense is in, Aadyn Toney (DL, 5-10, 280, So.), who is young but strong, Ezekiel Martin (DL, 6-5, 215, Jr.) and Evan Draper (DL, 6-3, 215, Jr.).

Linebackers are expected to be headhunters once on the field on Friday nights. The bevy of talent in this position begins with Blake Battle (MLB, 6-0, 200, Sr.) who was among the top two tacklers in Class 7A a season ago with 109, 14 of which were for a loss, in just eight full games in action. Watson also hails Kyle Beach (MLB, 6-1, 190, Sr.) to “hit hard as he tries to take your soul.” The remainder of the expected linebackers to shine is Issac Jeffrey (LB, 5-11, 210, Jr.).

In the backfield will be a mixture of seniors and juniors, but all capable to make their opponents pay for infiltrating their territory. The seniors are Anthony Seaton (DB, 6-2, 175, Sr.), who is known to be one of the best athletes on the team, and Tre Dixon (DB, 5-11, 170, Sr.). The juniors are Kirklando Ayers (DB, 5-8, 160, Sr.) and Braylon Caudle (DB, 5-8, 160, Jr.) both of whom don’t carry a lot of size, but can carry a heavy punch.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The majority of the special teams talent graduated, so Watson is looking to a few good young men to step up for some exciting action during the kicking game. Kicking duties including punting will be between Daniel Gomez (K, 5-8, 160, Jr.), who saw limited play last year, and newcomer Warren Wine (P, 5-10, 170, So.), who is making his presence from the soccer program at Sparkman.

Watson will have four new assistant coaches on his 18-man coaching staff, many are which are alumnus of Sparkman. He added, “I’ve been blessed. I guess I did something right in life to be blessed with these coaches. For the most part, our team has been healthy and I give all the credit to our athletic trainers as they do a good job.”

FUN FACTS
• The three non-region games on the 2025 schedule include Spain Park (Class 6A, 12-1), Hillcrest Tuscaloosa (Class 7A, 6-4) and Mae Jemison (Class 6A, 3-7)
• Two players, Kameron Reynolds and Chad Reynolds are both seniors, but not related
• Unlike most years, this year’s squad is evenly divided in class with 33 seniors and juniors and 34 sophomores on the varsity roster
• Team colors are cardinal, black and white
• 2025 marks the 65th season of football at Sparkman