Vikings ready for new challenge in Class 5A

For two years Jasper has competed against the best that Class 6A has to offer as one of the smallest schools in that classification.

Jaasper finished the 2021 season 5-5 in head coach Philip Bailey’s second year, an improvement from the 3-7 mark in 2020.

“The five losses were to Clay-Chalkville, Pinson Valley, Gardendale, Minor and Jackson Olin,” Bailey said at Walker/Winston Media Days. “That’s really kind of the top end, the cream of the crop of 6A.

“Our region – the four seeds that went to the playoffs from our region – went undefeated in the first round of the playoffs. Then Clay-Chalkville went 15-0 and won the state championship. Each of the past two years, the state champion in 6A came out of that region we were in.”

That all changes this year as the Vikings move back to 5A for the first time since 2019 when Jasper spent most of the season as the No.1-ranked team in the state.

“So we drop back down to 5A and, like I said, we’re glad about that,” Bailey said. “But make no mistake about it, this is still a really strong 5A region that we’re in.”

Jasper joins Ramsay, Fairfield, Wenonah, Hayden, Carver Birmingham, John Carroll and Pleastnt Grove in Class 5A, Region 5. Rounding out the schedule with be Homewood, Center Point and rival Cullman.

“It’s very strong schedule, top to bottom,” he said. “But it’s like I tell these guys all the time, it’s not about who we play, it’s about who we are.”

Senior quarterback Spencer Rosenfeld said he is excited about the move from 6A to 5A, particularly the senior leadership returning to the offense around him.

“We have a good group coming back,” Rosenfeld said. “A bunch of guys were young last year and are all seniors this year. Most everybody on offense except for the line are seniors, so we should be good. 6A and 5A are two different ballgames. It’s exciting.”

Notably missing from the offensive line will be be Dalton Dockins, veteran center who will continue his football career at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Bailey said it could be a group effort replacing such a steady hand.

“Jasper Odom is penciled in at center,” Bailey said as the Vikings head into fall camp. “We had some snap issues in the spring game (against Minor). Anybody that watched that game, you remember it. He’s gotten better and takes some pride in working on that during practice and post-practice throughout the summer.”

Bailey said it could be Odom, Drake Bread or even left tackle Collin Langley

“He’s playing left tackle for us because he’s really the leader of that group, but if he’s got to put his hand on the ball and go play center, then that’s what we’re going to go do,” he said.

As far as quarterback, Bailey said he Rosenfeld understands better than ever what is expected of him as a senior.

“It all goes through the quarterback,” he said. “This will be his third year starting as a senior. I think he understands that and the role he has to fill for our football team and what he has to do to help us be successful.”

Cole Sargent, who also spoke at Media Days, said he is also looking forward to the season.

“I’m excited,” he said. “Our defense – it’s the same defense as last year. No seniors left us. The offense in the offseason is going pretty good. So I’m excited.”

Bailey said that while last year’s senior class was uniquely special to him after watching them grow from freshmen through graduation, he said that “as far as the size, scope, experience and ability top to bottom, this class is bigger than the last one.”

With all the hype heading into fall camp, from starting in a new classification along with so much returning talent, Bailey said his message to his team remains the same as it ever has.

“We can’t control the schedule. We can’t control who’s in the region,” he said. “We have to focus on the things that we can do everyday. We can control our attitude and effort. We can control how committed we are to each other. We can control doing the right things all the time, every day. That’s where we are going to place our focus every day and that’s who we are.”

2022 Schedule