Red Bay assistant coach Billy Turbyfill, 2013 starter Jordan Turbyfill and Tiger head coach John Ritter watch as two Red Bay players go through blocking drills during spring practice. Photo by Keith Ledbetter.

By Keith Ledbetter

For the FCT

Red Bay will kickoff their 2014 football season with a spring jamboree game against Tishomingo County High School this Friday, May 16, at Red Bay.

The Tigers are coming off an 8-2 regular season record in 2013, after dropping their two opening games against Central and Tanner.

Red Bay went on to win their remaining games, advancing to the first round of the state playoffs.

Red Bay’s 2013 season ended with a first round 29-8 post-season loss to Walter Wellborn.

“That loss didn’t take away from what we accomplished last season,” Red Bay Tiger head football coach John Ritter said.

“We had an outstanding year, but we came up a little short against a very, very good football team.”

Due to an AHSAA change in the make-up of Region 8, the Tigers will see new opponents this season, including Mars Hill on October 3 and Tharptown on October 31.

Also in the Tigers’ region are Cherokee, Hatton, Phil Campbell, and Sulligent.

Red Bay Tiger and Belmont Cardinal fans will be happy to know that the annual cross state rivalry game will continue with a game on September 26.

Red Bay started their 2013 season with a pre-season 24-0 shut-out of R. A. Hubbard. This year the Tigers are expected again to play a practice game prior to their season opener against Colbert Heights on August 22.

Red Bay will be returning Austin Childers as one of their last season standouts. Childers, as a junior, had 23 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,700 yards last year and is expected to play a big role in 2014.

Spring practice started last month for Red Bay and according to Ritter, the Tigers have 35 students dressing out for practice.

“We’ve had some good practices,” Ritter said. “It has been very, very physical.

“The guys are pushing though those mental blocks of being tired and out of shape.”

Ritter said that spring is a time that things get going in an upward or downward direction for the summer.

“You always want to go into summer on a high note,” he said.

“Hopefully this Friday we can do that against Tishomingo County.”