Eye of the Tigers: After turnaround season, Red Bay has more goals in mind

RED BAY — The final whistle called them over well after the sun had set behind the hill and visiting bleachers. Long after the lights had been turned on.

The meeting place is just off the right of the large orange pawprint logo stamped into the middle of Red Bay’s turf field. Players knelt in a semicircle and listened. Coaches stood facing their charges, doing the talking.

There were some reminders first-year coach Tyler Jeffreys wanted to dole out before giving the OK to head back to the locker room and call it a day. Some of it was the usual game-related talking points — the benefits the Tigers (8-2) will see if they follow the offensive and defensive gameplans put in place for their Class 2A playoff opener against Sand Rock (3-7) on Thursday.

It’ll be the program’s first home first-round postseason matchup since 2020, which also provides Red Bay with a notable advantage. The Tigers are 13-5 all-time in home first-round matchups, including 4-0 since 2014. They are just 3-12 in such games on the road.

But some of what Jeffreys said then veered into the intangibles and mindset Red Bay should be adhering to. Being disciplined, focused and ready — coachspeak buzz words — and more than anything, nothing is guaranteed this time of the year.

“The biggest thing,” Jeffreys said after the players’ dispersal, “is reminding everyone that you should never be complacent.”

Complacent. It’s a word Jeffreys found himself returning to more than a few times and it’s certainly a fair point.

Little, however, would suggest that’s the course the Tigers have taken through the season, even with the 46-38 loss at Phil Campbell in last week’s regular-season finale. There hasn’t exactly been a lot of time to with Jeffreys being hired two months before the season opener, prompting players and coaches to jump into something new together quickly and decisively. A “blur” is how Jeffreys described it. Nor had it been warranted after the program’s 2-7 showing in 2024.

“I think a lot of it was knowing we had to come together,” senior quarterback Jeremiah Thorne said. “Especially as players. Last year had a lot of ‘me, me, me’ and that didn’t always help.”

The new approach has. On a team that doesn’t feature a ton of experience, either.

Red Bay has scored 35 more points seven times with four showings of at least 40. It’s held eight opponents to less than 30 points, including four to fewer than 10.

And that’s translated into the best stat more often than not — being on the right side of the scoreboard. Its only other loss at University Charter was at the beginning of September.

The Tigers surpassed last season’s win total by the fourth game. They went through their region unbeaten for the first time since 2019, which also happens to be the year they last won it.

In all, Red Bay’s six-win improvement is tied for the second-biggest regular-season turnaround in the state this season with 3A Cottage Hill (9-1). Abbeville Christian (9-1), an AISA school, had the largest by jumping seven victories. Five others improved by five wins.

“I think we’ve had it all this time,” sophomore receiver Davian Colburn said. “But we haven’t had a chance to show it.”

And a victory Thursday?

That would prove the Tigers with an opportunity for their 13th double-digit win season since the AHSAA playoff era began in 1966. Five of those have come under a familiar name. Dale Jeffreys, Tyler’s dad and current assistant, did so between 1997-2011.

“This is an opportunity to show people this season hasn’t been just luck,” senior running back Jaxon Vinson said. “That we actually have a chance to do this and be successful.”

It’s what this season has been about.

And, really, that goes back to the younger Jeffreys’ main point. Why be complacent when there is plenty more to seek out?

“When we talk about goals, we talk about ring chasers,” Jeffreys said. “When you talk about wanting to take that next step, you have to say what you want. That’s what we’re trying to build to — just like everyone else.

“You know, we’re capable of being on that journey. It’s just a matter of seeing it through. Is it hard? Yes. It always is. Every team is good this time of the year. But are you doing what you need to to give yourself a shot at it?”

It’s an interesting question. One Red Bay will answer — at least in part — soon.

In the meantime, the stadium lights slowly shut off one by one. They’ll be back on. The Tigers will, of course, be waiting.