#HSFT16: Stop No. 26 – Pickens County Tornadoes

REFORM, Ala. (WCBI) – Pickens County won eight games in 2015 under now second-year head coach James Thompson. The Tornadoes lost a few starters from what was a strong senior class, but they expect to continue the school’s run of 11-straight playoff appearances.

“We were able to have a little bit of success. It’s a tribute to the senior leadership,” Thompson said. “We’re looking to build (on that) but we fell short of our ultimate goal.”

“We were disappointed in last year’s season,” senior QB Zach Thomas said. “We have high expectations for this season. We’re trying to build off that.”

After two years in 2A, Pickens County is back down to 1A in Alabama. The Tornadoes won a 1A state title just three years ago. Even though it’s a smaller classification, they said it might not be an easier road.

“I feel like it’s stronger, as opposed to what a lot of people may think,” Thompson said. “I don’t get caught up in ‘what’s tougher’. The region is the region and we have to concentrate on us.”

Thomas will return at quarterback. Thompson says he’ll be a major key to the offense once more.

“It’s really exciting,” Thomas said about this season. “We’re all chasing one goal. We want to make it to state.”

The Tornadoes will use Tuscaloosa County transfer Caleb Bonner in the run game. He said Thompson has made quite the impression on him thus far.

“He’s great. He’s basically like our second father,” Bonner said.

The objective is always the same in Reform: get to the state title game and get a win.

“It’d mean everything,” Thomas said. “It’d mean excitement for our community, to bring something that we haven’t seen in three years, a state championship. Just to see what we had three years ago, how excited we were, that’s how much we want to get back out there.”

South Lamar, Marion County, Holy Spirit Catholic, Brilliant, Hubbertville and Berry are in the Tornadoes’ 1A region this season.