Florala failed to take advantage of JF Shields first half
turnovers and the Wildcats paid for it late falling to the
Panthers, 20-7 in front of a Homecoming crowd.
The Panthers overcame three straight fumbles to defeat Florala
in the 1A region 2 contest.
Florala was anticipating coming into the game with their second
win of the season and hopeful of a second half playoff run with
Shields, Kinston, and Geneva Co as potential opportunities to
win .....
Florala falls to Blacksher.
(Tuesday - Sept 28, 2010) In a rare AHSAA Saturday Night game, but an
annual occurrence in Uriah, Alabama -- Florala took on 2A JU
Blacksher in the Bulldogs 2010 Homecoming. The Wildcats played
to a 6-8 second half, but trailed 20-0 at the break - falling -
28-6.
(Wednesday, Sept 22 - 5:00 pm) The 2A Red Level Tigers JV traveled
to Florala and met the Wildcats head on in a heated battle.
Florala had owned the Tigers in Pee Wee and dominated past Youth
Football and the expectation of Florala's future is high, but Monday
Night the Tigers dominated Florala winning 33-0. Pictures on
program23
Brantley rolls by Florala
Before the crowds
had settled to their seats, Brantley took the opening kickoff to the
house and less than :20 seconds into the annual contest Brantley was
up 7-0. Florala had pulled an upset in week 2 after trailing
18-6 against Georgiana, but the Wildcats quickly dug an
insurmountable hole and with little than 8 minutes gone, Brantley
had a 27-0 advantage.
Brad Garner stepped in for the missing Chris
Buckler, who had spent the week - not watching film, but receiving
oxygen and medicine as he overcame pneumonia. Buckler was
released on Friday afternoon and was not on hand for the annual loss
to Brantley.
The Bulldogs extended their winning streak to 13
over Florala and have not lost a region game since 2001.
Florala now looks to prepare for Pleasant Home,
a 38-34 loser to Kinston, next Friday on the road for a critical
matchup with playoff implications.
Garner
to Coach Florala Florala's
head basketball coach will take over the reigns as football
coach against the Wildcats toughest opponent of the season
tonight - Brantley. The move comes as head football coach
and athletic director remains hospitalized at St. Vincent's in
Birmingham with pneumonia. Buckler is expects to be
released today, but could remain through Saturday.
"The players are going to help me and I'll be there for them,"
said Garner on his task tonight.
Florala hasn't beaten Brantley in 21 years (1989) and only twice
in fifteen games. The Bulldogs have won the last twelve
meetings including last year's 55-0 showing
The Wildcats are coming
off a very exciting win over Georgiana last Friday and Buckler hoped
the momentum would give Florala a competitive boost going into the
game. Florala had also planned a "black out" for the Brantley
game that has been temporarily postponed.
Buckler is planning to be back next week for a
critical match-up with Pleasant Home that will likely have playoff
ramifications.
Florala's
Buckler Hospitalized Head Coach and Athletic
Director Chris Buckler has been admitted to St. Vincent in
Birmingham on Labor Day with pneumonia. The first year coach
was preparing the final move for his family but was taken to the
hospital after a weekend high temperature of 103.
He's really worried about [this Friday's game with Brantley], but
right now we just are getting him better," said Ami Buckler from St.
Vincent. READ STORY -
program23.com
Florala's Resurgence
The Wildcat's are a
long way from their 2007 ASWA 1A ranking or their last team to
reach a #1 ranking (Sept. 19, 1973), but even after a pre-season
loss to New Brockton and an 0-1 start after their loss to 2A
Samson (2-0, 1-0) - Florala fever is heating after the Wildcats
stunning 20-18 victory over Georgiana.
The Wildcats
scored to start the second quarter to take their first lead in a
football game since August, 2007, but 2 play later Georgiana tied
the game and before half went up 18-6 over Florala.
"Our players never quit," said Buckler about the
win. In the prior two years Florala has grown from 8th, 9th,
and 10th graders to sophomores, juniors, and three seniors.
Zach Fleming, on the field in 2006 as an 8th grader, played with
older brothers Bobby and TJ - both ASWA All-State players - and this
year the 8th grader has grown to the teams' leader.
Last Friday, Zach was thought not to return in
the second half due to injury. "Hunter [Oswald] stepped it
up, but I can't say enough about all the players - it was a real
team effort - and they all grew up a little [against Georgiana]."
Florala scored to bring the game close at 14-18
and the defense tightened to hold the Panthers scoreless in the
second half. Georgiana's quick scoring offense was a threat in
the second half, but the Wildcats "bent but didn't break" and
produced critical turnovers and held Georgiana late in the fourth to
get the ball back and begin their winning drive.
Zach Fleming took the ball in from 10-yards out
and although the 2-pt conversion failed, Florala had a 20-18
advantage.
"Coach [Buckler] must have ice flowing through
his veins," said a Wildcat fan after the game. The first year
coach went on fourth down twice on Florala's first touchdown scoring
drive. "I'm glad he went back to the running game."
Florala used Fleming and Oswald to play
physical power ball and followed behind preseason All-County Matthew
Gibbs as a ground control attack was followed by critical passing
and runs from sophomore Austin McNeil.
The Wildcats now are the talk of Florala and
Buckler is the lead subject. "He's building some excitement."
Florala's Coach even has a Friday morning coffee at the Huddle House
beginning at 6:30 am.
This Friday's conversation should be enjoyable
with the coach's first victory, a 1-0 region record, and no fan
expectation as 1A power Brantley comes to town. The team's
schedule heats up following the Bulldogs game when Florala faces
Pleasant Home (schedule).
Florala fans expectations before the year were
for a competitive team, but after Friday's win - Wildcats are
gaining momentum as support for Buckler is growing beyond the
typical football fan. "Our gate has increased every week from
preseason to week one and expectation is high for Brantley coming
this Friday." Kick-off time is 7:00 PM at Mathews Stadium.
Although Florala's realistic team for competing
for the region title could be two years away, Buckler has the
Wildcats headed in the right direction and the foundation has been
laid.
Opp takes JV
The Opp Bobcats defeated Florala in the Wildcats second game in three
days. Opp turned the ball over several times inside the red zone,
but the 3A Bobcats were to much for 1A Florala. Opp went up
20-0 before Florala's Austin West ripped off a 59 yard TD run in the
third quarter giving Wildcat fans something to cheer about. It
would be the only score for Florala as the Bobcats added two more
touchdowns in the 34-8 win. Pictures
Florala vs.
Georgiana (Mon, Aug 30, 2010 - 7:00 AM)
Florala and Georgiana could likely be playing for a spot in the
AHSAA Playoffs although only in week two of the schedule and the
first region contest. Every game below Brantley and
McKenzie and now maybe Pleasant Home will be considered a must
win for teams looking for a playoff birth.
Improve in
Loss Wildcats fall to New Brockton
(Friday, August 27 - 6:00 AM)
"It was a good loss." I'm not sure the phrase will ever truly
make sense to athletes and sports fans, but one can continue to
here the phrase for generations to come.
Although not stated by new head coach and athletic director,
Chris Buckler, the phrase could have summed up the Wildcats
performance in the Alabama High School Athletic Associations'
kickoff jamboree week as Florala falls to New Brockton, 28-8.
Samson returns to Florala
(Friday, August 27 - 6:00 AM)
The last time Samson played in Florala the Wildcats defeated the Tigers
62-0 with a Robbie Evans led offense and Doug Vickery as the head coach.
The two teams started their rivalry in 1947 when Florala won 20-0.
Read More
Samson returns to Florala
Stan Gooden returns to Florala, but this time he will be walking
the opposing sidelines as an assistant coach for Friday Night's
opponent, 2A Samson. The former Florala head coach left after
last season after two seasons and a combined record of 2-17.
read
more
Florala welcomes back Gooden...
Wildcats prepare for Samson
(August 24, 2010)
Former Florala head coach Stan Gooden returns to Mathews Stadium
Friday Night and will be walking the opposite sideline after his
two year stint with the Wildcats ended last season.
Florala was a combined 2-17 with extremely young squads after
the departure of 15 seniors prior to Gooden's arrival.
Like most small schools in Alabama, there are years of plenty
and years of scarce and Florala is currently experiencing their
share of scarce.
This year Florala has 3 seniors and is a little older, but is
still a young squad with the majority of players sophomore and
freshman. "We're still young and making some mental
mistakes, but the team is improving everyday and we will
continue to get better every week," said new head coach Chris
Buckler.
Zac Fleming (2), Lavoris Ball (20), and Zac Dorsey (75) have a
lot of expectations upon them this year from Buckler who is
looking for the three seniors to be leaders on a roster than
includes twelve 7th and 8th graders. The team also has
eleven sophomores who have been called on for the past two
years.
Buckler is excited about Florala's first home opener of 2010
against old rival 2A Samson. "They have really turned
their program around this year and are expecting a big year."
Florala's last game with Samson didn't end well for the Wildcats
in a 0-62 lopsided loss to the Tigers. "We'll work to be a
lot more competitive," said Buckler whose team improved +15 in
last Friday's kickoff jamboree loss to New Brockton, 28-8.
Florala played well, but couldn't contain a very potent attack
and a potential SEC quarterback as Arkansas is a potential
shortlist of schools on the highly recruited athlete's list.
The Wildcats will have to improve on their third down
conversions - allowing New Brockton to score twice on third down
possessions. The first a 3rd down and 8 attempt that ended
in a 50-yard touchdown for the Gamecocks.
"We have a few specific things to work on this week in
preparation for (2A) Samson, but our main focus is on region
play."
FLORALA vs. NEW BROCKTON
Wildcats face New Brockton -
Hold first ever Green / Gold Fan Day
The Florala Wildcats new Athletic Director and Head Football
Coach, Chris Buckler has taken over the helm and is now hours
away from unveiling the 2010 Wildcats who could be in the best
pre-season shape in several past years.
"The
team is as good as conditioning as any team I can remember,"
said assistant coach Brad Garner, who has been apart of the past
four coaching changes. "They are really putting forth a lot of
effort and it shows right now."
Working hard is the key point first year head coach Chris
Buckler has been striving for since arriving in July and the
Wildcats have made critical strides in proving they will be more
than a "homecoming" game for opposing teams. "We want ever team
to know they had to earn win against us this season," says
Buckler. The first year coach believes the Wildcats could be a
surprise team for the 2010 season and hasn't written off the
possibility to make the playoffs.
"It's a team goal and we think we have a great shot at getting
into the post season - if we can stay healthy." Buckler's
Wildcats will have to prove early just where they stack in the
region - opening with 2A Samson and then facing 1A Georgiana and
1A #3 Brantley.
This season Buckler also introduced the first ever Green and
Gold Fan day last Saturday as a crowd over 150 strong came out
and supported an intense game that started at 9 AM and ended in
a 5-5 tie (each score counted as 1 point). "I was really proud
of the teams conditioning," said Buckler who watched from the
field as coaches Stenson and Garner each coached an opposing
side. "We really accomplished a lot today. The coaching staff
got to run our offense and I got to watch each players
performance."
Buckler observed several key players have outstanding
performance and was pleased with the play from both
quarterbacks. "McNeill and Price both stepped up with some key
checks during the game. They still have some reads and game time
decisions to adjust to, but both showed they understand what we
are trying to accomplish." Hunter Oswald and Zac Fleming both
ran the ball well and Wildcat fans will be excited with Flemings
move to fullback. "Zac is a really special young man," said
Buckler. "I know there is a lot of history going into this
season and he has really taken a leadership position."
Fleming is one of three seniors this season on another young
Wildcat squad that could see 8th and 9th graders on the field
during the season.
Defensively could be a strength for the Wildcats and with 40
players on the pre-season roster, could allow key offensive
players to rest and remain fresh.
"I know the players are excited to get Friday's Jamboree started
so they can begin to build a foundation for Wildcat football,
but there is also the band, cheerleaders and come August 30th a
new Volleyball team that is excited to start their season."
For Wildcat fans there are names on the team they will continue
to hear for several years to come as a young team begins a climb
out of the last two season's and their combined 2-18 record.
Sophomore Austin McNeill has grown a couple inches physically
and looks the role of a starting quarterback. Matthew Gibbs has
already gained attention after Nick Saban's recognition last
season as a Freshman, but he too has gained size and strength
since last season. Every player could be named with a team that
has been working as hard as any team in the region since Buckler
arrived.
"I'm ready to get the season started," said Fleming who enters
an emotional senior season but has already improved in speed and
strength over the offseason. "We've really been working hard
this year - and it's been an entire team effort."
Friday Night the Wildcats open their second jamboree with 2A New
Brockton. The Gamecocks are again slated to compete for the
region 2 title against Goshen, Red Level and Elba, but for 3
quarters the varsity will get to implement a lot of the hard
work from the off-season and begin the first step to a new era.
The final quarter will be for the junior varsity squads to line
up and finish the contest.
Game time is 7:00 PM in Florala at Mathews' Stadium.
Covington County's next election will have an outcome for the next
Sheriff and District Attorney in the South Alabama county, but one
attorney isn't concerned about the arrest or disposition of court
cases. One legal mind will be pleading his case not in the
courtrooms, but on the Florala Wildcats' football sideline with
officials and opposing teams.
Florala's second year principal, Donnie Powell has reached outside
the normal boundaries of high school coaches at Florala and
recruited a highly motivated and educated individual to lead the
Wildcats' program into the future.
Chris Buckler earned his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law
School and now will be the judge and jury for local athletes looking
to bring their abilities into Buckler's "courtroom".
Buckler graduated Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) with a Bachelor of
Science in Business with a concentration in marketing and a Bachelor
of Science in Education with a concentration in physical education
in 2001. The football and track & field standout also added a
Masters in Education with a concentration in sports management from
the University of Alabama in 2006.
While at Alabama, Buckler was the academic advisor for the football
team, monitoring players’ grades, attendance and study hall. Before
joining the Crimson Tide, Buckler also spent time as the strength
and conditioning coordinator and the compliance intern at the
Division I level.
Although excelling at the collegiate level athletically, Buckler
understands what it takes to be a high school athlete in multiple
sports and maintain high standards being named First-team academic
all-state in football, wrestling and track in Ohio.
"After talking to Chris through several interviews I knew he was
exactly what I was looking for," said Powell. "Every person I called
highly recommended him because of his ability to get kids involved
and their respect for him, as well."
Powell had plenty of choices in a process that may simple weed out
applicants as much as the interview process. "I didn't go through
the State's newly required application process, but I hear it is
grueling," said Powell. The Florala Principal still had a dozen
individuals who completed and applied for the job. "I received
numerous emails, but most of the individuals were from out of the
area and no one from inside the county formally applied."
Florala players and parents will have an opportunity to meet Coach
Buckler at the first scheduled meeting tentatively set for this
Friday at 6:00 PM in the high school. "I continue to get more
excited everyday," said Buckler. "I want the parents, players, fans
and community to know that I don't plan on being a 1-800 coach. I
have a 5 year vision to be competing for the region title and a 10
year vision to head to either Auburn University or Bryant Denny
stadium and compete for the State championship."
Powell backed the coach up in his quest to build something special
at Florala - "One of the overwhelming reasons for bringing Coach
Buckler in was his desire be here at Florala and to build a
program."
Chris Buckler, who spent the 2005 season as an intern on the Alabama
coaching staff, was the defensive line coach at Marietta College and
the defensive coordinator at Perry Meridan (Indiana). Buckler has
also coached track at almost every school on his resume and also
held the distinction of coaching football at one school and track at
another cross town private school. After graduating in 2001 from U
of Miami, Buckler was a graduate assistant at Marquette.
Buckler arrives to his first varsity head coaching job from John
Carroll in Birmingham, but brings a wealth of knowledge from on and
off the field. The coach and his wife, Ami, are expecting their
first child.
"I'm most excited about City of Florala," said Buckler. "Both Ami
and I come from small towns and that is the same environment we want
to start and raise our family. I've been through Florala at least a
dozen times in the past - whether recruiting kids out of Fort Walton
while at Alabama - or heading to the beaches. Florala has some of
the nicest people in the world and I want my child to grow up with
those experiences."
Buckler didn't wait until his arrival to Florala this week before
getting to work has already schedule summer workouts and 7-on-7
games, including a potential trip to the University of South
Alabama.
Of course, with the excitement came the difficult task of leaving.
"I wanted to make sure the players at John Carroll heard from me."
Next on the list - meeting with new players and his future Wildcats.
"There's a
Doctor in the House" The
Florala Wildcats have pulled out all the
stops
and
hired a coach from Birmingham to move to the
Gateway to the Gulf Coast and help
"build a foundation" to a struggling
football program.
"My wife and I are extremely excited with
the opportunity," said Dr. Chris Buckler.
Program23 caught up with Dr. Buckler who was
in Indianapolis attending a conference,
while planning on his first official team
meeting next Friday.
"I'm anxious to meet with the parents and
players to begin building a foundation for
the future."
Exciting words for Florala faithful who are
looking for a stable coach as Buckler will
be the fourth coach since 2005. The
coach will quickly establish a summer
workout program for all players from the 7th
to 12th grade.
Coach Buckler wants to win and be
competitive this season, but included
discussion about the Wildcats' future and
long term plans to include Florala's Pee Wee
programs.
n
annual occurrence in Uriah, Alabama -- Florala took on 2A JU
Blacksher in the Bulldogs 2010 Homecoming. The Wildcats played
to a 6-8 second half, but trailed 20-0 at the break - falling -
28-6. 
Florala's
Buckler 
up
20-0 before Florala's Austin West ripped off a 59 yard TD run in the
third quarter giving Wildcat fans something to cheer about. It
would be the only score for Florala as the Bobcats added two more
touchdowns in the 34-8 win. 
"The
team is as good as conditioning as any team I can remember,"
said assistant coach Brad Garner, who has been apart of the past
four coaching changes. "They are really putting forth a lot of
effort and it shows right now." 
and
hired a coach from Birmingham to move to the
Gateway to the Gulf Coast and help
"build a foundation" to a struggling
football program. 
