Last season’s run paying off for Reeltown

By Dusty Harper (Contact) | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, July 1, 2009

The Reeltown Rebels figure to be one of the top teams in Class 2A for the 2009 season.

Jackie O’Neal returns a lot of firepower from 2008’s team, which reeled off 12 straight wins at one point and finished the season one game shy of the state title game.

The deep run into the postseason has had an effect on his returners this summer, O’Neal says.

“I think last year was motivational for our guys,” O’Neal said. “Our kids always work hard, but having that kind of season has pushed them even more. The workouts have been good so far. We’ve got a lot of kids working jobs, in summer school or playing AAU ball, but every time they get an off day, they’re in the weight room.”

Last year’s Rebels averaged 34.5 points in 14 games, the second-highest total in Reeltown history, behind the 2003 Rebels, who went 12-1 and put up 36.1 points per Friday night.

But, O’Neal said his team can still easily get better on the offensive side of the ball.

“I feel like we can improve everywhere in every aspect of the game,” O’Neal said. “If we were the best last year, we wouldn’t have lost. You can always get faster and stronger, but we can really work on our technique, too. I think we’ve made great strides from spring on, and we’re getting better.”

The high-scoring Rebel offense was not let down by its defense in 2008. Reeltown posted six shutouts and held opponents to 7.8 points per game. As a result, not many of the games were close. In fact, the Rebs won all seven of their region games by at least 23 points. O’Neal said this year’s schedule should be much tougher, however.

“Goshen should be a much-improved team and they have a great running back,” O’Neal said. “St. Jude has a good corps coming back, Keith has a good stable of running backs and Highland Home has a new coach, so they should be better. Plus, I think all the teams will be better prepared for us this season.”

Reeltown starts fall practice on August 4.

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