FAIRVIEW, Ala.- Turnover was the theme of the offseason for the Fairview Aggies, who, prior to the retirement of legendary head coach George Redding, went 12-1 with a run to 5A State Playoff quarterfinals.
Along with Redding, the Aggies lost superstar running back Jake Harper, quarterback Kolt Redding and wide receiver Zayden Cruce to graduation.
After 19 years as defensive coordinator, though, Brian Simmons has stepped into the head role, and looks to prove that, despite an almost entirely new coaching staff and offensive backfield, this is still the same Fairview.
“Our goal has not changed, our standards have not changed and our passion has not changed. That’s what I’ve told the team, I say ‘why would you change something that’s worked for 19 years?’ Coach Redding and I did it together for so long, so we agreed that those key things are what we need to be good at and have in order to succeed. The only thing that’s changed is who’s printing off the schedule,” Simmons said earlier in the offseason.
The summer’s been up-and-down for the Aggies, but in recent weeks those starting roles left behind by last season’s 14 seniors have started to fill up. Replacing Kolt Redding at signal caller is Conner Scott, who started at wide receiver for the Aggies last season.
“He’s doing a great job just taking command of the offense. He knows it well. He was a backup quarterback years prior, and a starting receiver, so he knows the offense well. He’s just a natural leader, too, and a very good athlete,” Simmons said on his new quarterback.
Helping Scott settle in is the fact that Fairview’s offense will remain run-heavy. Filling the void that Harper and his 2100-plus yard 2025 season left, the Aggies have a duo of running backs they feel will both step up.
Describing sophomore running back Easton Fitch, Simmons said “This guy, man, he’s got explosive speed and great vision.” Also taking reps will be senior Ernesto Vazquez, whose speed and vision both have stuck out to the staff as well.
Clearing the way for the duo, Sebastian Garcia, Evan Smith and Braxton Kilpatrick return on the interior offensive line, but both tackle spots are still being worked out.
Garcia, the team’s starting center, has not only continued to anchor the offensive line, but has also emerged as one of the surprises of the offseason for the defensive staff.
“Last year, was a backup MIKE linebacker. Turns out, he’s a really good defensive end- so he’s moving. He may honestly be one of our starting ends this year. He’s very quick off the ball, has good strength, very good football IQ- so that’s kind of been a surprise for us, and definitely a good kind of surprise,” Simmons said.
Along with the offensive scheme, the defense will remain the same after Simmons’ bump to head coach. The Aggies’ 3-3 stack scheme will stay in place, but with an influx of speed on the defense, they’ll feature some new blitz looks.
Both sides of the ball will be tested, and early, as the Aggies will move into the reformed Class 4A, Region 8 alongside Good Hope, Hayden, Guntersville and Scottsboro (who knocked them out of the playoffs last year), among others.
“This region is just loaded. I believe there’s five teams in there who have hosted playoff games the last two years, and there’s only going to be four spots open. So, one team that’s been hosting for two years is going to miss playoffs altogether- that tells you where this region’s at. For us, we only have nine games because we never found a 10th, so eight of those nine are going to be region games. West Point will be the only non-region game, and that’s the first. So from there, the rest of the year, you’re playing games that are determining the playoff spots. But, we’re also one of those five I mentioned that have hosted a playoff game, so we’re just going to keep filling in these spots and keep rolling,” Simmons said.
