School Spotlight: Hartselle Tigers (Hartselle, AL)

Hartselle High School is a high school located in Hartselle, Alabama. Hartselle’s mascot is the Tigers and their colors are cardinal red and white. Hartselle participates in the 6A level of sports in the AHSAA (Alabama High School Athletic Association). Hartselle has won one state championship in football back in 2011 under then head coach Bob Godsey. Hartselle High is now led by head coach Bryan Moore, who has been there since 2020.

Coach Moore mentioned that Hartselle has, traditionally, always had successful seasons. Bob Godsey was a coach who retired from Hartselle in 2018. He will probably go down as a Hall of Fame coach for Hartselle as he’s been there for 16 years. One other coach came after him and didn’t have a successful year. In Coach Moore’s first year as head coach their record was 7-4. In 2021 they improved to 10-2, and last year Hartselle went 12-1 and lost in the 3rd round of the state playoffs to Mountain Brook, the eventual 6A State Football runner-ups.

Coach Moore was an Offensive Coordinator at Opelika High during the 2012 season, losing to Hoover in the Finals. He was then head coach at Eufaula High for 3 years before arriving to Hartselle.

Last year’s season was very tough as Hartselle played a lot of games on the road. hey beat their biggest rival, Austin, the first game of the season by 28 points at home. Hartselle beat Cullman by 31 points on the road. They then beat Gadsden City, Oxford, and Muscle Shoals in back to back games on the road. By beating Decatur at home 2 weeks before the playoffs began, they clinched their regional championship. Hartselle was 10-0 going into the playoffs. They won the next two games and lost their first game of the season to Mountain Brook.

Looking towards the future, developing kids is the most important part of keeping success to Coach Moore. The next senior class of 2024 will be in their 4th year with Coach Moore as Head Coach. Hartselle has 12 starters returning for the next year, including guys who have been waiting their turn who are now ready to play. The return of a majority of the coaching staff is very helpful to the continuity of program as well. The returning athletes along with staff are all knowing what to expect next year, which means they should be very successful. Coach Moore mentioned some players to look out for next season.

#3 Ri Fletcher is a class of 2024 Running Back who is 5’9″ 170 lbs. Ri has been a starter since 9th grade. He has an offer from USF and has the potential the be an SEC guy.

#61 Colton Stinson is a class of 2024 Guard/Tackle who is 6’4” 330 lbs. Colton squats 365 lbs and bences 260 lbs. Colton has started since 9th grade and has the chance to become a power 5 guy.

#78 Scout Arp is a class of 2024 Guard/Tackle who is 6’4” 280 lbs. Scout is a 2-year starter and very smart player with a chance to play college football.

#33 Jake Haynes is a class of 2024 Middle Linebacker and Strong Safety who is 6’1″ 200 lbs. Jake Haynes runs a 4.76-second 40-yard-dash with an impressive 33.8-inch vertical. Jake also squats 405 lbs and benches 235 lbs. Jake had 110 tackles last year and this will be his 2nd year starting.

#5 Ja’kaleb Goodwin is a class of 2024 Cornerback and Strong Safety who is 5’8″ 155 lbs. He has a great vertical of 38 inches, along with a squat of 320 lbs and a bench of 185 lbs. Ja’kaleb is a speedy guy with a 4.5-second 40-yard-dash and 11.19-second 100 meter dash. He is going to be a 4-year starter with a great athletic skill set.

Hartselle’s Jakaleb Goodwin runs with the ball after intercepting a Black Bears’ pass in the Tigers’ 29-0 win over Austin. Special to the Enquirer/Mariann Parker

#12 Landon Blackwood is a class of 2024 Quarterback who is 6’0″ 170 lbs. This will be his 1st year starting after being behind several good starters. Landon is a smart kid with a good arm.