Red Level seeks season-closing win at PCA

Red Level is looking to end its season on a high note, Tigers head football coach Tony Ingram said.

RLS hasn’t won a game this season, and will hit the road tomorrow night to face the Prattville Christian Academy Panthers at Panthers Field.

This is the first match up ever between the teams.

“They’re a new team for us,” Ingram said. “We’re not that familiar with them. This is their first year in the (Alabama High School Athletic Association). They were in (Alabama Independent Schools Association).”

From the film he’s seen on PCA, Ingram said the Panthers are “deceptive,” in spite of carrying a 1-8 record. PCA beat Billingsley 42-14 in its season opener. The Panthers have lost eight straight.

The Panthers run a multiple set formation and aren’t afraid to get in the “I” formation, the coach said.

The quarterback throws the ball well, Ingram said.

In addition to losing every game this season, the Tigers have lost a lot of players, too.

“It’s the same song, but different verse,” Ingram said. “We’re going to fight with everything we’ve got and try to finish strong. We’ve got less now as far as offense goes.

“The kids are keeping their heads up and practicing hard every day,” he said.

That’s actually been a high note for RLS at practice, Ingram added.

“I just couldn’t ask anything else out of them,” he said. “They come every day, and I think this (experience) will serve them well in life later on.”

As always though, Ingram said the team is anxious to get back out on the gridiron one more time this season.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge and want to end this thing on a high note,” he said.

Kick off in Prattville tomorrow night is at 7.

Ingram resigning as football coach

Red Level coach Tony Ingram is resigning as the Tigers head football coach at the end of the season.

Ingram has coached at RLS since 1997, serving as an assistant football coach until being named the head coach in 2009. He has compiled an 8-32 record so far in his almost four seasons as head coach for RLS.

Ingram said the reason he’s resigning isn’t for what people think it may be.

“There isn’t one thing you can point a finger at and say it’s the real reason,” Ingram said. “It’s time for a change.”

Covington County Board of Education board member Jimmy Rodgers said the board will not make any coaching recommendations until the resignation is official.

“We’ll wait and talk with (RLS principal) Mr. (Johnny) Odom and see what plans he has,” Rodgers said.

While he may not be coaching football at RLS, Ingram said he’s still going to be involved as the school’s athletic director and for now, head baseball coach.

“I started this thing and it takes a lot of time to do what you want to do with a football team,” he said. “We weren’t progressing like I thought we should.”

Ingram has roots that have grown deep within the school, graduating from RLHS in 1980.

Even though he won’t be coaching from the sidelines after the season, Ingram said he’s still going to support the school he loves.

“I am very thankful to coach Odom and (Covington County Schools Superintendent) Mr. Terry Holley for this opportunity,” he said. “I’ll be a Tiger until I die, and I bleed black and gold to the bone.”