Albany Lions
Head Coach: Denney Faith (38th season 360-110-4)
Last Season: 16-0; 5-0 in district (Defeated Mart in 2A Division II State Championship)
Albany Key Players and Storylines
Denney Faith had to wait 36 years for his first state title at Albany. He didn’t have to wait long for his second. The Lions went back-to-back a year ago, knocking off Mart 28-10 in the state title game.
However, this season, much more responsibility will fall on the shoulders of senior quarterback Chip Chambers following the graduation of bell cow running back Adam Hill and his over 2,600 rushing yards from last year.
1,200-yard receive Cason Fairchild also graduated, but his younger brother Calhan (258 receiving yards and three touchdowns) and Branson Beal (511 receiving yards and nine touchdowns) are ready to pick up the slack in the receiving core.
Albany 14, Mart 3, 1:58 2Q
Great pocket presence & throw on the run by Albany QB Chip Chambers. Run after catch by Branson Beal was impressive too.Beal got some air time on Bally’s for hulking out after landing big block earlier. No flexing after the TD. #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/aYZSgVpsnE
— Jonathan Hull (@Hull_TRN) December 14, 2023
Look for the Lions to lean on senior Landon Balliew and junior Tristan Howe on the offensive line after both earned all-district honors last year.
Defensively, ten of their 12 leading tacklers are gone from last season. Beal (70 tackles, seven TFLs), Woods Peterson (31 tackles), and Ethan Green will give the Lions a solid foundation at linebacker, while Fairchild (45 tackles, three interceptions) will hold down the fort back at safety.
It won’t be easy replacing so much talent from last season. The offense should still pack a punch with Chambers leading that way. It’ll be interesting to see who steps up on defense as the Lions look to make a run at their first-ever three-peat.
2024 Albany Schedule
8/30 at Stamford
9/6 at Hawley
9/13 vs. Seymour
9/20 at Merkel
9/27 vs. Anson
10/11 vs. Miles
10/18 at Winters
10/25 vs. Cross Plains
11/1 at Roscoe
11/8 vs. Hamlin
