Montgomery Academy football looks to keep soaring after region title

After back-to-back losing seasons, Montgomery Academy football experienced a dramatic turnaround last year. The Eagles soared to the 3A Region 2 title and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.

Their success was built around freshman quarterback Reid McBride and a core of young players who have returned this season with increased experience.

“Graham Martin sat here and said, ‘We plan on being the region champs,'” said Ethan McBride, Montgomery Academy’s head coach said about last preseason’s interview. “I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ We were very young, but we have some very talented young players.”

The coach admitted starting a freshman quarterback can be difficult but said Reid McBride exceeded all expectations.

“Having a freshman quarterback going into the season, you did not know how that was going to go,” Ethan McBride said. “Obviously, Reid performed heads and tails higher than what you could have expected out of a freshman quarterback.”

Running back and safety Mac Benefield praised his young quarterback’s football intelligence.

“It hurts to say, but he knows the offense a whole lot better than me,” Benefield said. “It’s amazing what he can do at such a young age.”

Another standout from last season’s squad is junior linebacker Braden Gordon, a four-star Class of 2027 prospect. He’s earned offers from Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Florida, Ole Miss, Michigan, Notre Dame and USC.

“We knew that Braden Gordon was going to be good, but seeing just how talented he was to be an all-state linebacker as a sophomore. And to go on to the world of recruiting that he’s now in,” the coach said.

Gordon, who also plays receiver, has set his sights on the ultimate prize.

“I just want to win state for real. That’s what I want to build on,” Gordon said. “You got to stop looking so far ahead and just focus on the day. Because you won’t win state in one day or one game.”