The community gathered for the annual Tiger Day festivities held at Tiger Stadium on the CCHS campus on Aug. 19.

According to CCHS Gridiron Club President Chris Smith, it was the first year that each team, band and cheer squad from the Clanton youth league to the high school level took part in the event.

It was a goal that the club had been building towards for years.

“Having a day like this where the entire community is involved is awesome,” head coach Tal Morrison said. “It showcases what all we’ve been working on throughout this summer.”

Middle School kicked things off with a scrimmage followed by the combination of the varsity and junior varsity.

“We wanted some game action,” CMS head coach Casey Meank said. “We want them all to get better and very precise.”

The Pride of CCHS band performed for the crowd and played the national anthem prior to the start of the second half of the event, which included midgets, minors and majors divisions each getting their turn to play on the big stage.

There were so many 4 and 5 year olds participating this year that it forced the creation of their own division to play in, Smith said.

The present and future of the CCHS football program were on display during Tiger Day, and some big plays were made by all ages.

“That [youth league] is our heart and soul,” Morrison said. “That is what’s going to see us into the future, and I’m very pleased with the numbers and the talent that we have out there. We’ve just got to keep growing that.”

Shi-Keem Laister took a snap and ran for a 55-yard touchdown down the right side in the varsity game, while Kevin Staffney, Jacobe Albert and Brittan Worrall looked explosive with the ball in their hands during the middle school contest.

“I think we’re getting a better understanding of the plays and what we’re supposed to be doing, and now it’s just about getting it done,” Morrison said. “I saw a couple of good bursts with that first team [to take the field] of picking up first downs and hard running by Cameron Wright.”

However, there is still a lack of consistency that Morrison wants to see improved when it comes to blocking along the offensive line.

Tiger Day was yet another opportunity for the players to demonstrate their competitive nature and show to Morrison and the coaching staff that they have what it takes to be major contributors on this year’s team.

“We’ve got to have more of those young kids believing that they’ve got the ability to come in and help,” Morrison said. “We’ve got to have all hands on deck.”