Woods, Wingard Take On AHSAA North-South All-Star Game

WETUMPKA, Ala. - Wetumpka football head coach Bear Woods and senior tight end John Hudson Wingard are set to represent the tribe in the AHSAA North-South All-Star Game on Friday night at Hancock-Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

Wingard marks the third player in Coach Woods' four-year tenure to be selected to the All-Star game. He is the first since 2022, when Logan Weighall and Dorion Jackson each competed. Both Weighall and Jackson subsequently signed to play Division I football at Georgia Tech and Troy, respectively. Jackson now competes at Tulane.

Coach Woods will serve as the linebackers coach for the South team staff. He was selected by Jerrell Jernigan, the head coach for the South team and of Eufaula High School. Jernigan and Woods were teammates at Troy University where they both were part of the five-consecutive Sun Belt championships won by the Trojans from 2006-10.

Wingard earned his spot in the all-star contest off an impressive season helping to lead the recieving corps. The senior accounted for 729 receiving yards over the year, placing him 13th across 6A. Wingard also had 11 total touchdowns over the season including a three-touchdown showing against Eufaula. That performance helped the Indians get the win over Jerrell Jernigan's Eufaula team 36-32.

While Woods selection does come from a former teammate, he has certainly earned his place on the staff. In four seasons with Wetumpka, Woods has led the team to playoff appearances in each season. No other coach has accomplished this feat. Woods holds a 25-19 record since 2022 and has sent three different players to compete at the Division I level for football along with many others in various sports under his leadership as athletic director.

Woods and Wingard take to the field together on Friday night. The AHSAA North-South All-Star Game will kick off at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Alabama Public Televison and PBS.