ROBERTSDALE, Ala. – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

In a lot of ways, the 2010 season was a year of firsts and great accomplishments for Coach Scott Phelps and the Robertsdale Golden Bears varsity football team.

After suffering through four seasons of no-win , one- and two-win seasons, RHS began 2010 on a high note, bringing in several new coaches and making some key changes. That certainly looked to pay off when the Bears opened the season with a 56-21 pounding of county rival Gulf Shores.

“There’s no such thing as starting too fast,” Phelps said of last season’s quick start. “We just have to keep doing what we know we’re capable of doing and things will be OK.”

After falling to longtime county and Regional foe Foley in week two, the Bears had their first home test and gave Phelps his first-ever Regional win as Robertsdale’s top man, coming from behind to defeat Williamson 17-13.

After splitting the next two games, including a 10-6 Homecoming win over Baker, the Golden Bears found themselves over .500 at the midway point of the season, then after a trio of losses, claimed Phelps’ first-ever Regional win against a county opponent, undoing Baldwin County 31-17.

But 2010 also saw its share of disappointments with a close loss to 6A Region 2 foe Satsuma on the road before blowing a 10-0 lead in the season finale against Mobile’s Faith Academy to finish the season 4-6.

“We were 4-6 and were one or two plays away from being 6-4 last season,” Phelps said. “Our players understand that and they’ve been working hard over the summer to get better.”

The Golden Bears hope to improve on last season with a great start to fall practices a few weeks ago, fielding 64 varsity players and 34 freshmen in preparation for their season opener at home against Gulf Shores on Thursday, Aug. 25.

“Our kids worked hard last year and really bought into our system,” Phelps said. “They are excited about this season and have worked hard to get better.”

The goals for 2011 remain the same for Phelps and his squad:

• Have a winning record.

• Win Regional games.

• Make the playoffs.

“If our team performs up to expectations, then I think we’re going to have a pretty good year,” Phelps said.

With eight returning starters on offense and only two on defense, Phelps will be contending with a tale of two teams for the 2011 campaign.

“Offensively we just have to take care of the football and not turn the ball over and we should be successful,” Phelps said. “Defensively, we have a lot of young players that will have to step up and be prepared to play early.”

On offense, an experienced backfield and a senior-laden receiving corps and offensive line will bring a more balanced attack to the table in 2011 for the Bears.

That all starts with senior quarterback Hunter Vaughn, who stepped in for injured starter Caleb Sumrall last season and provided a key spark in a couple of Robertsdale’s wins last season.

“He’s a very mobile quarterback who provides a threat both running and throwing the football,” Phelps said. Vaughn will be backed by sophomore Michael Little.

At running back speedster Sammy Tolbert returns for his junior season after racking up 635 yards last season, backed by senior Alex Roberts.

A group of six receivers will help spread the field for the Golden Bears, including seniors Matt Maddox, Jovaris Jackson, Chase Hadley and Forrest Hammond, along with juniors Alphonso Stewart and Josh Laird.

A big key to providing an offense punch for the Bears will be the offensive line, with tackles Brandon Bridgers, Will McKenzie and Keegan Ellis, guards Kevin Cooper, Jacob Lee and J.D. Moore and centers Austin McCrae and Troy Ellison.

Defensively, Phelps said, the team’s strength will most likely be in its secondary, led by defensive backs Tevin Sykes, Demetrius McKinney, Clinton Hollings and Sir Ravon Curry with senior Dionta Banks and junior James Mack also seeing playing time in the Bear backfield.

At linebacker. the Bears will be led by Ed Williams, Ryan Dean, Bryan Goldman, Tres Givens, Coty Landefeld and Tyler Powell.

Up front defensively for the Bears will be Cody Pardue, Brian Combita, Dente Avery and Jacob Daniels at the end positions with David Dalton, Coley McGhee, Austin Vivar and Chris Miller at defensive tackle.

“We lost several starters from last year’s defense and these kids are going to have to step up, play hard and not give up many big plays,” Phelps said.

Another area where youth will be a factor will be in the kicking game, led last year by seniors Colby Norman and Jared Mack. This year, junior Chandler Cordova will take on place kicking duties, while senior Tyler Powell will be the Bears primary punter.

After opening 2011 with a preseason scrimmage on the road against defending 5A State Champion Spanish Fort, the Bears will be at home the first two games of the season opening with Gulf Shores Thursday, Aug. 25 before its 6A Regional 2 opener Friday, Sept. 2 against Foley, both at J.D. Sellars Stadium in Robertsdale, before going on the road for six of its last eight games of the season.

“You’ve got to win on the road to be successful in 6A football and this season is certainly no exception,” Phelps said. “We’ve simply got to play our game and execute and I feel that if we do that, then we will be successful.”

Most of Phelps’ coaching staff remains intact from a year ago with a couple of new faces. Longtime Gulf Shores volunteer assistant Melvin Stringfellow will be assisting with the Bears’ wideouts this season and Chris Jacks has been added as an offensive line coach. Former Gulf Shores standout Colbey Cleckler will return for his second season in 2011 with the Bears, this year adding the duties of defensive backs coach.