When veteran coach Roger McDowell took over the football program at Dadeville High School three years ago, he had the clear attention of at least one student-athlete.

Philstavious Dowdell.

“In that first meeting, I didn’t know any of the kids because everyone had been sent home for COVID,” McDowell told AL.com on Sunday. “There was one kid sitting in the front row who never took his eyes off me the entire time. It was Phil Dowdell.

“As good a football, basketball and track athlete as he was, he was just as good a person. He always worked hard, was humble .. all the time. He hung on every word the coaches gave him. Whatever you told him, he trusted it and did everything you asked him to do.”

Dowdell, a senior at Dadeville High School committed to play college football at Jacksonville State, was one of at least four people killed in a shooting at a birthday party in Dadeville on Saturday night. More than 20 were injured, according to multiple reports. A prayer vigil is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Dadeville Baptist Church, according to McDowell.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Philstavious Dowdell and the other victims of the senseless tragedy last night,” Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez said on a message on social media. “He was a great young man with a bright future. My staff and I are heartbroken and hope that everyone will support his family through this difficult time.”

McDowell described Dowdell as an “outstanding young man.”

“I just can’t say that enough,” he said. “Everybody loved Phil. He always had a smile on his face. He always spoke to everyone. He was the ideal kid that you want to coach. He wasn’t just a great athlete. He was a great kid. People just love him. … It’s terrible.”

The 5-foot-10, 162-pound Dowdell was a first-team All-State defensive back for McDowell’s football team last fall. He helped the Tigers to a 10-1 record, their only loss coming in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs against Thomasville (15-14 in overtime).

“He did it all for us,” McDowell said. “He was a wide receiver, punt returner, kick returner, defensive back. One night as a junior, he scored a touchdown on three special teams plays, intercepted a pass and ran a reverse for a score.

“He was so coachable. He worked hard but also had that God-given ability you can’t coach. He had a good twitch, great vision. When he ran back punts, it was electrifying every time.”

Dowdell accounted for 843 all-purpose yards as a senior at Dadeville and eight touchdowns. He also had 23 tackles and an interception on defense. He played basketball and ran track, winning the 100 and 200-meter 3A state championships last spring.

McDowell obviously has never faced anything quite like this in a 34-year coaching career.

“It almost leaves you not really knowing what to say or do,” he said. “I’ve lost kids in car accidents and things like that, but nothing like this. There is no playbook for this.”

McDowell said the thought of moving forward following such a tragedy is daunting.

“This is a small town. It’s a closeknit community,” he said. “This is going to take everyone pulling together and praying to the good Lord, and it will take time. In time, people will heal and the community will heal, but healing doesn’t mean that you will ever forget.”

This post will be updated