PREP CAPSULES '22 (Week 0): Rivalries pepper first week
STAFF REPORT
There is plenty to be excited about in the first week of the high school season (a.k.a. Week 0).
You have a choice of intra-county matchups with Tallassee facing off against Reeltown or Jeff Davis vs. Wetumpka. There are great traditional rivals such as St. James and Montgomery Academy or Lowndes Academy and Macon East.
How about one of the oldest rivalries in the River Region - R.E. Lee against Sidney Lanier (to be played on Saturday)?
And speaking of the Generals and Poets, we begin a season of celebration in the 100th anniversary of Cramton Bowl.
Plus the annual Kickoff Classic is set with the big one featuring Hoover and Auburn on Friday.
Week 0 (Aug. 18-20)
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
JEFF DAVIS (7A) at WETUMPKA (6A)
Friday at Wetumpka Municipal Stadium
2021 Records: JD (4-6), Wetumpka (5-6)
Last meeting: 2011 - Wetumpka, 23-21 (JD rewarded forfeit win) Series: Wetumpka leads, 4-2
Key stat: JD is looking to win its first season opener (on the field) since 2015 (LeFlore). The Vols were awarded a forfeit win against Lanier in the opener last season… Wetumpka has faced Montgomery city teams a total of 52 times with the most against Lanier (22 times dating back to 1911) over its history. The last time the Indians played against a team from Montgomery was 2015 when the Indians were part of the same region with the city schools. Ironically, the last game was against Lee, which was not in the region.
The skinny: A few years ago, it seemed as though the authors of the AHSAA regional setup were going to put Wetumpka (and Stanhope Elmore) in the same region with Montgomery teams for the foreseeable future. It lasted a while then, as though being punished, the Elmore County school was playing against the likes of Chilton County, Helena and Pelham in region play the last couple of years. Now, the Indians are back but this game is not in the region. In the meantime, JD has been floundering in 7A, looking for a breakthrough season. In his third year, Rory Bell believes they’ve got what it takes to get off the losing train. There is more experience than in previous seasons but will it be enough to get over the hump? Wetumpka has a new coach in Bear Woods, his first year as a prep coach. The Indians bring their own questions into opener. This game might be one of the toughest to call considering the question marks on each side. So, we lean on the home team, but not by much.
PREDICTION: Wetumpka, 20-18
PIKE ROAD (6A) at HILLCREST-TUSCALOOSA (6A)
Friday at Johnson Stadium, Tuscaloosa
2021 Records: Pike Road (14-0), Hillcrest (11-3)
Last meeting: First meeting Series: 0-0
Key Numbers: Pike Road won its first-ever state championship last year. Ed Rigby is the new coach for the Patriots, replacing Patrick Browning. The Patriots have a 29-game regular season winning streak heading into Friday… Jamie Mitchell begins his second season as the Hillcrest coach, looking for another trip to the 6A semifinals.
The skinny: In a very patriotic pairing (both are nicknamed Patriots), Pike Road dives deep into its new classification against a program that enjoyed success over the years and has produced several top recruits (most recently RB Brian Robinson formerly of Alabama now with Washington in the NFL). Hillcrest has made the 6A semifinals three times over the years, including 2017, when it was knocked out by Wetumpka. The question centers around Pike Road and their return from the title year and the fact that it’s under new management. A lot of talent has moved on to the next level but there is still enough to make another run. The opener should be a good test for Rigby’s first game.
PREDICTION: Pike Road, 28-20
ST. JAMES (4A) AT MONTGOMERY ACADEMY (3A)
Friday at McLemore Field
2021 Records: STJ (10-2), MA (11-4)
Last year: MA, 38-36
Series: MA leads, 288-19
Key Numbers: MA made its first appearance in the state finals in 34 years, despite a three-loss regular season… This makes 11 seasons for Jimmy Perry at the helm of St. James. His teams are 4-4 against the Eagles.
The skinny: The two teams flip-flopped classifications thanks to the “competitive balance” rule. MA is a 3A school based on its size but due to its berth in the finals last season, it has to move up a class. It doesn’t take away from this one, other than it doesn’t count as a region game. But the intensity level will be there. The key will be MA’s ability to slow down STJ quarterback KJ Jackson, who will be the main source of success for the Trojans. Perry has made it clear that he plans on having more players play on just one side of the ball. We will see if he sticks to that in the first game. Running back Jashawn Cooper is back for the Eagles and he will make most defenses miserable this season. He has a chance to put up decent numbers against a formidable defense. Expect another close one. Give STJ a slight edge.
PREDICTION: STJ, 30-27
McGILL-TOOLEN (6A) at MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC (4A)
Friday at Knights Field
2021 Records: Catholic (13-1), M-T (7-5) Last meeting: First meeting
Key Numbers: Catholic has played higher classifications before (6A or more) but in name only. The Knights met Opelika in 1954, Wetumpka in 1966 and the Sidney Lanier “B” team in 1945. Second straight year McGill has opened with a team from Montgomery. They lost to Pike Road, 76-51, in the opener last season.
The skinny: Based on the teams’ classifications, this should be a mismatch. And it might be, but not like you think. Catholic has a little rebuilding to do but the Knights are good enough to beat McGill, which is not the same program that made three straight trips to the 7A championship games between 2015-17. The Yellow Jackets finished with back-to-back seven-win seasons and quick exits from the post season in the last two years. Catholic is moving forward after a phenomenal year that ended with disappointment in the loss to MA in the ’21 semifinals. The Knights may be missing a couple of the stars from last year but have plenty of firepower returning to open the season with a win.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 38-28
SIDNEY LANIER (6A) vs. R.E. LEE (7A)
Saturday at Cramton Bowl (6 p.m.)
2021 Records: Lanier (2-8*), Lee (8-3). *includes six games forfeited
Last year: Lanier, 20-6 (Lee awarded forfeited win)
Series: Lee leads, 45-20-2
Key Numbers: Lee has just four starters back from last year’s squad. Lanier returns almost all of its offensive power, led by running back Tacaris Bozeman.
The skinny: Both teams introduce new coaches in this long-standing rivalry. Darone Fagan of Lanier and Lee’s Qua Everett are looking for their first win at the new schools. But Fagan has more experience to work with. The Poets welcome back one of the top players in the River Region in Bozeman and has most of the offense back to support him. Lee is all but starting over after the messy divorce from former coach Eric Hudson. One of the strong suits of the last few Generals’ teams has been their offensive line but this year’s group is the most inexperienced the program has dealt with in a long time. It most certainly will show up early until it gets its game legs under and can protect new quarterback Bryson McGrew. But this one should be a win for the Poets.
PREDICTION: Lanier, 27-13
LOWNDES ACADEMY (A) at MACON EAST (AA)
Friday at Knights Field
2021 Records: Lowndes Aca. (11-3), Macon East (7-5)
Last year: Macon East, 20-12
Series: Macon East leads, 6-2
Key Numbers: Lowndes is coming off the program’s third state title… The Knights are coming off consecutive five-loss seasons.
The skinny: The AISA Class A state championship trophy is in full display on the Lowndes Academy campus. It might not have made the rounds in Lowndesboro like the Stanley Cup does for the NHL champ but no doubt there is plenty of pride in West Alabama. The other good news is many of the players on that team return and it should be another banner year for the Rebels. Macon East has reasons for optimism with the return of a full complement of offensive linemen. This should be one of the better teams Glynn Lott puts on the field in several years. What that means exactly is to be determined. But they should have enough to knock off the smaller classification champs in the opener.
PREDICTION: Macon East, 21-16
KEY GAMES
Foley (7A) at Prattville (7A) - The matchup conjures up memories of 2007 and the 6A playoffs… Julio Jones vs. Justin Albert. It wasn’t pretty if you were a Foley fan. This one won’t be, either. Prattville, 36-14.
Reeltown (3A) at Tallassee (5A) (Thurs) – Tallassee replacing several starters from a region champion team. The Tigers have just enough to hold off the Rebels in a big rivalry game. THS, 25-23
Marbury (5A) at Elmore Co. (5A) – The introduction of new Panthers coach Kyle Caldwell and the attempt to end the team’s 10-game losing streak. The Bulldogs have some cleaning up to do, as well, having lost the last four of 2021. Something’s gotta give. Marbury gets the close win. Marbury, 21-19.
Billingsley (1A) at Prattville Christian (3A) – The Bears give new coach Lanny Jones his first win. Billingsley, 28-16.
Booker T. Washington (4A) at Trinity (3A) (Thur) – Former Reeltown star L.A. O’Neal takes over the coaching job at BTW. Too early to tell what will come of the program in the future but it won’t make a difference on Thursday.. TPS, 31-14
Hoover (7A) vs. Auburn (7A) (Kickoff Challenge) - A preview of the 7A state championship game? Thompson might have something to say about that but obviously a couple of candidates for the Super 7. Auburn head coach Keith Etheredge will have the Tigers in the championship game sooner than later. This will be a good start. Auburn, 27-21.
THE REST
Autaugaville over R.C. Hatch, 41-6; G.W. Carver over Pine Forest, Fl., 21-18; Stanhope Elmore over Shades Valley, 31-24; Holtville over Fultondale, 29-15; Edgewood Ac over Autauga Ac, 24-22;
OPEN: Alabama Christian Academy; Hooper Academy; Park Crossing; Valiant Cross; Evangel Christian (8-man)
RECORD: Last week 0-0; Season 0-0 (.000)