PREP CAPSULES: So far, so good for prep football in 2020
STAFF REPORT
Next week will be the unofficial halfway point of the high school football season. Without getting too confident, it’s amazing how the season has gone for the majority of teams in the River Region. Yes, there have been postponements and cancellations. But for the most part, it has gone well considering. We will continue to say this as the season progresses.
The game have been good. The weather has been iffy at times but we all agree we are glad to be playing football.
Which leads to another big week in region play in the AHSAA. Friday’s matchup with Eufaula and Park Crossing is big for both teams as the region (2) is looking to be as even as ever. Eufaula has lost its first two region games. Park Crossing has a win but it came via forfeit. The matchup is basically even.
Prattville returned to the win column last week and the Lions stay in region play at home against Dothan. The Wolves are trying to earn their first win of the season.
Trinity has a key game at home against Pike County, the first meeting between the two since 2013.
Three games have been cancelled due to COVID-19. Lee and Russell County was scheduled to play this week but Russell County has now lost all of its games due to the virus. Pike Road also has a win due to Rehobeth reporting positive cases. And late in the week, Edgewood announced that it’s game with Pike Liberal Arts would be cancelled giving Pike Liberal a win.
Due to complications from Hurricane Sally, the game featuring St. James at Straughn has been moved to Saturday at 7 p.m.
All games set for 7 p.m.
EUFAULA at PARK CROSSING
Class 6A, Region 2
Friday at Cramton Bowl
2020 Records: PCHS (2-2, 1-1), Eufaula (2-2, 0-2)
Last year: Eufaula, 50-29
Series: Tied, 1-1
Last week: Park Crossing lost to Carver, 20-14; Eufaula lost to Opelika, 28-21
Key Numbers: The Thunderbirds managed just 27 yards on the ground in the loss to Carver.
The skinny: Eufaula was riding high after its win over Central-Phenix City three weeks ago. Since then, the Tigers have fallen flat in the first two region contests of the season. Granted they have met two of the top teams in the region but it’s almost as though the momentum from such a grand victory was lost. The loss to Opelika was tough to swallow since the Tigers had a chance to tie (or take the lead with a 2-point conversion) in the final minute, driving to the Opelika 6-yard line. But the Bulldogs sacked
QB Hess Horne on third down and then stopped the Tigers on the fourth-down try. Park Crossing had similar problems against Carver, getting into Wolverine territory several times only to come up empty in the second half. The Thunderbirds kept pressure on Carver’s quarterback most of the night. They will need to do the same against Eufaula. But the mistakes will eventually catch up in this one. Give us the Tigers.
PREDICTION: Eufaula, 27-22
DOTHAN at PRATTVILLE
Class 7A, Region 2
Friday at Stanley-Jensen Stadium
2020 Records: Dothan (0-3, 0-2), Prattville (3-1, 1-1)
Last meeting: First meeting (Dothan is the combination of both Dothan and Northview High Schools)
Last week: Dothan lost to Auburn, 43-13; Prattville def. Smiths Station, 31-3
Key Numbers: Prattville has not lost to a school in Dothan since 1999 (Dothan – 21-14).
The skinny: Let’s not get confused here. There is a difference between this current Dothan program and the one that existed until 2019. The Lions had faced the old Dothan Tigers 14 times between 1975-2009 and it was a decent series. It remains to be seen where the new Dothan Wolves and Prattville take us. At the moment, it’s hard to pick against the Lions for a couple of reasons. First, Dothan has been hit hard by coronavirus, losing the first two games (Hoover and Park Crossing) and then lost the two games on the field to Enterprise and Auburn. Second – Prattville’s defense, which is very good. There was promise that the Wolves would be in the thick of the regional race but that is all but out of the question at this moment. They are fighting to just stay relevant this season. Prattville had a nice comeback after the loss to Auburn but needs to keep the momentum heading into next week’s showdown with Hoover.
PREDICTION: Prattville, 30-16
PIKE COUNTY at TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN
Class 3A, Region 4
Friday at Ragsdale-Boykin Field
2020 Records: Pike Co (2-1, 2-0), Trinity (3-1, 2-0)
Last meeting: 2013 – Pike County, 21-14 (1st Round 3A playoffs)
Series: Pike County leads, 1-0
Last week: Trinity def. Beulah, 50-7; Pike County def. Dadeville, 60-14
Key Numbers: Trinity continues to be one of the top scoring defenses in Class 3A, giving up a total of 33 points (8.25 ppg).
The skinny: The last time these two met, the Wildcats were the top seed out of their region while Pike County was seeded fourth in the playoffs. The Bulldogs seem to be a thorn in many sides of teams in the River Region. In the previous eight years under Fred Holland, they have suffered just one losing season (his first at the helm in 2012). Trinity is trying to catch up and is making plenty of progress under Granger Shook. It might be too difficult to gauge early-season success based on their wins over Alabama Christian, Goshen and Beulah but the fact they haven’t given up but eight points a game is worth noting. Pike County has been on the field just one time this season, last week against Dadeville. They are expected to be in the thick of the region race and may be a darkhorse for the 3A title. But something says this trip to Montgomery may not be what they hope for.
PREDICTION: Trinity, 21-20
PRATTVILLE CHRISTIAN at MONTGOMERY ACADEMY
Class 3A, Region 3
Friday at McLemore Field
2020 Records: PCA (1-3, 0-2), MA (4-0, 2-0)
Last year: MA, 47-0
Series: MA leads, 8-0
Last week: MA did not play and earned forfeit win vs. Southside-Selma; PCA lost to Hale Co, 43-20
Key Numbers: The Eagles have won all eight meetings by a combined score of 322-59.
The skinny: This game has a chance to become a decent rivalry. The two have been paired in region play basically since PCA left the AISA. But the Panthers have yet to get any traction in this or any rivalry on their schedule. The Eagles are in a prime position to win the region under first-year coach Robert Johnson. At the moment, only Thomasville looks to be the barrier for that to happen. Those two are scheduled to meet Oct. 16. PCA is playing better ball under second-year coach Jeremy Carter but there is a large chasm between the two programs at the moment.
PREDICTION: Montgomery Academy, 38-6
KEY GAMES
Jeff Davis at Auburn (7A/Region 2) – As of now, Auburn looks like the class of the region. JD looks like it needs a year to get a few things ironed out. Not a good mix. Auburn, 42-7
G.W. Carver at Opelika (6A/Region 2) – Carver has shown improvement each week. Opelika has the horses with a solid running game. Can the Wolverines measure up in their biggest game to date? Not quite. Opelika, 28-16.
Pelham at Stanhope Elmore (6A/Region 3) – The Mustangs didn’t live up to the billing a week ago. They might have a tougher task this week against Pelham. But something says SE has a bounce back. SE, 32-27
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell (6A/Region 3) - The Indians are still trying to figure out last week’s ending in the loss to Hillcrest (if you didn’t see it, click on last week’s Prep Recap). They need to move on quickly. The Wildcats are not the juggernaut as in the past. But they still have a bite. Wetumpka, 31-20.
Tallassee at Elmore County (5A/Region 4) – Two teams in need of a turnaround. Tallassee has yet to dent the win column (0-3). Elmore County hasn’t enjoyed a win since the first week. Something has to give. Tigers get the nod. Tallassee, 24-17.
Holtville at Talladega (5A/Region 4) – Bulldogs fell for the first time last week. Unfortunately, that fall continues this week. Talladega, 29-14.
Billingsley at Notasulga (1A/Region 4) – The Bears look to rebound after facing their nemesis (Maplesville). Not an easy place to do that but they find a way to top the Devils. Billingsley, 28-16
THE REST
Sidney Lanier over Valley, 21-20; Alabama Christian over Dale Co., 27-20; Catholic over Beulah, 35-13; St. James over Straughn, 21-18 (Saturday); Marbury over Central-Tuscaloosa, 23-22; Macon East over Lee-Scott, 31-12; Autauga Aca over Clarke Prep, 29-13; Hooper Aca over Banks, 20-13; Lowndes over Sparta, 24-14; Chambers Aca over Valiant Cross, 45-6.
BYE: R.E. Lee (game forfeited by Russell County); Pike Road (game forfeited by Rehobeth); Edgewood (game forfeited to Pike Liberal Arts)
RECORD: Last week 16-7; Season 59-18 (.766)