PREP CAPSULES (Week 4): Road warriors to ride mid-season schedule
STAFF REPORT
It’s a week of road games for the River Region.
As teams move toward mid-season, region play is in full swing and for some reason, many of the games are on the road this week.
Of the 28 teams covered by RRS, a good number have road tests, with a few of those playing in the tri-county area (three more have open weeks).
Many will be off next week as the “official” mid-season point arrives.
There are a few games that feature top offenses. G.W. Carver has been a scoring machine, but so has this week’s opponent in Dothan. While it might not be a “last team with the ball wins” scenario, it might come down to who does the most with each possession.
Pike Road has an opportunity to put itself in the top spot with a game against city-rival Percy Julian. The Patriots are currently tied with Russell County for first in the region.
The biggest game on the docket features Prattville facing Hoover in a renewal of former championship battles. The two are now region foes and will play in Hoover on Friday.
Week 4
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
PRATTVILLE at HOOVER (7A-REGION 3)
Friday at Regions Park, Hoover
2024 Records: Prattville (4-0, 2-0), Hoover (3-1-, 2-0)
Last week: Prattville def. Tuscaloosa Co., 30-0 ; Hoover def. Hewitt-Trussville, 8-7
Series: Hoover, 5-3
Last meeting: 2021, Hoover, 35-16
Key Numbers: These two programs have met in the championship game six times but the last two meetings were regular season, both won by the Bucs in 2020 and ‘21.
The skinny: For a while, Prattville-Hoover was must-see TV. The Battle Royale began in. the early 2000s with Bill Clark and Rush Propst, two old friends who made it a habit of getting their teams into the state title game. The last time the two programs met in the championship was the first time a 7A title game was played - 2014. Chad Anderson was the head coach of the Lions and that would be the last time the school reached the finals. Hoover, under Josh Niblett, won back-to-back titles two years later but hasn’t been back since 2017. It would be unfair to say the two programs are a shade of what they used to be. But the fact is, neither has been able to recapture the glory that lasted those 20 or so years where to get to the finals, you had to go through these two teams. And now, under whatever proxy became reality, the two are regional foes, which doesn’t make sense. But this is where we are. To figure out which of these teams has an advantage on Friday, consider the following… Prattville is 4-0 for the first time since 2007, Clark’s last season as the team’s coach. That may not mean much since Prattville typically played an out-of-state powerhouse to start the season for many years, but it’s a testament to where Prattville is at the moment (no, the Lions haven’t been playing the St. Xaviers or Don Boscos of the world). Contrast that with the situation at Hoover where a controversy opened the season and coaches behaving badly lost their jobs. The Bucs have rebounded to some degree but they are coming off their first losing season in 26 years. It’s really hard to tell where these two are. Circumstances may change after Friday but the winner has a chance to finish in the top two and earn a home playoff game in the first round. Speaking of home, Hoover gets the nod for that reason.
PREDICTION: Hoover, 20-16
G.W. CARVER at DOTHAN (7A-REGION 2)
Friday at Rip Hewes Stadium
2024 Records: Carver (4-0, 2-0), Dothan (2-2, 0-2)
Last week: Carver def. 49-0; Dothan lost to Central-Phenix City,42-35
Series: Dothan leads, 1-0
Last meeting: 2019, Dothan, 44-20
Key Numbers: Despite a .500 record, Dothan is averaging 33 points per game offensively. First 4-0 start for Carver since 2019. The Wolverines finished 4-5 that year.
The skinny: The term “measuring stick” is thrown around a lot in sports. It typically refers to a game that will tell where a team might be heading into a stretch of important contests. Carver is certainly in that boat this weekend. After Friday, the Wolverines have an off week followed by games against the teams exepected to be the teams to beat to reach the playoffs. In a manner of speaking this game may well be an elimination game. Dothan has already felt the sting of Enterprise and Central, two teams expected to finish in the top four. But Carver has proven it has the arsenal to beat almost anybody. This will be a good test since Dothan has scoring power as well. Even though it’s in the Wiregrass, Carver should have enough to outscore the home team and keep its record perfect.
PREDICTION: Carver, 38-28
KEY GAMES
Percy Julian at Pike Road (6A-R2) - The bubble may have burst for the Phoenix after last week’s loss to Russell County. Before that, it looked like they might stay in the race for the region. Alas, Pike Road gets the chance to add another loss to their total. Pike Road, 27-16.
Elmore County at Beauregard (5A-R4) – Chance for the Panthers to make a statement. Undefeated heading into the two biggest region games of the year (Central Clay Co is next). They pass the first test. Elmore Co, 28-20.
Rehobeth at Wetumpka (6A-R2) – It’s getting to where we can’t trust our gut on the Indians. They have been close in every game, win or lose. The Rebels are also hard to figure out but for some reason, they seem to be ready for an upset. Rehobeth, 21-20.
Bullock Co at Tallassee ( 4A-R3) – Tigers finally get a home game but not an easy opponent. Hornets continue to be a pest (no pun intended) but Tallassee celebrates first home win. Tallassee, 19-13.
Prattville Christian at Alabama Christian (3A-R2) - Assuming they have their full complement of players back, this is a chance for the Eagles to make up for last week’s tough loss to St. James. ACA, 32-17.
Charles Henderson at Catholic (5A-R3) - Some had a curiosity about the Knights last week against a team from Florida. That was erased. There is no doubt about this one. Catholic, 43-14.
Autauga Academy at Maplesville (1A-R4) - Autauga has been perfect to this point but the chance to prove they are “legit” has arrived. The Red Devils are scoring in bunches this season, too much for the Generals to pull the upset. Maplesville, 45-27.
Sparta Academy at Lowndes Academy (Class AA, R1) - Rebels keep their winning streak in-tact. Lowndes, 39-13.
THE REST
Auburn over JAG, 52-7; Russell Co over Park Crossing, 28-14; Valley over Marbury, 33-20; Trinity over Slocomb, 24-8; St. James over Talladega, 23-20; Montgomery Aca over Northside Methodist, 40-12; Billingsley over Autaugaville, 25-19; Edgewood Aca over Valiant Cross, 30-12; Crenshaw Christian over Hooper Aca, 34-7; Evangel Christian over North River, 35-6.
OPEN: Stanhope Elmore; Holtville; Macon East
RECORD: Last week 17-3; Season 52-22 (.703)