PREP CAPSULES (Week 1): Get ready for region play... it's here!
STAFF REPORT
Are we prepared for region play?
It’s here. Thanks to several regions that have nine teams, the schedule has a few on the schedule this week.
Robert E. Lee, Jeff Davis and others in Class 7A begin the quest for the playoffs. In each case, the regional slate begins on the road with Lee visiting Dothan and JD at Opelika.
The season also opens for a few teams including Alabama Christian, which will play home games at Faulkner’s Billy Hilyer Stadium this season. The Eagles begin the 2022 season against Montgomery Catholic.
Montgomery Academy and Trinity renew their annual rivalry while St. James goes out of town to face Handley.
Elmore County, Tallassee and Holtville all opened with victories last week. They try for two-in-a-row this week.
In AISA, Macon East is home again to Lakeside while Autauga Academy and Edgewood tangle in Elmore.
Week 1
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
DAPHNE (6A) at G.W. CARVER (6A)
Thursday at Cramton Bowl
2022 Records: Daphne (0-1), Carver (0-0)
Last week: Saraland def. Daphne, 43-23; Carver did not play (Game at Pine Forest, Fla. cancelled) Last meeting: 2005 - Daphne, 14-12 (2nd Rnd. 6A playoffs) Series: Daphne leads, 1-0
Key stat: Carver has faced Mobile-area teams three times since 2016, beating Baker twice and losing to Spanish Fort.
The skinny: With the anticipated season opener cancelled, we get the opportunity to see the defensive bookends this week. James Smith and Qua Russaw will be on the field together for the first time and will attract the eyes of every recruiting guru in the country. Nevermind the Wolverines have other top-notch talent, they will be the focus for most of the season. In the meantime, the Carver coaching staff has a job of getting this team in-sync. Last year, that was a problem, particularly on offense where the team sputtered at times. If the defense lives up to the hype, the offense will have ample opportunity to make big plays. This is a good test for a season opener. Daphne will have plenty of size and speed, something Carver needs to face to see where the cracks might be. They would prefer to do that in a victory.
PREDICTION: Carver, 27-23
TRINITY (3A) AT MONTGOMERY ACADEMY (4A)
Friday at McLemore Field
2022 Records: TPS (1-0), MA (0-1)
Last week: Trinity def. B.T. Washington, 34-16 ; St. James def. MA, 42-14
Last year: MA, 21-17 (2nd round 3A playoffs)/ TPS, 18-15 (regular season)
Series: TPS leads, 26-20
Key Numbers: These two teams have met in the playoffs the last two seasons with MA winning both games. But the Eagles move up in class this year making another playoff rematch impossible.
The skinny: There was plenty to learn for both teams in their season openers. MA had to play musical chairs with its quarterbacks again, something it had to do last season. Apparently the Eagles settled on Carson Springer who had a 69-yard touchdown pass as one of the few highlights in the loss to St. James. Coach Robert Johnson wasn’t tipping his hand on the change at quarterback, stating there would be a “battle for positions” this week. Trinity got a chance to its new weapons, namely Trevor Pearson, who rushed for 136 yards and two scores in limited action against B.T. Washington. He makes for another difficult task for the MA defense, which was unable to contain the STJ offense. But Johnson has been in this situation before and will have the issues ironed out before the Eagles get to region play in a couple of weeks. But it might be too much to ask to make the necessary corrections before the Wildcats visit McLemore Field on Friday.
PREDICTION: Trinity, 28-21
MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC (4A) at ALABAMA CHRISTIAN (3A)
Friday at Billy Hilyer Stadium (Faulkner University)
2022 Records: Catholic (1-0), ACA (0-0)
Last week: Catholic def. McGill-Toolen, 41-21; ACA did not play
Last meeting: 2019 - Catholic, 52-13
Key Numbers: Catholic earned its first-ever win against a Class 6A team last week and won back-to-back season openers for the first time since 2016-17…. ACA is looking for its first season home-opening win since 2017.
The skinny: No doubt the Knights’ win over McGill-Toolen last week was impressive with Jeremiah Cobb piling up 278 yards in total offense last week. They served notice that the last two years weren’t just a flash in the pan. So, what does ACA bring to the table? The Eagles have a solid passing attack behind quarterback Hayes Hunt. Defensively, they are expected to be salty. But do they have the speed to keep up with Catholic? The Eagles didn’t get the advantage of a warm up last week. They did get to scout the Knights and see what they are up against. Chances are good, coach Michael Summers and the ACA coaching staff didn’t like what the saw. Still, expect ACA to put up a solid fight and make it closer than expected.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 42-30
HOLTVILLE (5A) at ALMA BRYANT (7A)
Friday at Hurricane Stadium, Irvington
2022 Records: Holtville (1-0), A. Bryant (0-0)
Last week: Holtville def. Fultondale, 55-8; A. Bryant did not play
Last meeting: First meeting
Key Numbers: The Bulldogs scored the most points in a game since 2018 when they racked up 70 against Marbury. Holtville has never faced a team in a class higher than 5A in its history.
The skinny: The Holtville Bulldogs are venturing into new territory. Never before has the program faced a team in this classification. While it has played teams that eventually ended up in Class 6A (Wetumpka and Stanhope Elmore) this is the first true 7A team to face them since the program began keeping records in 1928. They may have picked a good one to start. Alma Bryant hasn’t had a winning season since 2003. The Hurricanes’ two wins last season came against winless Mary Montgomery and a two-win B.C. Rain team. Holtville’s 55 points in the opener may be a signal that it’s ready to have a breakout season, at least offensively. They should enjoy another big night against a struggling program from the Mobile area.
PREDICTION: Holtville, 41-28
AUTAUGA ACADEMY (AAA) at EDGEWOOD ACADEMY (AA)
Friday at Charles Storrs Field
2021 Records: Autauga Aca. (13-0), Edgewood Aca (5-6)
Last week: Autauga Aca and Edgewood Aca did not play
Last meeting: 2019 - Autauga Aca, 48-9
Series: Autauga Aca leads, 27-12
Key Numbers: Autauga Aca is coming off the program’s seventh state title… Edgewood also has seven state titles but the last one came in 2015.
The skinny: If one player can truly make a difference in a season, then Edgewood’s Bradley Boone is that guy. He went down with an injury early in 2021 and it had a major impact on the Wildcats’ success. They suffered through their first losing season since 2017, giving up more than 45 points per game after his injury. He’s back and so are the expectations. Meanwhile, Autauga is looking to find the same magic it had under Bobby Carr, who left for a new coaching job in the off season. Carr could have returned to Prattville but made the decision to stay away after a controversial waltz with Elmore County High School that eventually led him to taking a job in Mississippi. While the roster has plenty of talent, it remains to be seen what kind of impact his departure has. On the surface, it would seem to be major, leading to the belief that the Wildcats earn a close win at home on Friday.
PREDICTION: Edgewood Academy, 27-25
KEY GAMES
R.E. Lee at Dothan (7A-R2) - The Generals jump right into region play in the second week of the season. There is still a lot to learn about this team after a loss to Lanier. Unfortunately, there is more to fix than what can be in a week. Dothan, 20-16.
Stanhope Elmore (6A) at Eufaula (5A) – Another difficult test for the Mustangs before heading into region play next week. Eufaula has a new coach but the Mustangs should be smarting enough to earn a road win. SE, 28-20
Marist (Ga.) at Pike Road (6A) (Opponent change) – The champs took one on the chin in Ed Rigby’s debut last week. Marist is one of the top teams in Georgia. PRHS, 23-19.
Handley (4A) at St. James (3A) – Coach Jimmy Perry stated he loaded up on the schedule to make his team battle-tested for the post season. Handley certainly fits the category. But the Trojans still win. STJ, 35-23.
Tallassee (5A) at Booker T. Washington (4A) – Tigers looked good in the opening win over Reeltown. BTW actually looked good in the loss to Trinity. Tigers beware… Tallassee, 21-20.
Lakeside (A) at Macon East (AA) - Nice comeback win for the Knights last week. Lakeside offers some of the same problems as Lowndes. But ME finds a way in a close one. Macon East, 27-26.
THE REST
Opelika over Jeff Davis, 35-14; Greenville over Park Crossing, 19-15; Elmore Co over Autaugaville, 42-20; Fort Dale Aca over Hooper Aca, 28-13; John Carroll over Marbury, 26-19; Thorsby over PCA, 35-32; Wetumpka over Baker, 17-13; Evangel Christian over Evangel (Birmingham), 24-14.
OPEN: Prattville; Billingsley; Sidney Lanier; Lowndes Academy; Valiant Cross; Evangel Christian (8-man)
RECORD: Last week 12-4; Season 12-4 (.750)