PREP CAPSULES (Week 2): Questions to be answered (maybe) as region play opens
STAFF REPORT
Questions. So many questions.
For many, three games are in the books but we are still in the dark on a few teams as to just how good they might be.
Take Pike Road as an example. The Patriots are coming off a state championship season and while it lost several key players off that team, it has started this season 0-2. But it must be kept in mind that the first two opponents have been solid 6A teams, a new classification for PRHS. The record will be better as the season moves forward.
G.W. Carver was very impressive in its win over Daphne last week. But can one game tell us enough to expect them to compete for a region championship? On the surface, yes. But penalties were a problem last year and they reared their ugly head against last week.
Teams in the Capital City Conference have been impressive. Catholic looks unbeatable. St. James, despite the loss last week, looks very good as well. Montgomery Academy has been solid and Alabama Christian will get better.
The biggest surprise might be Elmore County, which has won its first two games. They might be the team to beat in Class 5A, Region 4, but that’s premature to say at this point.
Same for Tallassee which has also won its first two games.
More answers to come from this week when everybody gets in the regional act.
Places everyone…. Action!
Week 2
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
PARK CROSSING VS. G.W. CARVER (6A-R2)
Thursday at Cramton Bowl
2022 Records: Park Crossing (0-1), Carver (1-0)
Last week: Greenville def. Park Crossing, 25-19 (OT); Carver def. Daphne, 27-14
Last year: Park Crossing, 27-12
Series: Park Crossing leads, 7-1
Key stats: New Carver quarterback Christian Johnson passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns in the come-from-behind win over Daphne… Park Crossing led for most of the game before bowing to Greenville in overtime. The Thunderbirds got 100 yards rushing from Terry Ware
The skinny: It was a new and refreshing look for the Carver Wolverines last week. A new quarterback, mostly kept secret by the coaching staff in preseason, that led them to a win. Christian Johnson was good but more importantly, made big plays when his team needed them. That has been missing the last few years. It’s too early to tell what a new signal caller with gaudy stats can do (he passed for more than 6,000 yards and 80 touchdowns the last three years in Indiana) but the first look creates a lot of enthusiasm and hope for the Carver faithful. Park Crossing may be better than its results from last week. We really don’t know how good Greenville is but we do know the Thunderbirds usually have enough talent to play with anyone on their schedule. But will they put it together before the end of the season? As region play opens, there are still questions and Thursday’s game might give us a few answers. Despite all the excitement over Carver’s win, there were plenty of issues to deal with, namely penalties. Mistakes probably keep PCHS in this one before the Wolverines pull away late.
PREDICTION: Carver, 30-20
WETUMPKA AT PIKE ROAD (6A-R2)
Friday at Pike Road Stadium
2022 Records: Wetumpka (2-0), PRHS (0-2)
Last week: Wetumpka def. Baker, 24-21 ; Marist, Ga def. PRHS, 33-22
Last meeting: First meeting
Key Numbers: The Indians stormed back from a 21-point deficit with Logan Weighall hitting a 49-yard field goal to win in the final minutes… Anthony Rogers had 214 all-purpose yards and two TDs for the Patriots in a losing effort.
The skinny: The first-ever meeting between these two programs (no, there is no reason to count the games played back in the 1930s) provides a glimpse of where these two might be headed. Sure, look at the records and judge if you like, but that would be a mistake. The Patriots have faced two solid opponents while Wetumpka has faced a couple of up-and-comers. While it’s good that the Indians got two wins to open the season, we are still trying to figure out just how good they might be. Ditto for Pike Road, who will be in the running for a region championship before all is said and done. This one might be a case of Wetumpka pulling on the tail of a wounded lion. We pick the lion (or in this case, Patriots)..
PREDICTION: Pike Road, 38-16
PRATTVILLE CHRISTIAN at ST. JAMES (3A-R3)
Friday at Carlisle Field
2022 Records: PCA (1-1), STJ (1-1)
Last week: Thorsby def. PCA, 41-21; Handley def. St. James, 48-35
Last meeting: 2019 - STJ, 55-13
Series: STJ, 2-0
Key Stats: The Trojans gave up the most points in a game since 2013 (Tallassee) in the loss to Handley… PCA is 1-18 in region play the last three years.
The skinny: At least PCA is scoring a few more points. Last season, the Panthers averaged about two touchdowns per game. Through two games in 2022, they are averaging three TDs. Unfortunately, they face an offense that is scoring nearly 39 points per game through the first two. STJ is probably smarting a little bit after the loss to Handley, but Jimmy Perry got what he wanted - a tough schedule that will continue through the season. The Panthers are in a region where a playoff berth is possible. They will need to steal a game on the road to have a shot. Asking for that this week is too much.
PREDICTION: St. James, 45-23
CLAY CO. CENTRAL at TALLASSEE (7A-R4)
Friday at J.E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium
2022 Records: Central (0-1), Tallassee (2-0)
Last week: Clay Central, 33-14; A. Tallassee def. B.T. Washington, 21-12
Last year: Tallassee, 39-28
Series: Tied, 2-2
Key Number: Tallassee hasn’t started a season with a 3-0 record since 2017..
The skinny: Still figuring out the Tigers, at least how good they might be. The two wins were solid, particularly in the come-from-behind fashion last week when they were shut out in the first half. .But this will be a different kind of test. The Volunteers have just one game under their belt and the loss to Benjamin Russell doesn’t really tell us much. Central might be better than what the showed last week. Until we see a game such as this one, we will not really know how to judge them. Sure, history is on their side but history can also be a liar. Tallassee is getting just enough production from its offense while the defense is doing a solid job. It will take both to bring down the Vols this weekend.
PREDICTION: Tallassee, 21-18
KEY GAMES
Opelika at R.E. Lee (7A-R2) - It’s been a while since Lee has suffered a losing record - seven years to be exact. That streak may be in jeopardy.. Opelika, 30-13.
Jeff Davis (7A) vs. Sidney Lanier (6A) (Saturday) - The Vols continue to languish in defeats thanks in most part to a lagging offense (12 ppg). Lanier has a punishing rushing attack that will make the situation difficult for JD to find its first win of the season. Lanier, 26-12.
Russell County at Stanhope Elmore (6A-R2) – Did we misjudge the Mustangs? The offense was supposed to be top of the charts but they’ve scored just 27 points in the first two games. Russell County should make it better, at least for a week.. SE, 23-14
Sylacauga at Elmore County (5A-R2) – Break out the pom poms. The Panthers are 2-0 and looking solid. No reason to see a letdown in their first region game of the season. ECHS, 31-22.
Holtville at Chilton County (5A-R3) – The Bulldogs gave a good account of themselves in the loss to 7A Alma Bryant. Chilton County may be better than in previous years but Holtville wins a close one. Holtville, 27-25.
THE REST
Prattville over Smiths Station, 28-14; Marbury over Jemison, 35-12; Trinity over Southside-Selma, 24-22; Montgomery Aca over Bullock Co., 35-16; Catholic over Booker T. Washington, 45-8; Alabama Christian over Lynn, 31-16; Notasulga over Autaugaville, 22-20; Billingsley over Calhoun, 23-6; Macon East over Wilcox Aca, 26-16; Chambers Aca over Edgewood, 35-19; Abbeville Christian over Hooper Aca, 25-14; Lowndes Academy over Coosa Valley 41-6; Morgan Aca over Valiant Cross, 20-16; Springwood over Evangel Christian, 35-8.
OPEN: None
RECORD: Last week 11-8; Season 23-12 (.658)