PREP CAPSULES (Week 4): Oddities abound in early going of '22
STAFF REPORT
We’ve had plenty to talk about in the first few weeks of the regular season.
Last week’s crazy finish between Pike Road and Wetumpka might be at the top of the list but there have been plenty of wild games to this point.
Where would Smiths Station’s win over Prattville rank? Not very high in the minds of Lions fans but it’s been that kind of year… already.
Alabama Christian broke a school record with 64 points in the win over Lynn last week. The previous record was set in 1981 (Landmark Christian - 61).
Elmore County continues to shine. As does G.W. Carver.
Don’t let up now. The season is nearing the halfway point and there are teams still looking for the right combination on either side of the ball.
Region play continues this week with several key games. Prattville looks to rebound with a home win against Dothan. ACA and Trinity meet in a key region and CCC game. And Elmore County faces its stiffest test with a visit to Lineville to face Central-Clay County.
Week 3
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
DOTHAN AT PRATTVILLE (7A-R2)
Friday at Stanley-Jensen Stadium
2022 Records: Dothan (2-1, 1-1), Prattville (1-1, 0-1)
Last week: Auburn def. Dothan, 42-14; Smiths Station def. Prattville, 30-21
Last year: Prattville, 24-7
Series: Prattville leads, 2-0
Key stats: Prattville suffered its first ever loss to Smith Station in 10 meetings last week.
The skinny: There seems to be something amiss in local high school football. While upsets happen every year, normally it doesn’t include one to Smiths Station. But that’s what the Lions are trying to overcome this week when they face Dothan. Mistakes happen in every game but the Lions made more than their share last week. A blocked kick led to one score and was followed by an interception deep in their own territory that led to the go-ahead score and all of it before halftime. The Lions took the lead in the second half but was unable to hold it as the Panthers scored the final 10 points of the game. The final score came on a long drive in which the Lions defense was unable to make stops when they needed them. So, what does that bode for Friday? Dothan is a better team than in past years but Prattville has the home field advantage and the athletes. But the issue is playing with the confidence fans expect from the program. Look for the Lions to turn it around and get a home win in region play. .
PREDICTION: Prattville, 23-20
PIKE ROAD at SIDNEY LANIER (6A-R2)
Thursday at Cramton Bowl
2022 Records: PRHS (1-2, 1-0); Lanier (1-1, 0-0)
Last week: PRHS def. Wetumpka, 35-31 ; Jeff Davis def. Lanier, 22-6
Last meeting: First meeting
Key Numbers: Anthony Rogers took a reception 72 yards for the winning score after Pike Road had given up the lead in the final minute in Friday’s game against Wetumpka… Tacaris Bozeman had the lone TD for the Poets in last week’s loss.
The skinny: Following the same pattern as mentioned in the Prattville skinny, Lanier is not performing like many expected. Last week’s loss may not be a surprise after all is said and done (Jeff Davis was expected to be better this year), but there were plenty of mistakes made by the Poets that had one or two been eliminated, the outcome might have been different. Alas, they await the arrival of Pike Road to the bowl on Thursday in what has some interesting twists. Lanier played the old Pike Road school back in the 1930s. No one is around that remembered that game but Joe Kilgrow led the Poets to a 19-0 win and they did it mostly with reserves. The numbers will look a little different on the sidelines this time and Pike Road will have more reserves than the Poets. Last week, the Patriots might have given us a glimpse of what’s to be the norm the rest of the way. Offensively, they’ve been unstoppable. Defensively, they’ve had trouble stopping anyone. Lanier will keep it simple offensively which might work in the hands of where Pike Road finds success. Lanier has no depth and that will play a role.. The Pats win late.
PREDICTION: Pike Road, 28-21
ALABAMA CHRISTIAN at TRINITY (3A-R3)
Friday Ragsdale-Boykin Field
2022 Records: ACA (1-1, 0-0), TPS (2-1, 1-0)
Last week: ACA def. Lynn, 64-26; Trinity def. Southside-Selma, 51-30
Last year: TPS, 6-0
Series: TPS, 28-7
Key Stats: ACA QB Hayes Hunt had 159 yards and four TDs on just six attempts in last week’s win…. Trinity’s Fleming Hall had 184 yards passing with three scores in the win over Southside.
The skinny: Both the Eagles and Wildcats got the offense going last week. Does that mean a high-scoring affair is in order at Ragsdale-Boykin this week? Probably. Trinity has been relatively consistent this year while ACA has just the two games to judge with one against Catholic. But the Eagles were expected to have a potent offense. It would be a complete opposite from last year’s game where only six points were scored. Trinity has been a work in progress since its top running back, Trevor Pearson, went down in Game 1. This one might come down to quarterback play and that’s a tough call in itself. Go with the home team to squeak past the visitors.
PREDICTION: TPS, 35-31
ELMORE CO at CLAY CO. CENTRAL (5A-R4)
Friday at Volunteer Stadium, Lineville
2022 Records: Central (1-1, 1-0), ECHS (3-0. 1-0)
Last week: Clay Central def. Tallassee, 33-14; ECHS def. Sylacauga, 48-21
Last year: Clay Central, 42-14
Series: Central, 4-0
Key Numbers: The Central defense all but shut out Tallassee last week, giving up a lone score in the final seconds… The Panthers put up big numbers with 348 total yards in the win over Sylacauga last Thursday.
The skinny: The real test for the Panthers has arrived. Central has the defense, tradition, and every thing else in this matchup. But ECHS has the confidence and maybe the best overall player in the tri-county area. It’s probably not fair to put it all on Peyton Stephenson but he could be the difference in just how far the Panthers go this year.and Friday’s game will provide some glimpse of that. He certainly has help, which has made a difference so far this season. But Friday’s game will tell a lot more. Central has been salty in its first two games and will provide a stiff challenge for the new look Panther offense. But somethings says this might be a special year in Eclectic. They get the road win and take a leg up in the region standings.
PREDICTION: Elmore County, 32-27
KEY GAMES
Jeff Davis at Auburn (7A-R2) -The Vols finally broke into the win column last week. But asking for two straight against powerful Auburn is too much… Auburn, 42-16.
Russell County at G.W. Carver (6A-R2) - Carver is the lone team in the region still undefeated. That might not mean much now but it shows where the future competition might be and that’s good news for the Wolverines. Carver, 36-14.
Park Crossing at Wetumpka (6A-R2) – Wetumpka proved it has a “don’t quit” attitude in the loss to Pike Road last week. They won’t need it in this one. PCHS is struggling.. Wetumpka, 28-12
Slocomb at Catholic (4A-R2) - Slocomb is one of four teams still undefeated in region play… until Friday. Catholic, 54-6.
Tallassee at Beauregard (5A-R2) – Is Beauregard’s undefeated record legit? The win over Valley might say, ‘yes’ but how good is Valley? Tallassee has played a better schedule and should win on the road. Tallassee, 24-20.
Holtville at Selma (5A-R3) – A close game would not be in the best interest for the Bulldogs this week…This one will not be close.. Holtville, 42-18.
Ft. Dale Aca at Autauga Aca (AAA) - The Generals are off to a good start. No reason to think it changes this week. AA, 34-23.
THE REST
Montgomery Academy over Dale County, 35-0; St. James over Greensboro, 43-13; Macon East over Hooper Academy, 35-12; Lowndes Academy over Southern Academy, 24-16; Abbeville Christian over Edgewood, 25-20; Demopolis over Marbury, 43-13; Autaugaville over Calhoun, 36-13; Billingsley over Verbena, 21-16.
OPEN: R.E. Lee; Stanhope Elmore; Prattville Christian; Evangel Christian
RECORD: Last week 18-5; Season 41-17 (.707)