PREP CAPSULES (Week 9): Down to cases for key regional battles
STAFF REPORT
Welcome to “come down to cases” Week.
Yes, the docket in Week 9 is fraught with sizzling matchups that will decide region titles and/or playoff berths.
Other teams are looking to play spoiler.
Start with Thursday’s game at Cramton Bowl where the first meeting in history between G.W. Carver and Pike Road will decide the Class 6A, Region 2 champion. Both teams are coming off unusual weeks with the Patriots losing to Stanhope Elmore while Carver won over rival Sidney Lanier in a fight-ridden game that may have an impact on eligibility of players for this game.
River Region Sports contacted Carver officials and were unable to receive confirmation on the status of those players. It certainly could have an impact on the outcome.
AHSAA rules designate that if a player is thrown out of a game for fighting or, in this case, leaving the bench for a fight, that player must sit out the next game. Carver appealed the ruling stating the players were leaving the bench due to a change of possession after a punt.
The other matchup of note is Montgomery Catholic visiting Andalusia on Friday. The winner takes the Class 4A, Region 2 title and, if the two meet again in the playoffs, would have home field advantage in what would be a semifinal game.
Both teams have been nearly flawless all season and have not been challenged in region play.
Other games will have playoff implications including Lanier’s visit to Wetumpka and Auburn taking on Prattville.
Week 9
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
PIKE ROAD at G.W. CARVER (6A-R2)
Thursday at Cramton Bowl
2022 Records: Carver (7-1, 5-0), Pike Road (5-3, 4-1)
Playoff picture: Both teams are in the playoff and have clinched the top two seeds in the region. The winner will be the region champion.
Last week: Carver def. Sidney Lanier, 23-20; Stanhope Elmore def. Pike Road, 14-13
Last meeting: : First meeting
Key stats: Pike Road played last week with the majority of its offense not dressed out.Anthony Rogers was out due to illness. Carver managed to hold on in the final quarter of the win over Lanier, thanks in part to Jamar Green subbing at quarterback. He did just enough to give the Wolverines the win.
The skinny: The strangeness of last week lends to just what might happen this week between the two teams battling for 6A, Region 2 supremacy. No one expected the result from Millbrook last Friday, even with the issue of the flu that plagued Pike Road and eventually put several players on the shelf. Carver has had plenty of “issues” over the years against Lanier, but nothing like last week. It might have an affect on who plays this week. Earlier in the week, Carver officials were waiting on the decision from the AHSAA office as to whether or not the ejected players would be allowed to play on Friday. Carver made the point that players such as Christian Johnson and Antonio Trone were running onto the field due to the ball was changing over after a punt. As of the moment, RRS is not sure what their status will be. But we will take the consideration that the players will suit up on Thursday. It will most certainly make a different. No offense to Jamar Green, but Carver is a completely different team with Johnson on the field. And Trone is almost as important. The 1-2 punch is as good as any in South Alabama. The same can be said said for Anthony Rogers of Pike Road. He should return this week and gives the Patriots the look Ed Rigby wants from his offense. But will that be enough? We like the 1-2 punch in a tight one.
PREDICTION: Carver, 28-27
SIDNEY LANIER at WETUMPKA (6A-R2)
Friday at Wetumpka Municipal Stadium
2022 Records: Lanier (5-3, 3-2), Wetumpka (6-2, 3-2)
Playoff picture: Winner will be the third seed. Loser drops to fourth seed.
Last week: Carver def. Lanier, 23-20; Wetumpka did not play
Last meeting: 2011: Lanier, 36-28
Series: Lanier, 16-6
Key Stats: Jamarcus Hamilton scored three times for the Poets last week…Wetumpka is averaging 15 points offensively in its last two games against region opponents. The Indians have given up an average of 24 points.
The skinny: This is a tricky pick for a couple of reasons. If you missed it, Lanier was involved in a dust up with Carver last week and had a couple of players ejected. Their status for Friday’s game was still up in the air at press time. It might not matter but the Poets will need all hands on deck after a very emotional loss,which is reason No. 2. The Poets traditionally don’t play well after their game with their arch rivals. Wetumpka had a week off to contemplate the last few weeks, which were sewn with good and bad. The win over Stanhope Elmore was important for obvious reasons but it also showed a few cracks in the armor. The loss to Carver proved to be even more problematic. The Indians were never in the game, which was a first this season. Even in the loss to Pike Road, they had chances. That was not the case against the Wolverines. This one may be as simple as whether or not Tacaris Bozeman can be slowed by the Wetumpka defense. He has had his share of injuries this year and that might be a key, as well. But go back to the emotional state of the Poets. That probably will settle it.
PREDICTION: Wetumpka, 21-18
AUBURN at PRATTVILLE (7A-R2)
Friday at Stanley-Jensen Stadium
2022 Records: Auburn (7-1, 5-1), Prattville (6-2. 4-2)
Playoff picture: Auburn has clinched a playoff spot and can finish as high as first seed and as low as fourth. Prattville’s picture is clouded from no berth to second seed. Too many scenarios to mention but the Lions need to win to guarantee a spot somewhere.
Last week: Central-Phenix City def. Auburn, 38-17; Prattville def. R.E. Lee., 42-18
Last year: Auburn, 20-14
Series: Tied, 18-18-2
Key Numbers: Prattville’s offense continues to improve each week. Against the Generals, the Lions totaled more than 330 yards in offense.
The skinny: Maybe Prattville was sold off the auction block a little too early. The Lions are in position to go from a loss to Smiths Station to a possible second seed or even first with a sweep of Auburn and Central-Phenix City. It sounds like a tall order but the offense has been good enough to think it could happen. The good news is Central made it possible for the Lions to move up the ladder with a win on Friday. The bad news is Auburn is not going to take a liking to coming off its first loss of the season. The Tigers are still one of the teams to beat in 7A. They have gotten solid play from their running attack with DV Williams and adequate passing from quarterback Clyde Pittman. But the Lions have found a solid QB in Cam Richardson with Kam Shanks as his primary receiver. It’s tempting to pick an upset here but Auburn has done it a little longer and wins what should be a close battle.
PREDICTION: Auburn, 35-27
CATHOLIC at ANDALUSIA (4A-R3)
Friday at Memorial Stadium
2022 Records: Catholic (9-0, 6-0), Andalusia (9-0. 6-0)
Playoff picture: Winner is region champion. Loser is second seed.
Last week: Catholic def. Dale County, 52-0; Andalusia def. BT Washington, 36-714
Last meeting: 2015: Andalusia, 42-24
Key Numbers: In region play, Andalusia is giving up just over eight points per game. Catholic is averaging 4.8 points allowed with four shut outs. …
The skinny: Yes, in today’s world of football, offense is sexy. But the axiom is still true that defense wins championships. It doesn’t matter which level, and how good an offense might be, chances are once a team gets to the final game, the better defense will probably win. It’s why this game will be judged on that side of the ball. Catholic has been almost perfect. But Andalusia has been near-perfect, as well. It might be a mistake to compare scores, but in reality, both teams have controlled the line of scrimmage and made it nearly impossible to figure out who has the advantage. Both have major D-I prospects. Both have a running attack that is top of the charts. Advantages: Andalusia is home. Numbers-wise, the Bulldogs are bigger.In some ways, this is a 5A school in 4A clothing. Catholic is the other way around. It is a 3A (maybe even a 2A school) that has been bumped up due to AHSAA rules. Catholic is seasoned in big games. The Knights have won a few and lost a few. They’ve been to the championship game and understands what the ramifications are Friday. It might not sound like much but that might be the difference. In a game this hard to pick, it probably comes down to turnovers. Catholic will have fewer and win a very close and lower-scoring-than-expected contest. But don’t worry, they will probably see each other again in a few weeks.
PREDICTION: Catholic, 22-17
KEY GAMES
R.E. Lee at Smiths Station (7A-R2) – Is it possible for the Generals to finally record a victory? This is basically their last chance. Why not.… Lee, 21-20.
Stanhope Elmore at Park Crossing (6A-R2) - Same situation for the Thunderbirds. This is their last chance since it’s their last game. But no chance for a win against the “rejuvenated” Mustangs.. SE, 31-14.
Elmore County (5A) at Holtville (5A) -An odd game that is a rivalry in the same county but not a region game. Both will play in the post season and both have one more contest before the end of the regular season. Tough call since neither team has shown consistency. The pick is Holtville if only because of the home field advantage. Holtville, 35-28.
Montgomery Academy at Geneva (4A-R2) - Winner gets fourth seed in the region. It’s been a strange year for the Eagles but it keeps going after Friday. MA, 27-20.
Billingsley at Loachapoka (1A-R4) -The Bears need a win and some help to make the playoffs. That’s too much to ask… ‘Poka, 31-15.
Macon East at Abbeville Christian (AA-R1) - Battle for the third seed. Macon East needs a turnaround after two straight losses. The Knights get it. Barely… ME 25-24.
THE REST
Enterprise over Jeff Davis, 31-15; Alabama Christian over Southside-Selma, 35-8; Trinity over Greensboro, 45-13; PCA over Sumter Central, 34-0; Autaugaville over Central-Hayneville, 28-13; Monroe Academy over Autauga Academy 27-22; Chambers Academy over Hooper Academy, 34-15; Lowndes Academy over Crenshaw Academy, 36-17; Valiant Cross over Bessemer Academy, 37-13; Edgewood over Lakeside (Thur), 29-20.
OPEN: Tallassee; Marbury; St. James
RECORD: Last week 19-2; Season 136-40 (.773)