For the Lamar County and Sulligent high school football teams, tonight”s Class 2A, Region 8 rivalry game (7, in Vernon) will have plenty of history.
Never mind the Alabama High School Athletic Association teams first met in 1930.
You also can forget Lamar County edged Sulligent 21-20 last year and Sulligent leads the series 32-25-5.
This year, the Blue Devils are 4-1 and in first place in the region at 3-0, while Lamar County is 2-3 and second in the region at 2-1.
But Sulligent Athletic Director Craig Weeks said throw the numbers out of the window.
“You can forget the records,” said Weeks, who said the Blue Devils have been looking to avenge last year”s loss. “We had a chance to tie it or win it, and it just didn”t work out that way.”
So Sulligent has been looking forward to the rematch.
“This is a big one for us; this is a big region game,” Weeks said. “The kids have been looking forward to this game. It”s always been a big rivalry.”
Lamar County coach Ken Adams said the game has become historic.
“It doesn”t come much bigger than this,” Adams said. “I”ve been here four years, and this is the kind of game that is fun to be a part of.”
A Lamar County victory will throw the region standings into a tailspin. Sulligent has been battling on- and off-field troubles for the past three weeks and has managed to stay on top.
Dwight Bowling, a third-year Sulligent coach who was at Smithville High for 28 years, was arrested Sept. 17 after the Blue Devils” 35-20 victory against Colbert Heights. He is accused of child molestation and trying to get the victim to lie to authorities investigating the incidents.
On Wednesday, Bowling pleaded not guilty to a five-count federal indictment in a court hearing in Oxford.
He is being held at the Lafayette County Adult Detention Center.
n Gordo (4-1, 3-0 region) at Aliceville (4-1, 3-0): The Yellow Jackets will have a chance to mix up the AHSAA Class 3A, Region 4 standings Friday.
Aliceville and Gordo stand atop the region with Greensboro. Hale County — fourth in region at 2-1 — will play host to Greensboro on Friday.
Aliceville coach Ken Hill knows the Gordo game will be one of the biggest of the year.
“We can really stir up the pot,” said Hill, whose Stallions lost to Gordo 42-18 last year. “We”ll find out who”s the top team after this weekend.”
Hill said Gordo has a rich football tradition, which he hopes to bring to Aliceville.
“That”s how we want to be, competitive every year,” said the first-year coach, who is donating his time to lead the Aliceville program. “We want to build it from the ground up. We”re hoping we can give them a good game.”
n Pickens County (4-1,
3-0) at Autaugaville (4-1, 3-0): For the first time, the Tornadoes will square off against the Eagles. If that”s not important enough, the teams lead the AHSAA Class 1A, Region 4 standings.
Pickens County coach Scott Marchant had his first exposure to Autaugaville about five years ago while he was scouting another team.
“I said then they had a strong team,” Marchant said. “They have good-looking kids all over the field.”
Both teams run similar offenses, but the Eagles have a tweaked defense.
“They run what is a 3-3-5 defense with blitzes,” Marchant said. “I”ve seen teams that use it, and I had thought about using it myself last year.”
Marchant said the Tornadoes will face a very fast, very quick defense and a tall quarterback who likes to throw. Pickens County will be hampered with the possible loss of two starting defensive linemen. Marchant said the players are day to day.
“I”m afraid it”s going to be a good game,” he said. “I hope it”s going to be a good game.”
n Berry (3-2, 2-1) at South Lamar (2-1, 1-2): The Stallions will try Friday to shake off a 43-7 home loss to non-region foe Winfield when they take on the defending AHSAA Class 1A, Region 5 champion.
“This is rebound week for us,” South Lamar coach Josh Harper said. “This is the whole reason you play the game.”
South Lamar and Berry have played only once — a 42-14 Berry victory in 2004, but Harper knows what to expect from scouting and films.
“They have a swarming defense; they will bring the house,” he said. “They also have a quarterback who is a good thrower and runner. He is not one-dimensional.”
On offense, Berry brings a straight-on, head-up running game, Harper said. “When they spread the offense, though, they can have open a long gainer. They will be ready to play.”
n Pickens Academy (2-3, 0-3) at Evangel Christian Academy (2-3, 1-2): The Pirates will take a three-hour bus ride Friday to Montgomery, Ala., for the Alabama Independent Schools Association Class 2A, Region 1 matchup.
Although both teams are under .500, Pickens Academy coach John Gartman said the Lions have plenty of potential.
“They”ve got some good athletes,” Gartman said. “They are just struggling to beat some good teams.”
Although the Pirates are coming off a 21-6 loss to Edgewood, Gartman was pleased with his team”s performance on defense.
“We stayed on the field with them. I thought we played well,” he said. “Before last week, no one had held them to less than 28 points in a half.”
The Pirates will see different looks on offense and pretty simple stuff on defense, Gartman said.
“They can”t pound it downfield and go 10 plays and score,” he said. “But if they break free of the defense, they can run one 60 yards and score.”
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