PREP CAPSULES: Looks like we made it - congratulations HS football (Plus - update on JD/Park Crossing)
STAFF REPORT
Congratulations High School football. You made it to the end of the regular season.
It didn’t seem possible back in July when negative winds were blowing from all directions. The skies were gray. The world was against you.
You endured all the difficulties of playing during a pandemic, the sideshows of politics, even getting chastised that first week on national news for fans (and players) not wearing masks or being socially distant. Even a few of your own coaches were appalled that you were playing football under the conditions.
Yet, here we are with one Friday left to finish out the unfinishable, with no suffering, no deaths or severe complications from COVID-19.
Yes, there have been games lost – 23 in the River Region by our count. That certainly affected the playoff hopes of several teams. For that, we are sorry.
You even made it through a weekend with a hurricane bearing down on Central Alabama. It was a nice sidestep as the rains passed through, again, without incident.
Fans have been asked to go the extra mile. So have coaches and players. Somehow, some way, you made it.
Ditto for high school volleyball, which is completing the season with state championships this week. Cross Country is on tap as is swimming and diving. The fall calendar is almost complete, proving that goals can be reached despite the contention surrounding them.
You’ve proven your worth. Your communities needed you through all the nonsense of politics and public pettiness that has come with this bickering. In so many ways, you’ve made it somewhat more bearable, normal, even while wearing masks. You’ve done your state and country proud.
Now, go out and finish the job.
You deserve it.
NOTE: The game between Jeff Davis and Park Crossing was originally scheduled to be played Thursday at Cramton Bowl. But due to school cancellations from Hurricane Zeta, the game has been moved to Friday afternoon at 12 p.m. It will be played at Cramton Bowl. The regularly scheduled game between G.W. Carver and Greenville will be played Friday at 7 p.m. Also, the Middle School Championship game originally scheduled for Wednesday will be play Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Cramton Bowl.
All games begin at 7 p.m.
GREENVILLE (5A) at G.W. CARVER (6A)
Friday at Cramton Bowl
2020 Records: Greenville (4-5, 2-4), Carver (6-3, 5-2)
Last year: Carver, 19-13
Series: Carver, 3-1
Last week: Pike Road def. Greenville, 35-7; Carver def. Russell Co., 39-0
Next week: Carver will play on the road against a team TBD; Greenville did not qualify for the playoffs
Key Stats: The Carver defense has recorded three shut outs in the last five games.
The skinny: The Carver Wolverines may not be the hottest team in Montgomery right now (at least among the city schools) but an argument could be made that they are. Since the loss to Opelika on Sept. 18, they have been relatively consistent on both sides of the ball, save for the loss at Eufaula. They haven’t given up a point in the last two games against Lanier and Russell County, albeit two struggling teams. But they are finishing the regular season on a high note. Greenville is not, having lost four straight games and missing the playoffs for the first time in four years. There is no reason to think the Wolverines can’t keep the momentum going and prepare for their first-round game with a victory.
PREDICTION: Carver, 31-6
MONTGOMERY ACADEMY (3A) at ALABAMA CHRISTIAN (4A)
Friday at Wade Black Norton Stadium
2020 Records: MA (9-0, 6-0), ACA (8-1, 7-0)
Last meeting: 2017 - ACA, 35-18
Series: MA leads, 32-5
Last week: MA def. Monroe Co., 36-6; ACA def. Bullock Co, 32-14
Next week: MA (3A/R3 Seed 1) will face Providence Christian at home; ACA (4A/R2 Seed 1) will face West Blocton at home
Key Numbers: What a way to finish the regular season for these two, easily the best matchup in this series that has been dominated by MA. It’s the classic best vs. best with the ACA offense, averaging just under 40 points per game, against the MA defense which gives up a little less than 10 per game. Both won their respective regions and are looking for bigger fish than this one. So, who benefits most from a win? It would be easy to say ACA since it has just five wins in the series. A shot of confidence isn’t necessarily needed but any complete failure could send one of these teams reeling. ACA should score points as much as anyone against the MA defense but Robert Johnson’s team can keep up. MA has a bit of a size advantage but not much. ACA has somewhat of an experience advantage but this is Game 10. Tradition is definitely on the visitors’ side. That’s enough to pick Montgomery Academy.
PREDICTION: Montgomery Academy, 31-28
ST. JAMES (4A) at TRINITY (3A)
Friday at Ragsdale-Boykin Field
2020 Records: STJ (7-2, 6-1), TPS (7-2, 6-1)
Last year: St. James, 14-7
Series: TPS leads, 33-11
Last week: STJ def. Geneva, 35-20; Trinity def. Childersburg, 37-6
Next week: St. James (4A/R2 Seed 2) plays Montevallo at home; Trinity (4A/R4 Seed 2) plays at home against team TBD.
Key Numbers: The Trojans can extend their longest win streak in the series against Trinity. No matter what happens Friday, Trinity will enjoy its best finish in the regular season since 2015.
The skinny: The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 25 but due to COVID-19, the schedules were rearranged to make this one happen later… and with good reason. This is a good tune-up for both, not to mention the rivalry and what it means to both programs. Trinity has officially turned things around after wallowing in mediocrity the last few years. While it may not be championship level yet, the Wildcats seem to have turned the right direction this season. St. James has endured growing pains but at the same time, figured out how to win close games. Neither team had enough to win their respective regions but both are capable of making noise in the post season. This is typically a knockdown drag out contest with plenty of hard hits and excitement. If this sounds like a movie poster to invite fans to come, it is. It’s worth the trip to Trinity to watch. Look for a close one with the Wildcats taking a low-scoring victory.
PREDICTION: Trinity, 20-16
REELTOWN (3A) at HOLTVILLE (5A)
Friday at Boykin-Chapman Field
2020 Records: Reeltown (4-5, 3-4), Holtville (7-2, 4-2)
Last meeting: 1999 - Reeltown, 16-0
Series: Reeltown leads, 8-6
Last week: Holtville def. Sylacauga, 31-27; Pike County def. Reeltown, 21-20
Next week: Holtville (5A/R4 Seed 2) will play UMS-Wright at home; Reeltown did not qualify for the playoffs
Key Stats: Reeltown will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2007 (Class 2A). Holtville will be a host team in the playoffs for the first time since 1993 (2nd round).
The skinny: What a year for Holtville and last week’s was a perfect cap on the regional schedule. After suffering a disappointment against Beauregard back on Sept. 11, most gave up on them. They responded with wins in five of the last six games with the only loss coming to region champ Central-Clay County. They will enter the playoffs next week battle tested with last week’s win over Sylacauga being a good gauge of what’s to come. They will get tested early in the first round with UMS-Wright coming to town. But first things first, Reeltown is next and the Rebels are finishing out the string. It’s been a tough move up to Class 3A and their non-region opponents have been difficult as well. This will be the second 5A team they’ve faced. They would like to go out with a win. But Holtville has too much juice right now to expect that to happen.
PREDICTION: Holtville, 30-16
KEY GAMES
Jeff Davis (7A) vs Park Crossing (6A) (Cramton Bowl - Friday afternoon at 12 p.m.) – The Vols are looking to avoid their first winless season since 2012. Considering their history, it really makes no sense to see this program struggle like it has. Park Crossing doesn’t care and completes the JD O’fer. PCHS, 23-14
Bob Jones (7A) at Prattville (7A) – Two programs have never met and not sure why they are meeting this week, other than a schedule filler. Lions use this one as a playoff tune up. Prattville, 42-7.
Smiths Station (7A) at Stanhope Elmore (6A) – The Mustangs may not be playing a region game but this one has an impact on their seeding. They are tied with Wetumpka and Helena for second and the tiebreaker comes down to number of wins by non-region opponents. Smiths has three, which ain’t many but every little bit helps. Mustangs, 32-12.
Lowndes Academy (A) at Fort Dale Academy (AAA) – Rebels enter the playoffs hot, with a four-game winning streak including this one over hapless Ft. Dale. Lowndes Aca, 25-7.
THE REST
Pike Road over B.T. Washington, 45-0; Jemison over Elmore County, 25-21; Marbury over Chilton County, 27-21; Tallassee over Bullock Co, 21-20 (non counter); Prattville Christian over Vincent, 30-14; Billingsley over Thorsby, 35-14; Macon East over Abbeville Christian, 27-15; Glenwood over Autauga Academy, 45-13; Edgewood over Wilcox Academy, 30-14; Hooper Academy over Cornerstone, 20-14.
BYE: R.E. Lee; Wetumpka; Catholic; Autaugaville (forfeit win from Ellwood Christian); Lanier (season complete); Valiant Cross (season complete)
RECORD: Last week 16-4; Season 140-35 (.800)