PREP CAPSULES (Week 5): Midway point provides a glimpse of future
STAFF REPORT
The traditional halfway point of the high school season is here. (Where and why did the first half go so quickly?)
We’ve learned a few things at this point….
G.W. Carver has an offense that can score with anybody, thanks to the addition of a couple of transfers.
Elmore County has shown vast improvement after a winless 2021.
Pike Road is feeling a few growing pains moving up to Class 6A but not sell the Patriots short in the second half of the season.
Catholic looks unstoppable.
Autaugaville is having a solid season, at least so far.
Lowndes Academy looks prime to win a second state title.
There are others on the other side that are not enjoying the season to this point. R.E. Lee, Park Crossing and Jeff Davis are looking for answers. After a good start, Tallassee needs a turnaround to make the playoffs. Same with Holtville. Ditto for Billingsley.
Macon East is undefeated but faces a tough second half starting Friday with undefeated Lee-Scott.
There is plenty more but that is a pretty good wrap on what 2022 has looked like this point.
The week includes key games in the Capital City Conference with Alabama Christian facing Montgomery Academy and Trinity taking on Marbury. Park Crossing will look for its first win at Selma while Prattville and Stanhope Elmore meet in what should be an entertaining tilt.
Week 5
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
PRATTVILLE (7A) at STANHOPE ELMORE (6A)
Friday at Foshee-Henderson Stadium
2022 Records: Prattville (2-2, 1-2), SE (1-3, 1-1)
Last week: Prattville def. Opelika, 24-21 (OT); G.W. Carver def. Stanhope Elmore, 46-44 Last year: Prattville, 29-0
Series: Prattville leads, 30-11-1
Key stats: Kam Shanks had four catches for 145 yards and two TDs plus a 94-yard kickoff return for a score in the Lions’ win over Opelika… SE quarterback Jacob Bryant had a big night in a losing effort, passing for 392 yards and four touchdowns against Carver.
The skinny: The Lions turned into a dynamo last week in the upset of Opelika. The overtime win may be just what they need to have a great second half and earn a playoff bid. Stanhope is probably wondering what it has to do to get a big victory. In one sense, they are scoring enough points. In most cases, 44 points is enough to win a game. The Mustangs also held teams to an average of 21 points in the first three games and managed just one victory. The game this week may not tell much about either team but it is one of the unheralded rivalries in the River Region, maybe because Prattville has been so dominant, winning the last nine on the field (one game was forfeited). But expect another shootout with the Lions have a little too much firepower in the end.
PREDICTION: Prattville, 41-35
R.E. LEE (7A) vs. G.W. CARVER (6A)
Friday at Cramton Bowl
2022 Records: Lee (0-4, 0-3); Carver (4-0, 3-0)
Last week: Auburn def. Lee, 58-7; Carver def. Stanhope Elmore, 46-44
Last year: Lee, 33-15
Series: Lee, 35-22
Key Numbers: Quarterback Christian Johnson continued his impressive season with 326 yards and five touchdowns on 16 of 30 passing in the win over Stanhope Elmore. Ja’verion Rogers had the lone touchdown in Lee’s loss to Auburn.
The skinny: The last time Lee started a season 0-4 (actually 0-5), the Generals turned it around and won their final five games. It wasn’t enough to make the playoffs but it gave fans hope for the future. Unfortunately, it didn’t get much better the next year when the team finished 2-8 and was the final year for Larry Ware as head coach. That was 2010-11 and that’s enough history. The story among city teams this year is Carver, which has found a potent offense behind transfers quarterback Christian Johnson and running back Antonio Trone. They were instrumental in last week’s win over Stanhope Elmore. The Wolverines are primed to win their first region title in eight years. This game might not tell much since Lee is struggling this season. But any win against a city rival means something.
PREDICTION: Carver, 27-16
MONTGOMERY ACADEMY (4A) at ALABAMA CHRISTIAN (3A)
Friday at Billy Hilyer Stadium, Faulkner Unv.
2022 Records: MA (3-2, 2-1), ACA (2-2, 1-1)
Last week: Andalusia def. MA, 49-7; ACA def. Sumter Central, 62-14
Last year: ACA, 31-21
Series: MA, 33-6
Key Stats: ACA defeated MA last year for only the second time in 10 years but was the second win in three years in the series.
The skinny: If you did a double take when reviewing last year’s outcome, you were not alone. ACA came from behind to earn the win in the final game of the regular season for both teams. We all know the aftermath with MA going on to play for a state championship while ACA was eliminated in the first round of the 4A playoffs. That means nothing at this juncture. A quick look at where these teams are, starting with the records and there looks to be a lot of similarities. Both have lost to quality opponents. MA faced what is possibly the biggest threat to Catholic to getting to the state championship game. ACA has faced and lost to a couple of solid CCC teams. MA is dealing with injuries. ACA is getting offensive production from several players including Corey Landers and Otasowie Dion. MA will need to score more than their average of 25 points per game. But the call is the visiting Eagles find a way to do it and take a non-region win in this one.
PREDICTION: MA, 28-25
ST. JAMES (3A) at CHARLES HENDERSON (5A)
Friday at Veterans Stadium, Troy
2022 Records: STJ (4-1, 3-0), Ch. Henderson (3-1. 2-0)
Last week: STJ def. Southside-Selma, 56-14; Beauregard def. Ch. Henderson, 26-24
Last meeting: 2013: Ch. Henderson, 42-21
Series: Ch. Henderson, 2-0
Key Numbers: KJ Jackson threw four touchdown passes and Cosner Harrison ran for three more in the win last week.
The skinny: The Trojans continue their non-region docket filled with solid competition. This set began with a difficult test against Handley. It continues on Friday. Charles Henderson has certainly turned the corner under second-year coach Quinn Hambrite. This is coming after four consecutive losing seasons but the program is not too far removed from the state championship berth in Class 4A in 2013. STJ will be tested by what should be a bigger and deeper team. Quarterback KJ Jackson has been under the weather but is expected back this week as are others dealing with an apparent bug. But will that be enough? Probably not. STJ close but not quite against the 5A Trojans.
PREDICTION: Charles Henderson, 38-35
KEY GAMES
Sidney Lanier (6A) at Satsuma (4A) -A good win last week but the Poets need to find some consistency. Winless Satsuma provides the right extension of that necessity… Lanier, 35-6.
Park Crossing (6A) at Selma (5A) - The Thunderbirds need a win in a bad way. Going to Selma is not a good way to get it. . Selma, 23-20.
Greenville (5A) at Wetumpka (6A) – The Indians continue to show improvement. Greenville is a good test but not good enough to pull the upset.… Wetumpka, 25-15
Trinity (3A) at Marbury (5A) - The Bulldogs got a nice win last week at Tallassee. Trinity is a different animal. The Wildcats should have enough to win the non-region tilt. TPS, 27-21.
Lee-Scott Aca (AAA) at Macon East (AA) - Lee-Scott looks to be the favorite in Class AAA. The Warriors are undefeated. Macon East is also perfect on the season, setting up a good one. The Knights are at home but haven’t played quite the schedule. Warriors win a close one.. Lee-Scott, 27-23.
THE REST
Chilton Co. over Tallassee, 21-18; Elmore Co over St. Clair Co, 30-20; Montgomery Catholic over Pike Liberal Arts, 60-13; Holtville over West Blocton, 35-12; Prattville Christian over Beulah, 34-7; Isabella over Billingsley, 31-18; Ft. Dale over Edgewood Aca, 24-21; Crenshaw Aca over Hooper Aca., 26-20; Lowndes Aca over Abbeville Christian, 31-19; Valiant Cross over Escambia Aca., 21-19; Evangel over Ezekiel, 23-18.
OPEN: Jeff Davis; Pike Road; Autaugaville; Autauga Academy
RECORD: Last week 15-4; Season 70-26 (.729)