PREP CAPSULES (Week 8): Big battle at the Bowl highlights schedule
STAFF REPORT
With two weeks left to decide playoff spots (more or less), there is still a lot to be decided.
A few teams know their fate (St. James, etc.) while others need wins to secure a spot.
A few, Montgomery Academy for one, need a win Friday to secure a bid.
Others, such as Tallassee and Trinity, are playing for seeding.
The most interesting game of the week takes place at Cramton Bowl where Westside rivals face off.
G.W. Carver and Sidney Lanier renew their rivalry on Friday with plenty up for grabs. A Carver win and another next week gives the Wolverines the region title. Lanier can also win the region but needs a win Friday plus next week against Wetumpka then a Carver win over Pike Road next week… as if this game needs any more drama.
Prattville is in position to make the 7A playoffs but any slip-up eliminates its chances. The Lions visit Lee on Thursday.
The final region games are next week for most of the teams (Class 7A has one more week). Otherwise, it time to put up or shut up.
Week 8
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise
G.W. CARVER vs. SIDNEY LANIER (6A-R2)
Friday at Cramton Bowl
2022 Records: Carver (6-1, 3-0), Lanier (4-2, 3-1)
Playoff picture: Carver is currently tied for first place in the region with Pike Road. The two teams play next week at Cramton Bowl. A win this week guarantees a top two seed. Lanier has clinched a playoff bid but can move into the top two seeds with a win in this game and a win at Wetumpka next week.
Last week: Carver def. Wetumpka, 33-13; Lanier def. Stanhope Elmore, 41-17
Last year: : Lanier, 12-6 (Win later forfeited)
Series: Tied, 25-25
Key stats: Counting the forfeit win from last year, Carver has won two straight in the series but has won just once on the field in the last seven tries… Lanier has won four straight but none of the wins came against a team with a winning record.
The skinny: Carver and Lanier have enjoyed a good rivalry over the years, even if many of the games did not have playoff implications. But this year the playoffs are a big part of the story. Carver is in position to win its first region title since 2014. Lanier can sneak into a shot at the region championship with a win this week and next and a Carver win over Pike Road. (tiebreakers would decide the winner). The way these two teams have played this season, anything is possible. Carver has one loss, none outside the confines of the state. But the Wolverines were bailed out by a holding call in what would have been a loss to hapless Robert E. Lee. Lanier has a loss to Jeff Davis. Granted Lee and JD are 7A teams but Carver and Lanier are better. The ongoing description of the Poets has been how scrappy they are. They don’t score a lot of points but don’t allow too many either. They have the best running back in the city in Tacaris Bozeman but their passing game leaves much to be desired. Carver has its own star at running back in Antonio Trone, who has allowed the Wolverines to be less predictable than in past years. This game very well could come down to which back has the most success. In the end, the winner will be decided by which defense decides to show up. Carver did last week against Wetumpka. If they show up this week, they will win a close game. That’s the prediction.
PREDICTION: Carver, 24-21
PIKE ROAD at STANHOPE ELMORE (6A-R2)
Friday at Foshee-Henderson Stadium
2022 Records: PRHS (5-2, 4-0), SE (1-6, 1-3)
Playoff picture: Pike Road. is currently tied for first place in the region with Carver.The two teams play next week at Cramton Bowl. Stanhope Elmore is eliminated from playoff contention.
Last week: Lanier def. Stanhope Elmore, 41-17; Pike Road def. Russell Co., 40-7
Last meeting: First meeting
Key Stats: Stanhope gave up nearly 300 yards passing in the loss to Lanier. Pike Road QB Kaleb Foster had two TD passes in the win last week.
The skinny: Any expectation of a Stanhope Elmore upset has been laid to rest the last few weeks. Against the top teams in the region, the Mustangs are 0-3, but the average margin of loss was five points before last week when Lanier won by 24. Pike Road has scored 92 points in the last two games while giving up a total of 15. The Mustangs are playing for pride while the Patriots are playing to stay in the race for a region title. But they might be wise to not take SE for granted. No, this is not a precursor to an upset. But fans still wait for the Mustangs to play that one game that everyone is has been expecting. Does that happen this week? Probably not…
PREDICTION: Pike Road, 37- 13
TRINITY at PRATTVILLE CHRISTIAN (3A-R3)
Friday at PCA Field
2022 Records: TPS (6-2, 3-1), PCA (3-4. 1-3)
Playoff picture: Trinity has clinched the No. 2 seed in the region. PCA must win out and have ACA lose its remaining two region games (Greensboro and Southside-Selma) to make the playoffs.
Last week: St. James def. Trinity, 37-21; ACA def. PCA., 40-7
Last meeting: First meeting
Key Numbers: PCA has faced two Capital City Conference teams and scored a total of seven points… Walker McClinton passed for one TD and ran for another in the Wildcats loss last week.
The skinny: PCA would love to establish itself as a team to be reckoned with in the River Region. But since joining the AHSAA, it has been unable to get much of a foothold in football. In their 11th year in the league, they have yet to win a region title or finish above .500. Norman Dean is the sixth coach the program has hired since the switch. While the Panthers have matched their win total of last year, a win over a private school power would be huge for the future of this team. But that is asking too much. Trinity might be smarting from last week’s loss to rival St. James, but they have too much of everything for the Panthers to pull off the upset.
PREDICTION: Trinity, 42-7
KEY GAMES
Prattville at R.E. Lee (Thur) (7A-R2) – Lee has looked a little better lately but not enough to beat the Lions. Prattville, 27-7.
Montgomery Academy at Slocomb (4A-R2) - After a four-game losing streak, the Eagles suddenly find themselves in a must-win situation for the playoffs. A win and they are in. A loss - out. The Eagles are better than Slocomb but that’s no guarantee. They find a way and take a close one. MA, 29-24.
Catholic at Dale County (4A-R2) -A warmup before next week’s gargantuan game against Andalusia Catholic, 55-8.
Shelby County at Marbury (5A-R3) -It might come down to tiebreakers but the Bulldogs need a win to stay in the playoff conversation.… Marbury, 25-21.
Chambers Academy at Macon East (AA-R1) - Last week’s loss to Edgewood might still be on the minds of the Knights. But it would be a good idea to concentrate on the team at hand. It might not matter. Chambers has been solid and can clinch the region title with a win. But Macon East can pull into a tie with a win. Knights battle but come up short. CA, 30-24.
THE REST
Jeff Davis over Smiths Station (Sat.), 21-20; Russell Co over Park Crossing, 23-20; Tallassee over Sylacauga, 32-14; Alabama Christian over Greensboro, 48-19; Valley over Elmore County, 28-22; St. James over Sumter Central, 35-0; Demopolis over Holtville, 39-16; Verbena over Autaugaville, 25-21; Billingsley over Notasulga, 37-6; Glenwood over Autauga Academy, 28-20; Lowndes Academy over Lakeside, 35-12; Lee-Scott over Valiant Cross, 40-23; Edgewood Academy over Hooper Academy, 31-19; North River over Evangel Christian, 26-13.
OPEN: Wetumpka
RECORD: Last week 15-4; Season 117-38 (.755)