Power Rankings: Week 5

Big changes at the top!  In a week when most teams step away from region play we get to see some cross-classification match-ups that really show what a team is made of.  Some upsets and surprises have made for a lot of changes in the polls this week.  See how your teams position changed.

1. Florence Falcons

 After losing back to back weeks the Falcons knock of the Trojans at home.  Although other teams in the polls have less losses than Florence, the Falcons have competed and beat teams that few others here can play with.  Their defense is solid and the offense is starting to produce better.  Watch out!

2. Muscle Shoals Trojans

For the first time this season the Trojans were beaten.  They fought valiantly against a strong Florence team, but were unable to come up with the plays to come back and defeat the Falcons.  Coach Basdens team earned valuable big game experience and will only get better from having played a good team.

3.  Deshler Tigers

5 games into the season the Tigers are one of the few remaining local teams yet to taste defeat.  They are young, they are improving, and are in total control of the region.  It will be interesting to see how this team develops and prepares for the playoffs...not to mention a week ten match-up with Muscle Shoals.  Could be another great game!

4. Rogers Pirates

Can anybody score on these guys?  Here they are, a 3A program that is ranked 4th in the polls.  They not only have a great defense but the offense is beginning to move the ball on the ground and through the air.  They control their own destiny as far as another region championship is concerned.

5. Lauderdale County Tigers

Total domination.  Very impressive week five win over rival Brooks.  If you take out the loss to Rogers, this team has been as impressive as anyone all year long.  The running game is incredible and it doesn't seem to matter who runs the ball.  The offensive line controls things and because of that they are 4-1. 

6. Russellville Golden Tigers
Tough loss to Walker drops the Tigers in the polls.  At times this team has looked very good, but because of such a tough schedule, there is very little room for mistake.  This team finds itself in the unfamiliar position of looking up at the leaders in the region standings.
7. Red Bay Tigers

Win.  This team continues to do it.  Early it was more with impressive defense.  Now it is just impressive overall play.  The Tigers are in control of their region and have even gone up in class to win its non-region games.  They are 5-0 and seem to be gaining momentum.  This week they will travel to a tough defensive team at Hatton.

8. Sheffield Bulldogs

With a win over the high powered offense of Colbert Heights the Bulldogs climb a spot in the polls.  They remain unbeaten in the region and with Elkmont, Lauderdale County, and Rogers in the next three weeks Coach Hufstedlers team will find out how good they really are...which right now seems to be pretty good!

9. Brooks Lions

After a tough loss to Lauderdale County the Lions fall several positions in the rankings.  This week the Lions will travel to Wilson and resume region play.  Look for Coach Hill and staff to have the Lions back on track.  They still have a great opportunity to not only make the playoffs but to host the first round.  Expect the Lions to learn and move forward.

10. Central Wildcats
The Wildcats rolled up 62 points in beating a winless Butler team.  Its always good to get another win after losing.  Thats exactly what Coach Wood wanted to see.  The Wildcats will have an important game at West Limestone this week as West is undefeated in region play.  Last year Central won in double OT.  Should be another good one.

Florence holds off the Trojans!

Click photo to see
all the game pictures

Doss to Green for a Falcon TD!

What a battle at Braly Stadium.  The Florence Falcons were able to score early, force turnovers, and hold on defense enough to secure a 27 - 21 win.  The victory for Florence improves their record to 3-2 on the year while the Trojans lose for the first time.  The scoring started early for the Falcons as Kendrick Doss leads the Falcons first two possessions down the field with a mixture of passes to JJ Green and handoffs to Beniquez Brown to take an early 14-0 lead.
Both drives were continued by Florence converting on 4th down in the red zone by either a play or a Trojan penalty.   Muscle Shoals was unable to gain a first down during this time.  Things were looking bleak for the Trojans when Jake Montgomery took a reverse handoff on a 3rd and 13  from 61 yards out for the touchdown.  Chase Craig slipped in for a 2 pt conversion to cut the lead to 14 - 8.  More importantly it changed the momentum in the game which had belonged to Florence.  On the next ensuing possession the Falcons were finally stopped by penalties and Levi Fell making plays in the secondary.  The Trojans then drove the ball 75 yards in 9 plays and scored when Ryan Wear punched it in from 7 yards out to take a 15-14 halftime lead.  The momentum continued for Muscle Shoals when their defense forced a 3 and out to start the second half.  Then as Muscle Shoals is driving and breaks open for a long run the Falcon safety Kivon Coman strips the ball loose AND recovers the fumble.  4 plays later Doss connects with Green for a 57 yard touchdown and the Falcons were back on top 20-15.  Muscle Shoals went back to work and was aided by more Falcon penalties until another fumble was forced.  Coman forced another fumble inside the red zone on 4th and 7.  Florence started on their own 4 yard line.  Doss scrambles for 14 yards, Brown runs for 35, Green catches another pass...12 plays later it is 1st and goal at the Trojan 9 yard line.  On 4th and goal from the 2 yard line the Falcons try to seal the game by going for it and the Trojans Kilpatrick and Triplett make the play and force the turnover on downs.  End of the 3rd quarter - Florence 20 - Muscle Shoals 15. 
7 plays later Kivon Coman forces his third fumble of the night and again recovers it, this time at the Muscle Shoals 36.  On the first play Doss scrambles for a TD putting the Falcons in control with 8:51 to play in the game.  Muscle Shoals used just over 3 minutes and 9 plays to cut the score to 27 - 22 on a 2 yd TD run by Devan Sullivan.  Then the Trojan defense held the Falcons to three plays and a punt setting up a chance to drive for the win; however, a 53 yard punt by the Falcons forced the Trojan to set up 74 yards away with 3:22 to operate.  The game rested on the Falcon defense.  They stopped the Trojans in 4 plays after two consecutive offensive penalties and took over on downs.  ballgame.  Plenty of excitement.  Plenty of great standout performances. Congratulations Florence Falcons 27 - 22 winners!

Trojans make a goal line stand!

Lauderdale County at Brooks

Click to see all the pictures from the Lauderdale County/ Brooks game!

Tigers pounce on the Lions 49 - 26!

Lexington at Rogers

Click to see all the game pictures!

Rogers Wins 28 - 0!

Game Preview: Lexington at Rogers

Pirate defense makes things difficult

A matchup between two schools just a few miles down the road from one another.  Plenty of friends and relatives that know each other, go to church together, and played little league together.  But Friday night there will be very little love between these two schools.  It will be a battle for bragging rights.  Lexington opened the season with two tough losses but have entered the top 10 defenses in scoring for the area this week.  They are the only team that has allowed fewer points each game this season than the one before.  Thats improvement.  Rogers has played fantastic this season with the exception of 2 quarters.  One of those cost them a ballgame while the other ALMOST did.  Other than that they have moved the ball both on the ground and through the air and have a defense that has absolutely stiffled opponents.  Lexington and Rogers are both good teams but Rogers ability to score will be the difference.  Look for them to move the ball better than the Golden Bears.  Advantage - Rogers Pirates

Game Preview: Lauderdale County at Brooks

For the 39th time in their history the Tigers from Lauderdale County will play the Brooks Lions.  The series is almost even with Brooks holding a couple of games edge.  This year might be a perfect summary of that rival.  Both teams are good.  Both teams can score a lot of points.  The Lions are averaging 36.8 points per game for the second highest total in the area.  Lauderdale County is 7th with 27.3 ppg.  Brooks tends to throw the ball a bit more than Lauderdale County, as they average the 2nd most passing yards per game in the area, while the Tigers have a top 5 rushing team for the area.  Both teams boast several individual weapons.  Defensive player of the week, Vic Gilbert, for the Tigers is joined by a host of players like Jake Newton, Samuel Grisham, and CJ Jackson who have all been recognized for their individual performances.  Brooks has players like CLint Prestage, Skylar Beck, Cody Butler, and Dallas Mitchell who have made big plays and must be factored into a game plan.  Both teams offensive lines have been recognized as "players of the week" for their outstanding games.  In the end - it should be a great game - Advantage goes to the home team - Brooks.

Game Preview: Muscle Shoals at Florence

 

Will Devan Sullivan break a long TD run?

 


Will Beniquez Brown be too tough for the Trojans to bring down?



Finally.  The game many have waited four weeks to see.  The Trojans and the Falcons.  Two teams on the rise.  Building a strong tradition and posting impressive wins the past few years.  Muscle Shoals brings the highest scoring offense and stingiest defenses statistically into the game; however, the Falcons have played much stronger competition.  With the exception of last weeks aberration...the Falcons have looked like one the the strongest defenses in the state.  They too do not give up many points per game.  Muscle Shoals runs for huge gains and has out rushed opponents by over 200 yards per game.  The Falcons tend to throw the ball for much of its offensive yardage.  Big time talent resides on both sides of the ball for both teams.  Truly it has the making for one of the better games between local teams in quite some time.  Florence is tough and physical.  Muscle Shoals has not played anyone nearly as good as the Falcons are.  Then again, the Falcons may not have played a team with the offensive firepower, speed, athleticism and skill that the Trojans possess.  Before last week Florence looked to possibly have the edge.  Losing to Huntsville exposed some weaknesses but also may have motivated the Falcons to play even better this week.  They might have been anxious for it a week too early.  Who knows.  Either way it should be a fantastic high school football game that looks more like a small college contest!  Finally...the year of the Trojans.  Look for a couple of really big plays to make the difference.  Advantage - showing they are for real - Muscle Shoals!

The Falcons have played the toughest competition



The Trojans have a 40+ point avg winning margin!













Top Scoring Defenses

These teams do not give up many points.  Through four weeks these teams are a combined  33 - 11 on the year.  The top 2 teams have not given up more than 9 points in any single game.  And each of them have played some relatively high scoring offenses.  Other teams are consistently getting better.  Lexington has given up less points each week.  Here are the Top 10:

School                            Pts per Game
1. Muscle Shoals                    5

2. Hatton                                7

3. Sheffield                             10

4. Florence                             13.3
5. Deshler                               13.5
6. RA Hubbard                       14
7. Red Bay                             14.8
8. Rogers                               15.3
9. Lauderdale County             16.8
10. Colbert Heights                20.5                    
10. Lexington                         20.5

Defensive Player of the Week: Week 4

Too many times it is easy to get caught up in the numbers and statistics that the skilled position players post on offense.  But...everybody knows that it takes a good defense to win.  Sometimes a defensive player has some numbers to show they did well, other times they can simply point to the fact that their team won and the other teams offense was stopped.  Either way - these guys did an excellent job and stood out last week on the defensive side of the ball!

GOLD - Vic Gilbert (LCHS) -
 Led the Tigers with 10 tackles including an interception.  Stopped Elkmont after falling behind and limited them to 14 points.

SILVER - Josh Ricks (Sheffield) - Led his team in tackles with 15 and held Clements to 6 points as the Bulldogs remain unbeaten in region play.

BRONZE - Chris Roulette (Muscle Shoals) - 1 blocked punt, 1 fumble recovery inside the 1, and 6 tackles as the Trojans win easily

HONORABLE MENTION

Ben Floyd, Deshler

 Rock Slaughter,Muscle Shoals

 Skylar Beck, Brooks

 Henry Garcia, Russellville

 Cody Butler, Brooks

Top Scoring Offenses

Some teams score alot - that means plenty of pushups!



 The following ten schools have the highest scoring average through 4 games this season. 

SCHOOL                          PTS per GAME

1.  Muscle Shoals                      51.5

2. Brooks                                  36.8

3. Colbert Heights                     35.3

4. Deshler                                  33.8

5. Red Bay                                30.3

6. RA Hubbard                         28.5

7. Lauderdale County                27.3

8. Central                                  27

8. Rogers                                  27

10. Russellville                           26

The Lions seem to have no problems putting big numbers on the board!

Players of the Week - Week 4

GOLD - Hunter Childers (Red Bay) - rushed for 198 yards on 8 carries, ran 2 TD's and threw for 1 more in 35-14 win over Lamar County

SILVER - Austin Kerr (Rogers) - 177 yards on 20 carries and 3 TD's in a 36-29 win.

Bronze - Chandler Russ (Shoals Christian) - 4 TD's on 241 yards on 14 carries as the Flame win 59-37

Honorable Mention
Tyler Grigsby (Rogers) - 7 of 10 passing for 157 yards and 2 TD's leading a come from behind victory
Skylar Beck (Brooks) - 9 of 12 passing for 152 yards and a TD in a win over Central
Kelby Hallmark (Tharptown) - Threw for 231 yards and 2 TD's in a loss
Devan Sullivan (Muscle Shoals) - 109 yards rushing on 6 carries and 3 TD's
Vic Gilbert (LCHS) - 10 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception in a region win
Edgar Bahena (Tharptown) - 7 receptions for 171 yards in a loss to Shoals Christian
Samuel Grisham (LCHS) 154 yards on 24 attempts in a win
Tyler Boyd (Russellville) - 115 yards on 17 carries in a loss to East Limestone
Bryson Smith (Colbert Heights) - rushed for 60 yds and a TD and caught for 97 yds and TD in a win 28-21
Justin Cantrell (Deshler) - QB throws for 142 yards on 6 of 7 passing and 3 TD's in 2nd quarter
Kendrick Doss (Florence) - completed 22 of 33 passes wiht 2 TD's and 216 yards in a loss
Cody Stevens (Rogers) - 6 receptions for 149 yards and a TD in a win
Peyton Davis (Lexington) - 108 yds rushing with three TD's in a region win
Murphy Harrison (Central) - 108 yds on 8 carries in a loss to Brooks
Cole Claunch (Colbert Heights) - led team from behind to win with 13 of 16 passing for 160 yds
CJ Jackson (LCHS) - sparked a come from behind win with 141 yards on 9 carries
Chris Roulette (Muscle Shoals) - 6 tackles, 1 blocked punt, and a fumble recovery inside the 1
Reagan Carpenter (Hatton) - 109 rushing yds and 136 passing yds in a win over Phil Campbell