Region Champs

1A - 5A has a local team that will be hosting the first round of the playoffs and can lay claim to the Regional Championship for 2011.  Each team arrived by virtue of different paths. In 5A and 4A it was apparent early in the season that Muscle Shoals and Deshler were the creme of the crop.  It would not be easy - but they were favored and expected to win in most games.  For the Trojans the title was its first since 1988.  A great accomplishment for this group of players and coaches.  For the Deshler Tigers it was the third consecutive title and the 19th since 1988.  Very different attitudes towards the accomplishment.  In 3A, the Lauderdale County Tigers looked to be in a lot of trouble after losing to Rogers, but after beating Brooks and Sheffield they find themselves winning the 3-way tie breaker to win their first title since 2004.  Red Bay claims the 2A championship, its first since 2007 and in 1A it is Shoals Christian for the first time since the school started its football program in 2002.  Whereas some teams have known for a few weeks, and others had to decipher tie-breakers - the Flame of Shoals Christian did it in the most exciting way.  They played head to head last night for the title.  Coach Odems boys won on the road to seal the championship.   Each of these will be playing week after next at home against a #4 seed.  Each will be favored and might get to play football for a few more weeks!

Colbert Heights Earns The Right To Play at Home

Click HERE to see all the pics from the game.

Rushing Leaders

The following are the top ten rushers per game so far this season. For those who may not have had the chance to see some of these runners in person - Sunday afternoon player is equated to the Friday night runner that has the most similar style or skill set.

Rank   Player    School          Yds/Game     NFL Comparision
1.  Will Minor      Deshler             141.9         Adrian Peterson
       - can do it all.  Has the ability to break tackles and then outrun the secondary.  Runs between tackles as well as getting the corner for big gains. A game changer.
2.  CJ Jackson     LCHS               141.6         Maurice Jones-Drew
       - power pack runner that hits the hole quick and explosively
3. Chandler Russ  Shoals Christian 132.8        Joseph Addai (from a few yrs ago)
       - on a team with the spread offense that requires teams to focus on the passing game....next thing you know he has killed you on the ground with 100+ every night
4.  Austin Kerr     Rogers               123.1       a younger Ladanian Tomlinson
      - runs, catches, even throws on occasion.  A touchdown machine that sees the ball in a lot of diffent places on the field.  Must be accounted for.
5.  Beniquez Brown  Florence         118.1      Darren McFadden
     - much bigger than the average running back but has tremendous speed as well.  Thought of as a power runner but often breaks long runs via "trucking" LB's then outruns smaller guys
6. Samuel Grisham   LCHS            103.8       Micheal Vick, Ronnie Brown
     - a QB that runs well...or a RB that lines up at QB.  Either way you look at it he is tough to stop and has had his share of impressive running games
7. Charles Jackson   Sheffield        99.4         Chris Johnson
     - often the most athletic player on the field and the fastest.  Chips away until he can break that long run.  A threat to score every time he touches it no matter what part of the field.
8.  Daniel Hayes       Central           98            Micheal Turner
      - the best runner on a running minded team.  Gets the tough yards and can be counted on each night to be the workhorse that keeps teams on their toes
9.  Clint Prestage      Brooks           92.5        Reggie Bush
     - fast and versatile.  Defense never knows where he will line up.  Is a threat from anywhere at any position from return, to receiver, to RB. 
10. Tyler Boyd        Russellville      89.8         Arian Foster
      - consistent runner with good speed that takes pressure off the passing game by keeping defenses honest.  Good speed and makes defenses play both run and pass or he beats them.

Game Preview: Muscle Shoals at Lee-Huntsville

Look for the Trojans to run past Lee

This game has some of the key ingredients of an upset.  1) It is the week after an exciting win as the Trojan locked up the Region Title.  Their first since 1988. Potential for a letdown.  2) It is the week before a huge rivalry game with Deshler. Potential to overlook. 3) The playoff position is determined and the game doesn't have an effect on seeding.  Potential for lack of motivation.   4) Lee has some individual athletes capable of making plays.  Potential to score by surprise. 5) Last year the Trojans won 44-7.  Lee hasn't won in the past 5 weeks.  Potential for overconfidence.  Yes - maybe the ingredients are there....but having ingredients and delivering the goods are two seperate things.  Potential and Actual performance can be two different things also.  Look for the Trojans to have the pride, talent, and the plan to punish the Generals.  This could be yet another Muscle Shoals game that is decided by halftime.  Maybe can see some of the future stars in the second half.  Advantage - a huge one - Muscle Shoals.

Title on the Line

Playing for a Regional Championship.  It's the scenario of which boys dream.  Some teams wrap it up early and it is almost anti-climatic when they actually win it officially.  Not the case for Shoals Christian.  Coach Patrick Odom and the Flame will have one Region game left.  It just so happens to be against the team in first place.  Addison.  The winner will be crowned the Region 8 Champions.  Addison enters the game undefeated at 8-0.  The Bulldogs are 17 times Region Champs, 3 times State Champs, and won last years game 34-17.  In fact the Flame have never defeated Addison.  SCA has never won a Region title.  There is a first for everything.  With Will Bishop and his plethora of capable receivers the offense is very balanced because the ground game led by Chandler Russ is solid.  If the defense can limit the Bulldog scoring it could allow for yet another exciting first in Shoals Christian football.  One game away...what more could a player ask for??

The Big 3

It is an often used phrase. Currently the Celtics have it. Formerly it was Aikman, Irvin, and Emmit Smith of the Dallas Cowboys. The Big 3 never means a lack of respect for the other players on the team but is a compliment to players that make such an impact they cannot be ignored. Such is the case on Colbert Mountain. This Friday Night in Lexington the Colbert Heights Wildcats and the Lexington Golden Bears will square off in a battle for 2nd place. Winner stays home in round 1 of the playoffs while the loser will be on the road. The Wildcats bring their High School Version of the Big 3; Cole Claunch, Bryson Smith, and Colby Spann. Quarterback Cole Claunch says "for us, just like any team, its important...no team wants to play on the road in the first round of the playoffs." Claunch is a big reason the Wildcats have this opportunity yet is quick to defer attention to his teammates. "My receivers deserve all the credit. Thay make me look good." Claunch leads all local QB's in TD's with 22 and yards with nearly 1500 in only 8 games. But individual honors are not what he wants. Neither is it the goal of all-around player Colby Spann. Spann is just as likely to catch a TD as he is to score on defense or special teams. In fact he says "I would rather run a punt back for a TD because it changes the game, gets the crowd in the game and your players get hyped up". Smith, who just last week scored three TD's in the win over Lamar County is a dual threat as well. All three though are quick to defer attention to the entire team. "The best part is playing in the pride and tradition the guys before me established and playing under all these great coaches" says Claunch. This Big 3 understands it is a team game and wants to make sure the TEAM does the best it can on Friday Night. Spann says "We've been working really hard and are ready to play them...I can't wait! "Claunch adds "I think we are ready to make a run and we got the guys and the coaches to do it." If they are able to beat Lexington count on these guys playing a major role. 

Blowout!

Want to see a good close game?  Don't go see these teams play!  If you want to see domination these are the teams to watch.  Some teams tout a high powered offense...others a stingy defense.  These teams combine both to produce the largest point differential in the area.  These teams usually win by the largest margins. 

Team                        Avg Margin of Victory
1. Muscle Shoals Trojans     34.6
2. Deshler Tigers                  27.2
3. Lauderdale County           22.4
4. Red Bay Tigers                 18
5. Shoals Christian                 17
6. Rogers Pirates                   15
7. Central Wildcats               13.5
8. Brooks Lions                    13

High Powered Offense

Here are the offenses that are scoring the most thru 8 games of the season:

1. Deshler                43.5
1. Shoals Christian   43.5

3. Muscle Shoals      41.1

4. Brooks                 38.6

5. Central                 37.5

6. LCHS                  34.4

7. Red Bay               31.1

8. Colbert Heights     30.4

 9. RA Hubbard         29.3

10. Rogers                  28.8



Region Standings for 5A and 4A

5A    Muscle Shoals has won their Region as have the Deshler Tigers.  But how do the rest of the teams shape up and who will they be playing? 

TEAM     Record    Rgn W/L  Rgn Game left
1.  Muscle Shoals    7-0       6-1     Lee-Huntsville
2. East Limestone    6-2       5-1    Athens
3. Athens                 4-4       4-2     East Limestone
4. Russellville          3-5       3-3     Columbia
4. J.O. Johnson        5-3       3-3     Lawrence Co.
The Trojans will be at home against the Region 5 4th place team.  This is according to the AHSAA and is different from years past.  This Region is the Birmingham area.  Currently fourth place is Shelby County and Pinson Valley.  They play each other Friday night.  Russellville needs to win and Hope Johnson loses.  If so they will be the #4 and will travel to Briarwood Christian. 

4A
4A has played a little less complicated barring any major upsets in Week 9.  Deshler will be at home against the Corner/Haleyville winner.  Brooks will be the #2 seed and will host Dora  while Central travels to Midfield.  Of course any major upsets in Region 5 could change that but dont expect any in this region.

Lockdown Defense

Some teams statistics look good early in the year due to a favorable early season schedule.  Other teams simply get better or worse as the year progresses.  This list is through all 8 games this season.  Each team has played enough games to give a good sampling of who does the best job of keeping the opponents off the scoreboard.

1.  6.6 ppg  Muscle Shoals Trojans - This team has 4 shutouts and has only given up more than a TD once all season long.  A total of 6 points have been scored on them in the last 3 weeks combined.    
 2.  12 ppg   Lauderdale County Tigers - The defense has tightened as the season has progressed.  The schedule is not easy yet they have only allowed 3 points in the past three weeks. 
3.  12.8 ppg  Sheffield Bulldogs - The Bulldogs have had two games won by goal line stands in the closing minutes.  Only twice all season has a team scored more than 14 pts.
4.  13.1 ppg  Red Bay Tigers - They have yet to shut a team out, but they are consistent.  The defense gives up less than 2 TD's and the offense always tops that - therefore a perfect 8-0!

5. 13.6 ppg  Rogers Pirates - After shutting out 3 of the first 5 opponents the defesne has been giving up a bit more.  However, even in the loss this week they only allowed 17 points.  Very solid.
6.  15.3 ppg  Hatton Hornets - Even though they were playing some strong offenses, no one scored more than 9 pts on them until Week 5.  Since then they haven't held anyone below 14. 
7.  16.3 ppg  Deshler Tigers - This defense is probably as good as it needs to be.  With a high scoring offense and most games over at halftime the points are often scored against 2nd teamers.  Starters don't give up many.
8. 16.6 ppg  RA Hubbard Chiefs - Feast or famine.  This D has given up as much as 42 pts but has also had shutouts and 6 and 8 point games as well.
9. 18.9 ppg  Florence Falcons - Not as stingy as they were early in the season.  This defense limited Bob Jones to 10 points but yielded 35 to Decatur.  Can be one of the best at times. 
10. 19.5 ppg Colbert Heights Wildcats - Not typically thought of as a defensive team because of the attention to the high-powered offense, but this past week the goal line stand allowed the offense to go win the game.

Region Standings at 8 Weeks

It couldn't be more intresting Friday Night when Hazel Green visits Florence. As it stands the Falcons are in fifth place because Hazel Green defeated Decatur. That means if Florence can beat Hazel Green then both teams along with Decatur (assuming they lose to Bob Jones next week) will be in a three way tie for 3rd and 4th place. The tie breaker would be head to head - but they all beat each other. Listed below is a copy of the official tie-breakers from the AHSAA

6A
Place  School        Overall    Region     Remaining Games
1      Bob Jones         8-0        6-0           Decatur
2      Decatur            4-4           4-2           Bob Jones
2      Hazel Green     6-2          4-2            Florence
2      Huntsville        5-3           4-2            Grissom
5      Florence           5-3           3-3            Hazel Green
5      Buckhorn         3-5           2-4            Sparkman
7      Grissom           1-7            1-5          Huntsville
8      Sparkman        0-8             0-6         Buckhorn

b)  If more than two teams are tied for any place, the team that defeated all the other tied teams  in the required regular season games will be placed ahead of all the other tied teams.
       If more than two teams are tied for any place and one of the teams did not defeat all the other tied teams, the tie cannot be resolved by this factor.        NOTE:  (applicable in b through p) If two teams tie for the highest winning percentage ahead of all the other teams involved in the tie, apply the two-team tiebreaking factors for those two teams, beginning with (a) and the highest-ranked team will be placed ahead of all tied teams. Then, if needed, for all other teams involved in the original tie, apply tiebreaker (a) if only two teams remain and (b) if more than two teams remain.
        

c)  If more than two teams are tied for any place, the team (or teams) that had the highest winning percentage against the No. 1 ranked team will be ranked ahead of all the other tied teams. If there is a three-way tie for first place, apply (f) and the remaining tiebreakers in the order as needed.
d) Apply (c) using percentage against the No. 2 ranked team.

e) Apply (c) using percentage against the No. 3 ranked team.

f)  Apply (c) using percentage against the No. 4 ranked team.

g) Apply (c) using percentage against the No. 5 ranked team.

h) Apply (c) using percentage against the No. 6 ranked team.

i)  Apply (c) using percentage against the No. 7 ranked team.

j) Apply (c) using percentage against the No. 8 ranked team.

k) The team with the best winning percentage against non-required common opponents.

l) The team whose defeated non-region opponents in class and above have the most victories if
    all teams involved in the tie play an equal number of games.

m) The team whose defeated opponents have the most victories if all teams involved in the tie
      play an equal number of games.

n)  The team whose defeated opponents have the most victories.

o) The team with the most victories if all teams involved in the tie play an equal number of
     games.

p) The team with the most victories.

q)  By flip of a coin.

Whew!  Get all that???  Bottom line - if Florence doesn't win the tie-breakers don't even come into play.  It is their only chance.

Player of the Week: Week 8

Plenty of players had standout performances this week.  Lots of impressive stats.  Some stepped up best when their team needed them the most in big region games. 

GOLD - Clint Prestage (Brooks) - 9 carries for 210 yds rushing with 3 TD's as Brooks earns home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a 48-18 win over West Limestone.
SILVER - Cole Claunch (Colbert Heights) - threw for 226 yards and 2 TD's and led his team on a 99 yard drive in the final minute as he scored a rushing TD to come from behind and win 25-21
BRONZE - Will Bishop (Shoals Christian) 15 of 20 passing for 296 yards and 4 TD's in leading the Flame to a 60-24 victory

HONORABLE MENTION
CJ Jackson (LCHS) - 217 yards rushing with 4 TD's in a 54-0 region win
Chandler Russ (Shoals Christian) rushed for 216 yards in a region win over Phillips
Austin Long (Hatton) 253 yards and 2 TD's in a tough region loss to Colbert Heights 25-21
Peyton Davis (Lexington) leads Golden Bears with 120 rushing yards and 2 TD's in a win
Deion Bonton (Brooks) - 13 carries for 127 yards and a TD
Matt Belue (Red Bay) 140 rushing yards with three TD's as Tigers win 41-19
Charles Jackson (Sheffield) - 146 rushing yards and 2 TD's as they beat Rogers 17-6
Beniquez Brown (Florence) - 77 yd TD run on offense, 32 yd int return for TD on defense
Daniel hayes (Central) 125 yds on 16 carries with 3 TD's in a win over Wilson
Cody Stevens (Rogers) 5 catches for 103 yards in a region loss to Sheffield
Justin Cantrell (Deshler) 6 of 10 passing for 137 yds and 2 TD in a 61-13 win
Kendrick Doss (Florence) 200 total yards of offnese in leading his team to a 48-27 win over Grissom
Corey Scott (Lexington) caught two TD's and made 2 interceptions in a 41-28 win
Tyler Boyd (Russellville) - 17 carries for 121 yards and a TD in a homecoming win