Pictures, Pictures!

For many of the local teams the 2011 football season is now over.  For 13 of the teams the playoffs preparation has already begun.  We have posted many pictures on this site thusfar with more to come.  We post them in a small low-resolution format.  If you want to purchase any pictures or even ALL the pictures involving a certain team you can do so.  Simply "Add to Cart" the item you want and then type in the second box the team you want pictures of, the video, or the individual picture you want printed/enlarged.  These high resolution pictures can be enlarged for posters or cropped and zoomed nicely.  Remember the season with a CD of pictures!  Email any questions to preppreview@yahoo.com Thanks and good luck to the 13 playoffs teams this weekend!

Power Rankings Week 10 - End of Regular Season

Here are the final polls for the local teams.  10 weeks in all.  Some teams have disappeared while others have slowly climbed all season long.  9 of these 10 will continue playing into the playoffs in the week or possibly weeks to come.

1. Muscle Shoals Trojans

What a season!  Perfect in region play.  Beating Russellville and Deshler in non-region rivalry games.  Winning impressively almost every Friday night.  The combination a power running game with a very strong defense makes the excitement in Muscle Shoals sky high for the playoffs to begin.

      

 2. Lauderdale County

Improvment every week. Thats what a coach wants.  This team responded in impressive fashion after an embarrassing loss at Rogers.  The Tigers have dominated every game since then from start to finish.  This group has depth and experience.  Playoffs could  last a while!

3. Deshler Tigers

This team is young and talented.  They have beaten a lot of playoff bound teams this season.  They have beaten several of the teams ranked in this poll.  The offense is good.  The defense has improved throughout the year.  A healthy Tiger team can win some playoff games.  It will be interesting to see just how many.

4. Florence Falcons

Hard to rank them too high when they dont make the playoffs; however, this Falcon team can be extremely good at times.  They are the only team to beat Muscle Shoals - but the wear and tear of having to play tough teams every week took its toll.  The defense is incredible when motivated.  Many young talented players returning to build on next season.

5. Brooks Lions

The Lions win easily over Clements and can now focus on their home playoff game with Dora.  This Lion team has matured alot and will be a tough matchup for many teams.  They use their speed well and keep teams off balance with a variety of looks.  It has been an improved season over last year but this team wants more than just being in the playoffs.  Advancing is very likely.

6. Sheffield Bulldogs

What a season for first year Coach Hufstedler and the Bulldogs.  They have improved as a team and are able to end the season with a dramatic victory over 4A playoff-bound Central 27-20.  The defense is solid and the offense can strike from anywhere on the field.  Hosting a playoff game barely a year removed from a 10 game losing streak.  Thats improvement! 

7. Rogers Pirates

The defense looks to be back on track with a 35 - 0 shutout over a Wilson team that has scored nearly 20 all season regardless of the opponent.  This is a Senior heavy team that will be up for the challenge of the road test in round 1 of the playoffs.  The Pirates will visit a very good Hamilton team. 

8. Red Bay Tigers
Tough loss to Marion County 42-33.  Kept them from an unbeaten season.  Thats all.  They are still solid on offense and defense and will do well in the playoffs. They will host LaFayette this Friday in round 1.


9. Colbert Heights Wildcats

Back in the polls again.  this team is explosive offensively and will cause anybody a problem.  They have become a solid defensive team as well.  They win this week 26-6 over Colbert County and will host a playof game against Woodland this Friday. 

 10. Central Wildcats

Wildacts lost a heartbreaker to Sheffield 27-20 but this is still a good team that is playoff-bound.  The Wildcats have a great offense that make them a likely candidate to pull the first round upset in the playoffs.  Great seaosn for first year Coach Wood.

Lexington at Lauderdale County

Click here for all the pics from the game.

Pictures/Videos

Team Pictures CD $15.00 Team Video $7.00 Individual 8x10 $6.00

Trojans Trounce the Tigers!

Deshler comes into the game undefeated yet the Trojans treated them like they have all the region opponents this year.  They run all over them and shut them down defensively.  Rolling up nearly 250 yards rushing by halftime the Trojans were up 26-0 as they limited the Tigers rushing yards to 31. Not many times has Muscle Shoals been able to finish the game with 2nd and 3rd string players because they were so far ahead of Deshler.  Dee Liner had 10 tackles, Ethan Felton had 13.  Five different rushers had TD's as Dillon Gist led the way with 15 carries for 94 yards and a TD.  341 yards on the ground. The final was 39-14.  Total domination.  Both will host a playoff game next week.  Both should do well.  Coach Basden said "anytime you can beat a team like Deshler its good for your program." Tonight the Trojans looked like a team ready to play for several more weeks!

Click here for all the pics of the game.

Bulldogs Comeback!

Two very good high school football teams battled tonight for their last regular season game of the season.  Both are in the playoffs. Central went up 13-0 early in the 3rd quarter and looked to be in control when Charles Jackson got loose twice for a 75 and 20 yard TD runs to tie the score at 13 as the Wildcats blocked the extra point to keep it even.  Jametrius Smith scored to tie it at 20 and then made an interception to set up the winning score. Jackson this time from 35 yards out with 1:05 to play in the game as he finished with 189 yards rushing after the entire offense was held to 61 yards in the first half. What a come back.  What an exciting finish to a great regular season.

Click here to see all the pics from the game.

Game Preview: Muscle Shoals vs Deshler

How can a game mean nothing and yet mean so much all at the same time?   From a playoff perspective it means nothing.  Brackets are set.  Both are #1 seeds and will host opponents from far away.  Nothing will change that.  It would be tempting to rest any ailing players, keep everything vanilla, and just survive the weekend healthy and ready for the playoffs to start.  BUT the game also means everything in terms of bragging rights.  The claim to the best local team.  Pride.  These kids go to church together, grow up in adjacent towns and interact all the time.  Some are former teamates witht the others.  Played mini midgets together.  So many relationships between the two schools.  So many years of the Tigers beating the Trojans.  Last year was the first win for Muscle Shoals after 10 consecutive losses.  Winning back to back years hasn't happened for the Trojans since 1988-89.  The teams are ranked #1 and #2 locally.  They are the #1 and #2 ranked scoring teams in the area.  They have two of the top rushing teams as well as individual rushing leaders.  Deshler has not had a close game all year.  Muscle Shoals lost once to Florence and the rest were lopsided victories.  The one difference statistically is the defese.  The Trojans bring the top rated local defense allowing just over 8 points per game.  The Tigers allow just over 18.  This coupled with a home game for Muscle Shoals could give them the nod, but.....traditions die hard.  Tigers are accustomed to beating the Trojans.  Not this year - Advantage - Muscle Shoals.

Top Scoring Offenses

Region play is over...the playoff brackets are set.  Teams have all played through the gauntlet of their region opponents.  This means the statistics are a bit more equitable.  With the exception of class differences the teams have all played through their schedule of similiar sized schools.  Each school have one last rivalry game left before some will continue through the playoffs while others will hang up the cleats.  These are the teams that are averaging better than 30 points per game.

School          Points per Game

1. Deshler                 45.6
2. Muscle Shoals       41.9
3. Shoals Christian     41.0
4. Brooks                  40.1
5. Central                  37.0
6. LCHS                   35.1
7. Red Bay                31.6
8. RA Hubbard         30.9
9. Colbert Heights     30.8
10. Rogers                30.1

Deshler Tigers Video

Trojan Football Video

Players of the Week: Week 9

Standout performances bound as region play comes to an end.  These plays stepped up big and performed well as each of their teams were able to win.

GOLD - Cole Claunch
(Colbert Heights) - 23 of 32 passing with 4 TD's and 295 yards as the Wildcats win a pivotal region game over Lexington 34-21.
SILVER - Skyler Beck (Brooks) - 312 yards of total offense. 184 passing yds with 128 more rushing and a TD as the Lions win 52-14.
BRONZE - Beniquez Brown (Florence) - rushed for 201 yards and led the team in tackles as the Falcons come from behind to defeat Hazel Green 27-21

HONORABLE MENTION
Will Bishop (Shoals Christian) - 18 of 32 for 186 yds and a TD in leading the Flame to the region title
Hank Thigpen (Rogers) - 119 rushing yards and 2 TD's on only 6 carries as Pirates win 41-22
Samuel Grisham (LCHS) - 98 yds and 3 TD's in a 41-0 win
Dylan Guthire (Waterloo) - rushes for 182 yds and a TD in a 62-34 win
Dee Liner (Muscle Shoals) - 13 tackles, 1 sack on a defense that allowed -18 rushing yds in a win
Charles Jackson (Sheffield) - 184 yds rushing with 2 TD's as the Bulldogs win 27-6
Will Minor (Deshler) - 95 yards and 4 TD's as the Tigers go undefeated beating Wilson
Daniel Hayes (Central) - 121 yards rushing with 2 TD's on only 10 carries as Wildcats win 33-18
CJ Jackson (LCHS) - 133 yards on the ground with a TD as the Tigers win easily
Terrance Byrd (Deshler) - 151 yards and 2 TD's on only 9 carries in a 62-35 win
Eric Yarborough (Sheffield) - 124 yards rushing and 2 TD's in a region win
Bradley Darby (Waterloo) - piles up 162 rushing yds and a TD in a region win
Chandler Russ (Shoals Christian) - 134 rushing yds and a TD in a huge region win over Addison

Power Rankings - Week 9

With few upsets or surprises most teams performed as expected.  Here is the Top 10 for the local teams after 9 weeks!

1. Muscle Shoals Trojans

In a game that definately fit the billing of a "trap" game....the Trojans needed a half before getting cranked up.  In the end they were just as dominate as always winning 48 - 26.  Giving up 26 points is uncharacteristic...might be just whats needed to get refocused before playoffs and a rival game with Deshler this week.

2. Deshler Tigers

Not just undefeated...these Tigers are almost untested.  No game has been really in doubt late.  This week they will travel to Muscle Shoals which has only one loss.  Although the game means nothing to playoff standings....it has a lot of bragging rights and pride at stake as these are the Top 2 teams around this season. 

3. Florence Falcons
The Falcons show the dominate defense that garnered so much attention earlier in the season.  They completely shut down the Hazel Green defense in the second half and allowed the offense to come back for the win.  Although not in the playoffs Week 10 will bring a matchup with 5A rival Russellville.

4. Lauderdale County Tigers

No one has been as impressive since their loss to Rogers.  Each week they have dominated opponents on offense without flash and are now beginning to shut down opposing offenses as well.  With another shutout this week as the Tigers improve to 8-1 and prepare to face 2A Region runner-up Lexington.

5. Red Bay Tigers

A perfect 9-0.  These Tigers continue to punish opponents as they were 35-7 winners over Cherokee.  For the non-region week 10 matchup they will face Marion County and then prepare to host a playoff game in Red Bay for the first round.

6. Brooks Lions

The Lions continue to be explosive on offense as they score 52 points while limiting East Lawrence to 14.  The Lions will host a playoff game for the first round.  Before that, they will travel to Clements for the last regular season game. 

7. Rogers Pirates

The Pirates stay at #7 as they route Danville 41-22.  The Pirates only have losses to Sheffield and Brooks this season.  In week 10 they will travel to 4A Wilson who has given a lot of teams trouble this season.  They will have to be sharp to escape with another win.

8. Sheffield Bulldogs
The Bulldogs beat West Morgan 27-6.  What a great season.  Week 10 will bring an exciting matchup between two ranked teams from different classes.  4A playoff bound Central will visit 3A Sheffield.  Should make for an interesting game.  A win should move them up in the polls .....for either team.

9. Russellville Golden Tigers

The offense stepped up into high gear...as did the defese. The Tigers were 54-6 winners over Columbia.  This team will be in the playoffs but must face Florence for week 10.  Tough matchup, but definately a great workout before the "2nd" season begins.

                           10. Central Wildcats

Wildacts beat Ardmore 33-18.  This offense has been tough for anyone to stop all season long.  A tough test awaits them in Sheffield next week.  Win or lose the Wildcats are playoff bound and will be on the road in round 1 but are capable of pulling the upset and advancing.