Shoals Christian vs Donoho

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Muscle Shoals vs Cullman

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Deshler vs Alexandria

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4A and 5A Playoff Previews

4A

A healthy Minor makes the difference!

Deshler Tigers vs Alexandria Valley Cubs
A 10-1 Deshler Tiger team will host the 2nd round of the playoffs Friday Night.  Maybe more important than being at home is the fact that the services of Will Minor should be available making the offense that averaged nearly 46 ppg that much more lethal once again.  Depth at RB was not a problem as Minor has more than capable substitutes but nothing can replace his senior experience.  Advancing this far in the playoffs is commonplace for the Tigers, but with this many young and new faces on the team it is quite a feat.  This team is good, but so is Alexandria.  The Valley cubs are 8-3 but have had trouble stopping teams on defense.  They score 38 ppg but are giving up over 31 ppg.  Even in last weeks win they allowed 41 points as the offense lit the scoreboard for 55.  The Tigers only allow 21 ppg.  The valley cubs expect to win as well.  They boast 3 state titles just like the Tigers.  Might be a high scoring contest but expect the Tigers to do more of it.  Advantage - Deshler Tigers by 3.

Dee Liner leads a solid defense!

5A
Muscle Shoals Trojans vs Cullman Bearcats
Wanna see some scoring? Make your way to Dennis Homan field Friday night and enjoy the fireworks.  These two teams scored a combined 109 points in their round 1 wins.  The Bearcats average 40 points but have allowed over 22 ppg.  They are 8-3 on the year losing to 6A Huntsville, undefeated Hartselle, and Fort Payne.  The Trojans will have their hands full.  Muscle Shoals averages an equally high 46.7 ppg but the difference is on defensive side.  The Trojans have allowed only 12 ppg.  Although the Trojans haven't experienced the playoff success of Cullman - the expectations are high.  They expect to advance.  Neither team is satisfied with being in Round 2.  Look for the home crowd to pull the home team through. if the defense plays as it did the first half of the season it might be easier - if not a battle.  Advantage - Muscle Shoals Trojans by 6

More Playoff Previews

3A
Lauderdale County Tigers vs Glencoe Yellow Jackets

Tiger defense punishes opponents!

The last time these two teams met many of the players parents weren't even in school yet.  Glencoe defeated LCHS 25-22 in 1973.  How much does that have to do with 2011.  None.  But the last six weeks have a lot to do with the outcome.  In the past six weeks the Tigers have given up a total of 9 points.  Three of the opponents were playoff teams.  During that span they have scored 221 points.  Can't imagine anyone statewide dominating teams like that over a similar period of time.  The Tigers defense is overpowering.  It is not just that they dont give up points....they dont allow yards either.  The offense is just as overpowering with three runners consistently closing in if not surpassing 100 yards each night.  The offensive line gets a push and the skilled players follow wisely.  Samuel Grisham makes great reads as to who needs the ball and is obviously more than capable of keeping it and hurting defenses himself.  So what about Glencoe?  They bring a 9-2 record into the game and they too have dominated opponents since October began.  No losses during that period and have limited the opposition to no more than 10 points in a gmae during that stretch.  They have outscored opponents on average by a score of 26-11 this season. But, it is doubtful that they have played anyone as strong as the Tigers since the game with Piedmont (which they lost 28-17).  Competing with Piedmont is a sign that they are for real; however, in the 1973 matchup the Yellow Jackets went on to win the state championship.  Who knows - this years winner may do the same.  Advantage - Lauderdale County Tigers by 4

Sheffield will need its runners to
 break free Friday Night!

Sheffield Bulldogs at Piedmont Bulldogs

The boys from Sheffield will face their toughest challenge to date this Friday Night.  The Bulldogs from Piedmont bring a perfect record into the game.  They score 40+ points per game and allow just over 11 points per game.  In 2009 this school won the state championship.  Several current players were part of that team.   The Piedmont community has not seen many losses inthe past few years and expectations are sky high.  They have been ranked #1 in the state since Week 3.  Rankings don't win games but only very high quality teams get ranked that high.  This team is not happy to be in the second round.  They expect another championship.  Sheffield is on their way up.  No doubt.  They are experiencing success like hasn't been seen in a decade in this community.  The Sheffield Bulldogs bring an incredibly talented and physical defense into the game as well as an electric running game.  It will make for a game that is probably tougher than either team has played all season.  It wold be great if Sheffield pulls the upset.  It could happen.  But if forced to make a pick one would have to say that the Advantage goes to Piedmont - but not by much. 

Rogers Pirates at Saks Wildcats

It is a long drive to Anniston, Alabama from Greenhill.  Don't count on any of the Pirates players or coaches minding too much.  Better to travel than be sitting at home.  After a tiebreaking 3rd place finish the Hamilton Aggies posed a tough challenge.  One 35-21 win later the Pirates have gained some of the swagger they had from earlier in the season.  This is a defense that has only allowed 15 ppg this season and has been able to put almost 35 ppg on the board.  This is an experienced team that is well coached.  The expectations are high in Greenhill and the Pirates might just get to play another week.  Saks is 1-3 in the last 4 games.  They limped into the playoffs on a 3 game losing skid.  The defense starting giving up points and the scoring was limited as they were completely shut out in week 10.  They too know about tiebreakers as they were in a three way tie for 2nd in the region.  They too lost out.  They ended up fourth but apparently got things back on track last week as they knocked off #1 seeded Sardis 34-14.  It will be a challenge - but if the Pirates play as they have many times this season they will survive - Advantage - Rogers Pirates by 2

Round 2 Previews

1A
Shoals Christian Flame vs Donoho Falcons

For the third time in school history the Flame advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs.  Shoals Christian also will be playing Donoho for the third time in school history.  The Flame beat the Falcons 50-20 in 2005.  Donoho advances for the 4th time in its 30+ years of football history.  The Flame enter the game via a 55-20 thrashing of Hubbertville.  Behind the passing of Will Bishop and the running of Chandler Russ the Flame offense has been difficult to stop.  Donoho  brings a 10-1 record into the game with their only loss being at the hands of Ragland by the score of 46-13.  The Falcons defense has only allowed more than 8 points in a game twice all year.  They are only allowing 9 points per game.  The Flame are 8-3 and will get to play at home again where they have not lost since week 1 to Lynn.  It should be a tough test for the Flame.  Similar to the Addison and Hackleburg games in which they came out on top.  Look for a similar result - Advantage Shoals Christian by 5. 

2A
Red Bay Tigers at Fultondale Wildcats
The Tigers will face a tough opponent on the road Friday Night.  Fultondale is averaging over over 47 points per game.  They won last week on the road as a #3 seed beating North Sand Mountain 26 - 21.  They also played Tanner closer than anyone else losing 24 - 7 which is by far the fewest points by Tanner all season.  Red Bay bounced back from a Week 10 loss to squeeze out a home win in round 1 28-26.  The Tigers will have a similar challenge this week on the road.  The Wildcats boast a strong defense as do the Tigers.  Red Bay has defeated some good teams this year like Sheffield, Colbert Heights, and Lexington.  If they can get that dominate running game in gear as it was for most of the season they may find themselves advancing to the quarterfinals for only the fifth time.  Fultondale is 0-3 in Round 2.  Look for it to go to 0-4 ...Advantage - Red Bay Tigers by 3. 

Round 1 Highlights

Here were some of the BESTS from Friday Night.....

Best Rushing Performance - Austin Kerr of Rogers goes for 274 yards against a very good Hamilton team
Best Rushing Team - LCHS has three runners with 2 TD's each for a total of 417 yards on the ground
Best Start to a game - Sheffield scoring three TD's in the 1st quarter
Best Finish to a game - Muscle Shoals outscores opponents 37-6 in the second half
Best Defensive game - LCHS holds opponents to 5 yds in 1st half and 6 total pts
Best Performance in a loss - Murphy Harrison rushes for 168 yards
Best Overcoming Injuries - Deshler wins 33-10 without Will Minor as Terrance Byrd rushes for 108 yds and 3 TD's
Best Secondary - Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, and Shoals Christian all coming away with 2 interceptions

Best Special Teams - Shoals Christian Devan Traglia with a 68 yards punt return for a TD
Best Ending - Red Bay holds on by recovering an onside kick late to win 28-26
Most Dominating Performance - LCHS both offensively and defensively winning 42-6
Most Impressive Class - Region 8 Class 3A as all 4 teams win.  LCHS, Sheffield at home and Rogers, Elkmont both on the road as Region 5 is eliminated.

Players of the Week - Playoffs Round 1

GOLD- Austin Kerr (Rogers) - 274 rushing yards and 3 TD's in a 35-21 win over Hamilton
SILVER -Matt Belue (Red Bay) rushed for 203 yards and 3 TD's as Tigers hold on to win 28-26
BRONZE - Tyler Jackson (Muscle Shoals) - 190 yards on 10 carries and 2 TD's in a come from behind win over Chelsea 51-27

HONORABLE MENTION
Samuel Grisham (LCHS) - 131 rushing yards on 7 carries with 2 TD's and 2-3 passing in leading the Tigers to a 42-42-6 victory
Hunter Danley (Sheffield) - connecting on TD passes of 16, 39, and 40 yards as he leads the Bulldogs to a 38-14 win
Chandler Russ (Shoals Christian) - 184 yds on the ground with TD's of 26, 34, and 48 yards
Terrance Byrd (Deshler) - 108 yards and 3 TD's on 18 carries in a 33-10 victory
Tyler Boyd (Russellville) - 126 yards rushing on 18 carries in a 30-7 loss to Center Point
Murphy Harrison (Central) - 168 yards on 12 carries in a 42-34 loss
Devan Traglia (Shoals Christian) - Caught a 38 and 43 yd TD pass and ran a 62 yd punt return for a TD
Vic Gilbert (LCHS) - led the Tiger defense with 10 tackles and led a defense that held opponents to 4 yards in the first half and 6 points for the game