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| Region Champs will host Hubbertville in Round 1 |
The Flame enter the game as a #1 seed for the first time in the schools ten year football history. The Lions are a #4 seed that finished the season 7-3 as did the Flame. Difference is - Shoals Christian only lost 1 region game while the Lions were 4-3 in region play. The teams are similiar in how they win. They both boast a high scoring offense. Hubbertville scoring 35.1 per game while the Flame score 38.5 per game. Difference is, even though the Flame aren't known for stingy defense (25.3 ppg) the Lions give up 30 points per game. The two teams have 3 common opponents. Both schools lost to Lynn. The Flame lost in the season opener 20-7 while the Lions lost at mid-season 42-13. Both schools beat Vina and Phillips handily as the Flame win by a combined 65 points and the Lions win by a combined 56 points. The two teams have never played each other.
The game could be closer than a typical #1 vs #4 matchup as the Lions are a good team. Shoals Christians only region loss is the a #4 seed in RA Hubbard. The balanced attack of run vs pass by the Flame will cause problems for the Lions struggling defense, coupled with he home field advantage, it might be just the edge needed. Look for Shoals Christian to win by getting more stops than the Lions. Advantage - Shoals Christian by 11
2A
Red Bay Tigers vs LaFayette Bulldogs
The Tigers were 2 quarters from a perfet 10-0 season. They ended their year by being outscored in the last two quarters they played. Not the way most want to end - however, sometimes that might be just the ending to spark a little extra hunger as the playoffs begin. The Tigers have dominated on both offense and defense this season. Outscoring opponents by a margin of over 16 ppg. Although the Bulldogs are good they will probably get the same treatment as most everyone that has visited Red Bay...A good ole-fashion whoopin! Advantage - Red Bay Tigers by 15
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| Wildcat offense is tough to stop |
The #2 seeded Wildcats of Colbert Heights are less than 2 TD's from an undefeated season. Both losses came to strong teams, Red Bay and 3A Sheffield. They are an explosive offense averaging 31.3 ppg while limiting opponents to 18.3 ppg. Woodland brings a 6-4 record to the game. They score at the same pace as the Wildcats (32.6 ppg) but give up much more on defense (31.1 ppg). They have never met and have no common opponents this year, however, the tradition of Woodland is strong. They were in the State Championship game for 1A as recently as 2004 and 2006, and were Region Champs in 2007. Problem for them is that this is 2011. Colbert Heights has too many weapons. It will not be easy - but in the end look for the Wildcats to advance to the 2nd round. Advantage - Colbert Heights by 13
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| A good Lexington team might pull off the upset |
Reeltown holds all the tradition. 8 state championship game appearances with titles in 87, 01, and 09. They are 22-6 in first round playoff games. This is their first year NOT to win the region since 2007. They are currently 7-3 while outscoring opponents on average 30.6 to 14.4. One of their losses was to 4A undefeated Dadeville 21-13. All that sounds like a monumental task for Lexington who sits at 5-5 and averages 23 ppg on both offense and defense. A closer look reveals some cinks in the Rebel armour as well as some easilty overlooked details of the Golden Bears. The Rebels lost two region games including one to #4 seed LaFayette 30-29. They lost to region champ Lineville 34-14 just two weeks ago. Lexington lost only 2 region games as well. Both were to the teams seeded ahead of them and neither was a 20 point loss as was Reeltowns. The other three were to 4A Central, 3A Rogers, and 3A Region Champs LCHS. Last week they gave LCHS their toughest test of the year since the Rogers game. Lexington may be the best 5-5 team you will find. If they play defense like they did last week they might pull the upset. These teams aren't as far apart as they might seem at first. Possibly even a toss-up game. Advantage - Since they are at home - Reeltown by 4.
