New chapter, same story in Linden, Maplesville playoff rivalry

LINDEN — For the third time in four years, the quarterfinals in Class 1A will feature a clash between Linden (9-3) and Maplesville (12-0). The squads last met in 2011 when Linden downed the Red Devils 21-7.

“They’re smarter. They’ve got a quarterback that has been there starting for three year. He knows that offense. He’s the coach on the field for them,” Linden coach Andro Williams said of the difference between the 2011 MHS squad and the one third-year starting quarterback Colby Chambers will lead Friday night.

Chambers has helped lead Maplesville to 661 points on the season with the Red Devils’ closest margin of victory coming in a 27-24 non-region tilt against Sweet Water. The next closest contest for MHS was a 25-point trouncing of Autaugaville.

“They can attack you in the air. They can attack you on the ground. They’re always balanced,” Williams said. “Defensively they’re going to bring a lot of speed, quickness, athleticism. They’re going to be fast and they’re going to play physical.”

The Maplesville defense has allowed just 94 points on the year while pitching three shutouts. The Red Devils have accomplished that feat with a defense that often mixes fronts and stuffs the box.

“They’ll mix it up a little bit. They’ll be in a four-man front but it will look like a six-man front at times. They put a lot of people in the box. That’s what we’ve noticed on film,” Williams said.

Linden will look to counter with an offense that has helped the Patriots to 473 points and a defense that has three shutouts of its own.

Williams also noted that special teams play will be an integral part of any potential Patriot success Friday as Maplesville boasts a lethal return game.

“Special teams is going to be majorly important this time, more so than any other time. Those two returners they’ve got on punt return and kickoff return can go the distance any time,” Williams said.

While Maplesville is fresh off a 41-7 thumping of Geneva County, Linden enters off a 42-16 win over McKenzie.

“We’ve got to kill the silly penalties. We got some holding calls that stopped drives. But I was real proud of our team for having a little poise about them,” Williams said of a team that features a number of players in key spots who are still cutting their postseason teeth. “We’ve got to maintain our drives, put some drives together and maintain them.”

And while so many of the names on both sidelines are different, Williams knows that the key to the game between his team and that of Maplesville coach Brent Hubbert remains the same.

“This game is about ball control. We put a 16-play drive together last time we played them. We put a 17-play drive together last time we played them,” Williams said. “We know that is the kind of ball we’re going to play. Punting ain’t going to be bad for us. Punting is a positive play.”

Linden is scheduled to kick off at Maplesville Friday at 7 p.m.