Friday Night Preview: Oct. 4, 2013
While Marengo High will get its week six game out of the way Thursday night, the county’s other six squads are set to get back into action Friday. All six of those teams will be competing in region contests including an intra-county rivalry that will go a long way in deciding the outcome of Class 1A, Region 1.
A.L. Johnson (4-1) vs. Linden (3-2)
The Eagles have not beaten Linden since 2004. To put that into perspective, the Eagles’ rather sizable junior class was in the second grade at that time. Since that 12-8 victory in 2004, ALJ has scored just 23 points against the Patriots while surrendering 400. And the Pats have tallied 358 of those points in the Andro Williams ear, which began in 2007. In short, the Eagles are due. They are due to find the end zone against Linden for the first time since 2008 and they are due to restore some luster to the rivalry. But beyond all of that, ALJ needs this one for playoff consideration. ALJ is 2-1 in region play, currently sitting in the fourth spot in the standings. Linden is one of two region teams at 3-0 and must pull this one out to keep itself tied for the top spot.
Demopolis (4-1) vs. Greenville (2-3)
Demopolis appears to have gotten itself back on track after a week three loss to Saraland. The Tigers have went on the road to beat Selma and then thumped rival Thomasville last week. But week six will be no easier for Demopolis as it welcomes in a Greenville squad that has dropped three games to opponents with a combined record of 13-2. Greenville presents itself an athletic team with a dominant defensive front that DHS coach Tom Causey believes is the best such unit his team will face this season. Demopolis is 9-5 all-time against Greenville and has won four of the last six meetings between the schools. It is also the first time DHS has hosted this game since 2010, a night that saw a 44-34 Demopolis win.
Sweet Water (3-2) vs. Flomaton (3-2)
Sweet Water coach Stacy Luker considers no team in his region to be a pushover. And he shouldn’t. The Hurricanes will enter Friday’s contest with a 3-2 record, having just beaten Jay (Fla.) and previously managed to hang with Mobile Christian. But Flomaton is walking into a contest with what should be a very angry Bulldog team. Sweet Water rallied from a 21-0 deficit last week to nearly pull out a win against Maplesville, only to let a late touchdown spoil the effort. That left Sweet Water with a sour taste in its mouth. Flomaton will be formidable, but look for SWHS to take out some frustrations and hone a few things in view of next week’s showdown at Washington County.
Marengo Academy (5-0) @ Meadowview Christian (0-5)
The Longhorns are the county’s only unbeaten team, a feat they have achieved while dominating their competition thus far this season. The narrowest margin of victory for MA has been a 22-point win over Wilcox Academy last week. Conversely, Meadowview is 0-5. In short, this one will not be pretty and it should not be close. MA will look to get up big early and throw it into cruise control in view of resting its starters for next week’s region showdown with fellow unbeaten Pickens Academy.
John Essex (0-5) @ J.U. Blacksher (0-5)
It has become less about winning and more about persevering for the John Essex Hornets. With only about a dozen players on the squad, Essex has been tasked every week with just finishing each game and, ultimately, the season. No player on the Essex squad wants the embarrassment of forfeiting the campaign as the squad did a season ago. So the focus now is just to finish. But if the Hornets are to snag a win this year, the best chance comes Friday night against J.U. Blacksher. The Hornets’ issues are not related to talent as much as they are depth. If Essex can make a few plays, then pulling out a win in Uriah is entirely plausible.