RedZone: Challenging road to repeat awaits Sweet Water

How in the world can you be the reigning, defending, undisputed champions of Class 1A football and not be ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll? How can you have won 20 of your last 22 Class 1A contests and still be ranked No. 2 by the statewide media? The answer is simple and it has nothing to do with how good Sweet Water is or isn’t in 2018.

The answer is the Lanett Panthers: they of the 15-0 record and the 2017 Class 2A state championship. Lanett went 26-3 in its last two seasons in 2A and they drop to Class 1A this season. That’s only the headline of a larger story that will be told throughout Class 1A, specifically the southern regions.

If the Bulldogs are to defend their state title, they’ll need to run a gauntlet that begins in Region 1. That grouping includes Class 1A quarterfinalist and down-the-street rival Marengo High. Add to that an up-and-coming Millry squad that gave Isabella all it wanted in last season’s state playoffs and top it off with a St. Luke’s team that was 10-2 and a Class 2A quarterfinalist last season. That’s a team that hung 570 points a season ago. The non-region slate will open with traditional rival Thomasville (3A), which is going for its 10th straight win against the Bulldogs. SWHS will travel to Mississippi to face Scott Central in the middle of the season before a home tilt with Choctaw County to end September. The scheduled contests end Nov. 2 with Class 3A Pike County. Sweet Water has plenty to get through in the regular season.

But then the second season starts. Class 1A South also includes perennial powers Georgiana, Brantley, Elba (down from 2A), Isabella, Linden, Maplesville and Wadley. There’s an argument to be made that 11 of the best 15 teams in the classification are all in Regions 1-4.

So what do you do if you’re the Bulldogs? You go to work. That’s what the culture of Sweet Water football is: work. Pat Thompson’s Blue Collar Bulldogs don’t have the names so many have come to know but they have no shortage of experienced players.

For instance, Jacory Brown will certainly have his chance to be the proverbial bell cow of the offensive backfield. He had 819 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns last season. But he’ll also feature prominently on defense where he had 65 tackles, 23 TFLs and eight sacks a season ago.

Then there’s Jah’Darius McIntosh. He lit is up from his linebacker spot in 2017, finishing with 98 tackles, 22 TFLs, five sacks and two interceptions while also starting on the offensive line. Then there’s Willie Lewis. He had 73 tackles including 25 in the backfield and seven sacks. Sasha Smith picked off five passes in the secondary. That group will be only a part of the on-field and off-field leadership core for the team that looks to repeat as state champions. Also at the center of that effort figures to be the Broussard brothers. Younger brother Braiden profiles as the team’s starting quarterback, having drawn rave reviews from summer scrimmage foes who tout his toughness. Chance will play tight end on the offense and somewhere along the line on the defensive side.

So while Sweet Water may not be the incumbent No. 1 as the reigning state champion, it still sounds like a bad bet to pick anyone else.