April 18, 2013

High school football preview, Part 2

By KURT DURYEA

CENTRE — My April 8 article provided a week 1-5 appetizer for area high school pigskin enthusiasts. Here's a look at weeks 6 through 10.


Week 6: The season's second half begins with two high-impact region games seven miles apart. In class 2A, Sand Rock hosts Fyffe. The Red Devils' Paul Benefield (200-48) and Sand Rock's Rusty Jacoway (216-123) know exactly what's at stake when these Region 7 foes collide, and Benefield has topped Jacoway 11 times in 14 meetings dating back to 1997. Meanwhile, across Highway 68 at Chad Hawkins Stadium, Collinsville will defend its turf against Cedar Bluff. The Panthers will be minus head coach Alan Beckett, who recently announced he was leaving for the same job at Winterboro. Securing a road win here could give Cedar Bluff's Jonathan McWhorter (62-24) a shot at back-to-back region titles.

Also in week 6 - Gaylesville at Jacksonville Christian, Spring Garden at Woodville, Westbrook Christian at Gaston, White Plains at Piedmont, Hokes Bluff at Cleburne County, Cherokee County at Lincoln and Boaz at Fort Payne


Week 7: Prepare for plenty of drama, but not a clear playoff picture. Collinsville at Spring Garden should be a good place for a cat fight. These two Panther teams have split their last six games, with Spring Garden averaging 29.2 points per contest versus Collinsville's 27.8 ppg.

Also in week 7 - Cedar Bluff at Donoho, Woodville at Gaylesville, Sand Rock at Westbrook Christian, Gaston at Fyffe, Susan Moore at Piedmont, Munford at Hokes Bluff, Anniston at Cherokee County, and Fort Payne at Columbia.


Week 8: Get ready, Warrior fans, for Cherokee County vs. Munford at Jacksonville State on Thursday night! Last year, former Warrior assistant Will Wagnon edged mentor Tripp Curry in their first-ever meeting. Two of Curry's former players and current Gamecocks, Coty Blanchard and Gabriel Chambers, should be able to watch the proceedings as JSU has the week off.

Also in week 8 - Gaylesville at Collinsville, Donoho at Spring Garden, West End at Sand Rock, Ider at Gaston, Piedmont at Saks, Hokes Bluff at Anniston and Brewer at Fort Payne.


Week 9: Region play comes to a conclusion with three games that could decide the fates of several area teams. In Class 3A Region 5 the question is whether or not Piedmont will conclude its fourth consecutive season of unblemished region play on the road at Walter Wellborn. At L.D. Bruce Field in Cedar Bluff, Spring Garden makes a house call. Over the years, the Panthers haven't fared well there. But coach Jason Howard hasn't forgotten the last victory the Garden garnered in 2007. Of course, neither has the Tigers Jonathan McWhorter. Cherokee County wraps the regular season at Hokes Bluff, and Warriors and Eagles fans would love nothing more than to see their squads in the mix for one of the four coveted playoff spots in Class 4 Region 5.

Also in week 9 - Collinsville at Valley Head, Donoho at Gaylesville, Sand Rock at Ider and Gaston at West End.

Week 10: Sand Rock finishes at Cedar Bluff. Last year the Tigers were able to hold off a last-second surge by the Wildcats and snap a three-game losing streak. Overall, the Bluff holds a hotly-contested series lead, 30-24.

Also in week 10 - Collinsville at White Plains, Gaylesville at Ohatchee, Talladega County Central at Spring Garden, Gaston at Pleasant Valley, Lincoln at Piedmont and Hokes Bluff at Westbrook Christian. Cherokee County is off.