Many unbeaten teams square off to decide Alabama region titles this week

Unbeaten matchups include Brantley vs. McKenzie, Handley vs. Leeds, Jackson vs. Thomasville and Fairview vs. North Jackson.

By
Oct 20, 2010, 5:04pm
For high school football fans in Alabama, week nine of the prep football schedule can’t get much better.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association went to region play in all six classifications for football in 2000, and now 10 years later, the result has featured drama as few have seen in the regular season. The five-week playoff season that begins Nov. 5 actually gets underway for many schools in weeks eight and nine.

The reason is simple. Each region basically has seven counter games in the 10-week regular season. Those games fall on weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in all regions and in weeks 1 and 5 in regions with more than eight teams. That means region races have come down to the final week of region play for the past decade.

This weekend’s key battles are prime examples.

In several classifications, unbeaten teams square off with region titles on the line Friday night. And while both schools in each case have already clinched playoff berths, the region title means an important home-field advantage for the winner if the two teams meet again in the fourth round of the state playoffs.

Here's a look at these region contests that will settle region championships:

• CLASS 1A, REGION 2: Brantley (8-0) at McKenzie (8-0) – The Alabama Sports Writers Association’s top-ranked and defending state champion Bulldogs take on the sixth-ranked Eagles for the second straight year in this unique setting. Both teams look pretty much equal on the field with Brantley averaging 44.3 points per game and McKenzie averaging 48.6. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 354-39 on the year, a key factor that may be too much for McKenzie to overcome.

• CLASS 2A, REGION 5: Lineville (7-1) at Reeltown (Notasulga) (7-1) – The third-ranked host Rebels of coach Jackie O’Neal are the defending Class 2A state champions. Defense has been their main course with just 65 points allowed in the first eight games. That includes just 30 points in six region wins. The seventh-ranked Aggies are also 6-0. Coach Steve Giddens’ team will be the biggest test for O’Neal’s defense since a season-opening loss to Class 4A and still undefeated Dadeville.

• CLASS 3A, REGION 3: Handley (Roanoke) (8-0) at Leeds (8-0) – This contest features the ASWA’s top two ranked 3A teams at Leeds Memorial Stadium. The Green Wave won the 3A crown in 2008 and reached the semifinals in 2009. Over the last three years Leeds has compiled a 35-2 record. Handley, ranked second, was 13-1 last season while reaching the semifinals in Class 4A. A drop to Class 3A has meant a bigger and stronger Tigers team. Leeds, led by Auburn commitment Jonathan Rose at defensive back, has allowed just 33 points all season – best in Class 3A and third in the state overall (4.1 ppg). The offense is averaging 38.6 points per game offensively. Handley is averaging 43.8 ppg but has yielded 13.3 ppg. Look for this contest to be another defensive battle – much like Leeds’ 3-0 win over region foe Clay County earlier in the season.

• CLASS 4A, REGION 1: Jackson (8-0) at Thomasville (8-0) – This game has all of west Alabama abuzz with excitement. Both Clarke County rivals came up just short in bids for state titles. The visiting Aggies of coach Jeff Kelly are ranked No. 1 in Class 4A with one of the most dominating offensive and defensive lines in any classification. Jackson is averaging 40.9 points per game and Thomasville, located just 20 miles north on U.S. Highway 43, is scoring 44.3 points per game.

• CLASS 4A, REGION 3: Beauregard (Opelika) (7-1) at Dadeville (8-0) – Both teams come in at 6-0 in Region 4. The host Tigers are ranked sixth in Class 4A with 32.3 points per game. Beauregard is averaging 33.9 after dropping from 5A to 4A this season.

• CLASS 4A, REGION 7: Fairview (Cullman) (8-0) at North Jackson (Stevenson) (8-0) — The third-ranked Chiefs are ranked third in the state in scoring with 50.3 points per game. And playing at home in Stevenson has been a difficult place for most visitors for the past 20 years. Fairview, ranked seventh in the state, is scoring 40.3 points per game with one of the best spread offenses in the state. Still, cracking the Chiefs' end zone may prove too difficult in this game.

• CLASS 6A, REGION 1: Murphy (Mobile) (7-1) at Davidson (Mobile) (7-1) – The two Mobile city powers are 5-0 in Region 1. Both teams have struggled outside the region but are dominating region play. The Warriors of Fred Riley are one of the few 6A schools still relying on the option and power football. Running back Terrance Timmons bulled for 304 yards on 15 carries last week in a 35-28 win over Alma Bryant. He had touchdowns runs of 22, 23 and 65 yards.

• CLASS 6A, REGION 8: Decatur (8-0) at Bob Jones (Madison) (7-1) – The fourth-ranked host Patriots haven’t lost since dropping a season-opening game on the road at North Gwinnett, Ga. Third-ranked Decatur is averaging 34.1 points per game and Bob Jones, 36.8.

CLASH OF UNBEATENS DIDN'T DISAPPOINT
Cordova and Hamilton were each 7-0 last week when the two Class 3A juggernauts met at Hamilton in a game that would decide the Region 5 title. They ranked 1-2 in scoring in Class 3A and didn’t disappoint the crowd.

When the dust settled, the host Aggies (8-0) had won 47-43. Cordova (7-1), which has reached the 3A finals each of the last three seasons, got a superman performance from junior Cody Staten. He rushed for 293 yards on 22 carries and scored three times to up his season totals to 1,415 yards and 20 scores.

Hamilton’s sophomore quarterback Mitch Stults continued to woo college recruiters with his running and passing skills. He helped account for two touchdowns.

At Daphne, the second-ranked Trojans (8-0) beat Fairhope 28-14 to claim the Class 6A, Region 2 championship. In the process Coach Glenn Vickery was presented the 200th win of his coaching career.

MUSCLE SHOALS VOLLEYBALL COACH WINS 1,000TH MATCH 
Brenda Mayes, who has been the head volleyball and girls basketball coach at Muscle Shoals for the last 23 years, saw her team advance to the finals of the Colbert County volleyball tournament two weeks ago and to the 1,000th match win in school history under her direction in the process. The Lady Trojans went on to finish second in the Class 5A, Regional D tournament last weekend to up that total to 1,006 as Muscle Shoals moved into AHSAA sub-state play Thursday.

Mayes became just the sixth coach in state history to coach 1,000 match wins. The state leader is retired Hazel Green coach Glenda Wright (1,303-505), followed by retired McGill-Toolen coach Becky Dickinson (1,273-130). Active coaches in the 1,000-win club include Oak Mountain Coach Tammy Richardson, Montgomery Academy Coach Julie Sinclair and Bayside Academy Coach Ann Schilling.

Like Mayes, Richardson, Sinclair and Schilling have their schools all advancing to sub-state play this week.

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