The Lamar County Bulldogs can do their part at 7 p.m. Friday to set up a showdown for the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 2A, Region 7 championship when they play host to the Oakman Wildcats.
Lamar County (7-0, 5-0 region) is tied for first place in the region with Winston County (7-0, 5-0), which it plays its final region game next week.
Lamar County coach Ken Adams wants to make sure the Bulldogs don”t take anything for granted against Oakman (1-6, 1-4) to assure first place will be on the line against Winston County.
“We”ve got to focus on Oakman and try to get it to 8-0 heading to the last region game with Winston County,” Adams said. “Our guys have got to continue to do the little things. We”ve got to get better. We”ve got to get better each day. We”ve got to do those things. If you don”t, any team you play can put it on you.”
Oakman won its first game of the season this past Friday when it beat Cold Springs 6-0.
Last week, Lamar County rallied from a 14-13 halftime deficit to beat Addison 21-14.
The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 287-108 in their quest for an undefeated season.
“It”s a great group of people to work with,” Adams said. “Everyone works so well together. That”s the pleasing part of it. We”re all in it for the same reason.
“Talking about focus, it”s not hard to focus in this community and with this group of kids because they expect so much. We owe it to the people who come out and support these kids.”
n Berry at South Lamar: The Stallions will get a chance to do something no other team has accomplished this season when they play host to the Wildcats in a Class A, Region 7 game.
South Lamar (1-6, 1-5 region) will try to become the first team to beat Berry (7-0, 6-0) this season.
“Everybody is given a chance to win every week,” South Lamar coach Josh Harper said. “It”s not a game played on paper. We”ve just got to get it in our minds to play one play at a time. You can call it an upset or whatever, but these are still high school boys. We”ve got to line up one play at a time and play.”
Berry has outscored its opponents 331-53. The Wildcats have beaten Marion County 60-6, Meek 60-6, Akron 54-6, Hubbertville 28-7, Brilliant 55-7, Parrish 28-14, and Lynn 36-7.
“Berry is a good football team,” Harper said. “They”ve got a good running back (Terrance Hollingsworth). He”s well on his way if he”s not already past 1,000 yards. They do so many things well. They throw the ball and run the ball. They”ve got a quarterback (Jacob Kennedy) who”s a great decision-maker. You man up on their receivers and he”s a threat to run.
“Defensively they”re very aggressive and they flow to the ball very well.”
South Lamar beat Berry 47-26 last season, but has just nine players from last year”s team.
n Addison at Sulligent: The Blue Devils and Bulldogs have identical records as third place in Class 2A, Region 7 will be on the line.
Sulligent (4-3, 3-2 region) and Addison (4-3, 3-2) are tied for third in the region behind Lamar County and Winston County.
“That”s probably going to decide third and fourth place in the region,” Sulligent coach Dwight Bowling said. “You want to be as high up as you can. We know it”s an important game for us.”
Addison is coming a 21-14 loss to Lamar County after it led 14-13 at halftime.
“We know they”re a real solid football team,” Bowling said. “They had Vernon (Lamar County) beat until the last four minutes of the game. Winston County only beat them 7-0. We know they”re pretty good.”
Sulligent won 45-8 Monday at Falkville, which doesn”t leave the Blue Devils much time to prepare for Addison.
“I don”t think it will affect anything,” said Bowling, whose team had its highest-scoring game of the season against Falkville. “We should be ready to go.”
Sulligent guard and linebacker Tony Johnson (sprained ankle) played against Falkville after being listed as doubtful. The game was postponed three days because of rain, which gave Johnson”s ankle enough time to heal.
n Aliceville at West Blocton: The Yellow Jackets and Tigers also have identical records as they meet in a Class 3A, Region 4 game.
Aliceville (5-2, 4-1 region) and West Blocton (5-2, 4-1) are tied for second place in the region.
“It”s a very important game because of where we”ll finish up in the region,” Aliceville coach Robin Tyra said. “There”s a lot of implications riding on this game. We”re vying for better positioning in the playoffs.”
Aliceville will be without linebacker Jarvis Jones for the rest of the season after he broke his collarbone last Friday against Northside.
Tremaine Jackson will replace Jones.
n Pickens County at Vincent: The Tornadoes can clinch a share of first place in Class 2A, Region 4 when they play the Yellow Jackets.
Pickens County (7-0, 5-0 region) is a game ahead of American Christian and Fultondale in the region with two league games remaining. The Tornadoes have already beaten American Christian and play Fultondale next week.
Vincent (5-2, 3-2) will try to keep its playoff hopes alive.
n Pickens Academy at Clarke Prep: After winning their first Alabama Independent Schools Association Class 2A West game last week, the Pirates will attempt to continue to climb the division standings when they play Clarke Prep.
A victory would help Pickens Academy (4-3, 1-3 division) move a half game ahead of Clarke Prep (3-4, 2-3) in the division.
“We”ve know for quite a while we”d be battling for third or fourth place in the division,” Pickens Academy coach Sam Pearson said. “We knew it would be a playoff atmosphere each week. We know if they beat us they”re going to go (to the playoffs) instead of us. I haven”t had any trouble getting the kids focused on that. They know what”s at stake.”
Pickens Academy offensive lineman Brad Lowery has been nursing a sprained ankle, but he is expected to play Friday.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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