AISA-Class 2A: Area schools kick off Region play Friday

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series previewing this week’s Friday night high school football games. Today: AISA-Class 2A. Thursday: Class 2A-5A. Friday: Class 6A.

Depth is always a concern for Lee-Scott and head coach Robert Maddox.

With small numbers forcing players to go both ways, one injury to a key player is typically devastating.

And as the Warriors prepare for their AISA Class 3A-Region 1 opener, they will be forced to be without one key senior.

In last week’s 38-0 loss to top-ranked Bessemer Academy, running back/ linebacker Forrest Buckner went down with a broken leg.
According to Maddox, Buckner is expected to be out 4-6 weeks.

But a player going down doesn’t put a stop to the season, and Lee-Scott will have to move on.

And moving on means preparing for Taylor Road, a team that also lost in Week 1, 27-12, to Tuscaloosa Academy.

No.2 Fort Dale (1-0) at No. 8 Glenwood (1-0)
Glenwood moved from No. 10 to No. 8 in the latest ASWA poll.

The Gators will get a chance to test that ranking out when they host the state’s second-ranked AISA team, Fort Dale. Last week, Glenwood took out Marengo Academy, 33-21.

Senior Arthur Williams, a Middle Tennessee commitment, rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, and caught three passes for 40 yards with a touchdown as the Gators racked up 315 total yards.

But that was against Marengo — Fort Dale will pose a much stiffer challenge.

Fort Dale is coming off a 48-6 win in Week 1 over Prattville Christian.

Springwood (1-1) at Evangel (1-0)
Springwood will finally get to play someone in its own classification.

The past two weeks the Wildcats have faced Class 1A teams, going 1-1 with a win over Chambers and a 10-0 loss last Friday against Ashford. Springwood’s opponent Friday, Evangel, is coming of a 26-0 win over SMCA.

Coosa Valley (0-1) at Lyman Ward (0-1)
Lyman Ward came up short last Friday in head coach Sheldon Ward’s debut.

The Rangers dropped a nail-biter to non-Region foe Open Door, 22-20.

Lyman Ward will now open AISA Class 1A-Region 1 play against a Coosa Valley team that dropped a 48-20 decision to South Choctaw.

Class 2A
Francis Marion (0-1) at Reeltown (0-1)
It’s likely Reeltown head coach Jackie O’Neal has made a point to his team that freebies to an opponent can no longer continue.

Last week the Rebels committed six turnovers and also hurt their chances with penalties and mental mistakes in a stunning, 15-6, loss to Dadeville.

But despite the loss, Reeltown will have to bounce back as Class 2A-Region 3 play opens up.

The Rebels will host Francis Marion, a team that fell to Hale County last week, 39-13.

Despite Reeltown’s struggles last Friday, O’Neal said he has no plans to change his lineup or scheme.

ICSGA
Golden Acres (N/A) at Ballard (3-0)
Ballard is definitely on a roll in its first year with a football team.

Playing in the eight-man Independent Christian Schools of Georgia and Alabama league, the Eagles have been racking up the points — and the wins.

Following last week’s 60-26 win over LaFayette Christian, Ballard has now outscored its three opponents, 170-54. 

This week Ballard hosts Golden Acres — the same team the Eagles opened the season with.