Lee-Scott prepares for AISA’s top team

When preparing to face a two-time defending state champion and preseason No. 1, game-planning is essential.

But Lee-Scott and head coach Robert Maddox have a bit of a problem — they really don’t know what to expect from Bessemer Academy when the two square off Friday night in Auburn at 7 p.m.

Lee-Scott and Bessemer are no strangers, as the two face off on a yearly basis. The Rebels have flat out dominated LSA since 2004, outscoring the Warriors, 175-7, including three consecutive shutouts by 37 points or more.

However, Bessemer starts the 2008 season with a new head coach and without several key players from last year’s 13-0 state-championship team.

“We really don’t know what to expect from them,” Maddox said. “We know they’ve got a really good quarterback and some good wide receivers to throw to. We also know their offensive line averages about 265 (pounds) while ours goes about 185.

“They’re still loaded with athletes — we just don’t know how they’re going to use them this year.

“So we’re preparing for everything.”

Bessemer has been the team to beat in the AISA the past several years. And many predict the Rebels to be just as good in 2008, despite some of the new faces on the field and on the sideline.

Garrett Pinciotti returns as one of the top quarterbacks, not just in the AISA, but the state. He also has one of the state’s top running backs behind him in Jeremy Cox, who rushed for 2,213 yards and 29 touchdowns last season.

Bessemer also has one of the state’s top defenders back in Harris Gaston, a player who already has an offer from Auburn, among others.

“Everyone in the AISA will be pulling for Lee-Scott this Friday,” Maddox said. “But, to be honest, Bessemer is a team that has already arrived.

“We’re a team that’s up-and-coming, and I don’t know if we’ve arrived yet. I don’t know if we’ll arrive tomorrow, Friday night or later in the season. But I do know that we’ve got a chance to be good, and we’ve got a chance to compete — and that’s all we can really ask for.”

Lee-Scott returns eight players on offense with most doubling on defense as well.

Among those back is junior running back Sam Cowles, who rushed for 295 total yards in LSA’s final two games of 2007.

The Warriors also have quarterback Trey Moreman back to guide the offense, along with experienced players Forrest Buckner (RB), Shane Corbett (WR) and a host of seniors up front.

A big plus for LSA has been its health as the team enters the season at full strength — an area that continually haunts Maddox with a squad thin with numbers.

“We’ve been fortunate to come out of the summer healthy,” Maddox said. “We haven’t hit as much in practice because we’re concerned with the health.

“But all we can do now is just get ready to play Bessemer and see what happens.”

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