Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of stories previewing Friday night’s matchups. Today: 3A-5A.
It’s just like Beulah head coach Steve White said before last Friday’s matchup: “Clay County is Clay County.”
The Panthers, the No. 5 team in the state and owners of 19 straight playoff appearances, went into Bobcat Stadium and out-bigged, out-physicaled, out-everythinged the Bobcats in a 46-0 win.
Now, Beulah gets No. 6 Handley.
The hits just keep on coming.
“We’re asking our players to play hard, continue to fight, stay in the ballgame and do the best you can do,” assistant coach Casey Chambley said. “Just weather the storm. That’s what we’re asking them to do.”
The Tigers, a Class 4A state semifinalist last year, lost a Division-I prospect in Ladarious Phillips — “Da Da” to Auburn University fans — but return three fully capable backs in his place.
Chambley said they don’t just look like Alabama in their maroon uniforms. They run like them, too.
“They’re almost like you’re watching some team from the 1980s,” he said. “They line up in the Wishbone, the Power-I and run it right at you.”
Valley at Carroll-Ozark
With the Rams in the midst of a seven-game stretch that includes Rehobeth, Caroll-Ozark, Lanett, BTW and Russell County — teams that are a combined 1-9 this season — coach Mike McCombs realizes that Valley is probably one of the best teams Valley will face in the meat of its schedule.
That’s why he’s spending these weeks focusing more on his team and less on the opponent, so the Rams will be better suited for the Tallassees, Eufaulas, Smiths Stations and Charles Hendersons of the world.
“We’re going to be very physical and try to make progress in practice,” McCombs said. “We’ve got to get better each week. You’re either going to get better or get worse. You’re not going to stay the same.”
Valley breezed to a 45-12 victory against Rehobeth last week, one in which most of its starters got to spend the second half doing anything but playing.
Quarterback Erique Florence, for instance, put in a leisurely 7-of-9 for 132 yards and two scores passing to go along with eight rushes for 162 yards and another touchdown, all before the halftime buzzer.
“He’s throwing the ball well and making really good decisions,” McCombs said. “He hasn’t even really come close to throwing a pick yet.”
dmorrison@oanow.com | 737-2568
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