Staff Report
(Nov. 13, 2009)

River Region Sports breaks down the "Super Six" games of the second round of the playoffs on Friday night with predictions of all games involving RRS teams plus a few bonus picks.

Friday’s Super 6

Central-Phenix City at Prattville, Stanley-Jensen Stadium, 7 p.m.
Radio/TV: FM 107.9
Last meeting: 1989 – Prattville 24, Central-PC 14 (2nd round)
Last week: Prattville 50, Dothan 13; Central 32, Stanhope Elmore 17
2009 Records: Prattville 9-2; Central 9-2
Key Stat: Central forced four turnovers in its win over Stanhope Elmore. Sam Gibson had three touchdown passes in Prattville’s win.
Outlook: To date, Central will be the best in-state team that Prattville has faced this season. The Red Devils feature the one-two punch of Deon Hill and Cordary Clark-Allen in the backfield. Hill had 170 yards and three TDs while Clark-Allen added 83 yards on the ground in last week’s win.  A formidable attack, Central must find a way to slow the Prattville offense, which has been more consistent since it’s near loss to Stanhope. This time, it’s the Lions’ offense that’s the difference.

Prediction: Prattville 28, Central-PC 20

Wetumpka at Auburn, Duck Samford Stadium, 7 p.m.
Radio/TV: AM 1250
Last meeting: 2008 playoffs –  Auburn 49, Wetumpka 21 (2nd Round)
Last week: Wetumpka 20, Enterprise 17; Auburn 30, R.E. Lee 6
2009 Records: Wetumpka 7-4; Auburn 11-0
Key Stat: Auburn quarterback Calvin Jenkins rushed for 87 yards and threw for 97 yards in the Tigers’ win over Lee. Running back Augustus Brooks added 120 yards rushing and two scores.
Outlook: The Indians seem to be on the same playoff path as last season, defeating Enterprise in the first round to set up a date with Auburn in the second. Last year, Auburn won easily on a night that Chad Anderson said his team was “flat.” Turnovers proved to be Wetumpka’s downfall in its loss to the Tigers last year. A near-perfect performance is needed if the Indians are to advance. That’s a tall order.

Prediction: Auburn 31, Wetumpka 23

G.W. Carver at Briarwood Christian, Lion’s Pride Stadium (Birmingham), 7 p.m.
Radio/TV: None
Last meeting: 2008 playoffs – Carver 21, Briarwood 13 (2nd Round)
Last week: Carver 34, John Carroll 7; Briarwood 39, Chilton Co 14
2009 Records: Carver 10-1; Briarwood 8-3
Key Stat: Briarwood quarterback Paul Barber threw for four TDs in the win over Chilton County. In the only common opponent, Carver’s Reggie Aaron also had a big night against the Tigers, throwing for 208 yards and two touchdowns back on Sept. 11.
Outlook: Another second-round rematch from 2008, Carver has turned the corner with a bruising running game to go along with Aaron’s ability to spread the field with his arm. The Wolverines, minus turnovers, are as good offensively as any team in Class 5A. That along with the secondary of London Pitts and Co. should be enough to beat  the Lions.

Prediction: Carver 29, Briarwood 24

Gordo at Trinity, Boykin Field, 7 p.m.
Radio/TV: None
Last meeting: 1999 – Trinity 6, Gordo 0
Last week: Trinity 42, Aliceville 6; Gordo 12, Montg. Academy 7
2009 Records: Gordo 7-4; Trinity 10-0
Key Stat: The Wildcats made quick work of Aliceville, scoring 21 points in the first five minutes. Quarterback Jack Poundstone had 220 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, despite playing under the weather.
Outlook: The Wildcats seem to be on a collision course with either Cordova or region rival Dadeville next week, although the Trinity coaching staff would scoff such talk with Gordo coming to town. But it’s doubtful the Green Wave have the needed firepower to score with Trinity. 

Prediction: Trinity 35, Gordo 14

St. Jude at Reeltown, Nix Webster Stadium, 7 p.m.
Radio/TV: None
Last meeting: Oct. 16 – Reeltown 22, St. Jude 0
Last week: St. Jude 36, Hale Co 34; Reeltown 33, Vincent 0
2009 Records: St. Jude 8-3; Reeltown 10-1
Key Stat: St. Jude has faced Reeltown a total of five times and has lost each meeting, scoring a total of 66 points.  The Rebels have seven shutouts in the last eight games this season.
Outlook: St. Jude struggled in the regular-season meeting with running back Noel Butler held in-check to the tune of 82 yards rushing or roughly half of his average. The Rebels feature seven, eight, sometimes nine backs in their arsenal and will go to the guy who is having the best night. Like last time, that will be too much for the Pirates to handle. St. Jude will score but not nearly enough to advance.

Prediction: Reeltown 29, St. Jude 6

Southern Academy at Edgewood Academy, Skinner Field, 7 p.m.
Radio/TV: AM 1410
Last meeting: 2002 – Southern Academy 31, Edgewood 28 (Semifinals)
Last week: Southern Aca 42, Lowndes Aca 0; Edgewood Aca 49, Pickens Aca 8
2009 Records: Southern Aca 10-1, Edgewood Aca 9-1
Key Stat: Edgewood has just three wins in 12 meetings against Southern Academy. In 2002, the last playoff matchup, the Wildcats were undefeated and seemingly on their way to the Class AA state title, only to be derailed by Southern, 31-28, in the semifinals.
Outlook: Southern seems to have its offense booming, having scored 40 or more points in the last four games. With Edgewood’s ability to put points on the board, that bodes for a high-scoring affair. Carr still remembers the last game against Southern vividly and has used it as a rally cry this week. Knowing that a trip to Troy next week should be more than enough to inspire the troops.

Prediction: Edgewood 34, Southern 28

Also…

Luverne at T.R. Miller – Despite the long tradition of both programs, this is their first meeting in the playoffs. Round 1 goes to the home team. T.R. Miller, 23-21.

Thomasville at UMS Wright – Thomasville got the win in the regular season but UMS gets the home-field advantage in this one thanks to the higher seed. It’s enough of an advantage to pick the Bulldogs. UMS Wright, 28-26.

Demopolis at Greenville - Greenville may not have to leave Butler County in the postseason (unless it reaches the finals), depending on the other half of the bracket. Greenville, 35-23.

Pike Liberal Arts at Morgan Academy - Last year’s champion faces AISA’s most decorated program. PLA gets a chance for the repeat. Pike Liberal, 31-21

Other games…

Fort Dale Academy over Bessemer Academy, 28-20; Crenshaw Christian over Coosa Valley, 28-23; Patrician over Cornerstone, 35-29; Hoover over Jess Lanier, 21-13; Vigor over Spanish Fort, 29-21; Jackson over Opp, 30-29; Cordova over Dadeville, 21-13.

Last week (13-3) Season (141-56, .716)