Staff Report
(Sept. 3, 2010)

The first week of the high school football season provided a few surprises, a few upsets and a few games that went down to the wire. It sets up the first week of regional play for all teams in the AHSAA. Teams in the AISA already have (in some cases) two games under their belt.

This week, rivalries are renewed when Stanhope Elmore plays host to Prattville and Montgomery Academy faces Montgomery Catholic as the two teams are back in the same class and region for the first time since 2007.

Each week, River Region Sports will break down the top matchups of the week and pick a winner in all games involving teams from the area.

Week 2

Friday’s top matchups

Game of the Week 2
Prattville at Stanhope Elmore (7 p.m., Foshee-Henderson Stadium)
Radio/TV:NETAL.com (click)/WMRK 107.9 FM
Last year: Prattville 7, Stanhope Elmore 6
Last week: Prattville 48, Blount 6; Stanhope 10, Thompson 7 (OT)
Series Record: Prattville leads, 21-8-1
2010 Records: Prattville 1-0; Stanhope 1-0
Key stat: Derrick Moncrief had two interceptions in Prattville’s win over Blount… Ryan Callicot’s interception in overtime set up Stanhope’s winning field goal.
Outlook: Both teams are breaking in new players at key positions which made last week’s victories bigger than normal. This game came down to a missed field goal last season. The Mustangs were this close to breaking an 11-game losing streak to the Lions, only to watch the chip-shot field goal sail wide. They try again to stop what is now a 12-game losing streak. But to no avail.

Prediction: Prattville 21, Stanhope 15

Jeff Davis vs G.W. Carver (7 p.m., Cramton Bowl)
Radio/TV: NETAL.com (click to watch)
Last year: Carver 39, Jeff Davis 6
Last week: Carver 55, Opelika 34; Dothan 27, Jeff Davis 6
Series Record: Jeff Davis leads 33-8
2010 Records: Carver 1-0; Jeff Davis 0-1
Key stat: Jeremy Johnson passed for 242 yards and four touchdowns in Carver’s win over Opelika; Doug Brown’s pass to Odarius Williams was the lone score for the Vols in last week’s loss.
Outlook: In one week’s time, the Carver Wolverines look like a juggernaut after pummeling Opelika. It’s no secret Carver is talented but the win proved to be more than expected. Jeff Davis will not pose as much of a problem offensively but the Vols had their moments before running out of gas against Dothan. This should be a mismatch but city rivalries usually produce a surprise or two… just not this time.

Prediction: Carver 34, Jeff Davis 9

R.E. Lee at Wetumpka (7 p.m., Hohenberg Stadium)
TV/Radio: WAPZ AM 1250
Last year: Wetumpka 7, Lee 0
Last week: Wetumpka 28, Greenville 20; Pleasant Grove 10, Lee 0
Series record: Wetumpka leads, 4-0
2010 Records: Wetumpka 1-0; Lee 0-1
Key stat: Jamal Golden’s 46-yard touchdown run was the key in Wetumpka’s come-from-behind win over Greenville. Lee managed just 76 yards in total offense in the loss to Pleasant Grove.
Outlook: Wetumka’s win over Greenville may not sound like much, considering the Tigers are in Class 5A, but think back to last year when the Indians were smarting after the season opener, losing to Demopolis. Last week, the Indians had its problems but looked strong when they needed a big play, provided as usual by Golden. Lee, on the other hand, looked flat and out of sorts in its loss to 5A Pleasant Grove. The Generals did a decent job defensively but were unable to take advantage of five turnovers. It sets up for an easy Wetumpka win, right? Let’s just call it a win.

Prediction: Wetumpka 16, Lee 7

Montgomery Academy at Montgomery Catholic (7 p.m., Knights Field)
Radio: None
Last year: MA 14, Catholic 9
Last week: Houston Aca 27, MA 24; Catholic 21, St. Jude 14 (OT)
Series record: MA leads, 26-12-1
2010 Records: MA 0-1; Catholic 1-0
Key stat: Montgomery Academy has won 12 of the last 13 meetings. Catholic’s only win in the stretch was in 2008 (13-0).
Outlook: Montgomery Academy proved it could score points last week, despite a young offense. Catholic proved it had resolve after a hard-fought win over St. Jude. The Knights have a few more veteran players, which will be the difference.

Prediction: Catholic 20, MA 17

Tallassee at Charles Henderson (7 p.m., Memorial Stadium)
Radio/Web: NETAL.com (click to watch) or TallasseetimesTV.com
Last year: Tallassee 31, Charles Henderson 20
Last week: Tallassee 19, Benjamin Russell 17; Charles Henderson 27, Beauregard 12
Series record: Charles Henderson leads, 5-4
2010 Records: Tallassee 1-0, Ch. Henderson 1-0
Key stat: The Tigers lost two key players in their backfield last week when both Morgan Faulkner and Michael Henderson went down with injuries. Their status for Friday was not known at press time.
Outlook: Tallassee is still looking for its first win at Memorial Stadium since the Tigers joined Charles Henderson in region play. The Tigers may have one of the best kept secrets in the River Region in quarterback Trey Cochran-Gill. He will be the key, especially if the injured backs are out for this one.

Prediction: Tallassee 28, C. Henderson 20

Also…
Alabama Christian at Andalusia
– Tough start for the Eagles last week. It doesn’t get any easier in a trip south to Covington County. Andalusia, 24-21

Clarke County at Trinity – Nice comeback win for the Wildcats over St. James a week ago. Now the fun begins in one of the toughest regions in Class 3A. Trinity, 24-21

Macon-East at Pike Liberal – Knights struggled in loss last week. It gets worse this week. Pike Liberal, 38-10

Leeds at Marbury – Bulldogs have one of the toughest schedules in the River Region, starting with the state’s top 3A team. Leeds, 26-12.

Prattville Christian at Morgan Academy - It’s Old Guard vs. the newcomers. The Panthers earned a ranking this week from the state’s sportswriters. They keep it with a big road win. PCA, 28-27.

Also this week…
Autaugaville over John Essex, 21-14; Munford over Holtville, 27-23; Straughn over St. James, 23-21; Talladega Co. Central over St. Jude 19-18; Lincoln over Elmore Co., 23-19; Billingsley over Isabella, 21-20; Edgewood Academy over Flint Christian, 55-3; Bessemer Academy over Hooper Academy, 34-22; Cornerstone Christian over Autauga Academy, 20-15

Last week 13-7; Season 13-7