PREP CAPSULES: Schedule change at the Bowl greets new week
STAFF REPORT
The week starts with a schedule change.
Two games at Cramton Bowl have swapped dates. G.W. Carver and R.E. Lee were scheduled to play Thursday while Sidney Lanier was set to face Park Crossing on Friday.
The two games trade nights with Carver-Lee moving to Friday.
No reason for the change was published by the Montgomery Public Schools system.
There is also a Saturday game this week with Jeff Davis playing host to Smiths Station.
It’s all part of the Week 6 extravaganza with region play returning.
Lee and Carver highlight the schedule with both teams firmly in the running for a playoff spot and still very much alive for the region title.
Lanier has been a pleasant surprise with a 5-1 record. Park Crossing is returning to the field after an open date.
Other teams have key region games including both Wetumpka and Stanhope Elmore. Both need wins to keep pace in Class 6A, Region 3.
Capital City Conference teams continue to play well with two on the road (Alabama Christian and Trinity), two at home (Catholic and St. James) and Montgomery Academy taking the night off.
Pike Road, Tallassee, and Elmore County have key games in Class 5A.
Week 6
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
R.E. LEE vs. G.W. CARVER (6A/R2)
Friday at Cramton Bowl
Records: Lee (3-1, 0-2), Carver (3-2, 2-1)
Last week: Carver def. Jeff Davis, 28-6; Lee did not play
Last year: Carver, 201-5
Series: Lee leads, 34-22
Key Numbers: In the last four meetings, Lee’s margin of victory (in two wins) has been 32.5 points. Carver has won twice in the last four by an average of three points.
The skinny: By the time this game is played, Sidney Lanier will know where it stands in the region. Why bring the Poets into a Lee-Carver preview? Because all three teams seem to have a kinship this season. Lanier won over Lee three weeks ago to move into possibly finish no worse than second in the region. The Poets and Wolverines meet in two weeks. Assuming Lanier beats Park Crossing on Thursday (see below), that would make this game huge for both teams for different reasons. Lee needs a win Friday followed by a Carver win over Lanier. There are other particulars (like Eufaula) but a lot is at stake in this one. Last year’s meeting left a bad taste in the mouths of prep football fans in the city. The game was marred by a hit on a Carver player late in the third quarter which caused a fan to come out of the stands and berate officials, Lee players and coaches and a few Police officers. It was an ugly scene. It hyped up the Carver sideline and left Lee bewildered. Hopefully, there will be nothing like that in this one and the two teams can play as scheduled. Lee has shown a little more offensively but it has a lot of work to do if it shows up like it did against the Poets in a 20-6 loss. Generals get the nod in what might be a game that does down to the wire.
PREDICTION: LEE, 27-6
ENTERPRISE at PRATTVILLE (7A/R2)
Friday at Stanley Jensen Stadium
Records: Prattville (4-2, 1-1), Enterprise (5-1, 1-1)
Last week: Hoover def. Prattville, 35-16; Enterprise def. Fort Walton Beach, Fla , 64-29
Last year: Prattville, 35-28
Series: Prattville leads, 16-15
Key Numbers: The Lions’ EJ Ousley had 297 yards passing with a TD and an interception in last week’s loss to Hoover.
The skinny: If you are into high-scoring affairs, this one is for you. The Wildcats average well over 46 points per game while Prattville touches 27 points per game but that stat might be a bit understated considering the competition the Lions have faced. The potential is there for the total of this one to be in the 60s with the last team with the ball with the best chance to win. The Lions have been up and down defensively but it has come against the weaker competition. Enterprise has been somewhat salty, playing Central-Phenix City close two weeks ago in a nine-point loss. Ousley and company will need another big night in the passing department for Prattville to have a chance. The prediction here is they get it.
PREDICTION: PRATTVILLE, 33-30
TALLASSEE AT BEAUREGARD (5A/R4)
Friday at Hornet Stadium
Records: Tallassee (2-2, 1-1), Beauregard (2-4, 1-2)
Last week: Russell Co def. Beauregard, 42-21; Tallassee did not play
Last year: Tallassee, 57-20
Series: Tallassee leads, 16-13
Key stat: In the win against Elmore County, QB Tyler Ellis had 154 yards passing and 65 yards rushing. Jalyn Daniels had 255 yards and four TDs against Beauregard last year.
The skinny: Tallassee begins a string of three straight road games in region play on Friday. But at least the Tigers are playing. This time last year, they were battling the effects of COVID-19 having to forfeit games that left them out of the playoffs. It began after the win over the Hornets. Keeping the fingers crossed, Tallassee should be in good shape for the playoffs if the ball bounces the right way. It didn’t in a couple of early losses to Wetumpka and Sylacauga. The Tigers also lost a meeting with Pike Road because of a mutual agreement between the two schools to cancel the game. They’ve had an extra week to prepare. It should help.
PREDICTION: TALLASSEE, 28-21
CALERA at STANHOPE ELMORE (6A/R3)
Friday at Foshee-Henderson Field
Records: Calera (3-2, 1-1), SE (4-2, 2-1)
Last week: Calera def. Pell City, 56-21; SE def. Eufaula, 24-20
Last year: SE, 35-27
Series: SE leads, 3-0
Key stat: Jacob Bryant’s 57-yard TD pass to Jackson Thomas in the final seconds lifted the Mustangs to a come-from-behind win last week.
The skinny: If you are into comparative scores, Stanhope Elmore should beat Calera by a field goal. That’s based on the losses the two teams took against Pelham earlier in the season (SE lost, 14-13 and Calera lost, 34-30). But that’s not the way we do things around here. The concern is Calera brings a potent offense into Millbrook and can make like miserable on the SE defense. Undefeated Jackson-Olin is the only team to slow down the Eagles. Remove that game and they are averaging more than 33 points per game. The Mustangs have been a stingy bunch in region play and will need to play that way again this week to improve their playoff chances. In a wide-open region, any loss at this point puts the post season in peril. Give the home team a slight advantage but don’t be surprised if this one gets out of hand the other way.
PREDICTION: STANHOPE ELMORE, 35-34
KEY GAMES
Park Crossing vs. Sidney Lanier (Thurs - 6A/R2) – The Thunderbirds seem to be in a time warp, dealing with COVID all over again. They will take the field for the first time in three weeks on Thursday after an open week and a forfeit loss to Eufaula. At the same time, Sidney Lanier has been getting well with three straight victories in region play. Make it four. LANIER, 25-15
Smiths Station at Jeff Davis (Sat. - 7A/R2) – JD hasn’t won a region game since beating the Panthers on Oct. 3, 2019. That is a streak of 11 straight losses. It ends Saturday. JD, 17-16
Wetumpka at Pelham (6A/R3) – Can two straight wins catapult the Indians into a streak in region play? Pelham is ripe for the taking after losing its last two. The thought process was the Indians would win last year (but didn’t). Why break precedent… WETUMPKA, 24-20.
Pike Road at Charles Henderson (5A/R2) – What has happened to the once-proud Trojans’ program? They are winless this season and will certainly stay that way Friday night. PIKE ROAD, 45-6.
Trinity at Reeltown (3A/R4) – Years ago this would one of those knockdown drag-out tussles. The only dragging will come after the Wildcats run roughshod over the Rebels. TPS, 31-14.
Autauga Academy at Munroe Academy (Fla.) – No, that’s not a typo in the school name. The Generals are headed to Florida again and should return with another victory. AA, 34-21
THE REST
Alabama Christian over Ashford (4A/R2), 34-13; Sylacauga over Elmore County (5A/R4), 27-6; Montgomery Catholic over Pike County, 56-7; St. James over BT Washington, 32-16; Sipsey Valley over Marbury, 21-14; Southside-Selma over PCA, 31-13; Verbena over Billingsley, 26-17; Autaugaville over Barbour County, 45-8; Ft. Dale Aca over Hooper Aca, 24-16; Macon East over Jackson Aca, 32-19; Valiant Cross over Morgan Aca (Thur), 23-21; Crenshaw Christian over Lowndes Aca, 27-24;
BYE: Montgomery Academy; Holtville
RECORD: Last week 19-2; Season 60-15 (.800)