Pike Liberal Arts clinches playoff spot

It quietly went under the radar two weeks ago, but the Pike Liberal Arts Patriots became the first team in the Dothan Eagle coverage area to clinch a state playoff berth.

With a 36-0 win over Taylor Road, the Patriots improved to 4-0 in Alabama Independent School Association Class AAA, Region 1 with two region games left.
Lee-Scott Academy (3-0) and Fort Dale Academy (3-1) are in second and third place with Glenwood School and Macon-East Academy tied for fourth at 1-2.
Taylor Road Academy (0-3) and Hooper Academy (0-4) round out the region.

The top four region teams advance to the playoffs. The worst PLAS can do is 4-2.  Glenwood and Macon-East still have to play each other, meaning one of the two will have three losses.

As a result, only three other teams will have two or fewer losses, putting the Patriots in the playoffs even if they lose both games.

The Patriots, though, have a bigger prize in their eyes — the region title — and they can earn that with a win this Friday.

Pike Lib hosts Lee-Scott in a showdown of top 10 state ranked teams at Dewight Ward Field at Delaney Kervin Stadium. The Patriots (6-0 overall) are ranked
third, and the Warriors (5-1) are No. 9.

If Pike Lib wins, it is the region champion since it could do no worse than a tie for first and would win tiebreakers over both Lee-Scott and Fort Dale. However, if Lee-Scott wins, the region race becomes a jumbled mess.

Clinching playoff spots: A handful of Wiregrass teams can clinch state playoff berths with a win this Friday.

Among those teams are Opp in Class 4A, Straughn in Class 3A and Houston Academy in Class 2A.

Several other teams are on the verge of reaching the playoffs, including Daleville, Dale County, Pike County and Geneva County.

Football in Jaguar country: Known for its basketball, Barbour County is serving notice this year for its football.

The Jaguars established a new school record for wins in a season last week, claiming their fourth victory of the season in a 16-14 win over G.W. Long. The previous best in the eight-year history of Barbour County was three wins, set in both 2002 and 2007.

Currently in second place in Class 2A, Region 2, the Jaguars are within striking distance of their first state playoff berth.

Top performances: Seven area players were honored by the Alabama High School Association or Alabama Sports Writers Association for play last week.

The seven honored were Barbour County’s Calvin Fenn, Pike County’s Tevin Andrews, Dothan’s McKinnley Greer, Daleville’s Tevin Flowers, Houston County’s Desmond Warren and Providence Christian’s Chris Crawford and Preston Jones.

Fenn, Andrews and Greer were honored by both groups, while Flowers, Warren, Crawford and Jones were honored by the AHSAA.
Barbour County’s Fenn was named the ASWA’s defensive/special teams player of the week.

Fenn had 15 tackles and an interception that set up the second of his two touchdowns on offense. But he forced the opposing quarterback into an intentional grounding call in the end zone that resulted in a safety with 45 seconds left, giving the Jaguars a 16-14 win over G.W. Long.

Pike County’s Andrews was one of three finalists for the defensive/special teams player of week honor. He intercepted two passes, had four tackles and returned a fumble 88 yards for the winning touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 25-19 win over Abbeville.

Dothan’s Greer intercepted a potential game-tying two-point conversion in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, added another interception, recovered a fumble and caused a fumble that a teammate recovered in the Tigers’ 21-12 win over Russell County. He finished the game with 11 tackles, one pass break-up, two quarterback pressures and also returned two kickoffs for 42 yards.

Daleville’s Flowers threw for 244 yards, ran for 98 more and accounted for a touchdown rushing and passing in the Warhawks’ 37-21 win over Slocomb. 
Houston County’s Warren completed 13-of-21 passes for 233 yards and also rushed for two scores in the Lions’ 34-12 win over Samson.

Providence Christian’s Crawford had nine carries for 165 yards rushing and two touchdowns (3 and 18 yards), and Jones added 122 yards on just five carries with one TD and had two receptions for 50 yards and another score.

Two in Army Iron Man award running: Barbour County’s Fenn and New Brockton’s Tevin McNair are among the 10 finalists for the Army Iron Man honor, which honors top two-way performers.

McNair rushed for 134 yards, scored one touchdown, and made eight tackles in New Brockton’s 17-7 win over Elba, the school’s first win ever over the Tigers.

Graceville moves into rankings: After coming close several weeks, Graceville moved into the latest Florida Associated Press state rankings this week. The Tigers (4-1) are No. 5 in Class 1B.

One other area team, Marianna (4-0), is receiving votes, but is not in the rankings in Class 2A.

Top offenses: The tops teams in Class 1A, Region 2 have been downright offensive to foes. Five of the eight region teams are in the top 20 in Class 1A in scoring offense. Brantley (46.3) ranks fifth, McKenzie (37.2) 10th, Ariton (34.3) 17th, Providence Christian (32.0) 18th and Geneva County (27.7) is tied for 20th.

Top offenses II: Straughn is the lone Wiregrass team in the top 30 statewide in the AHSAA in scoring offense. The Tigers are tied for 14th at 41.7 a game.

The total ranks second in Class 3A. Daleville (31.0 a game) ranks 19th in Class 3A scoring.

Defense, defense: Only two area teams are ranked at the top in scoring defense in the AHSAA, giving up less than 15 points a game. Those teams are Geneva County and Houston Academy.

Geneva County is allowing just 13 points per game, good for 12th place. Houston Academy is tied for 14th in Class 2A allowing 13.8 a game.

Volleyball tournaments: The season is quickly coming to an end for AHSAA area volleyball teams.

Next week, teams open postseason play with area tournaments.

Class 1-3A area tournaments are scheduled for Monday with Class 4A-6A on Tuesday.

Winners and runner-ups advance to regional tournaments next Saturday.