Are they for real?

August 29, 2009

By Drew Champlin

We’ll find out next week if a couple of our bigger schools, Dothan and Rehobeth, are for real.

Both have struggled for the past few seasons, but Dothan put a whoopin’ on Eufaula, a 5A power. Next is a trip to Auburn, a very good team this season. It might be tough for Dothan to go up there and get a win, but “looking good and losing close” wouldn’t be a bad thing. Auburn and Opelika are probably the head of the class in that region, but after that, anyone could sneak in and get a playoff spot.

Rehobeth looked very good and physical to me Friday night. It was against a Class 3A school, but the roster sizes are similar. However, Rehobeth has more numbers this year and really worked hard in the strength program in the offseason. All sophomore sensation Corey Perkins needed was a slight hole, and he ran for 246 yards on 23 carries. There are plenty more Rebels who can carry the ball, and fullback Bull DeVane opened up his share of holes.

The Rebels get Valley at home this week. I’d expect a fired up Rehobeth crowd and with teams like Charles Henderson and Eufaula (region foes) falling hard in week 1, this region could be anybody’s for the taking. Rehobeth won 10 games in 4A in 2005, but the move up to Class 5A hasn’t been kind.

Maybe this is the year it changes, but we’ll find out how good Rehobeth and Dothan are next Friday night.

Tough night to cover a game

By Jon Johnson

It was early in the game when longtime Wiregrass referee James Parrish collapsed while signaling a penalty. By halftime, the word Parrish had died reached those at Rip Hewes Stadium, where Dothan was playing Eufaula.
It was extremely hard for me to get interested in watching football on this night.
I admire the other officials at the game for carrying on like professionals, even after learning Parrish had passed.
For the players, coaches and fans, it was tough to carry on as usual.
For the record, Dothan played a fantastic game in beating Eufaula 31-7. Dothan, I really believe, has turned the corner and has a chance to do some really big things this season.
The first Friday night of the high school football season is now behind.
There were some terrific games.
But as a the press rolls, my thoughts remain on Parrish.
A sad night, indeed.

2009 season about to kick off

August 26, 2009

By Jon Johnson

I’m really looking forward to the Houston Academy-Providence Christian matchup at Rip Hewes Stadium on Thursday night. It was a great game last year with a fantastic atmosphere. I expect another big crowd for this one, but don’t know if a young Providence team will be able to keep it close the whole way against Houston Academy.
It’s almost unreal that the Raiders start a senior at every position. J.H. Johnson at quarterback has really developed going into his senior year for HA, and Andrew Dauphin is always a threat to break a long run at tailback.
Providence certainly can make a game of it if the Eagles can run the ball effectively behind what is a very good offensive line. I’m sure the Eagles will try to control the clock, and if they can do so, it could go down to the wire.
It will also be interesting to see how Northview fares in its opener at Robert E. Lee as new Cougar coach Wayne White has his debult. I heard the Cougars’ starting QB - and that would be B.J. Chitty - missed some practice time due to being sick. Obviously, if he can’t play, it will hurt Northview’s chances.
Cottonwood at Slocomb is another interesting match-up tonight. I believe Slocomb’s ground game with Greg Burdeshaw at tailback could prove to be the difference.

Looking back, coming up

September 18, 2008

By Jon Johnson

I had a chance to see a real good football game last Friday night when Northview pulled the upset over Central of Phenix City.
As usual, the Red Devils had great athletes on both sides of the football, but the Cougars hung in there and got the job done.
Especially impressive was the Cougars’ defense in the second half as they shut out Central. And the offense found a way to get the job done when it had to in pulling off the victory with a long TD run by B.J. Chitty.
It’s the type win that can really jumpstart the team for the rest of the year.
I’ll have a chance to see Dothan play tonight for the first time of the season, and I’m looking forward to watching the work of new coach Kelvis White. I’ve been real impressed with the effort his team has been putting forth.
Dothan will have a tough challenge tonight against a Smiths Station team that has been putting tons of points on the scoreboard.
Other games of interest tonight include Elmore County and Ashford, Providence at Geneva County and Ashford Academy hosting Crenshaw.
Enterprise finally plays a home game after the first three weeks on the road, and the Wildcats get Opelika of all teams.
Another week of high school football is here.
It should be fun.

Things to like for Charles Henderson and Pike County

August 23, 2008

By Ken Rogers

Saw the annual Pike County-Charles Henderson game Friday night. It’s unlike any preseason game or jamboree I’ve ever seen.
It’s the real thing, folks.
Henderson broke a three-year losing streak to the Bulldogs, winning 35-20 and capitalizing on a tremendous first half.
Pike County, in its debut under new head coach Brad Waggoner, was horribly outplayed through the first two quarters.
Denzell Patterson fumbled the opening kickoff and Henderson’s Billy Neal recovered. Four plays later, junior quarterback K.D. Edenfield connected with junior Jawara White on a 20-yard touchdown reception on fourth-and-2.
On the ensuing possession, Pike County quarterback Josh Parker threw an out route for Quay Bailey on third-and-9. The Trojans’ Laquavious Bryant stepped in front of it and raced 60 yards for another score. Henderson led 14-0 just 3:16 into the game.
The lead grew later in the quarter when Edenfield threw a strike to Jabari Brown over the Bulldogs’ Tevin Andrews and Jarrod Wilson.
Henderson had the game all but won by tacking on two more scores inthe final two minutes of the first half. Edenfield scored on a 4-yard keeper, capping an eight-play, 55-yard drive with 1:23 left in the second period.
Gestavious Barnes got the ball back for Troy, making an interception with 46 seconds left in the half. Edenfield took advantage with a 21-yard strike on a slant route to Corey Dennis in the end zone. 35-0 at halftime.
They nearly added an exclamation point. The Trojans took the opening kickoff of the second half and kept the ball more than six minutes. However, Wilson intercepted Edenfield’s pass in the end zone. It seemed to give the Bulldogs a huge lift.
In fact, they played with more emotion from that point and controlled things for most of the second half as CHHS coach Hugh Fountain played a number of younger players.
That doesn’t take anything away from Pike County. Parker settled down and used his feet to make plays. A couple fine runs set up Chris Griffin’s 2-yard touchdown run that made it 35-7 with 19 seconds left in the third quarter.
Parker hit Patterson on a 39-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 35-14.
Fullback Josue Rodriguez scored on a 1-yard run with 37.6 seconds left for the game’s final score.
There were parts that both coaches had to like. Fountain had to like seeing the Trojans establish control in the game’s opening moments. Despite the 15-point final margin, it was over by halftime. Still, enough went wrong as they unsuccessfully tried to run the clock that there are things the Trojans will work on before their season opener against Greenville.
Waggoner had to be proud of his team’s pride. The Bulldogs’ better play kept it from being a blowout. They’ll benefit by this warmup week as they prepare for Friday night’s opener against Carroll in Ozark.