Bragging rights on the line for Dothan, Northview

For the first time since the beginning of the decade, the annual city showdown between Dothan and Northview has more than bragging rights at stake.
At least for one team.

For Dothan High, a potential state playoff berth is on the line. A win and Dothan, with help from others, has a chance at making the postseason for the first time since 2001.

A loss, though, and Dothan’s chances are gone.

But to hear players from both teams, the playoff scenario is a non-issue as they gear up for tonight’s 32nd city championship at Rip Hewes Stadium.

“Going into this game, I am not worried about the playoffs,” Dothan senior quarterback Jay LeGrand said. “I know winning is one step to going to the playoffs, and winning will help us. If we lose, it is out the window.

“But I try to put it to the back of my mind and think that this is the next game on the schedule.”

Northview players say the idea of ruining Dothan’s playoff hopes is not as important as just winning period.

“We know about that, but we just want to play our hardest,” Northview running back Derrick Thomas said.

“No,” Cougar quarterback B.J. Chitty said when asked if Northview players have talked about ruining their rival’s playoff hopes. “We just have to go out and play ball. We worry about winning on our end and not what goes on in their end.”

Dothan (5-3 overall, 3-3 in Class 6A, Region 3), in addition to a possible playoff berth, can secure its first winning season since 2001. Northview (3-5, 2-4) can still reach .500 and, more importantly, salvage some pride out of a disappointing season.

“A win is always good (in this rivalry),” Chitty said. “No matter if you have a losing season or what, it is always good to have a win.”

On the flip side, Dothan is out to end a four-game losing streak to its crosstown rivals. The Tigers’ last win in the series came in 2004.

“It hurts that we haven’t won these last three years that I have played on varsity,” LeGrand said. “Last year, I didn’t get to touch the field. My sophomore year, it was hard to take. This year, I am hoping to do something to change it.”

Players from both sides know winning the rivalry game is important to a lot of people.

“It is a big tradition,” Dothan senior linebacker-running back McKinley Greer said. “The city cares about it, and we care about it, too. We are going to do our best to win.”

“I have been here four years, and everybody always gets emotional,” said Northview senior defensive end Tony Vickers.

Tiger senior running back Brandon Knight agrees.

“It is like the biggest rival in Alabama, one of the biggest anyway,” Knight said. “It’s crazy around here. The whole school is crazy.”

Dothan head coach Kelvis White, who experienced the rivalry for the first time last year, said he doesn’t have to worry about pep talks for this one.

“You don’t have to motivate this week,” White said. “All these kids know each other, and, of course, they are fired up about playing Northview.”

Tonight’s game will be the first in the rivalry as a head coach for Cougar boss Wayne White, but the Dothan graduate and former assistant at both Dothan and Northview knows the rivalry better than most.

“It is one of those deals you always have this one marked down on your schedule,” said White, who has been involved in 17 previous meetings. “It is one that is a vital game for your team and for your season. A lot of people will measure your success on your season based on the outcome of this game, right or wrong.”

While he still has a lot of positive feelings for his alma mater and former employer, White said that is all out of the stadium when the game kicks off.

“It is no different being on the other side of the tracks,” White said. “It’s one of those games where you have respect for the other team, but when you kick it off against each other, you are wanting to do your best and to give yourself a chance to win.”

White added, “I have spent a lot of time and effort of my own part over there, so I have a respect and love for that school, but at same time, I want to beat them.”

Both teams have similar dynamics, though Dothan is better statistically and has a slightly different style on offense, relying a little more on the pass than Northview. Both have a solid leader in a senior quarterback plus a good running back and swarming defenses.

At quarterback, Chitty is multi-talented with ability to run and throw for Northview, while LeGrand directs Dothan’s attack as a drop-back passer. Chitty (733 passing, 235 running) has rushed and thrown for nearly 1,000 yards, while LeGrand has thrown for 1,247 yards on the season.

LeGrand and Dothan, though, have thrown 80 more passes than Northview, nearly 10 per game more.

Both the Cougars and Tigers have had success on the ground. Northview averages 152 rushing a game and Dothan 138. Thomas and Knight lead the respective attacks. Thomas averages 91.5 a game for Northview and Knight 92.8 for Dothan. Both still have chances of reaching a 1,000 yards.

Defensively, both teams have struggled at times, but not because of effort. Both are known for being aggressive and swarming to the ball.

“We know the records go out the window this year,” Dothan’s Kelvis White said. “They want to play spoiler, and we want to get into the playoffs. That makes this game even more interesting and more fun.”

Northview’s White had a similar assessment.

“Both sides are going to play with a lot of intensity and lot of effort,” he said. “We will see their best game, and I hope they see our best game. There shouldn’t be any other way.”