Prep notes: Playoff spots up for grabs

With week seven in the football season approaching, several area teams have a chance at clinching playoff berths this week.
Among them are Pike County, Daleville, Elba, Houston Academy, Geneva County and Pike Liberal Arts.

Two other teams — Dothan and Eufaula — can also clinch this week, but with help.

Dothan, which hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2001, can clinch with a win over Central-Phenix City and losses by Enterprise, Northview and Russell County.

Eufaula can wrap up a playoff spot with a win over Carroll and losses by Booker T. Washington and Charles Henderson.

Big-game week: For the first time this season, a pair of ranked Wiregrass teams will face each other in a game.

That battle features Class 2A’s fifth-ranked Houston Academy Raiders against No. 10 Elba Tigers at Northcutt Field in Dothan.

The two Class 2A, Region 2 co-leaders are both 6-0 on the season.

It is the second top 10 game involving a Wiregrass team this year. In week three, seventh-ranked Pike Liberal Arts faced top-ranked Fort Dale Academy.

The Elba-HA game is not the only big one this week.

In Class 6A, surging Dothan, which received a vote in the Class 6A state poll this week, travels to No. 10 Central-Phenix City in a game that has major playoff implications for both, including a possible first-round home playoff game.

Wicksburg visits Abbeville in a key Class 3A, Region 2 game. Both are 2-2 in region play along with Slocomb. The three teams are in a battle for the third and fourth playoff spots with Headland and Geneva (both 1-3) in pursuit.

Meanwhile, G.W. Long plays at Houston County in another key 2A, Region 2 battle. Houston County sits at 3-1, currently behind Elba and Houston Academy, while Long is tied with New Brockton (2-2) for the fourth and final playoff spot.

Also on tap Friday is Providence Christian at Ariton in what has been dubbed “The Sweet Water Bowl”. Both are 2-2 and tied for fourth place in Class 1A, Region 2.

The winner will likely finish fourth in the region, which also likely means a trip to three-time defending champion and current top-ranked Sweet Water.

There is also a big game in the AISA ranks as seventh-ranked Pike Liberal Arts visits Lee-Scott Academy. Both are likely postseason bound with likely seeding based on this week’s outcome.

Players of week: Eight local players were honored by either the Alabama High School Athletic Association or Alabama Sports Writers Association for their play last week.

Those honored by the AHSAA were Ariton’s Craig Sanders, Houston Academy’s Andrew Dauphin, Houston County’s Desmond Warren, Providence Christian’s Banks Smith, 

Wicksburg’s Luke Miller, Daleville’s Joe Beckham, Elba’s Richard Cooks and Geneva County’s Richard Williams.

The ASWA honored Sanders, Dauphin, Warren, Miller and Houston Academy’s Marco Pena.

Ariton’s Sanders rushed for 278 yards on 33 carries with three touchdowns and had eight tackles on defense as Ariton beat Kinston 35-32.

Houston Academy’ Dauphin rushed for 236 yards on 26 carries with two touchdowns, powering Houston Academy over Cottonwood 24-0.

Houston County’s Warren completed 20-of-23 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 62 yards and three touchdowns giving him 359 yards total offense and five touchdowns during the Lions’ 47-0 win over Samson.

Providence’s Smith rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 50-yard touchdown pass in the Eagles’ 54-0 win over Florala. He also kicked 5-of-6 extra points and had a 31-yard punt return.

Wicksburg’s Miller had 17 total tackles, a blocked punt, a blocked extra point, a caused fumble, a recovered fumble and a pass break-up in the Panthers’ 14-6 win over Dale County.

Daleville’s Beckham returned a blocked punt 22 yards for a touchdown and an interception for a TD in the fourth quarter helping the Warhawks rally from a last-quarter 17-7 deficit to beat Slocomb 34-17.

Elba’s Cooks intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown, and had a 37-yard touchdown pass reception, a 31-yard field goal and was 7-of-7 on extra points in the Tigers’ 52-14 rout of New Brockton.

Geneva County’s Williams, returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown and a kickoff 89 yards for a score and also recorded eight tackles as the Bulldogs lost a close 27-20 decision to unbeaten McKenzie (6-0). Williams also caught four passes for 76 yards on offense.

Houston Academy’s Pena, a defensive lineman, had nine tackles, including three for losses, plus a quarterback sack, and had an interception to led a Raider defense that shut down a Cottonwood offense had been averaging 323.3 yards to just 63 in a 24-0 win.

Army Man award: Four local players are up for this week’s Army Man Iron Man Award.

The four are Ariton’s Sanders, Daleville’s Beckham,  Geneva County’s Williams and Pike Liberal Arts’ Taylor Stephens.

Stephens had nine catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns, ran for two scores and 90 yards on nine carries, and contributed seven tackles on defense in Pike Liberal Arts’ 52-30 win over Tuscaloosa Academy.

Seminole County ranked: Seminole County moved into the Associated Press rankings in Georgia this week. The Indians (5-1) are No. 10.