Wiregrass teams prep for playoffs

Twenty Wiregrass AHSAA and AISA teams are prepping for postseason play this week, including 12 that are returning from last year.

Perennial playoff participants Eufaula, Pike County, Houston Academy and Enterprise led the list of area playoff teams.

Eufaula is playing for the 12th straight season, the longest active streak the Wiregrass. The Tigers last failed to make the playoffs in 1997.

Pike County is in the playoffs for the 10th straight year, Houston Academy the ninth straight year and Enterprise eighth straight year.

Also continuing playoff streaks are Daleville (fourth straight), Opp (third), Elba (third) and Pike Liberal Arts (third) along with Straughn New Brockton, Goshen and Geneva County (all second straight).

Those back in the playoffs after a brief absence are Andalusia, Geneva, Houston County, Providence Christian and Dixie Academy. All five missed last year after competing in the 2007 playoffs.

Ashford and Abbeville return to postseason after a two-year gap, last playing in the playoffs in 2006.

The other area team in the playoffs is Dothan, which is ending an eight-year drought to 2001.

Two in 6A: For the first time in eight years, the Wiregrass has two representatives in the Class 6A state playoffs — Enterprise and Dothan.

In 2001, Northview and Dothan made the playoffs, but every year since the only 6A representative was Enterprise.

Hoping for better results: This year’s Wiregrass playoff contingent hopes to have a better showing in the opening round than last year’s group.

A year ago, area AHSAA and AISA teams went 4-13 in the opening round, including 3-12 in the AHSAA ranks.

Teams winning openers last year were Daleville and Slocomb in Class 3A, Houston Academy in Class 2A and Pike Liberal Arts in AISA.

Daleville eventually reached the state quarterfinals, and Pike Liberal Arts went on to win the Class AAA state title.

Rematches: Four of the opening-round matchups this week are rematches from last year’s opening games.

Those games are Enterprise at Wetumpka, Bayside Academy at Daleville, Luverne at Pike County and Marengo Academy at Pike Liberal Arts.

A year ago, Enterprise lost to Wetumpka 26-16; Daleville beat Bayside 21-17; Pike County fell to Luverne 33-14 and Pike Liberal Arts downed Marengo 28-12.

Three of the four games are at the same site this year, except Luverne-Pike County, which is in Brundidge instead of Luverne.

Four area teams ranked: Four area teams enter the postseason in the Alabama Sports Writers Association state poll.

The four are Pike County (No. 4, Class 3A), Elba (No. 3, 2A), Houston Academy (No. 8, 2A) and Pike Liberal Arts (No. 5 in AISA).

Pike County got a first-place vote in 3A and Elba seven in 2A.

Straughn and Daleville received votes in Class 3A but didn’t make the top 10.

Seven face ranked teams: Seven Wiregrass teams battle a ranked team in playoff openers.

Providence Christian faces top-ranked Sweet Water in Class 1A, while Geneva County plays No. 9 McIntosh.

New Brockton challenges No. 2 Leroy in Class 2A, while Abbeville plays No. 3 T.R. Miller in 3A and Ashford faces No. 5 Jackson in 4A.

In 5A, Eufaula hosts No. 6 Spanish Fort, and in 6A, Dothan plays No. 2 Prattville.

Two other teams face teams in the receiving votes category. Those are Houston Academy against Millry and Houston County versus Washington County in Class 2A.

Two unbeatens: Only two Wiregrass teams — Pike County and Elba — finished the regular season unbeaten.

Pike County (9-0) finished undefeated in regular season for the third time in five years, matching 2007 and 2005.

Elba (10-0) is unbeaten for the first time since 1984, when it went 9-0. However, it is the first 10-0 unbeaten regular season since 1955.

No winless teams: With Carroll’s win over Abbeville last week, all 47 teams in the Dothan Eagle coverage area finished the season with at least one win.

That hasn’t happened before in at least two decades. Research to 1990 indicates at least one or more teams going winless in each season through last year.

Prep stats to run Friday: The Dothan Eagle plans to run high school football stats this Friday. Coaches can send stats to or by fax to 334-712-7979 or by calling David Mundee at 334-712-7921.

High scoring Friday: Two Wiregrass teams last week were involved in two of top scoring games in the state this season.

Eufaula and Russell County combined for 115 points with Eufaula winning 65-50, while Ashford Academy and Chambers Academy racked up 111 with Ashford winning 56-55 in overtime.

The two games ranked second and third in the state this year in highest-scoring games. Only Crossville’s 67-54 win over Douglas for 121 points was more. That game also came last Friday.

Georgia playoff scenarios: Dothan Eagle coverage teams in Georgia, Early County and Seminole County, are fighting for playoff life this Friday.
Early County (5-4, 3-3) plays at Cook (4-5, 3-3) with the winner taking the fourth and final playoff spot in Region 1-AA.

Seminole County(7-2) hosts Bacon County (3-6) in Region 1-A with the winner taking the No. 3 spot in the region. The teams finished second in their respective divisions of 1-A.