Slocomb takes on No. 1 T.R. Miller

For the first time in five years, Slocomb tasted the sweet success of a playoff victory last Friday.

Now, the Red Tops want more.

“Last year, we were just happy to be in the playoffs, but it’s a lot different this year — we are not just happy to be here. We want to make a run (toward a state title),” Slocomb head coach Jeff Mitchell said. ”We feel like we have the team that can possibly do that, if we just play well in each game.”

The Red Tops (9-2) get a chance to continue their mission Friday night, but they will have a tough task, facing top-ranked T.R. Miller (11-0) on the road in Brewton.

Despite the fact that none of the current players have experienced a second-round game before, Mitchell believes the Red Top players are ready for the challenge. He said the senior leadership on his team will see to that.

Two weeks ago, he was worried after a lot of his younger players were goofing off in the locker room prior to a game against rival Geneva County, but the seniors stepped up this past week after a challenge from Mitchell.

“I issued a challenge to the 12 seniors that, ‘That monkey (of the locker room pre-game attitude) was on your backs,’ ” Mitchell said. “I told them you had to control the locker room and let the younger kids know what it means to be in the playoffs and that it couldn’t be that way in the playoffs.

“In the locker room before last week’s game, you could have heard a pin drop. They were so focused and ready to play football. That is the attitude they are taking this week.”

The Red Tops face a T.R. Miller program steeped in playoff tradition. The Tigers are 76-22 in the state playoffs with five state titles (1984, 1991,  1994, 2000 and 2002). They also were part of the state finals five other times.

Mitchell said this year’s Tiger team is a typical one from past editions under veteran coach Jamie Riggs, now in his 20th year at the Brewton school.

“They don’t do anything fancy, but what they do, they do well,” Mitchell said, referring to both the Tiger offense and defense. “They make you beat them. They don’t beat themselves.”

In looking at Miller, Mitchell said the Tigers have a lot of similarities to his team.

“They have two backs that are comparable to Scottie (Burdeshaw) and Juicy (Williams),” Mitchell said. “Their quarterback reminds me of our quarterback — he is not real fast, but he throws it well.”

The two backs are Matt Lane and Cortez Banks. Lane rushed for 264 yards and three touchdowns earlier this year in a win over Straughn.

The quarterback is Wil Riggs, son of head coach Jamie Riggs. In the last two games, including last week’s 42-6 playoff win over Dale County, the younger Riggs, only a sophomore, was 15-of-20 passing for 410 yards and six touchdowns.

“I was looking at their stats and he is something ike 62-of-86, so he doesn’t throw it a whole lot, but when he throws it, he usually completes it,” Mitchell said.

The trio lead an offense that averages a Class 3A best 40.5 points a game.

Defensively, the Tigers have given up just 12.8 points a game, sixth best in 3A.

“Very sound,” Mitchell said of the Tiger defense. “They play good technique and they don’t beat themselves. They have about 85 kids out, so he doesn’t have to play them both ways and that is big for them.”

Up front, Mitchell said the two teams have similar sizes in matchups of offensive lines against defensive lines.

Slocomb is led by Williams and Burdeshaw in the backfield. The duo have a combined 3,031 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns. Williams, a senior, has 1,713
yards and 22 scores and Burdeshaw 1,318 and 13 TDs.

Will Harper, after a slow start, has been steady, averaging 60.1 yards passing with six touchdowns and six interceptions.

Cruise Young (13.0 tackles a game) and Jacobe Reynolds (11.1) led the Slocomb defense.

The Red Tops average 28.8 points and allow 17.0 a game.

“Being an old school football coach, I honestly believe whoever wins the battles up front and whoever can establish the running game will be the one with the best chance to win,” Mitchell said.