Wiregrass teams struggle in playoffs

The Wiregrass’ opening-round playoff performance was a little better this year than a year ago.

But not by much.

The area went 6-14 in first-round state playoff games last week, a slight improvement from 2008’s 4-13 overall mark.

Of the six wins, five came in the Alabama High School Athletic Association, an improvement from the 3-12 record in ’08. The area was also 1-1 in the Alabama Independent Schools Association ranks.

Earning first-round wins were Opp in Class 4A, Straughn in Class 3A, Elba, Goshen and Houston Academy in Class 2A and Pike Liberal Arts in the AISA ranks.

Class 2A carried the Wiregrass banner, finishing 3-2 in openers, while the other classifications struggled. Class 6A teams were 0-2, Class 5A 0-1, Class 4A 1-2, Class 3A 1-4 and Class 1A 0-2.

Road Warriors: It’s on the road this week for most of the seven teams in the Dothan Eagle coverage area in the playoffs, including Seminole County in Georgia.

Of the seven teams still alive, only three are at home — Opp, Straughn and Elba.

Opp hosts Jackson in Class 4A action, Straughn entertains region rival Bayside Academy in 3A and Elba welcomes in Washington County in 2A.

The other four teams are on the road — Houston Academy at Leroy and Goshen at Pickens County in 2A, Pike Liberal Arts at Morgan Academy in AISA and Seminole County at Chattahoochee County in Georgia Class A.

Florida district tiebreaker: Chipley and Marianna will know their playoff fate tonight after playing a three-team district tiebreaker with Walton at Chipley’s Phillip Rountree Stadium.

The three teams all tied for second in Class 2B, District 1 with 1-2 records behind Pensacola Catholic. The three all lost to Catholic and went 1-1 in head-to-head match-ups with each other.

In Florida, three and four way ties are broken by district tiebreaker games — a 12-minute one-quarter game.

Chipley won the bye since it has won more overall games than the other two, forcing Marianna to play Walton the opening quarter. The winner plays Chipley with that winner earning the district’s runner-up playoff spot.

The Marianna-Walton quarter starts at 7 p.m.

Whoever wins the spot will travel to Florida High in Tallahassee next week for the opening round of the playoffs.

Goshen’s Foster, HA’s Andre among honorees:  Goshen’s Reginald Foster was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association offensive player of the week, while Houston Academy’s Will Andre was a finalist for the defensive/kicking honor.

Foster scored five touchdowns and rushed for 317 yards in a 50-32 win over Fultondale in the Class 2A playoff opener. Foster beat out Bayside Academy’s Thomas Buchanan and Cherokee County’s Coty Blanchard in the top three.

HA’s Andre broke up a potential game-tying TD pass in the end zone with less than two minutes to go, preserving a 21-14 Raider win over Millry.

He also drilled two field goals, including a career best 51-yarder on the final play of the first half, and finished with seven tackles and the one pass break-up on defense.

Muscle Shoals’ Brett Guzay was named the defensive / kicking game player of the week. He helped the Trojans to their first playoff win since 2000 with three interceptions — including one for a 27-yard TD — in a 38-20 win over Fort Payne in Class 5A

Two other Wiregrass players were considered among the best by the ASWA.

Straughn’s Eric Samuel, averaged better than 21 yards a carry, finishing with 256 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in a 35-19 win over Geneva.

Elba’s Colton Vaughan caused three fumbles and recorded seven tackles, helping the Tiger defense post a 31-0 shutout over Excel.

Army Man of Year voting: The Wiregrass has six of the 10 finalists for the Army Iron Man of the Year award, but none are in the top three in voting as of Tuesday night.

The six who won weekly honors and are finalists are Houston Academy’s Will Andre, Ariton’s Layton Grant and Craig Sanders, Elba’s Michael Lindsey and Carlos Matias and New Brockton’s Tevin McNair.

Fans can vote for the winner online at http://www.TheSportsFlash.com, through midnight on Nov. 22.  The winner will be announced on Nov. 23.

As of Tuesday night, Alabama Christian’s Jordan Creel was leading the voting with 28 percent. Guntersville’s Corey Cahill and Demopolis’ Jeremy Wallace were next at 22 percent.

HA’s Andre and Elba’s Lindsey led the local contingent with seven percent each.

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 to David Mundee at 334-712-7921.