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Six local teams remain alive
By Will Smith
The Weekly Post
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Published November 6, 2008
After Week 10 of the season, six of our local teams remain alive in the playoff hunt. Here is a preview of what they will face in the opening round tomorrow night, starting with the Sylvania and Geraldine, which will play their games at home. Kickoff for each contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Playoffs begin Friday: Here’s the schedule for tomorrow’s playoff games, which all start at 7 p.m.
Game Class
Plainview at Deshler 4A
Tarrant at Sylvania 3A
Pisgah at Leeds 3A
Woodland at Geraldine 2A
Fyffe at Lanett 2A
Collinsville at Appalachian 1A
Tarrant at Sylvania
The Rams, which compiled four straight wins to end the regular season, clinched the No. 2 slot in Class 3A, Region 6 behind Susan Moore, earning their first playoff berth since 2005. Sylvania (7-3) will host Tarrant tomorrow night for the opening round of the post-season.
The Wildcats, which finished third in Region 5, have a 5-5 record for the year and have two straight losses heading into their match-up against the Rams. However, Tarrant may be a little tougher than their record suggests.
“They looked really strong, especially within the region,” said Sylvania head coach Alan Clayton. “Don’t let their record fool you. Three of their losses are to bigger non-region schools.”
Teams that have beaten the Wildcats, which include four playoff teams such as 3A, No. 2 Leeds and 4A, No. 8 Midfield, have an overall combined record of 35-14. Among the games that Tarrant has won, speed has been an advantage that tilted the outcome in the Wildcats’ favor.
“They have lots of speed,” said Clayton. “They have a solid backfield offensively. Their quarterback can fly.”
Tarrant returns three starters on the offensive side of the ball from last year’s 6-5 team. Daniel Bethune, a 5-foot-10, 150-pound junior, lines up under center for the Wildcats. Behind him, senior DeMarcus Evans and sophomore Curtis Simmons, who scored three short touchdowns on four runs during Tarrant’s 52-22 victory over White Plains in Week 7, also contribute heavily to the Wildcat offense, which averages 23.8 points per game. Kenneth Doyle, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior, is the only returning starter across the offensive front for Tarrant.
Defensively, the Wildcats are given up 254 points this season, a total that has been spread evenly over the course of the season.
The winner will travel in the second round to face either No. 2 Leeds or Pisgah.
Woodland at Geraldine
The Bulldogs, who finished 7-1 against 2A, Region 6 opponents, also wrapped up a second place playoff position, earning the right to stay home for the opening round. Geraldine (9-1) will face Woodland tomorrow night.
The Bobcats (5-5) began their region schedule with back-to-back losses against Lanett and 2A, No. 2 Clay County. However, Woodland ran the table, rattling off five straight region victories to close the year with the third-place playoff position in Region 5. An experienced backfield, led by four-year running back Justin Heard, is a big reason for the Bobcats success.
“They have a tailback with experience,” said Geraldine head coach Tim Arnold. “If he gets loose, teams don’t catch him.”
Anchored also by senior quarterback Andrew Triplett and junior left tackle James Stephens, the Woodland offense averages just under 20 points per game, including a 33-point performance last week against 3A Piedmont.
Defensively, the Bobcats can be equally as tough.
“Woodland always has a good defense,” said Arnold. “They held some pretty good opponents to low scores this season.”
Despite losing by three touchdowns, Woodland limited Clay County to their lowest point total of the season, holding the Panthers to only 28 points during their Week 3 meeting.
With a win, Geraldine will advance to the second round to face either Clay County or West End.
Plainview at Deshler
When you finish third in a region, you expect to play the second best team in the cross region. However, for Plainview, it worked out a little differently.
The Bears (7-3), who finished in third place in Class 4A, Region 7, will travel to Deshler tomorrow night to face the No. 2-ranked Tigers. Deshler closed with a perfect record within Region 8 which included a victory over No. 7-ranked Brooks but was forced to forfeit two of their victories because of an ineligible athlete, leaving them in second place.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” said Plainview head coach Dale Pruitt on facing such a tough team in the opening round of the playoffs. “The best thing we can do is play as good as we possibly can, and hope that it’s good enough.”
The Tigers (9-1), whose only loss came against 5A, No. 6 Russellville in Week 1, has been the Class 4A state runner-up on four separate occasions during the past five years. Deshler, equipped with speed and a brand new offensive game plan, is looking to make another run at Legion Field this year.
“They have lots of speed,” said Pruitt. “Defensively, the whole team is athletic. Offensively, the speed is in the skill position.”
Deshler, notorious for their Wing-T offense, has found success this season with a new offensive approach—a hybrid game plan that gels both Wing-T and the spread. The Tigers, led by quarterback Chase Blackburn, has found their rhythm this season, averaging close to 40 points per game.
Despite the scoring threat of their offense, Deshler’s defense may be even stronger. The Tigers haven’t shut out anyone this season, but they have held seven of their 10 opponents to a touchdown or less this year.
The winner of the Deshler/Plainview game will advance to the second round to face either No. 3 North Jackson or East Lawrence.
Fyffe at Lanett
The Red Devils (7-3), which closed with the third-place position in Class 2A, Region 6, will travel to Region 5 runner-up Lanett tomorrow night for the opening round of the playoffs.
The Panthers (7-3), who lost in overtime to Leroy during the quarterfinals of the post-season last year, run a balanced offense, slightly favoring the running game over the passing attack.
“They are very, very athletic,” said Fyffe head coach Paul Benefield. “They have a lot of speed. They pose quite a few problems for us. Speed is always an issue.”
Senior running back Scutt Morgan, who has around 850 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, and senior full back Anthony Evans, who has over 600 yards on the ground, anchor the Panthers’ offense.
Defensively, Lanett, led by defensive ends Peewee Morgan and Jared Washington, is strong across the line, which could cause some problems for the Red Devils rushing game.
With a win, Fyffe will face either No. 4-ranked Sand Rock or Lineville in the second round.
Collinsville at Appalachian
The Panthers (6-4), which locked up the fourth playoff position in Class 1A, Region 6 with a late string of victories, will travel to Appalachian tomorrow night to face the Region 5 champion Eagles.
Appalachian, which was ranked No. 10 until their loss to Cleveland last week, features several key athletes that have helped the Eagles to an 8-2 overall record.
“They are very good,” said Collinsville head coach Alan Beckett. “They have gritty quarterback and two really good athletes in the backfield. They run the ball well and can throw.”
Senior utility player Colby Harvey is their most versatile athlete, lining up in several different position on the offensive side of the ball. Harvey has almost 600 yards on the ground, over 280 yards receiving and 12 total touchdowns. Coty Tawbush is the Eagles leading rusher with just over 600 yards on 69 carries.
Appalachian quarterback Jeremy Hill has 574 yards through the air on 35-of-72 passing with eight touchdowns.
The Eagles stop unit, led by middle linebacker and leading tackler Seth Black, is holding opponents under 10 points each game.
Current Appalachian head coach Ernie Willingham was Collinsville’s head coach when the Panthers last made the playoffs in 2001.
With a win, Collinsville would move on to face either Cedar Bluff or Victory Christian in the second round.
Pisgah at Leeds
The Eagles (6-4), which finished fourth in Class 3A, Region 6, earned their first playoff berth since the 2003 season this year. They will face a very strong Leeds team tomorrow night for the opening round of the playoffs.
The Green Wave (10-0), ranked No. 2 in Class 3A, have literally shut down opponents this season, recording seven shutouts over the course of the regular season.
“They’re big, really big,” said Pisgah head coach Terry Kenimer. “We are at a big disadvantage when it comes to size.”
Compounded with that fact, the Eagles will enter tomorrow’s match-up with several injuries including one to their starting quarterback, Blair Kenimer.
Leeds boasts an impressive defense, led by Randon Carnathan and Tony Threatt, which has only allowed 26 total points this year.
Offensively, Carnathan and Threatt along with junior quarterback Rush Perkins lead a Green Wave offensive attack that posts close to 40 points each week. DeDrick Forsythe and LeDarius Rogers also make an impact in the backfield for Leeds.
The winner of the Leeds/Pisgah match-up will advance to the second round to face either Sylvania or Tarrant.
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