By Daniel Evans
The Selma Times-Journal

Southside can achieve a lot with a win Friday night over Montgomery Academy.

The Panthers (5-1) can clinch their first winning season in more than a decade and all but lock up a playoff berth in class 3A, region 3. Southside has already won as many games this year as it did in 2014 and 2015 combined.

Now, the Panthers are looking to show that they are a contender.

“Montgomery Academy is a perennial playoff team. Every year they are in the playoffs,” said Southside coach Daniel Flowers. “If we beat them Friday, it’s going to send a message to the state in 3A football that we are someone to reckon with.”

The last time the Panthers played a season defining game, it didn’t go well. Southside was blown out in a one sided, 49-6 loss to Pike County, and lost control of class 3A, region 3 in the process. Pike County had the ball three times before the Southside offense had it once, took control early and didn’t look back. Flowers said his team was tight and didn’t play well.

This time he’s taking a different approach.

“I’m going to attack it differently than I did the Pike County game,” Flowers. “For Pike County, I think I put a lot of pressure on the kids. They knew all the history about Pike County so I think they were a little nervous going to the game.”

This week, Flowers said he’s going to keep it simple.

“Hit ‘em hard and hit ‘em long, run fast and run long, and you’ll beat them,” Flowers said. “I’m not going to try to make it more than what it is.”

The Panthers are playing their last home regular season game of the year Friday night, but would be in prime position to host a playoff game with a win over Montgomery. If the Eagles win, they’ll move into that coveted second spot in region 3.

Montgomery Academy (3-3) has been a bit up and down this year.

The Eagles lost their last game to Trinity on Sept. 23. Trinity, a class 4A school, entered that game winless. Montgomery has had a week off since that game, so the Eagles will likely enter Friday’s game with fresh legs.

Unlike Southside, the Eagles played Pike County to within a touchdown before losing 21-14. They also blew out B.B. Comer 68-14, a team the Panthers defeated 40-20 last week.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. on Friday.

 

Morgan Academy vs. Fort Dale
Morgan Academy (5-2) has won three in a row entering Friday night’s game against Fort Dale Academy (5-1), which is arguably the biggest game of the Senators’ season thus far.

The winner will move a step closer to securing a playoff spot in class AAA, Region 2. As if the game isn’t big enough already, it’s also homecoming week at Morgan Academy, which means extra distractions for the Senators.

“Every football coach hates homecoming, so we’ve got to keep our guys grounded this week,” said Morgan coach Josh Thacker.

Fort Dale also enters the game on a three game win streak. The Eagles only loss this year was to Pike Liberal Arts, a team Morgan will see later this season.

Thacker said his team has done a good job of ignoring outside distractions this year, but they’ll be tested again Friday against an opponent they haven’t beaten in a long time.

Fort Dale has won its last eight meetings with Morgan, including a 28-20 victory last year.

“You’ve got to have one of these next three region games to get to the playoffs,” Thacker said. “The playoffs are such a special time, and these kids have never been able to enjoy that. It’s a different feel. Everything is different about the playoffs.”

A win on Friday night would go a long way toward earning a spot for Morgan.

 

Emerald Mountain at Meadowview Christian

Meadowview Christian hopes that a home game is exactly what it needs to turn around its season.

The Trojans (1-5) will play their first home game since their season opener on Aug. 19 on Friday night when Emerald Mountain travels to Selma. Like Meadowview, Emerald Mountain could really use a win.

The Patriots (1-4) lost their most recent game to Brooklane Baptist 67-20. Meadowview lost Friday at Victory Baptist 64-25.
Selma at Brookwood

Both Selma (1-5) and Brookwood (2-4) enter Friday night’s game looking for their first class 6A, region 4 victory of the year.

The Saints lost to Northridge 28-6 last week, while Brookwood was blown out by McAdory 54-15. Selma defeated Brookwood 23-16 last season.
Keith at Verbena

Keith (3-3) enters this week in second place in class 1A, region 4 and a win over Verbena (2-4) would strengthen the Bears chances of making the playoffs.

The Bears defeated Francis Marion 38-8 last week to get to 2-1 in region play. Verbena has lost three consecutive games and has allowed 49 points or more in all three of them.
Ellwood Christian at Autaugaville

When Ellwood Christian takes the field for Friday’s game against Autaugaville, it’ll have almost been a month since the Eagles found the end zone.

If any team can understand the Eagles frustration, it’s Autaugaville. Both teams have lost five consecutive games and although Autuagaville hasn’t gone scoreless, it has only scored 14 points over the last four games. Autaugaville has also allowed 82 points in a loss this year.

The winner of Friday’s game will get its first region win of the year in class 1A, region 3.
Marbury at Dallas County

Dallas County (2-4) and Marbury (2-4) enter Friday needing a region win to strengthen their playoff hopes in class 5A, region 3.

The Hornets are coming off back-to-back losses to Maplesville and Demopolis, while Marbury enters after upsetting Jemison 40-33. This is homecoming week for Dallas County.