Some advance, some go home, some will play another day

By By Jimmy Boone / EMG sports writer
Oct. 10, 2003
With only a month remaining in the regular season, some teams feel things are falling into place.
Other teams feel they are just falling.
Patrician Academy travels to Sumter Academy after putting together a strong 55-35 win over Lowndes Academy last week. The win gives Patrician a 2-2 record in the area and a shot at the playoffs. Sumter Academy (1-5, 0-5) limps into the game after losing to Escambia Academy 52-20.
In other area Friday night AISA action South Choctaw Academy will host Lowndes Academy. In area AHSAA play Southern Choctaw will host McIntosh, Choctaw County will host Jackson, Livingston will host Demopolis, and Sumter County will travel to Tarrant.
Patrician jumped out to a 29-0 first-quarter lead as the Saints offense moved the ball well.
Beau Meeks led Patrician with 110 yards and scored three touchdowns. Russell Cheatham had a touchdown and 95 yards, while Brent Bonner threw a 30-yard touchdown.
While things went well for Patrician, Sumter County was struggling against Escambia.
Poe said he knows that defeating Patrician will be a difficult task.
Poe said he would be looking to leadership from Andrew Poole at middle linebacker on defense and fullback on offense. He said that he will also need to get a good night of rushing from tailback Chad Ryan, who also plays outside linebacker on defense.
Sumter Academy made the switch to the Notre Dame box three weeks ago.
Archibald said that the unique offense had been a major concern to him.
Archibald said his concern is that the offense uses a lot of misdirection, after the ball is directly snapped to a back.
On any play, the ball might be snapped to a different player, who might handoff or pass.
Jackson
at Choctaw County
Choctaw County also hopes to make the playoffs, but will need a win against
Jackson.
Choctaw County (2-4, 2-0) defeated Gulf Shores 39-8 last week while Jackson (1-5) fell to Andalusia 26-24.
All four losses for Choctaw County have been to teams ranked in the top
five in the AHSAA poll.
Choctaw County has three region games remaining.
Gerald Johnson Jr. rushed 15 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns against Jackson while Maurice Holcombe completed 10-of-15 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
On the receiving end of those passes were Brad Ford with seven receptions for 144 yards and three touchdowns and Dexter Leaverett with three receptions for 50-yards.
Helping lead the defensive charge is Terrance Thompson who had 12 tackles against Gulf Shores.
McIntosh
at Southern Choctaw
Southern Choctaw continues its march back to the playoffs as the Indians host McIntosh for Homecoming.
Last week the Indians defeated Washington County 15-12. Southern Choctaw, ranked No. 6 in the Class 2A poll, is now 4-1 on the year and 3-1 in area play.
A key ingredient to the win for the Indians was stopping Washington County from scoring any extra points.
Detric Causey rushed 18 times for 147 yards against Washington County. Jeremy McGrew had 11 carries for 101 yards, including a 32-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter.
John Pascley only rushed the ball once, but it was for a 95-yard touchdown that proved to be the game winner.
South Choctaw Aca.
at Lowndes Academy
The Rebels of South Choctaw will regroup after falling to Marengo Academy 13-10 last week. Marengo scored with 28 seconds remaining in the game to claim the win.
The win helped to propel Marengo to the top spot in the AISA poll.
South Choctaw (4-2) will travel to Lowndes, who lost to Patrician 55-35 last week.
The Rebels provided a surprise for Marengo when they started running from the Wishbone-T offense. Josh Conner rushed 12 times for 68 yards including a seven-yard touchdown run, while Justin Bonner ran 12 times for 40 yards.
Rob Dahlberg connected on four of eight passing attempts for 70 yards. Dahlberg also kicked a 23-yard field goal.
The Rebels defense kept the Longhorns off balance for the whole game last week, and will hope to keep Lowndes off the scoreboard.
Demopolis
at Livingston
Livingston will be facing an uphill battle as the Cougars face fifth-ranked Demopolis.
Last week Greene County defeated Livingston 38-6. Demopolis (6-0) crushed Holt 45-0, and has not allowed the opposition to score an offensive touchdown all season long.
Livingston (2-4, 1-3) has claimed wins over Holt and A.L. Johnson.
Sumter County at Tarrant
Sumter County also faces a difficult task as the Wildcats face Tarrant.
Tarrant (6-0) is ranked second in the Class 3-A poll. A week ago West Blocton defeated Sumter County (0-6) 38-14, while Tarrant defeated Northside 56-3.