Clarkdale hosts Southeast in
rivalry game on Thursday

By By Steve Swogetinsky and Austin Bishop / staff writers
September 8, 2004
Two neighborhood rivals hungry for a victory collide Thursday night when the Clarkdale Bulldogs play host to Southeast Lauderdale.
Southeast got a taste of winning in week one of the season when the Tigers stunned Enterprise 27-20, while Clarkdale is still looking for its first win under veteran head coach Jud Gartman.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
"We showed a lot of improvement last week and really cut down on our mistakes," Gartman said of his team's 28-20 loss at Enterprise. "We have worked hard this week in practice, and I will be surprised if we don't continue to improve this week."
Clarkdale enters the game at 0-2, while the Tigers stand at 1-1 following last week's 32-7 loss to Northeast Lauderdale. The Tigers won last year's game with Clarkdale, 25-0.
Southeast leads the all-time series 28-11-2 and has won the six of the last seven games between the two schools.
First-year Southeast Lauderdale head coach Ty Trahan says his Tigers will be looking to improve on several areas as they play their last game before hitting division play next week.
"When we get into the redzone (inside the opponents 20-yard line) we have just go to do what it takes to score," Trahan said. "When you get into division play you just can't keep making the type of mistakes we have been making."
Trahan says it is a combination of things that are causing his team's offense to sputter close to the goal.
"It's a combination of play selection, mental letdowns and just being focused," Trahan said. "These are things we have been working on."
Clarkdale trailed 28-6 at the half against Enterprise, but rallied for two touchdowns in the second half. Gartman said his offensive line did an outstanding job through out the game.
"The offensive line is really coming around," he said. "Coaches (Joey) Etheridge and (Bryan) Williams are really doing a good job with this group."
Those players drawing praise from Gartman included center Matt Mayerhoff, guards Blake Dyer and Jimmy Dyer, tackles Michael Lundstrom and Drew Davis, and tight end Calvin Eastman.
Wingback Chris Sirven scored two touchdowns for Clarkdale on runs of 47 and 12 yards, and tailback Cedric Burns scored on a five-yard jaunt.
Southeast got a strong effort from running back Brandon Latham against Northeast Lauderdale and Trahan said Latham and Marcus Walker would get plenty of opportunities to run the ball against the Bulldogs on Thursday night.
While Trahan is new to Lauderdale County, the importance of this rivalry game isn't lost on him.
"It is very important that we win this game and play well," Trahan said. "It is the last game going into district play and we have to cut down on our mistakes."
The Tigers will be without strong guard Justin Scarbrough, who will be out at least two weeks with a knee injury.