Bobcats hosting No.-10 Tanner

By Staff
Scot Beard
PHIL CAMPBELL – The Phil Campbell football team will try to end its lengthy regular-season loosing streak tonight, but the Bobcats will have a tough game on their hands as the welcome Tanner to town.
The Rattlers, which defeated Phil Campbell 47-22 last year, moved into the No. 10 spot in the latest Class 2A poll.
Phil Campbell played well on defense in last week's 20-0 loss to East Lawrence, but the offense struggled and had difficulty maintaining possession of the ball. The Bobcats turned the ball over six times.
The offense will have to do a better job of holding onto the ball this week because the Rattlers defense features defensive end Amos Draper. Draper was one of Tanner's top defenders as a junior and his play has earned interest from several Division I schools including Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, UAB and Arkansas State.
Draper might have lost a step from last season as he had knee surgery earlier this year and missed all of the spring practice.
Even though the Bobcat offense committed so many turnovers, the defense held strong. Phil Campbell allowed only three scoring drives and gave up 123 total yards to East Lawrence.
The defense will have to play strong this week.
The Rattlers lost star running backs Derrick Malone, now playing at the University of North Alabama, and Jarquise Peoples. Quarterback Dominique Randolph picked up the slack last week by rushing for 170 yards on eight carries against New Hope. He scored on runs of 48 yards, 65 yards and 2 yards.