Teams face region openers

By Bart Moss for the FCT

Region Openers: This week will be the first region games for teams. While the last two weeks count, the march toward playoff hopes begins this week.

At this point, teams have a good idea where they are strong and where they need to improve going into this first week of region play.

Three of this week’s matchups were decided by three or less points last year: Phil Campbell/Lamar County, Russellville/Lee and Vina/Waterloo.

The games to watch this week will be in 2A Region 8. Can Phil Campbell shake off last week’s loss to Colbert Heights and get a leg up in region play? How far Mars Hill’s football program has come will be tested against perennial region power Red Bay.

Phil Campbell hosts Lamar County

Last year: Lamar County won 21-19

PC 2017 record: 1-1 (0-0)

Phil Campbell coach Ryan Swinney: “Lamar County is a very athletic team. They have a lot of speed. They have some good size. Their quarterback is not as mobile as the one we faced last week (Colbert Heights), but he can throw the ball.

“They have a couple of good, athletic running backs and a big wide receiver. They run the same basic defense as Colbert Heights. They are physical and run to the ball. They have a really good defensive end and a couple of big linemen.

“We need to find ways to move the football, and we can’t keep shooting ourselves in the foot like we did last week. You can’t beat good teams making mistakes. We will have to keep the mental mistakes to a minimum.

“This is a critical game for us. It is our first region game. It will be winnable, but we will have to play a good football game.”

Tharptown at Shoals Christian

Last year: Shoals Christian won 41-13

THS 2017 record: 0-2 (0-0)

Tharptown coach Kevin Lacey: “Like last year, Shoals Christian is a very scrappy football team. They are very physical up front with a good misdirection running game on offense. Their defense does a really good job of mixing up pressures. They tackle well and rarely have guys out of position.

“This is a big game for us. We have played some very tough competition in Phil Campbell and Red Bay. This is where the games start to count as far as the playoffs are concerned, so we need to learn from these past two weeks, get better and get a win.”

Red Bay at Mars Hill

Last year: Red Bay won 30-8

RB 2017 record: 2-0 (0-0)

Red Bay coach Michael Jackson: “Mars Hill is getting better and better each year. They are a young program, but they know how to play, and it will be a tough matchup at their place.

“This will be our sixth consecutive regular season game on the road. Our guys are a little road-weary and ready to get home and play but will have to be ready for a good, well-disciplined team Friday night.

“Mars Hill runs the Wing-T, and they do a great job of taking care of the football and controlling the clock. We can’t make mistakes against them because we will not get that many opportunities to have the football. We need to play smart in the secondary and not give up big plays.

“Mars Hill is the kind of team that puts pressure on you to not make mistakes.”

Russellville at Lee-Huntsville

Last year: Russellville won 38-35

RHS 2017 record: 0-1 (0-0)

Russellville coach Mark Heaton: “They are going to be very athletic. They are big up front on both sides of the ball where games are won. They are young in spots, but you can tell from the game film they have gotten better from week one to week two.

“They have a very solid defense. They have switched from the spread offense to the Wing-T, and they have had some hiccups there, but when they execute they are hard to stop. They have a lot of speed.

“I think we have an advantage in the special team game. If we can make the game turn on special teams, we have a good opportunity.”

Vina hosts Waterloo

Last year: Waterloo won 33-30

VHS 2017 record: 0-2 (0-0)

Vina coach Jason Harris: “Waterloo will run the spread. They have a dual threat quarterback in the Palmer kid. He will be one of the best quarterbacks we will face this year. He can throw the ball all over the field.

“They have some tall, athletic receivers. They will be a challenge for us. We will have to play a very good game.

“Defensively they run to the football well. They are more aggressive than they were last year and more disciplined. They set up their returns in the kicking game well, too.

“We need to play an error-free game.”