Thursday, September 25, 2008

Making The Grade Through Four Weeks

In case you have missed the first four weeks of the high school football season, we’ve got a quick recap.

The Unbeatens
Auburn, Opelika, and Smiths Station have steam rolled through their non-region schedule and are set to make the race into the AHSAA playoffs a fight to the finish. Mark Rose wanted to make Smiths Station a contender again, it appears he has brought back the Panther Pride. Auburn OL John Sullin said, “People wanted to doubt our senior class, but we want to prove them wrong.“ Sullin one of the top lineman in the state says his fellow seniors are only 20 strong, compared to 40 the Tigers had last year. And Spence McCracken isn’t getting too excited about his squad from Opelika. He said, “It’s more important to finish, we want to finish strong, not just start strong.“ They have turned some heads early.

Carver vs Northside-Warner Robbins
One of the best high school games of the year, Carver had a go ahead touchdown called back with under a minute left. A field goal sailed wide right, and the Tigers lost 7-6 to the two time defending AAAA champions. The Tigers would fall the next week at Baldwin, and head coach Dell McGee said both losses where ones they needed, because as region play begins, now is not the time to lose.

Region 2 AAA
Shaw is 0-4, Troup County has lost three times, but both teams non-region schedule was packed with teams above the AAA classification. We will see what they learned starting this week.

The Prep Zone
Through four weeks of the Prep Zone, we are starting to hit our stride as well. We offer the “Player You Want On Your Side,“ as we feature an area player doing the right thing on and off the field. Radio calls from area games, more coverage of the Alabama schools with our media partner the Opelika-Auburn News and Eufaula Tribune. We also let you vote online for our top 3 plays of the night, and give you a break down on what to look for on Saturday. You can also post your pictures to The Prep Zone website. We want to make a show that the fan will enjoy, I hope we are doing the job. Thanks for watching and reading, until next time.

Friday, August 01, 2008

Welcome!

It’s great to talk with high school coaches and players this time of the year. There is so much hope in their voice. Come October, they are not nearly as excited to talk. One of the reasons I decided to go into sports is tell the stories of high school athletes. In the professional ranks, it’s a job. And let’s be honest how many people do you know who like their jobs? But in high school the game, the atmosphere, the excitement, it’s still pure. So the first week of August, that energy is on full display.
Plenty of storylines headed into this season as well. The most obvious, can Carver repeat. A host of talented players have moved onto the next level, but they still have a certain linebacker that is getting major college attraction. But Jarvis Jones, will not be alone, one thing we have learned about Dell McGee, they don’t rebuild, they reload. And they have a preseason game with Central that is going to be televised by CSS. That is the impact of high school football in our area.
New coaches seem to be the norm. I cannot begin to tell you how the musical chairs of the coaching moves will shake down. Kendrick with Jerry Dukes, a former Carver assistant, Columbus High has Bryan Barnhill, Glenwood welcomes in Chris Holmes, and Smiths Station has a familiar face in Mark Rose. But that is just a few of the changes.
And it will be a swan song for Spence McCracken at Opelika. His final year, and I have a feeling he will not go quietly into the night.
The Prep Zone on WRBL-News 3 kicks off on Friday August 29th. What we will do is bring you into the game on Friday night. When we sign off on Friday night, we want you to have the total High School football experience. I will be checking in with this blog throughout the season and I appreciate your input on players to watch, and games that sould not missed. I look forward to you joining us on The Prep Zone.