By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
Sept. 19, 2002
A big battle in the West Alabama academy ranks is set for Eagles Field in York when South Choctaw Academy visits AISA Region 2-AA rival Sumter Academy on Friday night.
Both teams enter with 2-1 records overall and are 1-0 inside Region 2-AA.
South Choctaw blanked Escambia Academy 27-0 in Atmore last week. Sumter, meanwhile, surprised defending AISA AA champ Marengo 8-6.
The win has the Eagles in a good frame of mind for this week says Sumter coach Vito Papparella.
The Eagles are struggling with depth concerns. All 11 starters go both ways.
SCA is led by quarterback Rob Dahlberg and running backs Justin Bonner and Landis Herndon. Dahlberg was 5-of-10 for 52 yards. Bonner had 121 yards on 21 carries against Escambia.
The Eagles will counter with a sturdy offensive line paced by tackles John Upchurch and Bip Burage, guards Justin Bryan and Houston Ennis, center Wayne Malone and tight end Al Derby.
Sumter County
at Northside
Sumter County is coming off a good performance in a 20-12 loss to 3A power Aliceville last week. The Wildcats, now 1-2, head to Tuscaloosa to battle 2-1 Northside.
Assistant coach Chris Spencer said the Wildcats are making progress on offense.
Reynundo Sturdivant rushed for 115 yards against Aliceville while Anthony Watkins had 103. The pair combined for 250 yards on the ground in a 16-6 win over Midfield in week two.
Northside is 1-1 in region play after beating Francis Marion.
Livingston
at Dallas County
The offense finally got going for Livingston High last week as the Cougars pounded on Holt 34-18. It was the first career coaching win for new LHS head coach Scottie "Scatter" Jones.
This week, Livingston faces a huge challenge with a road game against high-powered Dallas County.
Dallas County moved to 3-0 on the season after steam rolling Fayette County 41-21 last week. Fayette County had already beaten Livingston 30-0 in week two. Dallas County is averaging 50.6 points per game this season. The 34 points Livingston scored last week are its first after two scoreless games.
Southern Choctaw
at Georgiana
The unbeaten Indians head east to meet the Georgiana Panthers this week in a Region 1-2A game.
Southern Choctaw is 3-0 overall after sinking Bayside Academy 30-0 last week in Bay Minette. The Indians are 2-0 in region play.
Georgiana is 1-2 on the season. The Panthers dropped their regional opener to McIntosh 14-6 last week.
Thomasville
at Choctaw County
Choctaw County needs the offense to get in gear. For the second straight week, the Tigers were shutout by a Region 1-4A foe. UMS Wright, the 4A runners-up from last season, blanked the Tigers 37-0 in Mobile last week.
Choctaw County is 0-3 on the season and has scored just eight points, that coming in a week one 21-8 loss to Southern Choctaw.
It doesn't get any easier this week. Thomasville is 3-0 and has outscored its foes by a 117-44 count. They whipped Gulf Shores 44-24 to go to 2-0 in region play.
Patrician
at Mobile Christian
The Saints head to Mobile to take on Mobile Christian this Friday. Mobile Christian was ranked second in the AISA state rankings. They also own a 14-7 win over fellow Choctaw County rival of Patrician in South Choctaw Academy.
Patrician was beaten by Southern Academy 21-0 last week in Greensboro. The loss drops the club to 1-2 on the season.
The Saints are led by running back Allen Gibson who has rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-20 week two win over Escambia Academy. Russell Cheatham also scored three touchdowns in that game
Cheatham and Brett Anderson each had six tackles to lead the defense.