By Staff
Scot Beard
With both teams stepping out of region play tonight, Vina and Phil Campbell will play for pride and county bragging rights.
The Red Devils will try to improve to 2-3 and give the homecoming crowd a victory. The Bobcats will try to pick up their first win of the season.
Vina coach Bill Smith said Phil Campbell has one major advantage over his squad.
"They're big like everybody else we've played," Smith said. "When they line up they are going to dwarf us."
Phil Campbell coach Michael Parker said the Bobcats size could have been an advantage if they had not suffered so many injuries during the past couple of weeks. Three of his players are on crutches, including Ryan Champion who tore his medial collateral ligament against Lexington last Friday.
The Bobcats started the season with nine players to rotate through the offensive and defensive lines, but the injuries have cut that number to six.
"(Our) size will be an advantage early, but a disadvantage late," Parker said.
He said his linemen would probably wear down having to play both sides of the ball the entire game and that is when Vina's quickness will become a factor.
After coaching stops at Speak and Hazlewood, Parker is familiar with the type of game Vina can bring to the table.
"If they can match up athletically it's a war – always," Parker said. "In normal years if they match up they play their tails off and they will get you."
Smith said his team is fired up about playing Phil Campbell.
"It's a big game. It's homecoming against a county school," Smith said. "(Phil Campbell) will be pumped up. They don't want to lose to us."