There are a couple of big football games in Northeast Alabama this weekend, and one of them isn’t the Iron Bowl.
Both state high school football semifinal games at Piedmont and in Centre feature region rematches from earlier this season. Only this time the right to go to Auburn for the Super 7 is on the line.
So bundle up, head out to either the Field of Champions or Warrior Stadium, and enjoy some Thanksgiving dessert. It should fit in nicely with all that turkey and dressing.
Sylvania (10-3) at Piedmont (11-2)
Shortly after Piedmont’s 27-13 victory over Gordo last Friday night in the Class 3A football state quarterfinals, I asked Bulldog head coach Steve Smith for his thoughts on a rematch with Region 6 rival Sylvania, a team in which Piedmont throttled back in Week 2 40-7.
In that game, Piedmont senior quarterback Jack Hayes threw for over 400 yards and five touchdowns.
“Sylvania is nowhere near the team they were back then,” Smith said. “We understand this is one game for all the marbles to go to the state championship. Really, anything in the past doesn’t matter.”
Smith is correct in his assessment. Twelve weeks is a long time for a team to put things together, something in which both the Rams and Bulldogs certainly have done.
Sylvania defeated Geraldine 27-7 in the quarterfinals last week and Madison Academy two weeks ago in overtime 48-45. In the win over Geraldine, running back Braiden Thomas ran for four touchdowns, including scores of 72 and 78 yards, and intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Not too shabby, eh?
Speaking of not too shabby, Hayes took the Bulldogs on his shoulders last week against Gordo, rushing for 255 yards on 40 carries with four second-half touchdowns. Seeing that performance with my own eyes convinced me Hayes should be this year’s Mr. Football.
I think he’ll put on another show for the folks at the Field of Champions on Friday as the Bulldogs march on to Auburn.
The pick: Piedmont.
Oneonta (11-1) at Cherokee County (11-2)
The Warriors find themselves on the revenge side of this rematch from Sept. 9, won by the Redskins 17-14. In that game, Cherokee County built a two-score lead at halftime, but two Fluff Bothwell touchdowns and a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter provided Oneonta with the win.
Speaking of Bothwell, he bulldozed his way over previously-unbeaten Deshler in leading the Redskins to a 62-21 victory in last week’s quarterfinals. The senior ran for 315 yards and five touchdowns on 16 carries.
The win was victory No. 719 in Oneonta’s history – making the football program the winningest high school football program in state history.
Oneonta is a team that has played Cherokee County tough throughout the years. The Redskins hold a 12-11-1 edge in the series, including the last three meetings. This is the second time the two teams have met in the postseason. The Warriors won 35-14 in the third round back in 2008.
One other tidbit about this battle: Cherokee County is 7-0 at home this season. Oneonta is 6-0 on the road.
This should be another slobber knocker of a battle again featuring two of the state’s best running backs in Bothwell and the Warriors’ Jacob Cornejo, but in the end, I believe revenge will be a sweet dish for the Warriors.
The pick: Cherokee County.