Fall sports more than just football

By Staff
Justin Schuver, Sports Editor
If you do nothing else this fall, go see a local high school team play a volleyball match. I went to the Hartselle-Austin match last Thursday with the idea that I'd get a few photos and talk to the coach afterwards.
What I didn't expect was one of the most competitive and exciting sporting events I've seen since coming to Hartselle.
There's something impressive about a 10-point rally in overtime, no matter what the sport is, and those girls played hard the entire way even though they eventually lost to the visiting Black Bears.
Volleyball is a great spectator sport, with speed, strength and a tremendous amount of strategy. You would be amazed at how many times the best offensive move is not to spike the ball, but rather to just tap it lightly – it's like looking fastball but getting a change-up.
Coach Tanya Lybarger and her girls played great, and they deserve your support this season. Go out sometime and see a sport that is really exciting and entertaining.
And now, switching gears back to football, here are my picks:
Hartselle (2-0, 1-0) at Russellville (2-0, 1-0): This is the biggest game of the season so far, and is sure to be one of the most exciting as well. Russellville's vaunted passing attack goes against Hartselle's ground game. I can't wait…Tigers 35, Golden Tigers 31.
Good Hope (0-2, 0-1) at Danville (1-1, 0-1): The Hawks have got to hold on to the football and must have a better passing game. Good Hope played last year's region champion Vinemont tough last week, so this is not a gimmie by any means. The Hawks should still get their first region win of the season…Hawks 24, Raiders 10.
Holly Pond (1-1, 1-0) at Priceville (0-2, 0-1): The Bulldogs are still looking for their first win of the season, and are looking forward to finally playing someone with a name other than Bulldogs…Broncos 21, Bulldogs 9.
Falkville (0-2, 0-1) at Cold Springs (1-1, 0-1): Which is the real Falkville – the one who played Danville close the whole way, or the one who didn't show much at all against Cleveland? My guess is that the real Blue Devils are somewhere in the middle…Blue Devils 21, Eagles 20.
Athens (2-0, 1-0) at Brewer (1-1, 0-1): Somewhere down the road, Brewer will want to defeat the Athens and Russellvilles of the world. For now, they'll just be happy competing with them…Golden Eagles 35, Patriots 13.
Southern Mississippi (0-0) at Alabama (1-0): The kids from Hattiesburg probably have their minds on more than just football at this point, after Hurricane Katrina reeked havoc on their campus.
This is often a close game, but I just don't see Southern Miss as being able to concentrate this time around…Crimson Tide 31, Golden Eagles 13.
Mississippi State (1-0) at Auburn (0-1): Come on now, Auburn's not going to lose two games in a row at home to start the season. And it's not like quarterback Brandon Cox can possibly play any worse, can he?…Tigers 17, Bulldogs 6.
Notre Dame (1-0) at Michigan (1-0): Well, last week I said Notre Dame would lose by two touchdowns to Pittsburgh, and they ended up winning 42-21. So, you probably think that I'm going to suddenly expect the moon and that I'll come up with some wild prediction I wouldn't have made two weeks ago even in my wildest dreams.
Yeah, that's pretty much right…Fighting Irish 49, scUM 28.