Looking into the crystal ball
By Staff
Justin Schuver, Sports Editor
Hartselle’s coaching staff has been looking everywhere for months to find a way to get their team to finish strong against tough competition. They found it Friday night right under their noses, with a defense that simply wouldn’t be denied.
Sure, the offense scored 17 points and that was more than enough to win but it was the big red “D” that made the difference in this gigantic battle — four fumbles, two pass interceptions, seven tackles for losses totaling 28 yards, 13 incomplete passes and 61 yards of total offense allowed in the second half.
What a statement made by players that don’t often get a lot of credit. If this level of performance continues the offense won’t have to worry about scoring 30 points a game to win.
Hartselle Tigers (2-0) at Russellville Golden Tigers (2-0): Hartselle has already shown that it can win games either by outscoring its opponents (Austin) or by out-defending its opponents (Decatur). They’ll need both sides of the ball to play their very best game to beat the top-ranked Golden Tigers on the road. Hartselle will play a hard-fought game, but come up just short of pulling off the upset…Golden Tigers 21, Tigers 14.
Falkville Blue Devils (1-1) at Fultondale Wildcats (1-1): The Blue Devils showed great heart in coming back from a 31-13 deficit to make a game of it against Westbrook Christian. Fultondale won its region opener against Victory Christian pretty handily, but the lessons Falkville learned in its loss to Westbrook will help it on the road Friday night…Blue Devils 31, Wildcats 28.
Brewer Patriots (0-2) at Muscle Shoals Trojans (0-2): Somebody will get their first win of the season after this game is played. There’s as much chance of this one being a shootout as there is of it being a close defensive struggle. Regardless, I think it’s the home team that squeaks by to get on the winning side of the ledger…Trojans 27, Patriots 20.
Danville Hawks (0-2) at Sumiton Christian Eagles (1-1): Has there been an unluckier team in the state than Danville? The Hawks have lost each of their first two games by one point. Danville needs this game to avoid falling too far behind in the Region 7 race…Hawks 26, Eagles 21.
Columbia Trailblazers (1-1) at Priceville Bulldogs (1-1): The Bulldogs performed valiantly against East Limestone, last year’s No. 2 seed in this region. Priceville was tied with the mighty Indians through the fourth quarter and with a few breaks, could have beaten East Limestone. They’ll have an easier time this week against a Columbia team playing its first varsity season…Bulldogs 31, Trailblazers 20.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (1-1) at Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0): Of the two in-state matchups of a Louisiana school and an Alabama school, this is the slightly less interesting one…Crimson Tide 45, Warhawks 10.
LSU Tigers (2-0) at Auburn Tigers (2-0): This game has all the makings of a classic. LSU and Auburn have cruised through their opening games and now face each other in a contest that could potentially decide the SEC West champion. Last season, in the Bayou, Auburn lost on a field goal in overtime. Being at home this time should make the difference…Home Tigers 21, Visiting Tigers 17.
Michigan Wolverines (2-0) at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0): If there were any questions about Notre Dame’s ranking in the top five, they were nearly all answered in a 41-17 drubbing of a Penn State team that won a BCS bowl game last season. The Irish have the look of a team on a mission, but they have to get past another test in a Michigan team anxious to prove that last year’s 7-5 record was an anomaly and not a start of a downward trend…Fighting Irish 35, Wolverines 24.
