By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



Games don’t get any bigger than the one scheduled for Moncrief Park this Friday night. Two bitter rivals, Tuscalossa Christian and Tabernacle will both come in with unbeaten records as they meet for the chance to clinch first place in the Christian Football Association North division and a first round bye in the playoffs. Some people are expecting the game to be the first of two meetings between the schools. Most observers see these two clubs meeting again in the CFA state championship game.

“It may have already have been there, but if we win this game, most people in the league will see us with a bulls eye on our back as the team to beat,” Tabernacle head coach Keith Dabbs said.

Tabernacle (6-0) will host a Warrior club that the Torches lost to in a controversial CFA championship game in 2002, 21-20.

The Torches scored with under a minute to play and went for the 2-point conversion and the win. A pass completion into the end zone appeared to give the Torches the lead, but the officials called it no good. Later a Tuscaloosa television station replay appeared to show the catch as being good.

That history is not lost on the Tabernacle players this week.

“Our players will be a bit distracted with this being homecoming week,” Dabbs said. “But with Tuscaloosa as the opponent, I’m sure the players will be focused on the game.”

Dabbs calls the Warriors, “the best-coached team we’ll face this year.”

Dabbs said the Warriors are one of the best tackling teams in the league, partly due to outstanding team speed.

Tuscaloosa mainly plays a four-man front, but will show a five-man front against some running formations.

Dabbs said he’s not planning to be conservative with his attack, he’s going to use his whole playbook if needed.

Tabernacle senior quarterback Daniel Whaley, who completed all nine of his pass attempts a week ago, will work from the shotgun formation often this week, as Dabbs plans to open up the field.

“I think we’ve got a few more athletes than they do, so I’m not going to be conservative,” Dabbs said. “We’ve had a lot of success this year by jumping out early into the lead. Hopefully that will continue this week.”

The winner of Friday’s game will clinch home field advantage in the playoffs and have a bye week during the first week of the CFA playoffs. The two teams can’t meet again this year, unless they both reach the state title game.

“With the playoff brackets set up the way they are now, we’d like to make a statement with this game,” Dabbs said. “This is the best team we’ve seen yet this season, but it’s also a game we’re capable of winning if we play the way we’re capable of playing.”