By Charles Prince

The North Jefferson News



They’ve been there twice before, but this time they hope to bring home a trophy that has eluded the Tabernacle football program since its inception. Runners-up twice before, the Torches hope to bring home their first state football championship trophy when they meet the Tuscaloosa Warriors in the Christian Football Association title game in Tuscaloosa Friday night.

“I’m excited,” Tabernacle head coach Keith Dabbs said. “Our team’s excited. I think we could play it right now. We’re ready to go. I just hope we don’t peak too early.”

Dabbs, who was an assistant when the Torches made the Alabama Christian Education Association title game in 2000 and then was the head coach when they reached the 2002 CFA state title game, will bring a confident club into Friday’s matchup.

The Torches whipped the Warriors, 42-12 on Sept. 28. The first game was played at Moncrief Park, but this time the two teams will meet on the Warriors home field. A 46 X 100-yard playing surface that’s wider the field Tabernacle plays on at home.

“It’s really not an advantage for them,” Dabbs said. “Expect for being familiar with it. We’ve got more speed, so a wider field doesn’t hurt us, it helps us if we play up to our potential.”

Dabbs, who brings a 46-32 record as the Torches head coach into the championship tilt, thinks his club won’t be nervous or in awe of he spotlight that accompanies a title game, he thinks his team worked their nervousness out of their system in last week’s semi-final win over Victory-Columbus.

“We missed a block on the first play of the game and then on second down, we jumped off sides,” he said. “Coaches are always concerned about their teams being tight, but I think we’re be fine.”

Dabbs said he expects his club to play well this week, due in part to the six senior leaders on the Torches roster—Daniel Whaley, Luke Kaetz, David Sims, Mark Hunter, Billy Lopez and Will Lankford.

“We have a lot of experience on this team,” Dabbs said. “The seniors have been through two good seasons of winning, last year when we reached he semi-finals and this year. Mark Hunter had to practice with the varsity when he was in the eighth grade, due to the low numbers we had. We’ve got great experience. I think we’ll handle our nerves and play well.”

Dabbs put his club through a light workout on Monday and planned the longest practice of the week for Tuesday. Then, Dabbs plans on going light on his players, due in part to having already played 10 games.

“We’re not going to hit a lot this week,” he said. “We tackle more than most 8-man teams, but this time of year, everybody is nicked up, so I’m going to go easy on them this week. We won’t hit a lot before kickoff.”

Dabbs expects the Warriors to change up some of their schemes from the first meeting, but he’s expecting very few changes overall.

“I saw their semi-final game and they were using a little more shotgun than they did against us,” Dabbs said. “They’ll probably throw a little more. But, coach (J.D.) Vick and I have coached against each other so many times, we know what the other one does. They’ll try to do what they do best and that’s run the ball.”

The Torches have been tough against the run so far this year, but if Tuscaloosa is to pull he upset, they’ll have to do what no team has been able to do.

“We haven’t had any club move the ball on the ground consistently against us this season,” Dabbs said. “If they do that, it could a real interesting game.”

Dabbs attributed this club’s championship game appearance to three main factors.

First, the experience the club has gained over the past two seasons with a junior-dominated lineup last year and a senior-dominated lineup this season.

Second, the addition of depth, due to some first year players who have contributed this year including Jared Higginbotham, Mac Ogletree and Mortimer Jordan transfer Steven White.

Third, a productive summer in the weight room by the entire squad.

“Everything has fallen in place for us,” Dabbs said. “I think we’re the better team, if we play as well as we can, we should win, but you never know, that’s why you play the games.”