TALKIN’ PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Red-hot Warriors have best chance to change fortune in county series

Published 6:48 pm Thursday, September 25, 2014

There are three games this week that’ll undoubtedly catch county eyes simply because there are two county teams in them.

Take a closer look at recent history, however, and there’s only one team in each rivalry that’s actually carried its weight.

West Point has dropped three in a row to Hanceville; Holly Pond seven to Fairview; and Cold Springs 10 to Vinemont, though in the latter’s defense, the last meeting was in 2001, and everyone knows how much has changed since then.

Think a lot has changed in the past 13 years? Try just one in the West Point-Hanceville series, which has the likeliest shot of producing a different winner from a season ago.

The Class 5A Warriors (4-0) have gone 7-2 since suffering a 45-22 defeat to the 3A Bulldogs in 2013. That includes their current six-game win streak dating back to Week 9 last fall.

Hanceville went on to win its final five games of the regular season after dispatching West Point with a strong second-half showing. The going’s been tough ever since, however, starting with a first-round playoff loss to Glencoe and ending with the Dawgs’ four-game skid to open the 2014 campaign.

There’s no reason to think West Point’s or Hanceville’s streaks in either direction are going to come to a close this week. The Warriors are an experienced squad with more momentum than it can handle right now, while the Bulldogs, who do have some very talented players on both sides of the ball, are stuck in rebuilding mode.

% Rob’s Pick: West Point

% Jake’s Pick: West Point

% Holly Pond (0-4) at Fairview (1-3): This rivalry was all fun and games until George Redding suddenly decided it wasn’t anymore.

Since arriving in Aggieland in 2007, the coach has been solely business against the Broncos, winning all seven meetings versus Fairview’s fiercest foe by an overwhelming average of 35 points a game. The closest Holly Pond has come during the span was a 28-7 decision in 2012. The most lopsided final was a 48-0 shutout in 2010.

While they enter this year’s battle on a three-game slide, the 5A Aggies are still very much the favorite against a 3A Broncos program that, despite some close calls and gritty efforts, has yet to find the win column in one-plus seasons under Mike Bates.

Bates is no stranger to Cullman’s Oliver Woodard Stadium, the site of Friday’s bout. He was 46-37 with a region championship and two playoff appearances in eight seasons (1993-2000) with the Bearcats.

% Rob’s Pick: Fairview

% Jake’s Pick: Fairview

% Cullman (2-2) at Fayette County (4-1): The last time the Black and Gold briefly dipped out of 6A play, things didn’t go so hot for their lower-classed foe.

The Bearcats booted Etowah from the 5A top 10 with a 35-8 beatdown back in Week 2 and will shoot for a similar result when they hit the road to take on the 4A No. 7 Tigers.

Like Cullman, Fayette County boasts a prideful program with plenty of postseason success. The Tigers are only two years removed from a 4A state runner-up finish and have advanced past the first round of the playoffs eight straight seasons, the same streak currently enjoyed by the ’Cats.

The key for Fayette County is Kyle Nalls, who’s already compiled more than 1,000 rushing yards. But if you’ll remember, Paul Ruiz has been a beast in every game for Etowah but one. Against the Black and Gold, he was held to a mere 32 yards on the ground.

Can Justin Patterson and Cullman’s scrappy defense do the same to Nalls? Surely. But even limiting the speedster to high double digits or low triples could be enough to put the Bearcats in position for victory.

A Black and Gold win would be their first in the series. They’re 0-3 all-time, including a close first-round contest in 1991.

% Rob’s Pick: Cullman

% Jake’s Pick: Cullman

% Good Hope (1-3) at Curry (0-4): One triumph was nice. So would making it two in as many weeks.

That’s a very realistic possibility for the Raiders on the road against a fellow 4A that’s yet come even close in four straight losses.

Keeping it competitive hasn’t been a problem for Good Hope. Three of the Red and White’s four games have been within a touchdown or less. That includes last week’s 28-21 win over J.B. Pennington, as well as a season-opening 48-41 defeat to Cordova.

Just for fun — because really, when isn’t cross-referencing fun? — let’s compare Curry’s outcome versus Cordova. The Yellow Jackets had their stingers ripped out from the stem in a 50-6 shellacking at the hands of the Blue Devils, leading me to believe there’s a very good chance Good Hope can counter an 0-3 start with back-to-back victories.

The Raiders shut out Curry — 19-0 in 1977 — the only time the teams have met.

% Rob’s Pick: Good Hope

% Jake’s Pick: Good Hope

% Vinemont (2-2) at Cold Springs (4-1): Check out www.cullmantimes.com or Thursday’s Times for a full preview of this county clash.

% Rob’s Pick: Vinemont

% Jake’s Pick: Vinemont

% Rob’s Record to Date: 22-9

% Jake’s Record to Date: 21-10