By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal
All three Lowndes County football teams, Lowndes Academy, the Calhoun Tigers and the Central Lions are all looking to rebound from season opening losses.
The Lowndes Academy Rebels got chomped at home by the 2012 2A AISA State Runner-up Clarke Prep Gators 52 to 22 last Friday night in a regional season opener and are looking for better results at home against Sparta, who lost to Pickens Academy 24-8.
This will be a 2A non-regional contest.
Rebel head football coach Matt Marshall said he is looking for his team to play four quarters. “We can’t control our opponent,” Marshall said. “But we control what we do.”
He said the emphasis this week will be finishing every play. “We’ve had a great week of practice,” he said. “I really look for us to play with a little bit more enthusiasm.”
He said while most teams took the day off, his team practiced four hours on Monday and looked at film from this year and last year on Sparta.
He said he thinks his kids are hungry for a win.
Marshall said Sparta is a physical team a lot like Clarke Prep. But they will spread it out and get in the I formation.
Marshall expects junior quarterback Cody Harrell, who was favoring his leg last Friday, to start and be 100 percent.
Marshall said he thinks the Rebels will be able to run the ball and mix in some play action passes against Sparta.
In last Friday’s loss to the Clarke Prep, senior Jarrette Pope was a man-child for the Gators, rushing 11 times for 106 yards in the first half alone. He rushed for a total of 179 yards on 15 carries for the night and scored four touchdowns.
On the night for the Rebels, Harrell was 4 of 13 passing for 50 yards. He also had an 8-yard rushing touchdown and a point after touchdown and gained 22 yards on six carries.
Junior Thomas Ward rushed eight times for 50 yards and had one 18-yard touchdown.
Senior Garrett Headley added a point after and a 2-point conversion and rushed 17 times for 108 yards and one 1-yard touchdown.
The Rebels were led on defense by sophomore David Hussey who had six tackles and three assists.
The Calhoun Tigers are coming off a 54-0 loss on the road to 4A Dallas County and traveling Friday to play 2A regional opponent New Brockton, who lost a close one to Providence Christian 35-33.
Calhoun head football coach Bill Williamson said of last Friday’s loss, that while he saw lots of good things, “We just completely gave up. It was hot. We were going both ways.”
Williamson said going into Friday night’s game against New Brockton, “The only thing I can tell you is I’m more concerned about us than New Brockton. Dallas County beat us up physically and mentally.”
He said sometimes it’s tough to come back from a game like that. He said he knows nothing about his opponent because he could not get game film. He said his major concern is “getting our team to play as a team rather than individuals.”
He said at this point his team is undisciplined, not playing as a team and not tough. “That was just a real tough loss last Friday to a real physical 4A team. Even though I thought we played well until we gave out.”
William said he knows New Brocton has a good team because Providence Christian is a good team.
The Central High School Lions are at home Friday night against 2A regional opponent Highland Home, who listed a close one to McKenzie 16-14.
While coming up on the short end of a 40-28 contest, the Lions gave good account of themselves last Friday night in a road game to 1A Florala High School.
For the Lions Jamarcus Rush returned a fumble for a touchdown. T. J. Saffold returned a punt return for a touchdown and ran for two touchdowns.
Central head football coach James Bibb said this Friday night he is looking for his team to be more disciplined on defense and learn how to play “assignment football.”
He also need he needs more help in the defensive secondary.
On the offensive side of the ball, Bibb said, “We just have to execute our plays well. We can’t have missed blocks and any turnovers.”
He said Highland Home will be a real disciplined team with a lot of football experience. “In order for us to have a chance,” he said, “we are going to have to cut down on our mistakes, as well, but I do like our chances.”
He said he needs to get the ball up field to his athletes like Saffold, Marcus Flowers and Quinn Carter.