E. Limestone facing another pressure-cooker
Madison County game could help decide playoffs

Two weeks removed from a high-stakes showdown with top-ranked North Jackson, the East Limestone Indians are gearing up again for a game against Madison County that will be just as important to the Class 4A, Region 7 playoff picture and the Indians’ postseason future.

Class 4A No. 7 East Limestone (6-1, 4-1 in the region) hosts undefeated No. 10 Madison County (7-0, 5-0) in a battle to host in the first round of the state playoffs.

East Limestone coach Jeff Pugh said hosting isn’t the only implication on the line, but finishing first or second in the region also sets the course for the entire postseason and the road looks better for teams finishing in the top of the region standings.

“I think the biggest thing is not only home-field advantage, but also who we’ll play in the playoffs,” Pugh said.

While East Limestone and North Jackson have battled at the top of Region 7 for nearly a decade, Madison County joined the mix last season and is perfect so far this year.

“They are as good as we’ve played,” Pugh said.

“They’re as good as North Jackson.”

East Limestone could help itself with a win over the Tigers on Friday before North Jackson and Madison County play the following week.

“This could give us an inside track to host a playoff game, and then, we sit back and see what happens next week,” Pugh said.

Both East Limestone and Madison County have been dominant in region play. East Limestone is a combined 204-83 against region opponents this season, including a shutout over DAR, while Madison County has a total score of 238-39 in the region with shutouts over DAR and East Lawrence.

“Madison County is as big, strong and athletic as we’ve seen,” Pugh said.

“It’s going to be tough on us and we’re going to have to play real well, but we’re focused on playing our best game. We felt like in our one loss to North Jackson we didn’t play well. What we want to do is play our best game and see who wins and we’re telling our guys, ‘Let’s give ourselves a chance to see who the best football team is.’ ”

Austin travels with confidence: The Austin High Black Bears hit the road to play Grissom at Huntsville’s Milton Frank Stadium on Friday with a good track record away from Ogle Stadium.

Austin won last week’s home game with Hazel Green 31-14, but the Black Bears’ two previous wins this season came on the road: A 14-7 win at Hartselle in the season opener and a 34-31 victory at Sparkman.

A win at Grissom (1-6, 0-5 in the region) would keep the Black Bears (3-4, 2-3) in the postseason hunt with Buckhorn (5-2, 4-1) left to play.

Addison meets its match: The Class 2A seventh-ranked Addison Bulldogs meet eighth-ranked Red Bay this week in a matchup of the only two teams left undefeated in 2A, Region 8. Both have a tradition of being near the top, and statistically, it looks like an even matchup as well.

The Tigers of Red Bay have scored an average of 36.6 points per game this season, giving up an average of 16.3.

The Bulldogs have scored 26 points per game, while allowing 11.3 per contest.

Touchdown Club hosts former coach Rivers: A former head coach at Decatur High and Athens, Steve Rivers, will speak at the Touchdown Club’s weekly breakfast Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Cracker Barrel on Beltline Road Southwest.

Rivers played quarterback for coach Tom Calvin at Sylacauga High and receive a football scholarship to Mississippi State. He was head football coach at Decatur and Athens as well as Wakefield High in North Carolina. His son, Philip Rivers, is a quarterback for the San Diego Chargers.

Austin coach David Norwood will announce the players of the week, who will be honored for last week’s victory over Hazel Green.

Austin freshman football coach Paul Averitt also will give an update on the freshman season. All football enthusiasts are welcome to attend.

Decatur HIgh Booster Club Tailgate Party: The Decatur High Booster Club is having a tailgate party from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Friday before the Red Raiders’ contest with Muscle Shoals. The party will be next to the fieldhouse. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

All booster club members are invited and urged to bring a covered dish. Also, the club is still accepting new members.

For more information, call Carol Sartain at 350-2120.

Around the state

Prattville gets top 10 test: Class 6A top-ranked Prattville (7-0) won its 22nd straight game last Thursday night at Cramton Bowl, beating Robert E. Lee-Montgomery 52-6, and looks to keep the streak alive against 6A No. 10 Stanhope Elmore (7-0), in a top 10 battle of undefeateds.

Prattville is nationally ranked in at least four national polls and has not lost since the 2005 season.

McAdory stiffens defense, moves up: Class 5A McAdory (7-0) moved up to No. 2 behind Briarwood Christian (7-0) in the Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings this week because of its defense.

The Yellow Jackets’ defense has given up 19 points in seven games and its 2.7 points per game leads the state in scoring defense.

McAdory will face Shelby County (5-2) on Friday.

County battle close to home: In Class 3A, the highly anticipated Colbert Heights/Colbert County battle at Leighton on Friday night pits the sixth-ranked Colbert County Indians (6-1) against the seventh-ranked Colbert Heights Wildcats (7-0), led by the state’s leading passer, Jeremy Yates.

Predicting the preps

Daily Sports Writer Brooke Milam predicts how area teams will fare in this week’s games: Thursday’s game

Hartselle 21, J.O. Johnson 16 Friday’s games

Red Bay 21, Addison 20

Priceville 24, Ardmore 14

Austin 17, Grissom 14

Athens 28, Brewer 10

Lawrence County 21, Central-Florence 7

West Morgan 17, Cherokee 7

Good Hope 24, Danville 14

North Jackson 31, East Lawrence 7

Hazlewood 44, Hackleburg 0

Phil Campbell 21, Hatton 14

West Limestone 17, Lauderdale County 9

Clements 28, Lexington 27

Lyman Ward 23, Mount Hope 18

East Limestone 24, Madison County 21

Decatur 31, Muscle Shoals 14

Speake 38, Phillips-Bear Creek 14

Elkmont 22, Sheffield 14

Vina 13, R.A. Hubbard 12

Falkville 17, Vincent 16

Tanner 20, Winston County 17

Last week: 18-2 (.900)

Season record: 93-35 (.730)