Rivalry week hits Alabama

By By Jimmy Boone / EMG sports writer
Oct. 31, 2003
It is rivalry week, and sometimes the game has even more on the line.
When South Choctaw Academy travels to Patrician Academy tonight a playoff berth will be at stake. The winner of the game will be guaranteed a playoff spot. The loser will have to wait for the results of another game.
In other West Alabama action Sumter County High School will travel to Livingston where the teams will battle for supremacy in Sumter County. Southern Choctaw High School will host neighboring Millry, and Choctaw County will host long time rival Leroy. Sumter Academy will travel to Demopolis to play at West Alabama Prep.
The playoff positions for Class AA Region II will be dependent on the results of South Choctaw and Patrician. Wilcox Academy is guaranteed first place with a 6-0 record going into its game with Marengo Academy. Southern Academy was guaranteed a playoff position when it finished region play last week with a 5-2 record. Marengo, South Choctaw and Patrician are all currently 4-2 on the year, only two of the teams will reach the playoffs.
Marengo would guarantee its playoff berth with a win over Wilcox, but a loss will force the two-time defending state champs to root for Patrician.
Patrician is guaranteed a playoff berth with a win, and still could claim a spot in the playoffs with a loss if Marengo loses to Wilcox.
In a unique situation, South Choctaw could end up in second place in the region with a win, while a loss would eliminate them and end their season. Since Marengo defeated South Choctaw in the regular season, if both teams lose, Marengo will be in the playoffs, while South Choctaw would stay home. For South Choctaw, the only hope for a playoff berth is to win.
Patrician head coach Jim Archibald said he has made it plain to his team why this game is even more important than usual.
The battle for supremacy of the Choctaw County academies could come down to a battle of the South Choctaw defense and the Patrician offense.
After opening the season at 1-4, Patrician has now reeled off four straight games and stands at 5-4 on the year. Over the last four games Patrician is averaging 44.75 points. Last week Patrician defeated Warrior Academy 46-14.
South Choctaw has used a strong defense as they have gone 6-3 during the year. The Rebel defense has only given up an average of 13.7 points a game.
Archibald knows that the South Choctaw defense will be ready for his Saints.
Archibald said he knows that South Choctaw has a powerful passing attack led by quarterback Rob Dahlberg.
Last week, Dahlberg completed a 75-yard pass to Josh Adams for a touchdown against Clarke-Prep. Dahlberg has thrown for 1,072 yards and eight touchdowns so far this year. His favorite receiver is Adams, with 19 receptions for 535 yards.
Livingston
at Sumter County
There are no playoff possibilities for either team, but pride is still on the line. Both Livingston and Sumter County are at the end of disappointing seasons.
Livingston has only been victorious twice this season with wins over Holt and A.L. Johnson. Livingston fell to Greensboro 40-8 last week.
Sumter County claimed its first win of the year when it defeated Francis Marion 22-20 last week.
Every year a trophy is presented to the winning team.
Sumter County will count heavily on the running of Renando Sturdivant and Jamie Sturdivant. Renando Sturdivant had nine carries for 77 yards and two touchdowns against Francis Marion. Jamie Sturdivant took the opening kick off and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.
Watters said he knows his defense will have to be ready to stop Livingston.
Millry
at Southern Choctaw
With two schools less than 10 miles apart, you expect it to a grudge match.
Both Millry (8-1) and Southern Choctaw (7-1) have won their respective divisions, and both will expect the final game of the regular season to be a warm-up for the playoffs. Millry is a Class 1-A school while Southern Choctaw is 2-A.
Last week Millry defeated Coffeeville 55-0.
Millry only had one loss this season and that was to Washington County. Southern Choctaw defeated Washington County 15-12.
Leroy
at Choctaw County
Choctaw County has finished region play in fourth place, and earned a playoff berth. Choctaw County (4-5, 4-3) will host Leroy in the final game of the regular season.
Last week Choctaw County was defeated by Monroe County 14-0. Leroy lost to Southern Choctaw 14-7.
Sumter Academy
at West Alabama Prep
Sumter Academy travels to West Alabama prep for the final game of the year. West Alabama Prep (formerly Demopolis Academy) has also had a disappointing year.
West Alabama Prep is a Class A school and has a 4-5 record. Last week West Alabama Prep lost to Cornerstone Christian 31-7. Sumter Academy lost to Southern Academy 50-21.