Vina, THS meet for pride

By Staff
Scot Beard
VINA – The Vina football team opened the season with a win over Shoals Christian, a team ranked ninth in Class 1A at the time.
The squad at Tharptown opened the season on a four-game losing streak before defeating Mount Hope.
Neither team has won since picking up those victories and both squads share identical overall records of 1-7 and region records of 1-6.
Tonight the cross-county rivals will be playing for pride and to avoid finishing last in Class 1A, Region 8.
For Vina, a win would keep the Red Devils from being swept by all three newcomers to region play – Tharptown, Mount Hope and Waterloo.
The Wildcats could use the win to help ease what has been a difficult season after going 7-3 last year.
Both teams have battled major problems throughout the season.
The Red Devils have been cursed by inconsistent play on offense and have turned the ball over several times in multiple games.
The Wildcats have had injury problems for most of the season.
Two of those injuries occurred to members of the first group of seniors to play for Tharptown.
Linebacker Zach Sockwell missed a few early games with a concussion and quarterback Tyler Cagle reinjured his knee and has been replaced by sophomore Brandon Cothrum.
Tonight's game might be the last chance either team has of getting into the win column as Vina will host Hubbertville in the final week of the season while the Wildcats will host Hatton.