The Selma Times-Journal

Distraction is a dangerous word for a team having the season Maplesville is having.

The No. 3 Red Devils (4-0, 3-0 1A Region 3) have gone through some tough teams, but they haven’t exactly gotten stronger as the year has gone on.

After an emotional shutout over region foe Wadley two weeks ago, Maplesville made a lot of mistakes against Leeds last Friday.

A win is still a win, but they want to make sure those wins don’t turn into close losses.

“I know we had some letdown last week because we beat Wadley the week before,” said Maplesville coach Brent Hubbert. “We made every mistake we could possibly make, and we still won by 14 against a pretty good Leeds team. I hope we’ve eliminated those mistakes. We need to play a good, sound football game. The next four weeks are going to be nothing but rivalry games for us.”

This week is homecoming for the Red Devils – another distraction.

They will play host to a winless Isabella team, but that doesn’t mean they can afford to take this week any less seriously.

The Mustangs are rivals just miles down the road and will be more pumped up for this contest than any all season.

“The kids know we’ve got a bull’s-eye on our backs,” said Hubbert. “We’re taking it just like we have all year. It’s the same scouting report, the same practice schedule, the same everything.”

Hubbert said one of the biggest differences in his team this year is the defense.

That side of the ball has always been talented, but now it has progressed into a formidable force.

“They’re playing a lot more mature,” Hubbert said. “That’s because they are more mature – they’re all a year older. Speed’s definitely been a factor. The kids understand what our strengths are on defense, and they use that.”