Red Devils playing host to No. 9 team in 2A ball

By George L. Jones

The Selma Times-Journal

Just one more regular season hurdle remains for Maplesville.

And boy, is it a big one.

The Red Devils (8-0) stand as the No. 3 team in 1A and play host to 2A’s No. 9 team, Woodland.

For a team that set out to win every game this year, tonight’s matchup means there is unfinished business to take care of.

“Win or lose, we’ve got to understand our season is still going,” Maplesville coach Brent Hubbert said. “They’ve worked their tails off. The goal was set to win every game, and they’re going to have to work hard to get it.”

Woodland (8-1) may be the one team this season that can go tit-for-tat with the Red Devils in terms of skill.

Both possess good team speed, abundant skill and a little bit of history.

Maplesville’s last championship came exactly 10 years ago, and the Bobcats were runners up in the title game in 2004.

Woodland’s defense has given up eight points per game this season and is coming in off a 40-14 win over region opponent Pleasant Valley.

Maplesville’s 42-6 win last Friday over Verbena and its performance during the week has Hubbert confident in the way the game will shape up.

“Monday and Tuesday have been the two best back-to-back practices we’ve had,” he said. “There was a lot of jumping around. I hope that carries over to the game.”

A game between two teams like these almost always comes down to mistakes and opportunities.

The team that makes the least of the former and takes advantage of the latter will go into the playoffs on a winning note.

“We’re evenly matched judging by what’s on tape,” Hubbert said. “That could be different once we get out there on the field. The team that makes the least mistakes and makes the big plays will have the opportunity to win.”