When Meadowview Christian ended a long road stretch with a 1-5 record, the Trojans playoff hopes looked bleak and the season looked all but over.

As it turns out, Meadowview’s season was only beginning.

Before last week’s home game — one of three in a row Meadowview has to end the year — Trojans head coach Lebo Jones told his team the final three games were a brand new season.

“We told them let’s forget about what’s happened so far. Our new season starts tonight with these last three home games,” Jones said. “We knew we would have to win all three of them to get into the playoffs.”

Meadowview (2-5, 2-3) responded well, defeating Emerald Mountain Christian 63-7 last week to revive its season and to keep its playoff hopes alive. If the Trojans follow that win with victories Friday night against Brooklane Baptist and next week over Marion Academy, they’ll be back in the Christian Football Association playoffs for the second straight year.

The team is still trying to recover from a brutal travel schedule this year.

After playing its opening game at home, Meadowview played five straight road games and they took their toll. The Trojans lost four of those five and faded to four games under .500.

“I think everybody was ready to get back home after five straight on the road,” Jones said.

“Everybody was worn out and needed a new routine, not having to leave town every Friday to go play.”

Last week’s game was a blowout, but this Friday’s battle with Brooklane (3-3, 3-3) figures to be much more competitive. Brooklane has won games over Chilton Christian and Emerald Mountain the last two weeks by a combined score of 130-32. The Trojans have also beaten those two teams in lopsided games this year.

“They are a lot better team than they had last year,” Jones said of Brooklane. “They picked up five new players and they have a lot of speed. I feel like we can move the ball on them, but stopping them is going to be the key.”

Meadowview will also be playing without one of its leaders in Mason Kendrick, who severely separated his shoulder a few weeks ago.

Running back Zack Duke returned last week after tweaking his knee and is good to go this week.

Kyser Pickering, a ninth grader, broke his collarbone and will also miss the reminder of the year.

“The injury bug has bit us a pretty good bit this year, but we still have a chance for the playoffs and that’s’our goal,” Jones said.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday night.

 

R.C. Hatch at Keith

With two region games left to be played, the Keith Bears (3-4, 2-2) are in good position to clinch a playoff spot in class 2A.

The Bears will host R.C. Hatch (3-4, 2-2) Friday night in a key class 2A, region 4 game.

The winner will remain third in the region and move even closer to a likely playoff berth, while the loser will be in danger of missing out on the playoffs altogether.

Keith continues to alternate victories and losses.

The Bears lost to Verbena 40-28 last week, while R.C. Hatch comes in as winners of two of its last three games. The Bobcats defeated Billingsley 20-19 last week. This is the first time the teams have played since 2009.
Dallas County at Jemison

The scenario is pretty simple for Dallas County on Thursday— beat Jemison and the Hornets will likely be in the class 5A playoffs.

According to head coach Marty Smith, the Hornets (3-4, 2-2) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Panthers (3-4, 2-2) on Thursday night. Even with a win, there is a scenario where Dallas County could find itself in a three-way tie for third in class 5A, region 3, but Smith said the Hornets would also clinch in that scenario.

Dallas County is coming off a 48-20 victory over Marbury.

The Hornets scored more points in that win than they’d scored in the last three games combined, so the offense may be clicking at the right time.

The Panthers have lost back-to-back games to Marbury and Calera and will try to right the ship Thursday.

This game was originally scheduled for Friday night, but was moved to Thursday due to fall break at Dallas County.
McAdory at Selma

Selma (1-6, 0-4) won’t be in the playoffs this year, but the Saints will look to play spoiler the final three weeks of the year. A win over McAdory (4-3, 3-1) would be Selma’s biggest of the year and would create some momentum for the Saints going into the offseason.

The Saints come in off a 37-26 loss to Brookwood, while McAdory will try to win its third in a row.

The Yellow Jackets defeated Bessemer City 30-13 last week.

McAdory won last season’s meeting 40-7.
Southside at Central Hayneville

Although it won’t have any bearing on Southside’s playoff chances, Friday’s game with Central Hayneville has a lot of meaning for the Panthers (5-2, 3-2).

A win would clinch Southside’s first winning season since 2005 and would give the team some momentum to carry into next week’s game at Central Coosa, where a playoff spot will be up for grabs.

Central Hayneville (1-7) has lost four in a row, including a 70-26 loss to Goshen last week. Southside lost to Montgomery Academy 35-0 last week.
Morgan Academy at Northside

If Morgan Academy wins its last two class AAA, region two games, the Senators will be back in the AISA playoffs. Morgan (5-3, 1-2) will play at Northside Methodist (4-4, 2-1) on Friday night in a key game.

Morgan enters following a one-point loss to Fort Dale in overtime last week and Northside defeated Pike Liberal Arts 34-27 last week.

Morgan plays Pike Liberal Arts next week in another game that will likely have playoff implications.