Black Belt Region teams seek positive energy in regular-season finale
Published 2:49 pm Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Four teams in the Black Belt Region will be playing their final football games of the season on Friday night.
Ellwood Christian Academy (ECA) goes to Dallas County; Keith travels to R.C. Hatch and Selma visits LeFlore in Mobile on Thursday.
Meadowview Christian School (MCS) and Southside all played their regular-season finales last week.
Ellwood Christian Academy at Dallas County High School: The matchup of winless teams is the only contest in Dallas County.
The Hornets (0-9) were decimated by injuries all season long and forced to play several freshmen. ECA (0-9) has lost 35 straight games.
“Both teams will be looking to finish the year strong, it should be a good game,” Hornets coach Zeke Pigg said.
“The game will be interesting, with two teams having something to gain,” Eagles coach Migeual Catlin said. “One of us will have a win at the end of the day. You need something to end the season positive.”
Keith at R.C. Hatch: The Bears (5-5) can finish the season at .500 with a road victory in Uniontown. Keith was eliminated from the Class 1A playoff race last month and coming off a 24-0 homecoming win over A.L. Johnson.
Keith certainly has the offensive firepower to pull out a victory with its balanced offense led by junior quarterback Jared Edwards, senior running back Derrell Benjamin and senior running back Ledell Jackson.
“We want to close the season and send our seniors out on a winning note,” Bears coach Anthony Lumpkin said.
Selma at LeFlore: This contest, which will be played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, is a homecoming for Saints coach Christopher Raymond. He coached LeFlore from 2008-2012 and is a former standout for the Rattlers.
“I’m real excited about it,” Raymond said. “It’s where I played and grew up.”
Selma (2-7) has a chance to close the season with consecutive wins with a trip to the Gulf Coast region. The Rattlers (3-6) have struggled all season long, while the Saints are coming off a 60-14 thrashing over Aliceville, which Nicholas Parnell scored five touchdowns.
“This game gives our kids an opportunity to leave Selma and see how teams with a football tradition play,” Raymond said. “A win will set the tone for the winter workouts and our spring drills.”