Sports Editor

Here’s a short breakdown of this week’s high school football games. More to follow on Friday.

Red Level at Goshen

AHSAA Hall Power Ranking: Red Level (2A) 36, Goshen (2A) 14

Now the Eagles get to find out what their made of.

Red Level is coming off back-to-back losses to W.S. Neal and Georgiana and is hungry for a win. The Tigers lost to the Panthers last week 29-9, but don’t let the score fool you –

a few costly mistakes in the fourth quarter is what led to Georgiana’s big margin of victory.

The Eagles, meanwhile, have coasted to a 4-0 record and a No. 7 ranking in the ASWA Class 2A polls.

Stopping tailback Lorenzo Pryor, who rushed for over 1000 yards last season will be one of Goshen’s main concerns. The Red Level passing attack, led by quarterback Kevin Bond, is average.

The Goshen defense have given up just 13 points all year, but they haven’t faced an offensive attack like Red Level’s. And the Tigers’ offensive line is huge. Buddy Cowart is the largest of the linemen at 6-4, 340.

Besides Pryor in the backfield, there’s also fullback Tyler Ingram and wingback Jamie Wright. If the Tigers come out in a Wing-T formation, the Eagles’ defense could be in for a long haul. A perfectly executed Wing-T is hard to stop.

On defense, the Tigers are led by Wright again, who was an All-County linebacker last season.

The Red Level defense is solid, but had problems slowing down Georgiana running back Lucious Bradley last week.

Friday night they will be facing a faster version of Bradley, in Eagles’ running back Dee Brundidge.

CHHS at Monroe County

AHSAA Hall Power Ranking: CHHS (5A) 23, Monroe County (5A) 50

Last week’s loss to Hillcrest-Evergreen was a tough one for Coach Hugh Fountain and his Trojans.

The entire game was physical, with the Jaguars able to pound the ball out on the ground in the fourth quarter and seal the win, 20-18.

The CHHS defense had trouble stopping the run last Friday night, which kept the Trojans’ offense off the field. That will be a key for the Monroe-County defense. If CHHS can’t get their running game going and aren’t able to knock out some first downs, then this could turn into another close contest decided in the fourth quarter.

But not likely.

Monroe-County is 0-4 so far this season and lost last week to Carroll-Ozark, who haven’t seemed like world-beaters this year themselves, opening up at 1-3.

On paper, it looks like the Trojans should be able to handle the Tigers going away.

This game is on the road, however, and any thing can happen.

Barbour County at Pike County

AHSAA Hall Power Ranking: Barbour County (2A) 58, Pike County (3A) 10

That Jaguars, everybody’s favorite homecoming opponent, comes to Brundidge.

This is not a regional game, but will serve as a tune-up for next week’s contest against Class 1A No. 1 Courtland.

After losing a close one to Eufaula, the Bulldogs have rebounded with three straight regional wins, including last week’s victory over region favorite Dadeville. By beating the Tigers, Pike County has basically assured themselves a playoff berth.

Slowly, but surely, the Bulldogs have made their way to the top of Class 3A-Region Two. Only Alabama Christian, Montgomery Academy and Calhoun stands in the way of a regional championship.

PLAS at Monroe Academy

AISA Hall Power Ranking: PLAS (3A) 11, Monroe Academy (3A) 4

This week’s opponent is the usual one for the Patriots.

AISA top ten. Powerhouse team. Loaded with depth and unbeaten.

Coach DeWight Ward’s team just can’t buy a break.

Monroe Academy is No. 3 in the state and handed Fort Dale their first loss of the season

last Friday night, 27-21.

Four of the 3A teams Pike’s faced thus far this season have a combined record of 16-4. Greenville Academy, a team the Patriots beat, is 0-5. It seems the Tornados are everyone’s whipping boy these days.