Holy Cow, we are in week 5. I can’t believe we are halfway finished. We need to enjoy this time because we can never get it back. Watch some football and have some fun! Well, I don’t have much to update you on the Bear situation. I will tell you that Ethel has called a contractor to see about putting indoor plumbing into our house. I think the outhouse is fine, but Ethel says it is time to get into the 21st century, whatever that means. We will see how that goes.
Now let’s talk about this week’s Coach of the Past. This week we feature former Plainview Coach Walter Thomas. Coach Thomas came to Plainview in the early 70s as an assistant coach under Coach Vernon Wells. When Coach Wells accepted a job at Albertville, Coach Thomas was asked to take over as head coach. He and assistant Coach Don Cunningham split the coaching responsibilities. Together with a host of great players, over the decade and early 80s, Plainview had numerous wins, county and area championships, and two state playoff games.
During the 76/77 season, Thomas led the Bears through an impressive 9-1 regular season, only taking a tough loss from the Stevenson Panthers. The next four seasons held many memorable games and wins. One of the most memorable games for players and fans was the 1977 hard-fought battle between the Bears and their arch-rival, the Sylvania Rams. The Bears overcame the Rams 13-7 in overtime, a great win for the Bears and Coach Thomas.
Coach Thomas’s favorite wins were the 1979 classic between Plainview and Bridgeport, the 1979 Plainview vs. Fyffe battle, the 1980 Plainview vs. Sardis matchup, and the 1980 Plainview vs. Stevenson game. Sardis and Stevenson were ranked first and second in the state that year. Coach Thomas loved to coach the game, but most of all, he loved the kids he coached. Coach Thomas passed away in 2010. Another Great coach from the past.
Let’s talk about some football. Sylvania went down the road to Geraldine and put a whipping on the Dogs 41-24. Pisgah took care of business at Ider with a 42-10 win, and Fyffe manhandled Section 54-0. North Jackson got its first win of the season with a victory over St. John Paul 21-14, while Arab captured the Wildcats of Scottsboro with a 28-7 win.
Plainview celebrated homecoming with a 28-7 victory over Glencoe, Collinsville beat rival Sand Rock 37-20, and Sardis got the best of Crossville 36-14. NSM trampled Whitesburg Chr. 54-28. Valley Head, also known as the comeback kids, came back in the fourth quarter and beat Coosa Chr. 35-33. Woodville stopped a 14-game losing streak with a 58-26 win over Vina. Penn St. put a beat down on Auburn 41-12, and Georgia had no trouble with South Carolina as they won 48-7. Texas AM got back on track with a 17-9 win over Miami, and LSU took care of Mississippi St. 31-16. What a great week of football. Now on to this week!
The Rams of Sylvania travel to Pisgah for a big game. This is not a region game, but it is two really good football teams matching up. Both teams can throw the ball; both teams have really good running backs and skilled people. This contest should be a SLOBBER KNOCKER OF A GAME! This one is hard to pick. After pondering it for a while, I am going with the Sylvania Rams in a close one, 24-21. Fort Payne travels to Arab after a bye week. Arab is the real deal. This game could go either way, but I am going with Fort Payne in an upset, 28-21.
This one used to be called the Super Bowl of Sand Mountain. It hasn’t been much of a Super Bowl in the last t few years. We have the Deans of Coaching in DeKalb County. Fyffe’s Paul Benefield and Plainview’s Dale Pruitt. These guys have won lots of games, but this week only one can win. Too Much Red! That defense at Fyffe may be the best one yet at Fyffe. Fyffe wins 34-14. Priceville comes to Scottsboro. Look for the Wildcats to take a victory 24-17. Brindlee Mountain faces Woodville, who is coming off a big win. Brindlee Mtn. has two wins this year, and Brindlee Mtn makes it three with a 28-14 win over Woodville.
Ider travels to Valley Head. This should be a good one. Valley Head is coming off a barn burner game. Valley Head has one of Ider’s own playing for them this year. What do you think? I think Valley Head wins big, 41-17. Crossville hosts Southeastern for homecoming. I wish this could be a happy homecoming for the Lions, but not this year. Southeastern wins 38-17.
Collinsville has no trouble with Gaston with a 38-14 win. North Jackson crosses the Tennessee state line to face off with South Pittsburg. This fight is a big rivalry game. Both teams are young. I say South Pittsburg wins 24-17. Westbrook beats Section 34-17.
Let’s look at the college world. Bama over Vandy 49-17. Auburn wins a close one over Missouri 21-20. Tennessee takes care of Florida 31-21. Arkansas beats Texas AM 28-21, and JSU gets the win over Nicholls State 34-14.
Well, that about does it for this week. Remember, watch some football and have some fun. Watch out for the Bears who are sturring around for food. Don’t be their food! Save me a spot by the fence! Until next week, Happy Footballing!