SYLACAUGA, Ala. – This was the plan all along for Sylacauga High School – play 10 consecutive games, clinch a playoff birth and sit comfortably at home during the final week of regular season play.
Although it took all 10 weeks to clinch that coveted playoff spot, the Aggies’ plan worked and will pay off.
Last Friday night it took one of the best defensive performances the Aggies put on the field all year to take down Munford and clinch that spot.
Down 20-12 at halftime, Munford took the opening drive of the second half right down the field for a touchdown and a two-point conversion to put the lions up 28-12. The feeling that the Lions caught their prey and put a dagger in the Aggies’ season arose.
Then, however, it became the Mike Harris show. Harris is the second-year defensive coordinator for Sylacauga, and in a do or die game against Munford he earned every bit of his paycheck. The defense pitched a shutout for the remainder of the game, forcing multiple turnovers with the help of special teams, and the Aggies got the win.
Now, Sylacauga sits where it wants to be – well maybe.
Halfway through the season the path was open for Sylacauga to finish 9-1 or 8-2 with the possibility of hosting a playoff game in Legion Stadium against a third seeded team from another region. Now the Aggies will take a two hour road trip to Jasper High School (8-1), formally Walker, and face the top seeded Vikings.
Hindsight is 20/20 and ultimately the plan to play 10 consecutive weeks will pay off. Make no mistake about it, this will not be an “off” Friday night for Sylacauga coaches. Sylacauga Head Coach Matt Griffith told the Aggie Sports Network last Thursday night on the ‘Coach Griffith Show’ he and his staff will be in Jasper to scout the Vikings ahead of the playoff showdown.
Will next Friday night be an uphill battle? Probably so. But Griffith and his staff will not be caught off guard with fresh legs for the team two week to prepare.
The Aggie Sports Network will broadcast the game live on Yea!106.5 and the Yea!106.5 app available in the App Store and Google Play Store.
