AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week
MONTGOMERY – Huntsville High School and Sparkman High School’s football teams both have shown plenty of promise this season.
Thursday night’s Class 7A, Region 4 battle at Milton Frank Stadium will go a long way in deciding which school will deliver on that promise this season as the visiting Senators (4-3) and host Panther (4-3) face off in the AHSAA TV Network Game of Week. Both appeared heading on a direct path to the 2022 AHSAA state football playoffs until last week. Both teams suffered critical setbacks with Florence downing Huntsville 27-7 and Bob Jones slipping past Sparkman 48-40. The losses left the Senators 2-3 in Region 4 with two games remaining and the Panthers 3-2, also with two games left.
That leaves both schools in a must-win situation Thursday night if the playoffs are in their future. Current Region 4 leader Austin is 6-2 overall and 5-0 heading into its game at Bob Jones Friday. The Patriots are 4-3 overall but 3-2 in region play. Huntsville faces Austin next week and with wins over both remaining Region 4 opponents, the Panthers of Coach Mark Fleetwood would be assured of a playoff berth. Two losses or a split could leave them out entirely. Sparkman, coached by LaRon White, can secure a playoff spot as well by sweeping Huntsville this week and Florence (6-2) next week. The Falcons are 4-1 in Region 4 with Grissom (2-5) at Braley Stadium Thursday night. Should Florence lose both remaining region contests, the Falcons would finish 4-3. Sparkman could also finish 4-3 with back-to-back region wins over the Panthers and Falcons.
If that does not sound confusing enough, Bob Jones could finish 4-3 in Region 4 if the Patriots split its remaining games with Austin and Albertvillle (1-6). A sweep by the Patriots could give them a 5-2 region record, which could leave them in a three-way tie at the top possibly with Austin and Florence if certain scenarios play out.
Thursday’s clash comes down to this, both coaches agree. Each must take care of business this week.
WOTM TV will be producing Sparkman-Huntsville clash, which will be shown over the AHSAA TV Network’s participating stations. The contest will also be live streamed over the NFHS Network and over wotm.tv. Executive producer is Vince Earley of WOTM TV. The commentators will be longtime TV personality Mickey Shadrix and for high school and college coach Rick Rhoades.
Huntsville has played well all season thanks to a depending running game led by a trio of juniors – quarterback Jacks McClung, running back Carlin Long, and wide receiver Ryan “Huck” Hensley and Amaree Jabber. Long, a 6-foot, 190-pound power runner, has averaged 130 yards a game this season with nine rushing touchdowns. McClung completed 85-of-131 passes for 894 yards and nine scores through six games, with Hensley making 25 catches for 323 yards and four scores. Jabber has 31 receptions for 245 yards and one TD. The Panthers are averaging just under 300 yards per game total offense and 27.5 points per game while allowing only 18.1 ppg – second best in Region 4.
Sparkman tops Region 4 and Class 7A with 43.9 points per game. The Senators’ defense is allowing just 17.4 points a game as well – best in Region 4 and fourth overall in 7A.
Senior Malachi Jones anchors Sparkman’s defense with 17.4 tackles a game this season and six sacks on the year. He also has had nine quarterback hurries. Junior quarterback Josh Ward, 6-3, 190, has completed 99-of-157 passes for 1,371 yards and 21 touchdowns and only seven picks. His top receivers are seniors Matthew Rozier and Karmelo Montgomery. Rozier has 43 catches for 570 yards and eight TDs while the 6-foot-5 Montgomery has hauled in 24 receptions for 383 yards and six TDs. The Senators’ two strong junior running backs Jayden “Drip” Thomas and Jayquel Coleman have combined for more than 1,000 rushing yards and eight TDs. Thomas is the team leader with 578 yards and five scores on 87 carries, and Coleman has rushed for 555 yards and three scores on 72 carries. Kick returner Jalyn Chambers has 190 yards on punt returns.
The AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week is one of 11 games set for tomorrow night. Other key games include Reeltown (5-1) at Luverne (5-3) in Class 2A, Region 3, Jackson (5-2) at St. Michael Catholic (5-3) in Class 4A, Region 3, and Prattville (5-2) and Lee-Montgomery at Cramton Bowl.
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WOTM TV has put together a strong network of cable affiliates across Alabama. Tonight’s game will be live on WOTM TV and WABM TV MY68 as well as Comcast Channel 17, WOW Channel 3, APT Channel 25.5 and most Spectrum networks. Check out the listings on the AHSAA website at the following link:
https://www.ahsaa.com/Portals/0/Sports/Football/Super%207/WOTM-Cities-November2020.pdf?ver=OVOVtQ2dCsWzvgoL086upQ%3d%3d×tamp=1605813191158 - To access the AHSAA Game of the Week over the NFHS Network, go to the following link
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ahsaa/gam4e6d83d334 - The AHSAA Radio Network’s Scoreboard Show will also air across the state Friday night. Go to www.ahsaaradionetwork.com for network information.
- To check out this week’s up-to-date AHSAA football standings by class and region, go to the following link:
https://www.ahsaa.com/Portals/0/Sports/Football/Standings/2022/2022%20FB%20Regional%20Standings%20-%20thru%20Week%207%20results%20-pdf2.pdf?ver=SGqeDDUCmJcDA9dfkSWCEA%3d%3d×tamp=1665606137062 - For this week’s scoring leaders, go to:
https://www.ahsaa.com/Portals/0/Sports/Football/Standings/2022/Scoring%20Leaders%2010%2012%202022%20PDF2.pdf?ver=YlWZzPQnBTxiTWkvlgo7aQ%3d%3d×tamp=1665597632829
2022 AHSAA TV NETWORK FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK SCHEDULE
All Games also airing Live at 7 p.m., on WOTM TV/
AHSAA TV Network, WABM TV MY68, and NFHS Network
Week 0: Aug. 18 Helena 28, Chelsea- KICKOFF CLASSIC, CRAMTON BOWL
Aug. 19 Auburn 17, Hoover 14 – KICKOFF CLASSIC, CRAMTON BOWL
Week 1: Aug. 25 Southside-Selma 42, Hokes Bluff 7
Week 2: Sep. 1 Mountain Brook 49, Minor 14
Week 3: Sep. 8 Valley 46, Sylacauga 14
Week 4: Sep. 15 Auburn 58, Lee-Montgomery 7
Week 5: Sep. 22 Anniston 30, Piedmont 28
Week 6: Sep. 29 St. Michael Catholic 49, Orange Beach 41
Week 7: Oct. 6 Fayette County 35, Gordo 0
Week 8: Oct. 13 Sparkman at Huntsville, THURSDAY, 7 P.M.
Week 9: Oct. 20 Pike Road vs. Carver-Montgomery, Cramton Bowl
Week 10: Oct. 27: Hueytown at Gardendale
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