AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week
MONTGOMERY – Auburn High School returns to Cramton Bowl for the second time this season Thursday night – taking on tradition-rich Robert E. Lee High School of Montgomery in the AHSAA TV Network High School Football Game of the Week.
WOTM TV will be producing the 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.
Coach Keith Etheredge’s Tigers (4-0) opened the 2022 season in August with a 17-14 victory over Hoover in the AHSAA’s Kickoff Classic at Cramton Bowl. Auburn has continued that momentum with three more victories heading into Thursday’s Class 7A, Region 2 battle with the Generals (0-3) of Coach DreQuay Everett. Auburn heads into the contest with an all-time win-loss record 599-340-35. The next victory will be No. 600 for the Tigers, who played their first season 111 years ago in 1911. Lee began football in 1955 and has since compiled a 459-368-8 record with five state championships (1969, 1970, 1986, 1991 and 1992). The Generals reached the semifinals in 2018 before falling to Central-Phenix City in a heartbreaking defeat 34-28.
Auburn’s defense posted its first shutout of the season last week beating Jeff Davis 31-0. Etherege credited his defensive coordinator Scott Goolsby’s efforts following the win. “Coach Goolsby and his defensive staff have done an unbelievable job,” said Etheredge. “And we’ve got guys playing hard.” The Tigers’ defense had more than a dozen tackles resulting in losses last week. The pressure also limited the Vols to just two pass completions.”
Auburn’s defense currently ranks fourth in Class 7A in points allowed – yielding only 12.3 points per game. Lee lost to Opelika 51-7 last week as the Generals’ offense continued to struggle. Lee is averaging only 9.3 points per game – lowest of all nine schools competing in Region 2. The Generals are allowing 31.0 ppg. The Tigers, featuring a strong running game anchored by D.V. Williams, has averaged 30.3 ppg this season against a rugged schedule.
Etheredge’s squad is already 3-0 in Region 2 – tied for the lead with Opelika (4-0) – Auburn’s opponent in two weeks down the road. Lee is scoring just 9.3 ppg.
Lee, which advanced to the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs last season, are led by a trio of seniors, defensive end Jayce Woods, running back Jerald Bonner, corner Jalen Jackson, and wide receiver Darryl Dees. However, the Generals graduated 34 seniors from last year’s 8-3 team and returned only four starters this year. The strength of Class 7A, Region 2 has taken its toll thus far on Everett’s inexperienced team.
Both schools have had a strong NFL presence with outstanding alumni such as Terry Beasley, Fred Beasley, Lee Gross, Henry Ruggs, Mike Washington, former Lee head coach Tyrone Rogers, and Fred Weary – all excelling in college and the NFL. Auburn sports alumni such as DeMarcus Ware, Rashaan Evans, Marcus Washington, Eugene Rowell, and Reuben Foster, among others, who had been outstanding in college and in the pros.
Auburn holds an 11-4 edge in its all-time series with Lee. The Generals, however, won the last meeting 19-14 played in 2019.
Valley beat Sylacauga 46-14 in last week’s AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week. Next week’s Game of the Week will feature Anniston (4-0) at defending Class 3A state champion Piedmont (3-1) in a highly anticipated battle of schools in Calhoun County.
Thursday’s AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week is one of nine games set for tomorrow night. Last week, due to inclement weather, a total of 109 games were played on Thursday in the AHSAA.
Among Friday’s games this week Notasulga at Loachapoka in a key Class 1A, Region 4 game being showcased by the NFHS Network with its own broadcast crew set to live-stream the contest over the NFHS Network as a special game of the week. The two teams, just six miles apart, have played every year since Loachapoka started football in 1974. This year’s game will be the 49th in the series. The Indians (4-0) are ranked eighth in the state defensively and No. 1 in Class 1A allowing just 6.0 points per game. Notasulga (0-3), which owns a 34-14 edge in the series, has won the last eight games, however.
WOTM TV has put together a strong network of cable affiliates across Alabama. Tonight’s game will be live on WOTM TV as well as WABM TV 68 in Birmingham 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/gam2aad388e8c
The AHSAA Radio Network’s Scoreboard Show will also air across the state Friday night. Go to www.ahsaaradionetwork.com for network information.
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 at Lee-Montgomery, Cramton Bowl, 7 p.m.
Week 5: Sep. 22 Anniston at Piedmont
Week 6: Sep. 29 Orange Beach at St Michael Catholic
Week 7: Oct. 6 Lee-Montgomery at Central-Phenix City
Week 8: Oct. 13 Prattville at Lee-Montgomery
Week 9: Oct. 20 Gulf Shores at Vigor
Week 10: Oct. 27 Hueytown at Gardendale
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