Gadsden City Titans (3-2) vs. Oxford Yellow Jackets (3-2)
AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week
Proud Programs Oxford and Gadsden City Tangle in Game of the Week Tonight
MONTGOMERY – Two of the AHSAA’s most storied high school football programs square off tonight in the AHSAA TV Network/WOTM TV Game of the week when Class 6A Oxford (3-2) travels to Class 7A Gadsden (3-2) for the 7 p.m., contest at Titans Stadium. The game is being produced by WOTM TV with Vince Earley serving as the executive producer.
Both teams have followed similar routes this season to identical 3-2 records. A tough early season schedule and rosters filled with younger players have resulted in some early growing pains for both squad. Both posted big wins last week and are riding some excitement and momentum into this week’s non-region game.
The Game of the Week broadcast team consists of Mickey Shadrix and Gerhard Mathangani, both with WEAC TV 24 who will be handling the play-by-play and color commentary for tonight’s game. The battle will be televised live over the AHSAA TV Network and livestreamed over the NFHS Network. WOTM TV has put together a strong network of cable affiliates across Alabama. It will be live on WOTM TV as well as WEAC TV 24 in Anniston and WABM TV 68 in Birmingham.
The two schools will meeting for the 16th time in both programs’ football history. The series is tied at 8-8 with the teams each year since the Gadsden City School System merged its three high schools, Gadsden, Emma Sansom and Litchfield, into one mega school which opened its school in 2006. The three schools combined to win 1,033 games and four state titles. Gadsden also had two mythical state crows (1944 and 1957) prior to the consolidation.
Prior to 2006, Gadsden and Oxford played for the first time in 1927 and met 19 times with Gadsden holding a 14-5 lead in the series.
Since consolidation, Gadsden City, now in its 16th year, has compiled a 98-78 record. Oxford, which began its program in 1920, is 591-375-44 in its 102nd season.
The Yellow Jackets, coached by Sam Adams, and Titans, coached by Ali Smith, are coming off big region wins. The Titans, led by running back C.J. Miller, came from behind to beat Spain Park 29-26 in tough Region 3. Miller had 13 yards on five carries at the half but finished with 228 yards on 24 carries and scored three touchdowns.
Oxford beat Pell City 35-10 with big games from sophomore running back Miguel Mitchell and freshman Damious Wilson. Mitchell had a 52-yard TD run in the third quarter that helped seal the win. The Jackets opened the year with s 55-0 loss to Hoover, followed by a 61-24 loss to last year’s Class 5A state runner-up Pleasant Grove. That loss was overturned due to a forfeit. Oxford then beat Scottsboro in Region 7 play, but dropped region decision to Southside-Gadsden before downing Pell City last week to improve to 2-1 in region play.
“We have had to develop the next man up mentality this season due to some injuries and our young team,” said Adams, who compiled a 56-29 record in seven seasons with one trip to the 6A semifinals as head coach at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. “Last week started five freshmen and an eighth grader. We are very young and inexperienced this year, but we have a good group of kids, and our seniors, though we don’t have many (11), are showing great leadership.
“A lot of our young guys have had to skip the freshman or JV phase and go straight to the varsity. Oxford has been very successful over the years so no one is going to feel sorry for us.”
Smith has been on the Gadsden City coaching staff all 16 years. He has served as head coach since 2019 and has compiled a 7-18 overall record. His team has already equaled last year’s win total. His team opened with big wins over Etowah and Fort Payne and played well in Region 3 losses to Oak Mountain and Hoover.
Our kids have done a pretty decent job against a very tough schedule,” Smith said. “We have a good group that really likes to work to get better every day. This series is tied at 8-8. It is always an exciting game with Oxford. Our communities have a lot in common. For us and our community it is a special game. Our kids know their kids and it is a good opportunity to play in a real exciting rivalry.”
A total of eight games are set for Thursday night with five set for the NFHS Network. Other games scheduled for tonight are Jemison at Maplesville, Winfield at Brilliant, Hatton at East Lawrence, Charles Henderson at Williamson at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Carver-Montgomery vs. Jeff Davis at Cramton Bowl and McKenzie at J.F. Shields.
Approximately 100 Games on Tap for NFHS Network Friday
On Friday, the NFHS Network is set to live-stream approximately 100 varsity football games over its NFHS Network School Broadcast Program. Among the games in this non-region week of scheduling will be several traditional rivalries including: Leroy at Sweet Water, Aliceville at Pickens County, Belmont (MS) at Red Bay, Thomasville at Jackson, Geneva County at Geneva, Cleburne County at Alexandria, Thompson at Mountain Brook, Hoover at Prattville, Russellville at Hartselle, McGill-Toolen Catholic a Murphy and Boaz at Albertville, to name a few.
The AHSAA Radio Network’s Scoreboard Show will also air across the state Friday night. Go to www.ahsaaradionetwork.com for network information.
To access the AHSAA Game of the Week over the NFHS Network, go to the following link
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ahsaa/gamd6897bd53c
To access the AHSAA Game of the Week over WOTM TV and its network of cable affiliates, go to AHSAA TV Network at the following link:
https://www.ahsaa.com/media and click on the AHSAA TV Network link.
A complete list of all varsity football games set for tonight and Friday can be found at:
https://www.ahsaa.com/sports/football/2021-football-season-schedule
Regional standings through last week’s games can also be found at:
https://www.ahsaa.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=2UayjTZDL1A%3d&portalid=0×tamp=1632342344234
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