Fairfield Tigers (0-0)         vs.      Center Point Eagles (1-0)

AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week

Fairfield meets Center Point Tonight in Birmingham Class 5A Clash

       MONTGOMERY – The Fairfield Tigers (0-0) officially open their season Thursday night at Clements Field against Birmingham area rival Center Point (1-0) in the AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week tonight at 7 p.m. being produced by Vince Earley and the production crew at WOTM TV.
      The Game of the Week broadcast team consisting of former Birmingham radio personality Landrum Roberts, who will handle the color commentary, and veteran TV 24 sports director Gerhard Mathangani, handling the play-by-play.
     The two schools will meeting for the 12th time in the both programs’ football history. The Eagles of Coach George Bates hold an 8-3 advantage but dropped last year’s exciting game 21-20. The two schools met last year after a 13-year hiatus.
      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.

     Center Point received a forfeit from Wenonah last week, and like the Tigers, will be playing their first game Thursday. The Eagles finished 7-4 last season finishing third in tough Class 5A, Region 6 behind Alexandria and Leeds. Bates’ team lost 27-22 in the first round of the state playoffs. He is 23-14 in his fourth season at Center Point and is 62-44 overall with head-coaching stints at Parker, Minor and Woodlawn.
    Fairfield, which finished 5-6 last season earning the fourth seed in Class 5A, Region 5 behind Ramsay, Pleasant Grove and Parker in 2020. The Tigers, coached by Keon Handley, lost in the first round of the state playoffs to Russellville 14-7.
“It was tough going through the whole summer, all the workouts and then the day before we were scheduled to play last week we learned the game was cancelled due to COVID,” said Bates. “It was difficult but we understand that we had to do whatever it takes to keep our players safe and healthy.”
  He added, “We know Fairfield will be athletic and big. One of their kids committed to Auburn just last week. Our kids are ready though and we think it will be a great game.”
  Both teams feature have a multi-talented player in the middle of their offensive scheme. Fairfield’s Handley, 15-27 as the Tigers’ head coach since 2017 and 16-36 overall, finds inventive ways to showcase talented 5-10, 175-pound athlete Jakobi Albert. He is a two-way starter at safety and wide receiver who committed to Auburn last week. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior had 30 receptions for 555 yards last season and returned five kickoffs for a 29.4 yard average and one TD. He recorded 29 tackles at safety.
     Center Point counters with junior tailback Troy Bruce, a super quick 5-9, 165-pound playmaker. Demario Hicks, a 6-0, 220-pound linebacker, anchors the defense.
     A total of 13 games are set for Thursday night – including Saint Michael Catholic of Fairhope hosting McIntosh in the official head-coaching debut of former NFL quarterbacking great Philip Rivers.
   The NFHS Network has a busy week with AHSAA member schools in the NFHS School Broadcast Program set to live-stream six varsity football games tonight and an AHSAA record 105 football games Thursday and Friday night.
   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/gam1f0864e1ff

    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