Brewer (0-2, 0-1) at Etowah (1-1, 0-1)
Last week: Fort Payne 35, Etowah 18; Boaz 56, Brewer 19
Last meeting: Have never played
By Gene Stanley/Messenger Sports Correspondent
One week after losing to Fort Payne – arguably the toughest opponent in Class 5A, Region 7 – Etowah gets a taste of playing one of the weaker sisters in Brewer.
In fact, dating back to the final game of the 2010 season, it’s been 12 games since the Patriots have tasted victory.
The new realignment has put Brewer and Etowah in the same region. Thus, the teams will play for the first time in history.
“They’ve been through some tough times, but they’ve got a new coach (Dan Styles) who came from a winning program (Hartselle), so I know they’ll be improving each week,” Etowah coach Sam McCorkle said. “They have some good athletes, so I think they will be very competitive.”
The Patriots were one of the better teams around in the 1980s and ‘90s but suffered a severe drop-off. Brewer’s seniors were in the first grade – in 1999 – for the last playoff appearance and the last season with more than three wins.
Last week, Etowah lost to Fort Payne, 35-18, after building an early 12-0 lead.
“We’ve got to learn how to finish,” McCorkle said. “We got off to a good start, but made some crucial mistakes and let Fort Payne get on a roll. I think we’re as good as them, but again, we’ve got to learn how to play an entire game.”
The Blue Devils had the same problem in Week 1, struggling to a 7-7 halftime tie with Alexandria before pulling away in the second half.
“I’ve got to coach them better so that they’ll do better on the field,” McCorkle said.
Against Fort Payne, Devin Horton rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Tyler Bishop completed 19-of-34 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, while Dakota Parrish caught seven passes for 87 yards.