Series record: Etowah 12, Scottsboro 5
Last meeting: 2011 Etowah 22, Scottsboro 0
Last week: Etowah 37, Lincoln 25; North Jackson 27, Scottsboro 25
By Gene Stanley/Messenger Sports Correspondent
It may not look like it by the record, but Scottsboro has evolved into a dangerous team that would love to help rearrange the playoff outlook for Class 5A, Region 7.
The Wildcats should’ve taken their first win of the season last week, against powerful North Jackson, no less.
With only a few ticks left on the clock, Scottsboro hit a 40-yard field goal for the win. Yet the officials called the Chiefs offside, causing a re-kick, which missed.
“After the game, we told the kids that they didn’t lose that game, no matter what the final score said,” Wildcats coach Swane Morris said. “This week, they’ve practiced like they came off a win. I hope we can use that to give us momentum into the second half.”
Etowah coach Sam McCorkle knows the Wildcats are going to come up with some wins this year.
He just hopes they wait one more week.
“They’ve definitely been snakebit,” McCorkle said. “They’re going to jump up and surprise somebody – and I hope it’s not us.”
McCorkle knows that the best way for the Blue Devils to pocket a win is to play within themselves. He strives to have a plus-3 turnover ratio in every game, and in four games this season, Etowah has accomplished that goal. The Blue Devils were even with Fort Payne in turnovers.
For the season, the Blue Devils are plus-12, a very good ratio.
“Turnovers are such a huge factor for any team,” McCorkle said. “We’ve had one turnover in our four wins and three in our one loss.”
Etowah, Southside and Arab currently second place in the Class 5A, Region 7 standings, a game behind Fort Payne and Boaz.
