Etowah (5-0, 3-0) at Scottsboro (3-2, 2-1)
Last week’s results: Etowah 28, Lincoln 21; Scottsboro 55, North Jackson 0
2012 meeting: Etowah 40, Scottsboro 14
Series record: Etowah leads 13-5
By Gene Stanley/Sports Correspondent
Scottsboro may be the most improved team in Class 5A this year.
Not just counting the record, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents 97-7 the past two weeks, and that’s against Boaz and North Jackson, two teams that are traditionally strong.
“They’ve gotten better each week,” Etowah coach Drew Noles said of the Blue Devils’ Region 7 rival. “They’re the best team we’ve played so far this season.”
The Wildcats win or lose on the play of quarterback Trey Lewis, as they run a lot of option offense.
“They’ve got good depth at the other skill positions, too,” Noles said. “But the biggest thing may be that they’re learning how to get non-offensive touchdowns.”
Scottsboro has scored on seven short fields thus far, coming from special teams play and/or turnovers.
Meanwhile, Etowah is enjoying an undefeated season thus far and this is the best start since the 1999 season – a state championship year.
The Blue Devils are still improving, and Noles feels that last week’s full-game effort was good for them.
“We made four turnovers and had a field goal blocked and still won,” he said. “That really helps with confidence.
“And in Weeks 3 and 4, we didn’t have to play full games.
“We needed a good, competitive game like that to get our starters some good work.”