Gaston (0-4) at Wadley (3-1)
Series record: Gaston 1, Wadley 1
Last meeting: 1999 – Wadley 33, Gaston 14
Last week: North Sand Mountain 65, Gaston 38; Wadley 52, Talladega County Central 36
By Gene Stanley/Messenger Sports Correspondent
Last week, Gaston and Wadley combined to score 90 points.
Gaston coach Josh Averett hopes that trend doesn’t continue this week.
“I hope our defense plays better,” he said. “(North Sand Mountain) scored at least four touchdowns directly off us missing a tackle or blowing coverage.
“If we can get our defense cleaned up, hopefully we’ll put together a complete game.”
On the offensive side, the play of quarterback Jordan Douglas has made Gaston’s running game open up somewhat.
Last week, Gaston ran for 240 yards and Douglas passed for 117 yards and three touchdowns.
In two-plus games, Douglas already has over 300 passing yards and five touchdowns.
“When we’re completing passes, our runners have a much easier time of it,” Averett said.
Other than the records, it sounds like these teams are almost mirror images of each other.
Wadley also has a good passing game and good ru-nners.
That bunch of Bulldogs has also struggled on defense a few times this season.
“They’ve got some good weapons on offense,” Averett said. “I put them on a level with teams like Section and Sand Rock.”
Gaston and West End currently share fourth place in Class 2A, Region 7, one game behind Westbrook and Section.
Also against North Sand Mountain, Jackson Bogle finished with 96 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
