Gadsden City (3-0, 2-0) at Albertville (0-3, 0-2)
Last week: Gadsden City 28, Oxford 21; Clay-Chalkville 52, Albertville 7
Series record: First meeting
By Gene Stanley/Messenger Sports Correspondent
Following a huge win, football teams can have the tendency to be flat the next week.
Gadsden City experienced such a victory last week, beating then-No. 8 Oxford. But Titan coach Joe Billingsley hopes that his team doesn’t start the game off on the wrong foot.
“We can’t afford to be flat,” he said. “We have to execute in all three phases of the game, against any opponent.”
Even though Gadsden City is undefeated so far, turnovers are something that Billingsley wasn’t happy with. But a turnover by Oxford turned a tie into a Titans victory as Rashad Carter grabbed a loose ball and rumbled 65 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
The win moved GCHS into a first-place region tie with Clay-Chalkville and Huntsville.
The Titans haven’t been flat in practice this week, an encouraging sign to the coaching staff.
“After an emotional win, you always hope your team can come out the next week and practice with the same idealism as before,” Billingsley said. “This week, they’ve done that. They’ve practiced as hard and as well as at any time this year.”
Albertville, coached by Emma Sansom graduate Joel Poole, is struggling in its return to Class 6A.
Billingsley, however, doesn’t see a struggling team.
“They’re definitely up and coming,” he said. “With a lucky break here or there, they could definitely have a win or two.”
With the proximity of Albertville to Gadsden, Billingsley also sees a potential heated rivalry in the making.
“There will be a lot of pride on the line, on both sides of the field,” he said. “I’ve never seen a Joel Poole-coached team that wasn’t hard-nosed and thinking they could win. If we go in acting like we’ve got it won, we’ll find out quick how good Albertville can be.”
Last week against Oxford, Trevor Sandridge led the Titans in rushing with 55 yards on 16 carries. Chris Lawrence added 32 yards on four attempts.
C.J. Moore completed 7-of-13 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns.
Jordan Veasy had three receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown.
