By By Adam Robinson – sports editor
Twenty-four - that is the number of consecutive seasons of football that T.R. Miller has made the playoffs counting this year. The Tigers had made the playoffs every year from 1984-2007.
This week, the Tigers will be heading 201 miles to Roanoke to face the Handley Tigers.
Handley (9-1) is coming off a 33-14 victory over Lineville this past Friday night.
T.R. Miller (5-5) is coming off a 27-20 loss at the hands of the Trinity Presbyterian Wildcats.
This week the Tigers will look to avoid those mistakes against an improved Handley team in the first round of the 4A state playoffs. After going 1-9 last year, Handley earned the region three championship this year after defeating Cleburne County 24-14 in week nine and was ranked No. 9 as of press time.
T.R. Miller and Handley have met four previous times with T.R. Miller owning a 4-0 record. The last meeting between the two teams was in 1998 when T.R. Miller traveled to Handley for the first round of the playoffs and won 42-21.
Handley has scored 311 points this season for an average of 31.1 while T.R. Miller has scored 223 points this season and is giving up 205 points for an average of 22.3-20.5.
Handley is led by running back Ladarious Phillips (No. 37) and back up Jarvis Atkinson (No. 5). Quarterback Darius Finley (No. 4) is another key player on offense for the Handley Tigers.
While Riggs spoke highly of the Handley Tiger offense, he was also very positive in his speaking of the Tiger defense.
Handley's defense has given up 166 points for an average of 16.6 points.
Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday in Roanoke.