In a non-region game Friday night in East Brewton this week, the W.S. Neal Eagles will take on the Hillcrest Jaguars.
Hillcrest comes into the game this week against the Eagles with a 2-2 record, losing this past Friday night to Straughn 22-15.
W.S. Neal comes into the game 0-4 overall and 0-3 in region play after falling to Escambia County 60-0.
The loss Friday night was the Eagles third shutout in four games this season and sixth in their last eight games dating back to 2009.
W.S. Neal head coach Kevin Jordan said he thought early on in the game, his team played really hard against Escambia County.
“I thought we made a couple of crucial mistakes early in the first half that turned into scores for them, otherwise I thought we played pretty well in the first half,” Jordan said. “The score didn’t necessarily indicate it, but three of their scores in the first half we off of our miscues. So I thought we played fairly well and at least hard in the first half.”
Jordan said in the second half, his team really wore down.
“I didn’t think we played near as hard in the second half towards the end of the game,” Jordan said. “Pretty much the whole fourth quarter, we played a lot of kids, some B-team kids and got those guys some playing time.”
As for this week’s opponent, Hillcrest started the season 2-0, but has since lost their last two games.
“Obviously, as most Hillcrest teams are, they are athletic,” Jordan said. “They have a veteran quarterback who is in his fifth year as their starting quarterback (No. 12, Justin Nared),” Jordan said. “He has started since the eighth grade. He is really the key to their offense as he throws the ball very well and he is their most dangerous runner with the ball. He is a guy that we will have to contain defensively and we have to play physical because they are going to try to line up in the I-formation and run it at us.”
Jordan said defensively he has seen multiple fronts out of the Jaguars.
“They are kind of four-man look and then we have seen a five-man look,” Jordan said. “So we are not sure exactly what we are going to get, but they get after you and they really have some athletes that can really run.”
Jordan said No. 53, Travis Stallworth, a 6-2, 232 pound guard and linebacker is one of Hillcrest’s better players.
“He is a big kid,” Jordan said. “Also, No. 7, William Fergueson, is a really good receiver for them. They like to get the ball to him.”
Another key to Hillcrest is new head coach Larry Boykin.
“Coach Boykin is a very good coach and has won a few state championships in the past at Southern Choctaw,” Jordan said. “So we know coming in they will be very well-coached and a physical football team. He does a great job.”
Game time is set for 7 p.m. in East Brewton.