As the days get closer, fans of the T.R. Miller Tigers and W.S. Neal Eagles can hardly wait to see their teams take to the field for the 2013 season openers Friday, August 30.
Lets take a look and see how our two local teams have faired in their season opener games the past 25 years (1988-2012).
T.R. Miller:
The Tigers of T.R. Miller will come into their 2013 season opener against the Escambia County Blue Devils of Atmore with a 20-5 record in their season opener games the last 25 years. Last year T.R. Miller defeated Escambia County 41-14 in Atmore.
While T.R. Miller has enjoyed much success under head coach Jamie Riggs, the Tigers will put a two-game opening-game win streak on the line.
The last time T.R. Miller lost a season opener was in 2010 when Atmore stunned T.R. Miller in overtime with a 35-34 win.
Overall for T.R. Miller under Riggs, the Tigers are 20-4. The four losses for T.R. Miller have come in 2010, 2007, 1998 and 1989. In 2007, T.R. Miller lost to Clarke County 36-7. The Bulldogs of Clarke County also handed T.R. Miller their other loss in 1998 as T.R. Miller dropped a 14-12 decision in Grove Hill. In 1989—Riggs’ first year as head coach in Brewton—T.R. Miller lost to Jackson by a score of 9-6.
The only other loss for T.R. Miller in their 25-year span was to Jackson in 1988. That year, the Tigers lost to the Aggies by a score of 29-15 under head coach Joel Williams.
By the decades, T.R. Miller is currently 2-1 from 2010-2012; 9-1 in the 2000s; 9-1 in the 1990s; and 0-2 in 1988-1989.
Since 1988, T.R. Miller has only played four teams in their season openers: Escambia County, Clarke County, Andalusia, and Jackson.
In 1988 and 1989, T.R. Miller played Jackson and went 0-2. From 1990-1997, the Tigers played Andalusia and went 8-0. After playing the Bulldogs of Andalusia for eight years, T.R. Miller played Clarke County in 1998, 1999, 2006 and 2007 and went 2-2. Against Atmore, T.R. Miller has gone 10-1 with the lone loss coming in 2010.
T.R. Miller had an eight-game season opener winning streak from 1999-2006. The Tigers also had an eight-game winning streak from 1990-1997.
The most points scored for T.R. Miller from 1988-2012 was 45 points against Atmore in 2004—a 45-6 win. The least amount of points in a loss was six points against Jackson in 1989—a 9-6 loss. The most points scored in a loss was 34 against Atmore in 2010 while the least points scored in a win was in 1993 when T.R. Miller scored 14 points in a 14-0 win over Andalusia.
The most points surrendered in a season opener win was 31 points to Atmore in 2011—a 35-31 Tiger win. The most points surrendered in a loss was to Clarke County in 2007 when T.R. Miller lost 36-7.
W.S. Neal:
The Eagles of Eagles will come into their 2013 season opener against Holtville with a 16-9 record in their season opener games the last 25 years. Last year W.S. Neal defeated Holtville 41-0 in East Brewton.
The last time W.S. Neal lost a season opener was in 2011 when Flomaton defeated the Eagles 47-14.
Since 1988, W.S. Neal has played nine different teams in their season openers: Holtville, Flomaton, Monroe County, Daleville, Eufaula, Hillcrest, New Brocton, Marengo and Evergreen.
W.S. Neal is currently 1-0 against Holtville while going 0-2 against Flomaton in 2010 and 2011; 2-0 against Monroe County in 2008 and 2009; 2-0 against Daleville in 2006 and 2007; 0-2 against Eufaula in 2004 and 2005; 6-5 against Hillcrest from 1995-2003 and in 1989; 2-0 against New Brocton in 1992-1993; 2-0 against Marengo from 1990-1991; and 1-0 against Evergreen in 1988.
Against those nine teams in 25 years, seven different head coaches have led W.S. Neal. In 1988, Ronnie Cottrell led W.S. Neal to a 24-0 win over Evergreen to go 1-0. From 1989-1995, W.S. Neal was led by Hugh Fountain and went 5-2 in seven games.
From 1996-2002, W.S. Neal was led by another Fountain—Jim Fountain— and went 4-3 in seven games. After Jim Fountain, Shane Smothers took over at W.S. Neal from 2003-2004 and went 1-1 in his two season opener games. Following Smothers, Blaine Hathcock took over for the Eagles and went 3-1 from 2005-2008. In 2009 and 2010, W.S. Neal was led by Kevin Jordan who went 1-1. In 2011, Doug Hoehn took over the Eagle program and has gone 1-1 in his two seasons.
By the decades, W.S. Neal is currently 1-2 from 2010-2012; 6-4 in the 2000s; 8-2 in the 1990s; and 1-1 in 1988-1989.
In the 25-game stretch of games, W.S. Neal has had three different four-game winning streaks. W.S. Neal won four-straight from 2006-2009, 1995-1998, and from 1990-1993.
The most points scored for W.S. Neal from 1988-2012 was 45 points against Marengo in 1991—a 45-0 win. The least amount of points in a loss was no points against Hillcrest in 1994—a 7-0 loss and in 1989 against Hillcrest when W.S. Neal lost 14-0. The most points scored in a loss was 20 against Hillcrest in 2002 while the least points scored in a win was in 2001, 1998 and 1997 when W.S. Neal scored 14 points in wins over Hillcrest.
The most points surrendered in a season opener win was 11 points to Daleville in 2007—a 41-21 Eagle win. The most points surrendered in a loss was to Flomaton in 2011 when W.S. Neal lost 47-14.