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Football Picks by Coach Gooch

By Gary Thomas

 

Area teams are gearing up to face off this weekend. Here are my game picks for upcoming games.

Greenville Tigers vs. Headland Rams

Friday night’s matchup between 5A Region 2 opponents Headland and Greenville Tigers should be a good one. The Tigers are coming off a heartbreaking loss 26-24 to the Andalusia Bulldogs. After building a 24-0 lead, the Tigers’ defense struck a bad series of plays as Andalusia scored 26 unanswered points. Meanwhile, the Rams are coming off a loss to the Eufaula Tigers.

This game will be decided late into the fourth quarter and could go either way. But for Greenville, being back in the Friday confines of home, should be the motive for a Tiber win. Both teams are two-and-two, overall 0-1 in region play.

Gooch’s winner pick: Greenville 17, Headland 13

McKenzie Tigers vs. Florala Wildcats

McKenzie Tigers’ high-flying undefeated streak of three games came to an end this past Friday night as the Tigers lost 48-24 to their hometown rival, the 3-1 Georgiana Panthers. In a key 1A Region 2 battle, coming off a four-overtime win over the Elba Tigers 80-78. The Tigers came out slow and sluggish and that was their doom. They will host the 3-1 Wildcats in a Region 2 game.

Florala is coming off a 48-0 victory over the winless Pleasant Home Eagles, but with speedy quarterback, Quay Jackson, and a cat-quick defense led by Lajayvius Crittenden and his teammates, the Tigers will doubtless pull out the win against Florala for their fourth win of the season.

Gooch’s winner pick: McKenzie 36, Florala 21

Georgiana Panthers vs. Kinston Bulldogs

The Georgiana Panthers took home an emotional 48-24 win over county rival McKenzie Tigers with sole possession of second place in 1A Region 2 play. The blue-clad Panthers held back quarterback Quay Jackson all game long to preserve the 24-point victory. 

But this week’s opponent, the Kinston Bulldogs may give the Panthers a little more trouble than most people think. At one-and-three overall, the dogs scored 28 points on the Elba Tigers last week. They could be in line to pull off a major upset, but don’t count on it.

Gooch’s winner pick Georgiana 36, Kinston 16

Fort Dale Eagles vs. Morgan academy Senators

The Fort Dale Eagles have reeled in two straight wins the last few weeks and seem to be hitting on all cylinders. Coach Eric Folmar’s Eagles are averaging 35 points and giving up only seven points in the last two games. But the Senators will roll into Greenville with a one-and-one record as they adjust to the sudden death of quarterback Caden Tellier. 

The Senators came out last week on the short side for a 14-7 loss to Monroe Academy. But the Fort Dale Eagles are a well-rounded crew and should have no problem in putting away the outmanned Senators from Dallas County.

Gooch’s winner pick: Fort Dale 28, Morgan 7

Auburn Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

The Auburn Tigers bounced back in fine fashion after last week’s loss to the California Bears by outplaying the New Mexico Lobos 45-19. A change at the quarterback seems to be the early answer for the young Tigers as backup Hank Brown steps in to replace two-year starter Payton Thorne as Brown was 22-44 for 291 yards with two interceptions.

But this week’s visitors will pose a stiffer opponent as the host, the Razorbacks, in opening SEC play. The Hogs are coming off a 37-27 victory over the UAB Blazers as head coach Samm Pittman stands at 2-1. I believe this will be a four-quarter ball game and will be won late in the game, but the home-team Hogs get home field advantage.

Gooch’s winner pick: Auburn 31. Arkansas 28

Troy Trojans vs. Florida A&M Rattlers

For the third straight week the Troy Trojans lost their football game, this time to Big Ten power, the Iowa Hawkeyes 38-21. In the past three games, the Trojan defense has given up 104 points while their offense has only amassed 64 points. But there was a bright spot for the Trojans coming out of Iowa City — that being former Brantley Bulldog, sophomore quarterback Tucker Kilcrease, who only had his first pass of college play hit receiver DeVonte Ross on a 62-yard scoring strike with 58 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Trojans will be back in the friendly confines of Veterans Memorial Stadium as they face the 2-1 Florida A&M Rattlers who are coming off a 56-9 beatdown at the hands of the Miami Hurricanes. If Tucker gets more playing and the Trojans show their muscle on both sides of the ball, they should coast to victory.

Gooch’s winner pick: Troy 38, Florida A&M 10

Alabama has a bye week.

Gary “Gooch” Thomas is a long-time Crenshaw County resident, football fan and freelance writer.