CLAY, Alabama -- The first read on Clay-Chalkville in the 6A semifinals would be to lay odds on the home team. The top-ranked Cougars have scored 660 points. That's 17 more per game than the visitor in the Metro Game of the Week. The defenses both give up approximately 20 points per night.
Clay-Chalkville (13-0) has a Mr. Football candidate in Gardendale coach Matt Plunkett will be rooting for region brother Clay-Chalkville. His Rockets lost handily last week to the Falcons by a 49-14 margin. He thought Florence was stout on film, but found them even more impressive in person.
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He thinks Florence will win.
“The thing I feel will hurt Clay in this game is they don’t have Terelle West,” said Plunkett.
He was referring to the knee injury that sidelined West for the season. He averaged nine yards per carry for 1,427 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is the school’s all-time leading rusher.
“Florence will be able to take away Pigrome’s legs and it will come down to (receiver) T.J. Simmons and Pigrome. If Florence can take away those guys, I don’t see Clay winning the game. Pigrome will have to have the game of his absolute life.”
Plunkett did not allow Jefferson County or Region 6 loyalties to cloud his analysis. He expects the Falcons to spy Pigrome with Alabama safety commitment Artevius Smith (633 yards) to make plays.
“They have a really special defense,” Smith said. “But I don’t worry about who’s favored. I just worry about playing my best and we’ll see what happens.”
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Plunkett called the Falcons a “fine-tuned machine” and said the personnel on their defensive front was athletically as good as what 7A Hoover has, but didn’t know if they were as well-coached.
“We shot every bullet we had, but couldn’t run the ball against Florence,” Plunkett said. “That defensive front is too good and too physical. … I just think they are too physical up front for Clay to handle.”
Clay-Challkville faced Gardendale this year and won by a 45-20 margin.
“I am pulling for Clay to win but if I had to choose a team that would win the state title it would be Florence hands down,” Plunkett said. “They were absolutely fantastic and the best team I have seen all year. Florence is a flipping machine. The only thing that can hurt Florence is they might be too overconfident.”
The Falcons (11-2) won on the road to eliminate Clay in the second round last season. Shades Valley was the only in-state team to beat Florence this year. Bill Smith coached the Mounties and felt the best chance for the Cougars to beat the Falcons was with West on the field.
Shades Valley dual-threat passer RaShad Louie gave the Falcons fits, but the Mounties lost the playoff rematch. Louie was suspended and that was a key. Hood felt that turnovers will be a big factor. He said his Cougars need to match Florence’s physicality, to stress patience on offense and to play smart on both sides of the ball.
“They are the best team we have played,” Hood said. “There is no question about that.”
Hood felt the underdog status will motivate his players.
“I think it is disrespectful,” Hood said. “If you look at what we have done we have been in the top five in the state in the old 6A and this new 6A for three-plus years now. I take it like there’s no respect for us and we’re going to have to earn our respect for us like we always have. That’s okay with us. Maybe it will give us some extra boom.”
Jeff Sentell covers prep sports for AL.com and the Birmingham News. Follow him on Twitter for the latest high school cool across Alabama.
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