The high school football playoffs don’t begin for another two weeks, but Florence and Grissom will play an elimination game Friday in Florence.
Grissom has a chance to advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
The Tigers haven’t won a playoff game since 2000. Grissom would finish fourth in the region with the combination of a win over Florence and a Sparkman win over Huntsville. If Grissom wins and Sparkman loses, the Tigers would join Florence at 4-3 and a tiebreaker would be used to determine which two teams go to the playoffs.
Both teams come into the game riding momentum from key region wins.
Grissom beat rival Bob Jones last week 28-14. Two weeks ago, Florence surprised Sparkman 20-13 on the road and then beat Huntsville at home last week 35-14 to improve its record to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the region.
The Falcons are currently in third place in the Region 4 race. Grissom is 4-4 overall and 3-3 in the region and in fifth place. The top four teams qualify for the postseason.
Grissom’s 4-4 record is deceiving since three losses came against teams that have been ranked in the AHSAA top 10 for the majority of the season. The Tigers lost the season opener to Class 6A Cullman 23-0. The Bearcats (6-2) just recently dropped out of the top 10. Grissom led Class 7A No. 8 Austin 16-0 at halftime, but the Black Bears scored in the final minute to pull out a 25-23 win. The Sparkman game was nip and tuck until the Senators (4-4) pulled away in the second half to win 28-14. Grissom led perennial Class 3A power No. 5 Piedmont 14-13 midway in the third quarter in a “game of no record” before the Bulldogs (7-1) won 26-17.
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Fourth-year Grissom coach Chip English has patiently built Grissom.
“We let the Austin game slip through our hands, but I’m proud of the guys' effort,” English said. “Grissom has struggled for so long that it’s a mental hurdle to get over the hump. The game against Piedmont ‚even though it didn’t count against our record, was a building block. Our confidence has continued to build after the win against Bob Jones.”
Under third-year coach Will Hester, Florence is looking to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. COVID-19 issues have played a large role in the Falcons season. Florence is 3-1 on the field this season. Their other four games were coronavirus-related forfeit wins/losses.
Hester, now in his 22nd year of coaching, feels this may be the most talented team he’s ever coached. After losing a lot of offensive production last season, including standout Dee Beckwith (now a freshman at Tennessee), the strength of the team is the defense. Carson Casteel (39 tackles), A.J. Lee (31 tackles, 4 sacks) and Kylan Williams (39 tackles) form an experienced, hard-hitting linebacker corp. Caleb Bennett (25 tackles, 2 sacks, 8 TFLs) and Hollis Martin (24 tackles, 3 sacks, 10 TFLs) are a dynamic duo on a fast aggressive defensive front. Florence also may have one of the best secondaries in Class 7A.
Cornerback Jahlil Hurley (21 tackles, 2 INTs. 4 PBUs, 1 KB) recently picked up SEC offers from Alabama, Auburn and Georgia.
“We’re senior-laden on defense playing a 3-4 scheme,” Hester said. “Jahlil Hurley is only a sophomore and this is his second year. It’s impressive that he was offered recently by Nick Saban, who knows talented defensive backs when he sees them. Keimari Clardy (18 tackles, 6 PBUs, 1 INT) is a ninth-grader and is a very physical cornerback. He had an interception last week but what impresses me about him is his ability to tackle the football especially against some of these 7A monsters that we play on a weekly basis. The one guy that we count on making our defense go is safety Makahi Russell. Makahi (41 tackles, 7 PBUs) is the quarterback of our defense.”
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The Falcons are also impressive offensively, rotating two quarterbacks -- Gardner Flippo (30 of 53 attempts for 343 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTS) and Caleb Mahan (10 of 21 attempts for 101 yards, 3 TDs, 22 rushes for 212 yards, 2 TDs). Florence has two exciting playmakers at running back in senior Javean Griffin (48 rushes for 261 yards, 4 TDs) and sophomore Jaylen Simpson (51 rushes for 328 yards, 5TDs). Jakobie Hurley (Jahlil’s older brother) has eight pass receptions resulting in five touchdowns. The offensive line is anchored by center Coleman Richardson, who missed his junior season because of a leg fracture, and big Jeremiah Johnson (6-foot-5, 270 pounds).
Jaidenc Gore-Powers leads Grissom in tackles with 84, Detrick Jones has 67 tackles, 3 sacks and 12 TFLs, followed by three-star Kentucky commit defensive tackle Kahlil Saunders with 62 tackles, 3 sacks and 9 TFLs. Landon Currie has added 53 tackles and 2 interceptions.
The potent Grissom offense scored more than 50 points twice this season, 57 against Lee-Huntsville and 55 against Albertville
“Quarterback Jakob Foss (93 of 171 attempts for 1,543 yards, 14 TDs) is our catalyst, he distributes the ball well,” English said. “We’re really good when we run the ball efficiently. Mark Howard (78 rushes for 481 yards, 6 TDs) ran for 187 yards last week and our offensive line really showed they can play with anybody. The Bob Jones defensive line is good. Our success in running the ball also opened up the passing game. John Allen Stogner (30 receptions for 509 yards, 5 TDs) had over 100 yards receiving last week. Elijah Johnson ((35 receptions for 437 yards, 3 TDs) had six catches and Reed Dexter (19 receptions for 331 yards, 4 TDs) scored two touchdowns.”
English said his defense has found ways to create turnovers.
“Sophomore defensive tackle Kenneth Long returned a fumble 92 yards against Bob Jones,” he said. “Nose guard Detrick Jones has really controlled the line of scrimmage. Kahlil Saunders, our Kentucky commit, has played big. Our secondary has played well, too. Amari Bailey has come up with huge tackles in the open field. Landon Currie at safety is a ball hawk. Two senior inside linebackers, Jaidenc Gore-Powers and Jesse Moffitt, get a lot of pressure.”
One key for Florence in reaching the playoffs the past four years is its continued dominance against region foes Sparkman and Grissom. The Oct. 8 win over Sparkman was the Falcons 10th consecutive win in the series. Florence is also 10-0 all-time against Grissom. The Falcons won last year’s meeting 31-14.
Hester knows the importance of a win.
“Grissom has only lost one game to the virus and we’ve lost three games to the virus,” Hester said. “It’s hard for us to fathom that we’re only playing our fifth game of the season and this is a must-win to get into the playoffs. We’re telling the guys if we win we’re probably in third place and if we lose we’re probably out. Our kids know very well what’s at stake in this game.”