By Joshua Huff, sports editor
SPRINGVILLE – Springville returns to action on Friday as it hosts Mortimer Jordan in what is the penultimate game of the season for the Tigers.
The matchup affords the Tigers an opportunity to record four wins in a season for the first time since 2011. That year, Springville finished 5-5. Since then, the Tigers have bounced between two and three wins.
To achieve that fourth win, Springville will have to fight its way through a Mortimer Jordan team that sits 6-2, 4-1 in Class 5A, Region 5. The Blue Devils have ripped off five consecutive victories following a 21-28 loss to Center Point on Sept. 6. After opening the season with an offense that scored no more than 25 points in a game, Mortimer Jordan has scored no less than 34 points in each of its past five games.
That offensive firepower now collides with a Springville defense that allows 27 points per game. The Tigers have allowed over 40 points scored in three games this season. Those totals all came against region opponents. In non-region games, Springville has only allowed nine points per game; the Tigers won all those games.
Mortimer Jordan’s offense is helmed by quarterback Kourtlan Marsh. In Mortimer Jordan’s victory over Munford this past Friday, Marsh rushed for 151 yards on 14 carries with three rushing touchdowns. He also passed for 90 yards.
Running back Keondrick Hankins added 129 rushing yards on 25 attempts with two touchdowns.
The Blue Devils sit in third place in Class 5A, Region 5 behind Sylacauga (7-1, 4-1), Center Point (6-2, 4-1). Central Clay County rounds out the top four at 5-2, 4-1.
Historically, Springville has had little luck against Mortimer Jordan. The Blue Devils defeated the Tigers, 42-13, in 2018 and hold a 9-4 all-time series record. The Tigers have not recorded a win against the Blue Devils since 2008.
