By Joshua Huff, sports editor
CENTER POINT – Center Point returns to action this week in a region showdown against Moody as the Eagles look to shake off a disappointing 6-17 loss to Sylacauga this past Friday. The result from the Class 5A, Region 5 showdown between the top two teams muddied the waters at the top of the standings as all four teams currently in the playoff picture sit at 4-1.
1). Sylacauga (7-1, 4-1)
2). Center Point (6-2, 4-1)
3). Mortimer Jordan (6-2, 4-1)
4). Central Clay County (5-2, 4-1)
Center Point, however, is in the favorable position of controlling its own destiny.
“You want to be in charge of your own fate,” Center Point head coach George Bates said. “That’s the positive thing. We must win out. We must win Friday versus Moody; we must win when we go down to (Central Clay County). That’s what it is. We win out and we’re region champions. That’s where we want to be. We lose one along the way, then it’s a three-way tie. We’re going to be first or third. That’s the situation.”
The Eagles next turn to face a Moody team that defeated Springville, 25-19, this past Friday. The Blue Devils sit at 3-4, 2-3 on the season with region losses to Central Clay County, Sylacauga and Munford. Moody has a complement of defensive players led by Aidan Calvert, Triston Manly and Mason Shockley who helm a Blue Devils defense that has allowed 26 points per game this season.
In region play, the Blue Devils have given up 116 points, which is currently fifth best.
The Blue Devils’ offense, however, led by quarterback Connor Rush, running back Terrance Moore and Will Grames, is the third worst unit in Region 5. The Blue Devils average only 16 points per game and have scored 59 points in five region games.
Photo by Joshua Huff
Center Point enters the game as the fourth-highest scoring offense in Region 5 with 154 points scored through five games. The Eagles average 26 points per game.
The Eagles’ defense only allows 16 points per game.
Bates will be the first to tell anyone that no team should be overlooked. But with Central Clay County waiting on deck, the trip to face a Moody team, which has never beaten Center Point and has not been able to string multiple wins in a row since the 2017 season, comes at a time when the Eagles need to reestablish their confidence and gain some swagger before going into a season finale that could very well decide the region championship.
“The positive thing about this is that we still control our own destiny,” Bates said. “We win out, we’ll be region champs. The loss (to Sylacauga) hurt. To be honest with you, maybe we started smelling ourselves a little too early. We moved up in the rankings. Parents, friends letting you know you’re good and this and that. A team that comes out with the same record is very hungry and knocked us off. However you want to put it, we got shut out offensively.”
