Gamecocks, Tigers prepare for region, rivalry battle

By Jeremy Wise

Published: October 2, 2008

The towns of New Brockton and Elba are separated by a seven-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 84.

Both teams occupy 2A’s Region 2 once again.

Those are two of the elements that make Friday’s game between the two schools a rivalry.

Despite the proximity, the two teams did not play until 2004, when Elba dropped to 2A for the first time.

The game was such a huge draw for both schools that the game continued when Elba returned to 3A for the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

Now, Elba is back to 2A, putting some region and playoff implications on the game again.

“It adds more importance,” said Tigers head coach Scott Rials.

The Tigers are 2-1 in region play, while the Gamecocks are 1-2. In normal circumstances, four region wins will qualify a team for the postseason.

The Tigers have won the first four contests, with the first two decided by two scores.

Elba hammered the Gamecocks 55-14 last year.

New Brockton Gamecocks head coach Jim Bob Striplin said despite the lack of success, his team will be fired up.

“Regardless of prior history, this is a game where motivation is not needed,” he said.

The Gamecocks are on a three-game skid, having lost to Houston Academy , Cottonwood and Ariton.

“We’re right in the middle of a stretch of playing great football teams with great traditions,” Striplin said. “We’re heading in the right direction.

The Gamecocks’ offense has struggled in the three contests, scoring only 24 points.

“We’re definitely not getting the big plays. We’re having sustained drives,” Striplin said. “Our biggest issue is the lack of big plays.”

Striplin said big-play ability “takes a lot of pressure off the offense.”

Elba has no shortage of big-play ability. In a 21-14 win over Geneva last week, the Tigers scored on a 54-yard pass, a 92-yard fumble recovery and a 78-yard kickoff return.

“Their skill players – they’ve got some of the best I’ve seen as a coach,” Striplin said.

That ability, even on defense and special teams, makes things easier for the offense, Rials said.

“It’s an old coaches’ saying, ‘If you can score on special teams and defense, then you shouldn’t lose,’” he said.

“We know they’ve got, among others, (Carlos) Matias back there,” Striplin said. “They put so much pressure on you in every phase. They remind me of Sweet Water. You feel like you make any mistake will hurt you.  It’s not the way you want to play football.”

Striplin faced Sweet Water, the 1A champion, last year as an assistant at Wadley.

Because Elba has more athletes and more speed, Striplin said his team must use its size advantage to win.

“If we’re going to have any chance at all, we’ve got to play a physical-style ballgame,” he said.

That means the Gamecocks will run, especially with Tevin McNair.

“Tevin McNair is a great player,” Rials said. “Their line is pretty big.”

Rials, knows his defense cannot sleep on the Gamecocks’ passing attack.

“They throw the ball well. They catch it well,” he said. “We have to play fast on defense, which we did against Geneva. We have to play to the end.”

Offensively, Rials said his team will “have to be sound and not turn the ball over.”

“Turnovers will get you beat,” the Tigers coach added.

The Tigers may be helped with the return of starting quarterback Michael Lindsey, who missed the Geneva game with a knee injury.

Rials said Lindsey has been cleared to play, but backup Gunnar McCullough is still getting some looks at practice in case Lindsey cannot go.

“He did a good job last week.We’re not afraid to play him,” Rials said.

Rials said the Gamecocks are sound defensively as they play a 4-4 set.

Striplin said to limit Elba, his defense will have to know their assignments and play them well.

Kickoff from Gamecock Stadium is set for 7 p.m. Friday.

Other injury notes: The Tigers will be without offensive lineman Kyle Pope, and linebacker Jason Mitchell may miss yet anther contest with a finger injury.

The Gamecocks are “healthy from top to bottom,” Striplin said.