If Billingsley scores Friday, they will have done what the four teams that came before them on Maplesville’s schedule could not do.

The Red Devils defense has yet to surrender a point, but the coaches for both teams in Friday’s contest stressed the game isn’t about some scoreless streak.

“We try not to talk too much about not being scored on, that kind of stuff,” Maplesville coach Brent Hubbert safid. “We know it’s going to happen—it’s football. It could happen on the kickoff.

“We preach to our guys: It’s not about seven points, it’s about 48 minutes.”

If the Bears (1-3, 1-2 Class 2A, Region 4) put points on the board, it will likely be because junior running back Jimmie Lanier is producing as usual. Lanier is among area leaders in rushing yards per game (150), average yards per carry (7.9) and touchdowns (6).

Billingsley coach Joe Nettles said his team could be further along in its development were it not for problem plaguing the squad: missed practices.

“We’re playing hard, but we’ve some off-the-field problems,” Nettles said. “We haven’t played with a full deck every week. Once we get them all together and get them to understand that you’ve got to show up, be committed to the team, then we’ll have a good team before the year is over.”

Nettles, in his first season with the Bears, said the commitment to practice and improvement is what separates Billingsley and Maplesville (4-0, 3-0 Class 1A, Region 4), where Hubbert is in his seventh season.

“He’s got them believing in themselves, believing they can win, understanding that you have to play hard for four quarters,” Nettles said about MHS, and that’s especially true of the defense. “It’s 11 folks playing as hard as they can play every play.”

Eleven is the number of Devils allowed on the field for a given play, but the Maplesville defense actually depends on a larger number.

Hubbert said the development of several first-year varsity players—including senior Bobby Smith (defensive tackle), juniors Alex Payne and Jared White (both of whom play a number of positions) and sophomore Kelvin Hall (defensive back—has pushed the veterans to improve.

“The harder they push each other, the harder that guy out there on the field is going to play,” Hubbert said.

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Who will win?

Billingsley will bring to Maplesville as good of an offense as the Red Devils have seen. Look for the Bears to score the first points of the season on the Devils, but it won’t nearly enough to keep up with an MHS offense that’s just as prolific as its counterpart on the other side of the ball.

Pick: Maplesville | Picks record: 12-5

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Also Friday night

Jemison (2-2 overall, 2-1 region) at Calera (2-2, 1-2)
Good to see these two schools, which are close in proximity, play each other even though it’s not a region game. This game should become an annual rivalry. Pick: Jemison

Chilton Co. (2-2, 1-2) at Marbury (3-1, 2-1)

Just call this week “Should Be Rivalry Friday.” Like Jemison, Calera, Chilton County-Marbury makes sense as a rivalry game because the two schools are close—and there’s more than a few connections between the schools. Pick: Chilton Co.

Thorsby (4-0, 3-0) at Shades Mtn. (0-4, 0-3)
According to records available, Thorsby is already off to its best start ever. The Rebels should make it 5-0 before getting into meat of the schedule. Pick: Thorsby

Isabella (1-3, 0-3) at Verbena (0-4, 0-3)
Both teams desperately need a win in this game, so motivation won’t be a factor. It will come down to depth and experience, and that’s where Isabella has an advantage. Pick: Isabella