FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Geneva a different sort of opponent

Published 5:53 pm Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Maplesville’s football team will face a new challenge Friday night.

It isn’t the fact that the second-ranked Red Devils (11-0) will compete in the second round of the state playoffs. This season marks the third consecutive year MHS has made it this far in the postseason.

Instead, the Devils must contend with a disciplined opponent that will play sound football and try to force mistakes—then capitalize on them.

“They try to control the ball and keep your offense off the field,” Maplesville coach Brent Hubbert said of Geneva County (6-5).

In MHS’s other big games this season—think Vincent, Pickens County and Autaugaville—the other team has been one that relied on big plays on offense.

Geneva County will grind the ball across the field with a traditional double wing attack, a set Maplesville has yet to face this season, and not give up big plays on defense.

The Maplesville defense will have to play assignment-sound football to stop the Bulldogs’ running game.

Though fans might be accustomed to seeing the Devils air it out and score a ton of points each game, Hubbert said Geneva County’s approach is actually very similar to his team’s this season.

The shift in philosophy has worked in part because a young Maplesville defense has matured, after having eight new starters to begin the season.

“We graduated so many starters that obviously it was a question mark,” Hubbert said. “But the guys have responded well. They come to work each week, and they’ve done a really good job.

“Everybody is excited to still be practicing and playing.”

The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Maplesville.

Who will win?

Geneva County’s double wing offense—something the Maplesville defense has yet to see this season—will present a challenge for the Red Devils. But MHS is in this position almost every year, having to prepare for a talented and well-coached team in order to have a chance to advance in the state playoffs. The Maplesville defense will be ready and will be as tough to score on as it has been all season. And playing at home, the MHS offense will make enough plays to win the game.

Pick: Maplesville

Picks record: 56-17