FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Goals within reach for Tigers
Published 8:09 pm Thursday, September 20, 2012
The 2012 season is only three weeks old, but it’s never to early to revisit the goals set during the sweltering days of preseason camp.
Chilton County High School’s football team hasn’t made the playoffs since 2009 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 1996. This year’s group of Tigers would like to change that.
Through three games, they are in position to attain one of their goals: to host a playoff game, something the school hasn’t seen since that ‘96 season.
CCHS is 1-1 in Class 5A, Region 4 play. The Tigers visit the other 1-1 team in the region, Talladega, at 7 p.m. Friday. Even with a win, Chilton would still have plenty of work to do to earn one of the region’s four playoff berths, much less finish in the top two in the region, because three teams are still unbeaten in region play.
The top two teams from each region host first-round playoff games.
“We talk about it a little bit, but it’s still a little early in the game to try to do too much figuring,” CCHS coach Donnie Hand said about the team talking about region standings. “Having a home playoff game would be a big deal–that’s something the kids talk about.”
The weather hasn’t helped with the team’s preparation this week. Rain on Monday forced the Tigers indoors, and more rain on Tuesday threatened to do the same.
Since they couldn’t get on the practice field, the players and coaches spent time Monday inside their new weight room facility, watching film and working out.
The team can practice inside the gymnasium, but Hand said the conditions aren’t ideal.
“It’s harder to get the kids to sit there and pay attention,” he said. “It’s not a good situation, but it is what it is.”
At least they have the new facility.
“It is a lot nicer,” Hand said. “Space was an issue before. Now, we just go in there and turn on the computer and start watching film. We get a lot more done now in a shorter time.”