Tigers, Trojans renew rivalry

Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 28, 2004

The pressure is finally off of the Greenville Tigers. Now they can have fun and enjoy the rest of their season.

The Tigers picked up their first W of the season Friday night in a route of Russell County.

"It was great," said Alvin Briggs, coach of the Tigers. "These guys deserve it and it's well long overdue. These guys have seen what it's like to put two halves together. We got a lot of turnovers and capitalized on those turnovers and got some points and we got our first win and out first shutout. So I'm proud of that."

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But, their winning streak will be tested this weekend when the Trojans of Charles Henderson roll into town.

"We have to improve to get ready for Troy this weekend. And get ready to beat them," Briggs said. "With a little more improvement this week, then we should come out with another win.

The Trojans will bring their wide-open West Coast-style of offense to Greenville for the match-up. But, they will be without their starting quarterback. The Trojans lost Jared Loftin for the season when tore his ACL. He produced 130 yards a game on the ground and in the air. Loftin is a junior though.

He has been replaced by senior Marquazs Toney.

"All of our games with Greenville have been very close because they are a very physical football team," said Hugh Fountain, coach of the CHHS Trojans. Greenville has been a scary team to me all season. They've got very good talent. Coach Briggs does a good job there. I think that anytime you play them I know this is going to be a tough game for us."

Briggs is not shocked after seeing the Trojans on film.

"We know what Troy's going to do and they know what we are going to do," Briggs said.

"All we need to do is prepare and work on blocking and tackling and stuff like that and be prepared and worry about the Greenville Tigers because Troy's going to take care of themselves. Its one of those rivalries we know we are going to be up for we've just got to be mentally prepared.

For the Tigers, this game is just one of two left on the schedule. They are not in a position to go to the playoffs.

But they are in a position to knock the Trojans down a notch and change their first round location.

Right now, Stanhope-Elmore is in first place with the Trojans clinging to second place above Wetumpka.

The two teams have the same region record, but the Trojans are ranked higher because they beat the Indians head to head. Booker T. Washington is in fourth and Eufaula is in fifth place looking to sneak in.

"Greenville's can pretty much do anything," Fountain said.

"They can't go to the playoffs and are probably using some of these games as a playoff for the season.

We are approaching this game as a must win, just to have second place. If we win Friday night, then we will be in a better spot to control our own destiny. "

"And I'd much rather be playing at home."

But for the Tigers, the pressure is off and now they can have fun.

"I don't know if it was pressure or just trying to get these guys to see what it feels like to win," Briggs said. "You don't want them to get used to losing or to accept losing. I guess that's the main thing. You don't want to get used to losing. For them to get a win and see what it feels like is great for these guys.

Anytime you can come out and shut somebody out on offense and score 28 points that means a lot."