Reeltown meets Clay County for 2A title

By Dusty Harper (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Two dominant defenses, two powerful running games and two of the most consistent programs in Alabama will meet for a state championship this afternoon in Tuscaloosa.

The Reeltown Rebels (13-1) and Clay County Panthers (13-1) square off today for supremacy in Class 2A at Bryant-Denny Stadium at 3 p.m. The Rebels are gunning for their third state title and first since 2001, while the Panthers are looking to bring back their seventh trophy home to Ashland.

For Reeltown head coach Jackie O’Neal, who is making his fifth appearance in a championship game, it’s not about the history of the two schools. It’s about sending his seniors out in style.

“Both programs are great, and there has been a lot of media coverage this week,” O’Neal said. “But this game means the most to our seniors. They’ve been dreaming of this since seventh and eighth grade. It would mean everything to them to end their careers with a state championship.”

The teams are similar in several aspects of the game. Both have stifling defenses that allow less than 10 points per game, both rely on a bruising rushing attack and both were on a mission from the end of last season, when each team’s season ended with a home loss in the fourth round of the playoffs, one week shy of the final game.

“We’re about as evenly matched as you can get,” O’Neal said. “Neither team has an edge on the opposing team. I think it’s going to come down to field position and turnovers. It’s going to be a chess match.”

O’Neal said his team has seen everything the Panthers will run already this season. O’Neal has coached in four title games at Reeltown, while Clay County’s Kris Herron is the first new head coach the school has had since 1989 when Danny Horn started his tenure with the Panthers. But, the veteran leader of the Rebels said his experience doesn’t give his team any edge and that each game boils down to the same thing.

“I don’t think (having coached in previous title games) is that much of an advantage,” said O’Neal, whose record is 1-3 in his first four championship appearances. “It’s just about preparation in practice the week before the game, just like every week. There are a lot of distractions with everything going on, but we just try to focus on getting ready for the game as a team. We look forward to when the game actually starts. It’s a relief to finally get on the field and get going.”

The Panthers lead the all-time series 3-2 after winning in each of the previous three meetings, with the last being a 43-16 victory in 1997.

The game can be heard live on Kowaliga Country 97.5. It will be streamed live on the Internet on www.cbs42.com and live stats can be found on www.ahsaa.com.

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