Friday night, in their final game of the 2013 season, the W.S. Neal Eagles will look to end their current three-game losing streak and head into the off season with a win against the Millry Wildcats.
W.S. Neal enters their final game of the season Friday night with a 4-5 record overall after finishing region play with a 3-4 record Friday night after losing to rival T.R. Miller 28-0 in the annual Battle of Murder Creek.
W.S. Neal head coach Doug Hoehn said turnovers for his team against the Tigers of T.R. Miller was the difference in the game.
“Both teams played extremely hard,” Hoehn said. “Turnovers didn’t help us. They returned an interception for a touchdown and we had another interception that ended a drive of ours. We had a fumble that ended another offensive drive, so that is three offensive drives that we turned the ball over and it makes it tough to win when you do that. Besides the touchdown they scored on the interception, they were able to convert another one after a fake punt.”
Hoehn said the punting game is a very important part of the game of football, and unlike last year when it was his team getting the big plays on special teams, T.R. Miller did it this year.
“All special teams are important, but I think the punting game is the most important,” Hoehn said. “When you are on defense getting ready to receive a punt, you have to remember you are on defense until the ball is punted, then you are on offense. We did not do that on that play. Likewise, you are on offense and have to protect it until the ball is punted then you are on defense. That hurt us.
“It was fourth down and five. They were able to convert it and score a touchdown. So if you throw in the touchdown off the interception and the fake punt touchdown, it makes it tough to beat a good team. Then you have our three turnovers. The kids play hard as did the Miller kids. It was the typical Miller-Neal game since I have been here. Both played with a lot of class.”
Millry enters the game Friday night with W.S. Neal with a 3-6 overall record and they finished 1-6 in region play.
The two teams met last year for the first time ever and W.S. Neal came away with a 66-20 win.
“They have two good running backs like we faced last week and they have a big fullback,” Hoehn said of Millry. “No. 34, Jeremy Abney, is their big fullback. He is big. The they have No. 28, Xavier Thornton, as their tailback. They are both really good backs. They are both power runners. They have a good quarterback, No. 10 Treveonte Turner. He is very similar to T.R. Miller’s quarterback. He is very elusive. He will throw the ball. They have a very good wide receiver in No. 1, Daviontae Young.
“These kids were injured last year when we played. Three of those four were injured so we did not get to see them play. We are going to have to tackle those running backs, contain the quarterback and cover their wide receiver. I would think we would have an advantage up front on the offensive and defensive lines if we were healthy, but we are not healthy so it is going to be a challenge for us. The kids are playing hard and we just have to continue to keep playing hard.”
Hoehn said getting a win in the final game would be big for his team.
“We need to come up with a win in this game and go into the off season with a win under our belt,” Hoehn said. “We need to go in with a win and start our winter workouts. It will be important for us.
“Injuries are part of the game. That is just it. We have been playing hard. We just can’t make the mistakes we have been making.”
Game time is set for 7 p.m. Friday night at W.S. Neal Stadium in East Brewton.