By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
From a mathematical end, the T.R. Miller Tigers can not secure a playoff spot at the earliest until next week.
From a practical standpoint, the Tigers can all but wrap up a postseason berth if they knock off the visiting Slocomb Red Tops in Friday's 7 p.m. Class 3A Region 1 game at Brewton Municipal Stadium. Friday is also Homecoming night at T.R. Miller.
T.R. Miller begins the second half of the regular season still unbeaten at 5-0 overall, 3-0 and tied for the region lead with Pike County.
The Red Tops (2-3 overall and 1-2 in region) are coming off back-to-back shutout defeats at the hands of Pike County 34-0 and most recently last week's non-region game to Houston Academy 21-0. In fact, Slocomb has not scored in its last nine quarters. The Red Tops last scored in the third quarter of their 27-20 week three loss to W.S. Neal, a game they let a 14-point lead slip away.
The Red Tops have two of the better playmakers in Region 1 with quarterback/running back Justin Myles (5-11, 200 lb. sr.) and running back Jermaine Williams (5-6, 150 lb. fresh.).
freshman. He has excellent speed."
Reese Register (6-1, 170 lb. jr.) has been taking most of the snaps behind center as of late for the Red Tops.
After it allowed just six points the first two weeks in wins against Geneva County and Headland, Slocomb's defense has given up 82 points in three games since then.
T.R. Miller came up with some pretty big defensive plays of its own against Andalusia despite the fact it gave up 391 yards of offense. The Tigers came up with six turnovers, two interceptions (both by Mikel Riggs which included one returned for a touchdown) and four fumble recoveries (two by Baxley Raines).
The two fumble recoveries by Raines were just part of a big night for the junior, who averaged 43.4 yards over five punt attempts and was a perfect four-for-four on point after attempts.