By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
It may not have been their intended destination when they began a three-game, combined 700-mile road trip, but it has taken the W.S. Neal Blue Eagles to a crossroads in their season.
The best direction for the Blue Eagles when they host the Abbeville Yellow Jackets Friday at 7 p.m. is probably straight ahead. Since its season hit rock bottom with a loss to Headland at the beginning of the recent road swing, W.S. Neal (3-3 overall and 2-2 in Class 3A Region 1) has rebounded with a stunning 7-6 win at Trinity Presbyterian and last week's 37-6 romp over Dale County.
The most dangerous opponent is often a desperate one and the Blue Eagles face an Abbeville team in that situation.
After the Yellow Jackets opened the season with back-to-back wins over Barbour County and Dale County, Abbeville (2-4 overall and 1-3 in region play) has dropped four straight. The last of those setbacks was a 91-0 blasting at the hands of Pike County last week.
Although his attack was grounded last week against Pike County, Abbeville quarterback D.J. Wiggins (6-0, 170 lb. jr.) has racked up 763 yards through the air for nine touchdowns.
In order for a quarterback to be successful, he has to have a good set of receivers. Hathcock said Abbeville has that with Antwon Knight (6-0, 167 lb. sr.), William Feggins (5-11, 167 lb. sr.) and Rick Combs (5-11, 192 lb. jr.). Knight leads that trio with 17 catches for 249 yards.
Running back Marcus Cotton (5-9, 185 lb. sr.) leads Abbeville's ground game with 208 yards.
While Friday is Homecoming at W.S. Neal, it also marks the Blue Eagles first home game since week three.