By BY BRUCE HIXON – sports editor
Playing the No. 1 team in the state in Class 4A is a tough enough assignment for the W.S. Neal Blue Eagles.
That is not the biggest thing that concerns W.S. Neal coach Blaine Hathcock about Friday's Region 1 home clash against the Thomasville Tigers.
The Tigers have survived a couple of tough tussles so far. Thomasville, which reached the Class 4A state semifinals last year, edged Class 1A member Sweet Water 20-14 in week one. While the Tigers dismantled Hillcrest-Evergreen 42-16 in the opening week of region play, they survived a tight 27-18 struggle last week against Jackson.
It is also attitude Hathcock hopes will carry his team, which improved to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in region play with last week's 42-12 win at Southside-Selma.
W.S. Neal's chances probably depend on how well it contains Tigers quarterback Jake Overstreet (6-1, 200 lb. sr.). Overstreet is coming off a season where he threw for 1,412 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Thomasville features a bruising running game led by fullback Roya Campbell (6-1, 190 lb. sr.). Delvonte Harris (5-11, 165 lb. sr.) and Alex Buford (6-0, 160 lb. jr.) are also threats.
The Tigers have two credible receivers, Darrell Jackson and Shed Simmons. Jackson has bounced from a torn ACL that cut short what had been a promising 2005 season.
Thomasville's special teams may also be a problem for the Blue Eagles.