By BY BRUCE HIXON – SPORTS EDITOR
Stand on a railroad track long enough and a train will come.
While the T.R. Miller Tigers will not open their season on a railroad track, they know they have a big individual freight train headed their way when they entertain the Clarke County Bulldogs Friday at Brewton Municipal Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
The big engine that is coming to Brewton is Clarke County running back Kenneth Kimbrough (5-11, 205 lb. sr.). Kimbrough rushed for 1,986 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. T.R. Miller held Kimbrough to a modest 64 yards on 12 carries last season when the Tigers notched a 21-6 win at Grove Hill. Then again, T.R. Miller surrendered 154 yards to Kimbrough's now graduated backfield mate, Jamarcus Robinson.
Kimbrough also has the advantage of running behind an offensive line that returns three starters from a year ago. Mark Lambert (5-11, 210 lb. sr.) and Jamarcus McCoy (5-11, 240 lb. sr.) return at tackle, while Otis Jackson (6-3, 255 lb. sr.) is back at guard.
Clarke County quarterback Tyler Walker (5-9, 150 lb. jr.) made his starting debut last season against T.R. Miller and completed just two of 13 passes for 30 yards with an interception. Walker rebounded from a rough opener to throw for more than 600 yards last season.
When the Bulldogs go to the air, look for them to try to find leading receiver Dwayne Owens (5-10, 160 lb. sr.) or tight end Josh Smith (6-10, 195 lb. sr.).
Riggs expects special teams to play a key role in the opener.
T.R. Miller has won eight straight and 15 of its past 16 season openers. The lone loss in that stretch was a 14-12 loss at Clarke County in 1998.
Friday's game will actually be T.R. Miller's fifth straight at home. The Tigers played their last two regular season games at home last year against W.S. Neal and Trinity Presbyterian. Their two playoff games against Greene County and Elmore County were also at home.