By By Adam Robinson – sports editor
It was not the season they were hoping for after going 10-2 last year, but making the playoffs for the second year in a row was a plus for the W.S. Neal Eagles.
It was the first time W.S. Neal made the playoffs in back-to-back years since the 2000-2001 seasons.
After alternating wins and losses for the first four games of the season, W.S. Neal dropped two in a row, losing to Thomasville and Opp in weeks four and five of the season. The Eagles won back-to-back in the next two games before losing to Jackson in week eight before beating arch rival T.R. Miller for the second year in a row 14-8 in overtime in the annual Battle of Murder Creek. W.S. Neal then defeated Calhoun in week 10 for homecoming before falling last week in the first round of the state playoffs against Cleburne County.
W.S. Neal will be losing 14 seniors off of this year's roster.
Both running backs Ray Nelson and Akeem Green are seniors. They provided more than 1,400 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. Nelson had 817 yards with six touchdowns, while Green provided 668 yards and 10 touchdowns.
While some key people will be gone from next year's team, quarterback Taylor Cash will be returning next year for the Blue Eagles.
Cash, who missed some time because of injury this year, had 489 yards passing and five touchdowns as a junior this year.
W.S. Neal scored 148 points in region play while giving up 140 for an average of 21.1-20.0. Neal scored 266 points overall and gave up 205 for an average of 24.9-18.6.
W.S. Neal's schedule for next year is unknown until the state posts its reclassification numbers.