By By Adam Robinson
sports editor
After a 35-6 win over Abbeville Friday night at home the T.R. Miller Tigers will take on the Luverne Tigers for the second time this season in the second round of the AHSAA state playoffs.
Luverne, 8-3, beat previously undefeated Pike County in their first round game to advance to the second round against 10-1 T.R. Miller.
All playoff teams from region one advanced to the second round as they defeated their opponents from region two.
T.R. Miller Tiger head coach Jamie Riggs said that Friday’s win over Abbeville was a really good win. Every victory is good and every playoff victory, but the win Friday night was a good team win.
Riggs said that Abbeville was a very formidable opponent and had some excellent skill people and some really good linemen.
As far of the adversity Riggs mentioned and the injuries his team suffered in the game, he said everyone is better.
This week, the Tigers of Brewton will take on region rival Luverne for the second time this season.
Earlier this season, T.R. Miller defeated Luverne 29-24 in Brewton.
Both teams came into the game undefeated and T.R. Miller lost their next game to Straughn to finish the regular season with a 9-1 record. Luverne lost their next two after the loss to T.R. Miller to finish the regular season 7-3.
Riggs said with the win over Pike County, Luverne is on a high right now.
In regular season to playoff rematches, T.R. Miller is 11-3 in 14 rematches.
In games won in the regular season, T.R. Miller is 8-0 and in games lost, T.R. Miller is 3-3 in the second games.
In games lost in regular season, T.R. Miller defeated W.S. Neal in 1996, St. Paul’s in 1998, and Alba in 1985.
In games lost in regular season, T.R. Miller has lost to Pike County twice in 2003 and 2005 and UMS-Wright in 2001.
Riggs said in preparing for a team twice in one season, everyone pays attention to the first game.
In that game, Andalusia won the first game and Opp won in the playoffs to advance to the second round.
In the first game this season, Luverne struck first after a T.R. Miller fumble to go ahead 6-0.
T.R. Miller then built a 23-6 lead before Luverne scored on a 51-yard bomb right before the half to cut the lead to 23-12.
Then, the Tigers cut the lead to 23-18 before T.R. Miller went ahead 29-18 and Luverne scored late to cut the lead to 29-24.
The Tiger defense intercepted a late pass and the offense ran time off the clock before the defense held again on four plays to let the offense take over and get the win.
The two Tigers will tangle in round two at 7 p.m. at Brewton Municipal Stadium Friday night in Brewton for a chance to advance to the quarterfinal round of the AHSAA playoffs and take on the winner of Gordo and Trinity. If T.R. Miller wins Friday night, they would travel to the winner regardless of who wins.