T.R. Miller Tiger head coach Jamie Riggs has always said at some point in the playoffs teams are going to have to go on the road against a very good team and play. He has also said that usually in the second round, an upset would have to occur.
This Friday night his No. 5-ranked Tigers will face all of the above as they head to No. 6-ranked Montgomery Academy. The Eagles are 11-0 this season.
TRM is 3-0 all-time against Montgomery Academy. The Tigers won the last meeting between the two teams 62-17 in 2011. Montgomery Academy, who is 11-0, defeated Daleville 45-30 in round one Friday in Montgomery.
“We played them a few years ago and they had a good quarterback in No. 12 Josh Thomas,” Riggs said. “We played them when he was a freshman and he did some good things against us that night. He is just a little bit bigger and heavier now and is a little bit older than a freshman now.”
Riggs said also right now for the Eagles, they have a few more quality football players than they did at that time in 2011.
“They have some really good lineman and really have a fantastic team this year,” Riggs said. “To go undefeated is really an accomplishment. They have been very solid on defense and have scored many points throughout the year. They have a quarterback that can both run and throw the ball. We have a great challenge in front of us.”
In class 3A, out of 59 teams, MA ranks sixth in the state with 444 points score in 11 games for an average of 40.4.
TRM ranks 14th in the state with 404 points scored in 11 games for an average of 36.7.
On defense, MA is eighth in the state with 155 points given up in 11 games for an average of 14.1. TRM ranks 12th in the state in class 3A with 176 total points given up for an average of 16 points/game.
“They have been really solid on defense the entire year,” Riggs said. “If you look at their scores, they win most of the games like 44-14. Their kicking game is also solid. They are a solid football team with not a lot of weaknesses.
“They are pretty good at just about everything. It will be a great challenge for us.”

AHSFHS preview:
http://www.ahsfhs.org/playoffs/playoffroundup2013a.asp?Team1=T.R.%20Miller&Team2=Montgomery%20Academy&class1=3A&round1=2&year1=2014