By DREW GRANTHUM/Staff Writer

MAPLESVILLE — The Maplesville High School football team is headed to the AHSAA Class 1A State Championship game with one goal in mind: a Red Devil reprieve.

The squad knows all-too-well about making it to the championship contest, as they clinched a berth in the game last season, racking up 14 consecutive wins before falling to Pickens County 38-18 in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

This year, though, it’s no longer about making it to the title game; it’s about winning it.

Head coach Brent Hubbert said the key to success will be keeping the team focused on the things that got them to the state championship game on Dec. 3, this time in Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn against Hubbertville.

“I think focus can become an issue; motivation should not be an issue,” he said. “When you’re playing for the state championship, you should be naturally motivated. That’s what you work for. It’s the pinnacle of your division. Motivation is naturally there. Because you’re playing in that game, that’s what leads to sometimes a lack of focus. You start thinking about the what-ifs, and…things like that instead of focusing on all the little things that got you to this point.”
Hubbert said the team would have to put forth a complete effort at every position, but would need certain key players to step up.

“Our offensive line is going to have to have a big game,” he said. “We’ve got to make good on every possession. Cole (Spencer), our quarterback, has got to make good decisions; we’ve got to protect the football…and we’ve got to put it in the endzone.”
Hubbert said the play of the defensive line will go along way in determining the success of the Devils.

“We look for a good game out of our linebackers —Will Harrison, Tyler Armstrong, Anthony Moore and Nathaniel Watson,” he said. “We really need our defensive line to have a big game. Trey Mixon, Cory Hall, Dalton Ray and Loftin Smith, we really have to have them have a big game for us to have a chance.”

That said, Hubbert said he expected a tough contest from the Lions.

“They’re very well disciplined, hardnosed,” he said. “They don’t make a lot of mistakes, and they want to beat you with their offense. They want to take the ball and pound you and let that clock run and put points on the board. They’re going to fake punts, they’re going to onside kick, because they want the ball right back.”

Despite a tough test, players on the Maplesville squad said there was a hunger to avenge the loss in last year’s contest.

“We have to stay motivated and stay hungry on the sideline,” senior Troy Harrison said. “I think it means more to us, because of what happened to us last year. This became personal because we wanted to go back, and this year, we want to win it so bad because of how bad it felt last year. We don’t want that feeling again.”

Teammate Corey Hall agreed.

“I believe we’re going to do it,” he said. “It’s not just me; it’s the guys next to me on both sides. I believe it’d mean the world to (the community). Everybody in the community I believe would be very happy (and) very proud. I just thank God for the opportunity to play.”

Harrison said the team was on a mission to end the season strong.
“Our warmup shirts says ‘finish’ on it, because all year we’ve been talking about finishing,” he said. “We’re at the last game, and now it’s time to finish and win a state championship.”