Maplesville’s football team has no time to rest after the most significant win of the season so far.

The Red Devils took an important step toward defending their Class 1A state championship from last year with a 20-7 win at region foe Linden last week.

The Devils remain ranked No. 1 in the state by the Alabama Sports Writer Association, while Linden came into last week’s game as the second-ranked team in the state.

Instead of a chance to catch their breath, the Devils had to prepare for a non-region game this week against Tanner, which won the Class 2A state championship two years ago and advanced to the third round of the playoffs last year.

In two weeks, Maplesville visits Northview (Fla.), a fellow defending state champion.

MHS coach Brent Hubbert said that in spite of the win over Linden and the challenges yet to come, the players have remained “even-keeled.”

“They know it was a big game, but we made some mistakes and we’ll try to correct those,” Hubbert said. “We just go back to work and try to get better.”

Maplesville defeated Tanner 36-21 last year, but Hubbert said he thinks the Rattlers may have overlooked the Devils.

“Both teams had some turnovers,” Hubbert said about the game. “We capitalized right before the half to stay in it, and then we had some good execution in the fourth (quarter) and made some big plays.”

Hubbert said Tanner’s defense is “huge” up front and fast on the back end.

“They clog it up and run to the football,” he said.

On offense, the Rattlers rely on second-year quarterback Chadarius Townsend, who has committed to play college football for the University of Alabama.

Townsend isn’t Tanner’s only weapon, though, as the Rattlers boast a running back who runs a sub-4.4 40-yard dash like Townsend and a 6-foot-5 receiver who can go up to get the football.

Hubbert said he hopes the improvement of Maplesville’s defense continues, to combat the talent Tanner will put on the field.

“Our defense started slow,” he said. “We didn’t come out playing like we thought we could, and we’re slowly getting to that point.”

 ALSO FRIDAY NIGHT

•Marbury at Chilton Co.^

•Central-Coosa at Isabella^

•Billingsley at Prattville Christian

•Ellwood Christian at Verbena^

•Thorsby at Winterboro

^-Homecoming

All games begin at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT WEATHER

Forecasts call for a 20-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms all day Friday and overnight Friday. The high temperature for the day is predicted to be 80 degrees, though the temperature at game time should be lower, in the low- to mid-70s.

REGION STANDINGS

Class 6A, Region 3

Opelika (3-0 region, 5-0 overall)

Chelsea (2-0, 4-0)

Benjamin Russell (1-1, 4-1)

Valley (1-1, 2-3)

Oxford (1-2, 2-3)

Pell City (1-2, 2-3)

Chilton Co. (0-3, 2-3)

Class 5A, Region 4

Demopolis (3-0, 4-0)

Calera (2-1, 3-1)

Helena (2-1, 3-1)

Dallas Co. (2-1, 2-2)

Central Tuscaloosa (1-1, 3-1)

Sumter Central (1-2, 1-3)

Wilcox Central (0-3, 0-4)

Jemison (0-3, 0-5)

Class 2A, Region 4

Fayetteville (3-0, 4-0)

Pickens Co. (2-0, 4-0)

Thorsby (2-1, 3-2)

Francis Marion (1-1, 1-3)

Holy Spirit (1-2, 1-4)

Vincent (0-2, 0-4)

R.C. Hatch (0-3, 1-4)

Class 1A, Region 3

Loachapoka (3-0, 3-1)

Notasulga (1-0, 3-2)

Billingsley (1-1, 1-3)

Autaugaville (1-2, 3-2)

Verbena (1-2, 2-2)

Isabella (0-2, 1-3)

Class 1A, Region 4

Maplesville (2-0, 4-0)

Linden (1-1, 2-1)

Keith (1-2, 1-3)

Ellwood Christian (0-1, 3-1)

A.L. Johnson (0-0, 0-3)