AHS hosts No. 5 UMS-Wright
Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 19, 2002
Another week brings another Class 4A, Region 1 game to the forefront for the Andalusia Bulldogs.
The hometown Bulldogs will host the No. 5-ranked team in Class 4A at 7 p.m. on Friday when the UMS-Wright Bulldogs come to town.
UMS-Wright is 2-1 on the season. The Bulldogs lost their season-opener to the Class 6A McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets by one point. The Yellow Jackets stung the Bulldogs for a 14-13 victory in the game.
Andalusia Head Coach Paul Woolley said UMS-Wright should have won the contest after watching a tape of the game.
Woolley also said this season's UMS-Wright squad is very much like last season's team.
He said UMS-Wright uses multiple sets on offense and they run the same plays out of all of the different formations.
Woolley said the Bulldogs also like to throw the ball to No. 5 and the Andalusia defense will have to do a better job defending against the pass this Friday night.
The UMS-Wright offense also features a stable of running backs.
"They have eight or nine running backs that they are all going to use at both spots in the backfield," Woolley said.
The UMS-Wright defense is stingy and big.
"Their defense is solid," Woolley said.
The key to the game for the Andalusia Bulldogs is to use a time-of-possession offense.
"We've got to keep the ball our share of the time and not make turnovers like we did last year with interceptions and blocked punts," Woolley said. "We have to be able to throw the ball on them. We can't let them pack their defense in on us."
Overall, Woolley said this battle between the Bulldogs will be a hard-nosed game.
"They are just a good football team," Woolley said.
The winner will earn an inside track in the Class 4A, Region 1 race for a championship.
Both teams are undefeated in region play with identical 2-0 records. Andalusia's two wins came against Monroe County and Gulf Shores. UMS-Wright's victories came against Monroe County and Choctaw County.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Friday at Andalusia Municipal Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the radio on WAAO 103.7 FM.