Florala, Pleasant Home spar in county rivalry

Published 1:01 pm Thursday, October 7, 2021

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Bragging rights will not be the only thing on the line as Florala (2-4, 2-2 1A Region 1) travels to Pleasant Home (1-5, 1-3) Friday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.

The Wildcats led the majority of their Homecoming game last time but came up short to Kinston, 35-20. The Eagles ran into a tough draw at McKenzie and fell 40-6.

Florala Head Coach Chris Littleton said they have to keep working and improving. He said, “It was a tough loss, but we have to keep moving forward as a team. We are playing a lot of young players, and we still feel like this group has a bright future.”

Pleasant Home Head Coach Jeremy Silcox views consistency as a key point of emphasis. “When we execute on offense, we can move the ball. We just have to stay consistent,” he said. “We have four games left, and I want to keep getting better every day for these seniors.”

Littleton spoke highly of his team’s opponent this week. “Pleasant Home has good size, and they are very physical.” Silcox echoed those thoughts. “Florala is a really good team, and Austin (Howell) is a great athlete. They are talented and well-coached all over the field.”

Both coaches agreed this game would carry a lot of impact on their seasons.

Littleton said, “It’s obviously a big county rivalry game but more than that because of where we are in the region standings. More importantly, right now, our kids have been working very hard and need a win to see that hard work pay off.”

“Florala is always tough. There is still a possibility for playoffs, and we also need to continue to build for the future while also solidifying the legacy of our seniors,” Silcox said.

The two teams will meet for the 22nd time dating back to the 2000 season. PHS holds a 12-9 lead in the series and a 608-538 scoring edge. FHS has won the last three matchups by a 142-15 margin.

The Wildcats roared past the Eagles at home in 2020, 68-7.