Tuscaloosa News Article (good)
When small towns go state-bound
By Johnny Kampis
Staff Writer
December 09, 2004
Balloons and ribbons adorn signs and lampposts, decorated in the local high school colors. Soaped-up windows reflect messages of well-wishers urging their teams on to victory.
There’s excitement in the air. Marengo County has championship fever.
Both Sweet Water and Demopolis high schools will play for state titles in football in their respective classes Friday in Hoover -- Sweet Water against R.A. Hubbard in 1A and Demopolis against Deshler in 4A.
Winfield, in Marion County, will play in the Class 3A championship today against Oneonta.
“It’s more than winning football games. It’s bringing people together. It’s given families something to do together on a Friday night," said Dan Wilson, president of Colony Office Products in Demopolis.
Wilson taught Sunday school classes at First United Methodist Church to many members of the Demopolis Tigers team when they were younger.
“It’s fun to watch them succeed in life," he said. “They have the attitude of never quitting."
Demopolis has dominated all year, building a 14-0 record with a suffocating defense that has allowed five points per game.
This will be the school’s first trip to the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Super Six championship series, despite fielding some very good teams in recent years that made the quarterfinals or semifinals of the playoffs.
“We’ve been so close the last two years," Demopolis High Principal Ronald Roberts said. “It feels good to break through and play for the championship."
School spirit was high at the school Tuesday afternoon. Football players had a spring in their step. Cheerleaders decorated posters and cups, which, after school, they planned to fill with candy and give to the players.
“We’re just doing stuff to get them excited," said cheerleader Lara Tucker, a junior.
Roberts hopes students don’t get so excited they forget about their studies. Semester exams are next week.
“We have to make them focus on academics right now," he said. “This is a critical time of the year."
Around the city of Demopolis, residents showed their support, from the roaring tiger pin on the jacket of Mayor Cecil Williamson to the quickly disappearing Demopolis Tigers shirts from the racks of clothes at Omni Sports.
“It’s been good to be a Demopolis Tiger the last few years," Omni Sports owner Bill Meador said. “Last week going to Mobile you could see the excitement. We’ve been there before, but it was getting over the hump."
Demopolis defeated UMS-Wright 29-15 in Mobile on Dec. 3 to make the championship game.
While the championship has eluded Demopolis High over its history, Sweet Water High had a dominating run between 1978 and 1986 that saw the Bulldogs win four state titles and make three other finals.
“We want to get back to that expectation of playing for the state championship," said Sweet Water High Principal Stan Stokley. “The players see trophies and pictures and hear stories from their daddies and uncles, but they haven’t personally experienced it."
Stacy Luker, a member of the 1982 championship team, coaches the team. He said the school has a buzz he hasn’t experienced in a while.
“The school spirit in the last few weeks has really picked up," Luker said. “The halls have got a little more pep. It’s been a long time since we’ve been to this point."
Posted on a bulletin board in the locker room is a scouting report on R.A. Hubbard, which includes the message, “Stay focused this week on getting prepared for this game. Do not be distracted. 48 more minutes!"
Middle linebacker Amos Harris, one of three seniors on the team, said the Bulldogs will be ready for the game.
“We ain’t got the big head," he said. “We’re going to play our style of football, Sweet Water football."
While Harris and fellow seniors Patrick King and Tony Johnson were being interviewed, a group of fifth and sixth-grade students sitting at a nearby picnic table began chanting, “Bulldogs!"
Brenda Pritchett, a 31-year resident of Sweet Water who works at the local Exxon, said the town of 234 residents is close knit. Neighbors helped neighbors when Tropical Storm Ivan caused major damage.
Pritchett, who went to school with Luker, said the success of the football team has helped bring the community even closer together.
“In this community everything is connected to the school," she said. “The last two games people had their doubts, but they’ve done great. I think they’re going to go all the way. They’ve got the spirit."
Unlike Demopolis, Sweet Water stumbled a bit early, losing two games. But the Bulldogs have handily won their last two playoff games as they rolled into the championship game.
Both Demopolis and Sweet Water high schools will let students out early for the trek to Hoover on Friday. Many residents will try to get off work early to catch both games. Sweet Water plays at 3 p.m. and Demopolis at 7 p.m.
Stokley said when he saw the Super 6 schedule, with the 1A and 4A championship games being held back to back, he thought of a duo participation from Marengo County.
“This was the dream for us, to have both us and Demopolis playing for the state championship," he said.
Reach Johnny Kampis at
johnny.kampis@tuscaloosanews.com or at 722-0206.
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