High School Sports

MUNFORD — Few would have seen the 0-3 record next to the Munford Lions and given them a chance to beat the 2-1 Saks Wildcats in Week 4.

Those few would have been wrong. The Lions drubbed Saks 43-14.

The next week, fewer still would have given them a chance to beat Talladega County Central, the Class 1A runner-up last year.

Wrong again. Munford beat TCC 25-7 to unexpectedly improve to 2-3.

Halfway through the 2008 season, the Lions are starting to play up to the simply-stated goals that second-year coach Todd Smith has posted in his team's field house.

"There are a couple of things we have posted," Smith said. "The first thing is to win more than you lose. The second thing is to make the playoffs."Both goals are still a work in progress. But if the past two weeks are any indications, Munford is getting there.

At 2-3 overall and 1-2 in Class 4A's murderous Region 4, Munford sits in a tie for the fifth place, one game behind Anniston for the final playoff spot.

The Lions' opening three losses were to powerhouses Clay County (a non-region opponent, as was TCC), Handley and Cleburne County, games in which Munford lost by a combined score of 67-31.

In its past two games, Munford has reversed its fortunes, defeating Saks and TCC by a combined score of 68-21.

Lesser teams would have packed it in after losing their first three games. Not Munford. If nothing else, these Lions aren't cowardly. And their resurgent offense has been a huge part of the turnaround.

"I think those first three defenses had a lot to do with our slow start," Smith said. "But I think we're starting to click a little bit and starting to get our confidence up. Our (offensive) line has really matured and come on the last few weeks."

Running behind that line is a trio of senior running backs — Montrel Parker, Petey Mosley and Dex Carlisle — and senior quarterback Drakkar Holcombe, who runs more often than he passes in Munford's wing-based offensive sets.

All four players are part of a senior class that hasn't tasted the playoffs since 2005, their freshman year.

They had a chance to make the Class 3A playoffs last year up until their final region game, when they lost to Glencoe 13-7.

The postseason doubt, plus the fact that they were so close last year, has made the Lions even hungrier, Smith said.

"They want to get back. They want to be that class that gets us back."

No. 3 Lincoln, Munford's chief rival, will almost assuredly take the top spot in the region for the state playoffs. No. 8 Handley (which has only lost to Lincoln) and Cleburne County look like locks for at least two of the last three available playoff spots.

That leaves only one spot open for Munford, Anniston, Saks or Childersburg. All four teams are 2-3, with Anniston being the only team to have two region wins.

The Lions host Childersburg on Thursday night and Anniston in Week 7.

Four of Munford's five remaining games are at home. Add that to the fact that the Lions have already played their toughest opponents (except for Lincoln), and the schedule certainly plays into their favor.

"We're certainly glad that Handley and Heflin are out of the way," Smith said. "But it's still a situation where on any given night, anybody in this region can beat anybody else."

And when it comes to Lincoln, Smith said, you can throw the records out of the door.

"I hate to compare it to Auburn-Alabama, but for us, it's that type of rivalry. Playoffs or not, we'll be motivated for that game."