High School Sports

Most of the time, I don't even like albums with intros. So, let's go ahead and get the notes column going.

• BEST IN SHOW: On the field — depending on whether or not your heart can take it if you're a Bulldogs fanatic — Anniston might be the best ticket in town. If you go see this year's version of the Dawgs you're bound to get more drama and suspense for your buck than you would at the Amstar Cinema 12.

In the past three weeks, the Bulldogs have won and lost games in overtime at home, with a 19-16 win against Saks in Week 3 and their 12-6 loss to Parker this past Friday. They also lost an 8-6 game to Cleburne County on a safety in the game's final stages.

Anniston's Brendon Freeman hit it on the head after the loss to Parker when he said, "We won a close a game against Saks, but all our games can't be close. This might be the ending, just like this."

The Bulldogs (2-3, 2-1) will square off with Handley (3-1, 2-1) in a crucial Class 4A, Region 4 battle in their annual homecoming game Friday.

• KEEPIN' IT 100: Hokes Bluff coach Mike Robertson captured his 100th victory in Week 5 with the Eagles' 41-7 win against Class 1A Ragland at home. Robertson will go for win No. 101 against another squad from The Star's coverage area when his team takes on Jacksonville at home.

• THURSDAY GAMES: Lincoln, who could become the top-ranked team in the state in Class 4A when the Alabama Sportswriters Association poll is released later this week, will host Saks on Thursday at Memorial Field in a Region 4 match up.

The Golden Bears (5-0, 3-0) currently are ranked third in the state. Saks (2-3) opened the season with a pair of big wins against Wellborn and Central-Coosa, but have dropped three in a row against Anniston, Munford and Clay County.

Munford, also in Class 4A, Region 4, will be in action as well on Thursday night, when they take on Childersburg at Holcombe Field. The Lions started the season slow, going 0-3 with losses to Clay County and Handley on the road and Cleburne County at home.

However, they've shown signs of revitalization recently. They put up 43 points in a Week 4 win against Saks and downed No. 2 T.C. Central, the defending Class 1A state runner-up, 25-7 on the road this past Friday night.

So why play Thursday? There must be some big race that everyone's going to be attending out there in Talladega County or something this weekend.

• COUNTY TOURNAMENT TIME: The first of the year's annual county tournaments will jump off with the volleyball tournament, which begins Saturday at White Plains.

It'll be interesting to see whether defending 4A champ Jacksonville will: A.) Lose a match or B.) Lose a game.

Tickets will be $5.

• ONE MORE BIG GAME: Don't think I forgot about this one. Second-ranked Clay County (5-0) will host Lanett (4-1, 3-0) in a Class 2A bout that could play a big part in deciding the Region 5 title.