Zavion Carr shows off his stiff arm Photos by Kyle Thornton

Playoff hopes dismissed at Clay

By Michael Butler

Two things had to happen on Friday night for Tallassee to pick up a post-season playoff berth. The Tigers needed to beat Clay Central and Elmore County needed a victory vs. Talladega. Tallassee head coach Mike Battles was only focused on his team's part.

"All we can control is if we win or lose," Battles said.

Clay Central quickly shot down the 'what if' scenario with a 33-0 victory. By the way, Elmore County also lost 66-29.

"I'm disappointed," Battles said. "Hats off to Clay Central. They're the two-time defending state champ and are a good football team. We did some good things, but we did a whole lot of bad things."

The first of the good things was a Clayten Gough interception of Boyd Ogles on the Volunteers' first drive. The Tigers were able to move the football into Clay territory but unable to put points on the board in what would become the theme of the night. It was the Tigers' second time being shut out this season.

Jordan May brings the heat

It appeared that Tallassee might get on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Marciano Smith stripped running back Willie Heard of the ball at Tallassee's two-yard line and was off to the races but brought down at the THS 47.

Tallassee was held to just 66 yards of total offense. Jalyn Daniels, who was averaging 168 yards per game rushing, was held in check with 24 yards on 13 carries.

THS will shift its focus to the final game of the season this week. It is also homecoming week.

Tallassee's original homecoming date was scheduled for Oct. 16 but moved due to COVID forfeits for the Talladega and Holtville games. Carroll of Ozark had to cancel its game due to a positive COVID case. Geneva was named the replacement. As of Monday that changed. Bullock County has now been added.

"(We're) very fortunate," Battles said. "We were going to load up the bus and play a game somewhere in the state of Alabama, but we get to play at home and go through the normal homecoming festivities."

Clayten Gough intercepts a pass on a deflection

The game will be recorded as "replacement non-counter" by the AHSAA. Tallassee will get a forfeit win over Carroll to go with its two forfeit losses to Talladega and Holtville based on COVID cancellations. The official record at season's end will be 3-7.

Battles is 7-1 in homecoming games at Tallassee.

Tickets will be sold to students on Wednesday and Thursday. A drive-thru ticket sale for the general public will be on Thursday from 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. behind the high school. All tickets are $8 each.

Pregame festivities including the crowning of the homecoming queen begin at 6:30 p.m. Kickoff is scheduled for 7. 1300 WTLS/106.5 FM will broadcast live at 6 with the simulcast on the TuneIn app. Live video streaming will be on Tallassee Times TV through YouTube and Spectrum Channel 340.

See more Photos by Kyle Thornton