Tigers return to field after week off

By Michael Butler

An early-season bye might have actually been good timing for the Tallassee football team. Although the Tigers have played just two games they had some guys who needed to heal.

THS coach Mike Battles was without the services of three starters prior to the Aug. 28 game at Wetumpka.

"We were fortunate not to get anybody hurt," Battles said after the 35-14 loss to the Indians. "We were down a couple of players. We had some guys who had to shift around and play different positions, which our kids have always done.

"When I scheduled this game with (Wetumpka), I looked at it as a way to really play a great opponent and get us ready for the region run."

Region play begins with Sylacauga coming to Tallassee this week. The Tigers are 0-2 for the first time in Battles Tallassee tenure. It's the first 0-2 start at THS since 2011. The last time a Battles' coached team was 0-2 was 1999 at Oak Grove.

Sylacauga and Tallassee have met just three times in football. The most recent was in 2015, a 54-33 win by the Aggies. Battles' Tigers also played Sylacauga in 2014, a 34-7 win by Tallassee. The first meeting was in the first round of the 1983 playoffs. Sylacauga won in overtime 20-14.

Sylacauga is coached by former Alabama quarterback Andrew Zow, who is in his first season. Former Crimson Tide All-America Antonio Langham is on the staff.

Tickets sales are being handled the same as for the Reeltown game the week of Sept. 7-11. Seating capacity for Tallassee fans will be capped at 1,100.

"We're going to keep that the same," Stewart said. "On Monday and Tuesday we'll open up sales to football, cheer and band participants. Wednesday and Thursday we'll open it up to the students. On Thursday afternoon we'll open it up to the general public in the drive-thru format that we did for Reeltown."

The ticket sale for the general public will be from 4-5:30 p.m. behind the high school. All tickets are $8 each.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at J. E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium. 1300 WTLS/106.5 FM will broadcast live at 6 p.m. with the simulcast on the TuneIn app. Live video streaming will be on Tallassee Times TV through YouTube and Spectrum Channel 340.