Ardmore running back Austin Winton gains yardage against Elkmont in last week's game. The Tigers will host region favorite Brooks tonight.

After a rivalry win over Elkmont last week, Ardmore will look to keep that momentum going when they enter 5A, Region 8 action against perennial region favorite Brooks.

The Tigers defeated Elkmont 15-7 last week with the defense holding the Red Devils to just 114 total yards, but Ardmore coach Andrew Smith knows his team will face a tough challenge in the Lions, the two-time defending region champions who have a 13-1 region record over the past two seasons.

“They’ve been really good the last few years, and after watching them on film, they’re really good again this year,” Smith said. “They’re going to be a big challenge.”

Brooks did drop their first game of the season to Fayette County by a 33-20 score, but Smith knows the Lions will be ready to go for their first region game.

“It all starts up front with their offensive line,” Smith said. “They’ve got good size and are strong kids. They run the ball well, and their quarterback is back from last year and he’s really good. We’ve got to play well defensively to stop them.”

Offensively, Smith said the Tigers will need to improve on last week’s performance, in which Ardmore scored just 15 points, with none coming in the second half.

“We’re going to have to be able to run the ball,” he said. “We’ve got to be balanced on offense more than anything, but we need to establish the run first to set up the pass.”

Smith said one thing that will have to be better this week is the amount of penalties his team receives. The Tigers had numerous penalties in last week’s game which killed potential scoring drives.

“We had some penalties in critical situations that put us in unmanageable down and distances,” Smith said. “That made it tough for us. Those penalties were the biggest things that hurt us. We’ve got to cut those out this week, and we’ll be better.”

One other thing Smith said should help the Tigers this week is having the experience of playing a game. Ardmore wasn’t able to play a jamboree this year after their scheduled one against Giles County (Tennessee) was canceled. That left them going into last week’s season opener without having any live action against an opponent, while Elkmont had already played a regular season game.

“I think (having played a game) will help us a lot,” Smith said. “That first week, it is always a little tough to get going. We were ready last week, but we had to get those first-game jitters out of the way and get ready to play again. This week, we’ll be ready even more.”

There will be a special ceremony before the game to honor former coach and principal Robert Witt. Witt was the principal at Ardmore High from 1954-1981. A bronze plaque will be unveiled before the game during a ceremony with Witt’s family. The plaque, which was paid for by the Alabama Legislature, will be permanently placed at the football stadium.

It will be the second consecutive week Witt has been honored by a county school. Last Friday night, Elkmont retired his number in recognition of his athletic accomplishments, including being the first player from Elkmont High to sign an NFL contract.

“He had a big role at both (Ardmore and Elkmont),” Smith said of Witt. “It will be great for that whole family and for him to honor what he did here. He really deserves it.”

Elkmont hits the road for first time

After two consecutive home games, Elkmont will hit the road for the first time this season as they open Class 3A, Region 8 play against Lexington.

The Red Devils are 0-2 on the season, having lost 40-20 to Addison and 15-7 to Elkmont. Lexington is 0-1 after dropping a 34-18 decision to Central-Florence last week.

Elkmont and Lexington are no strangers to each other, having played 37 previous times. The Golden Bears hold a 28-8-1 advantage in the series, including a 45-10 victory last season.

Elkmont will need to get its offense in gear tonight, as the Red Devils were held to just 114 total yards in last week’s loss to Ardmore. Hunter Pitman had the lone touchdown for Elkmont, a 31-yard pass reception from Davis Hobbs.