Pickens County Tornados vs. Marion County Red Raiders Preview

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Two class 1A region five opponents, Pickens County and Marion County, meet again in the third round of the Alabama high school football playoffs. These two last met in October for the last game of the regular season and the Tornados came away with the victory, defeating the Red Raiders 51-21.

Pickens County has had a tough road to the third round, in its first round of the playoffs, the Tornados had to face the team that beat them in the semi-finals in last years playoffs, Wadley Bulldogs. Head coach Michael Williams hoped his team would return the favor to the Bulldogs this year, and the Tornados did beating the Bulldogs 34-15.

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After the first round win, Pickens County traveled to Arley, Alabama to play the undefeated Meek Tigers. The Tornados knew it would be a tough game and the team was correct finding itself down 36-22 with around four minutes left in the game.

After the Tigers score that put them up by 14, the Tornados drove the ball down the field and score to put the score 36-30, with around two minutes left in the game. The Tornados stopped the Tigers on a fourth down attempt, then scored again, as well as was successful on the two-point attempt to put the team up 38-36 with little time left for the Tigers. The Tigers tried to respond but threw an interception that the Tornados returned for a touchdown.

The Tigers lost its undefeated season 44-36.

Marion County, who finished third just behind Pickens County in the region standings, has had a less stressful time to the third round. In its first round game, the team traveled to Ragland, Alabama, to play the Ragland Purple Devils. Marion County won that game 59-22. The Red Raiders traveled back home in round two where the team faced one-loss Valley Head Tigers. The Red Raiders won 27-6. Head coach Charles Hammon has had his team well prepared for each playoff opponent so far, and is hoping his team gets different results from what happened last time against Pickens County in October.

The third round playoff game will be played at G.S. Spruill Stadium in Reform, Alabama, Friday night, with kickoff at 7 p.m. CST.