By Gary Lloyd
This one has major Class 5A playoff implications.
Pinson Valley vs. Moody at Willie Adams Stadium on Friday will determine who locks up the No. 2 seed in Class 5A, Region 6. That team will host Class 5A, Region 8 No. 3 seed Hartselle in the first round of the playoffs next month.
The loser will be the Class 5A, Region 6 No. 3 seed and travel to either Muscle Shoals or Cullman for the first round of the playoffs.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Pinson Valley (5-3, 4-2) and Moody (6-2, 4-2) have both lost to Walker and Center Point in the region. Walker is ineligible for the Class 5A playoffs as a result of a coaches’ brawl with Cullman earlier this season. Center Point is the region’s top seed.
The Indians have won two straight games by a 123-21 margin after one of their worst performances in recent memory at Center Point on Oct. 4. Junior running back Nick Gibson has rushed for 388 yards and seven touchdowns in the last two games. Senior quarterback Brooks Garrett threw the ball well at Springville last week, tossing three touchdown passes.
Moody, where Pinson Valley head coach Matt Glover used to coach, has won four consecutive games, with an average margin of victory of 47-21.5. Moody has scored at least 35 points in all six of its wins this season.
Pinson Valley’s defense has played very well in its last two games, and slowing the productive Moody offense will be key. Pinson Valley could go score for score, but Glover would prefer a solid defensive game from his team.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.