By Erik Harris
PINSON — Pinson Valley head coach Matt Glover has said that his favorite part of coaching is the preparation that’s done between Sunday and Thursday.
The hours of film study he does prior to game time is what really attracts him to the profession.
[VIDEO: Pat Smith previews Friday’s matchup]
Of all the game plans Glover has devised in his six years leading the Indians, perhaps none have been more important than the one he will construct this week for a 1-4 Huffman team.
Pinson Valley tight end Marshall Tanner looks for running room against McAdory last week.
photo by Ron Burkett
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Friday at Huffman High School. Pinson Valley needs this win to keep pace for the final playoff spot from Class 6A, Region 6.
What makes this game bigger than ordinary roots deeper than a single check in the win-loss column. This week is about patching up a huddle that struggled in last week’s homecoming loss to McAdory.
“Us as coaches have really never been in this spot, so it’s a little different for me,” Glover said.
It was the first time Pinson Valley (2-4, 1-2) was held scoreless since 2009, and at least some of the blame can be placed on the benching of two key members of the Indians’ offense.
“I don’t have a lot of faith right now in some guys,” Glover said following the shutout. “Right now it’s a ‘me’ thing instead of a ‘we’ thing. We’ve got some kids out there busting their butts and some making excuses.”
Reigning Class 5A Back of the Year Nick Gibson was told to take a seat by Glover in the second half following an argument about how McAdory defenders were targeting his ankles. Shortly thereafter in the wake of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Glover ordered junior quarterback Errius Collins out of the huddle.
“I need guys that when things go bad they’re not going to turn on each other,” Glover said.
Where the two stand on the depth chart moving forward is unknown, but one thing is for certain: Huffman (1-4, 0-2), which is surrendering an average of 48.6 points per game, will have a much harder time stopping Pinson Valley with Gibson and Collins on the field.
What Glover said next makes it seem likely that the offensive huddle will be back to normal when it takes the field Friday.
“I think we’ll respond,” he said. “I think our kids will respond. They’re resilient so we’ve got to tough love on some of them and get them doing what we’ve got to do.”
