By Barry H. Hendrix
The Thomasville High School Tigers varsity football team (6-4) will travel Friday, Nov. 7 to Smiths Station to play the Glenwood School Gators (8-2) in the first round of the state playoffs. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. central time.
Cash or GoFan will be accepted at the gate.
The young Thomasville players “have had to play a lot of snaps by this point in the season,” said Clint Anderson, THS Head Football Coach. “You can see them continue to improve and embrace the roles that they have. It is challenging every week, but at the end of the day, all it is going to do is benefit those guys going forward. It is somebody different every play that is having an impact.
“…We feel like we are a lot better team right now than we were at the beginning of the year. That was our goal – to improve every week.”
The Gators team, coached by Ryan Nelson, is a formidable opponent. “We’ve got a big test for us this week. Glenwood is a really sound defensive team. To be a region winner, they have quality players on both sides of the ball.
Standout players for Glenwood include junior linebacker Joshua Clark (“a really talented player”), and senior interior lineman Aaron Carter.
“Their secondary does a good job being in position. They take on blocks well. They are always reading their keys properly.
“On the offensive side, they have a talented running back (sophomore Nathan Malone),” coach Anderson said. The Gators also have two capable quarterbacks, senior Jalen Stanley and junior Trey Claridy. Add a big offensive line and good receivers, and “they have a lot of pieces to the puzzle.”