Senators’ playoff hopes increase after 48-10 win over Grissom

HUNTSVILLE – Sparkman’s football game with Grissom changed as suddenly as the Senators fortunes have this season.

Once 0-3 and owner of an eight-game losing streak dating back to last season, Sparkman continued its rebirth and moved one step closer to the playoff berth that slipped out of its hands a year ago.

The Senators turned a competitive game into a rout in the final minutes of the first half and the first few of the second en route to a 48-10 win Friday night at Milton Frank Stadium.

Before the third quarter was halfway over Sparkman began playing reserves and perhaps left something in the tank for a big showdown with Florence with Class 7A, Region 4 playoff implications on the line.

Sparkman improved to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the region. Grissom fell to 2-6 and 1-5. The Senators host the Falcons this week in a game that will impact the region playoff picture.

“We control our own destiny,” Senators second-year head coach Ronnie Watson said.

The pecking order for the four region playoff berths has shaken out some, but much is left to decide. Austin (8-0, 6-0) is locked in. Behind the Black Bears a scramble remains among Sparkman, James Clemens and Florence all with 4-2 region records. Bob Jones is alive at 3-3. Tie-breakers could eventually determine seeding, but this much is certain – the Senators will advance if they defeat the Falcons.

The Tigers struck first and led 3-0 in the first quarter, but the Senators broke open the game with two touchdowns in the final 1:58 of the second. The crushing blow for Grissom came when, trailing 28-10, it failed to recover a mid-range “sky’’ kickoff and Sparkman recovered before scoring one play later for a 35-10 halftime lead.

Sparkman scored two TDs in less than four minutes of the third quarter and began substituting liberally.

Check out the Oct. 23 issue of The Madison Record for more details.