Madison Academy, West Morgan playoff game reunites the two head coaches

HUNTSVILLE – Both head football coaches at West Morgan and Madison Academy agree the upcoming football playoff game between the two will be — fun.

It’s not like its not on the line for both teams in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. The Rebels are trying to run the table and complete an undefeated season. The Mustangs, riding a five-game winning streak, seek to maintain late-season momentum in an effort to make a deep run after starts of 0-2 and 2-4.

Those spoils are for the taking, along with a berth in the third round, when the Mustangs (7-4) take on the fourth-ranked Rebels (11-0) at Bill Washington Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday night.

But there’s a backstory. The coaches are well acquainted. West Morgan head coach Drew Phillips played for Madison Academy head coach Bob Godsey when both were at Brooks. Then there’s brothers Dan and Bryan Styles who serve as defensive coordinator for the Mustangs and Rebels, respectively.

“There’s a lot of history there, camaraderie I guess,” Godsey said following a 28-7 road win over Hokes Bluff in the first round. “There’s a lot of guys on both staffs that know each other and that kind of thing. So, it’ll be a lot of fun.’’

West Morgan advanced with a 45-0 win over Fayette County.

“Considering he coached me in high school at Brooks, it’s a special deal,” Phillips told the Decatur Daily. “He’s a mentor of mine, a guy that I look up to, I call when I have questions about this head coaching thing, and he’s always been there. But on Friday night we’ll be competitors against each other, so I think it’ll be a lot of fun.’’

The winner advances to play the Anniston-Good Hope winner.

“It doesn’t get any easier,” Godsey said. “West Morgan has an outstanding team. We’ll have to do everything we can just to hang tough.’’

The Mustangs do have the luxury of playing at home after traveling in Round 1.

“That was big for our guys to get back there,” Godsey said. “You know, any time you can go on the road and get a playoff win, you’ve done something in terms of earning a dominant win.’’

WEST MORGAN (11-0) AT MADISON ACADEMY (7-4) Where/when: Bill Washington Stadium, Friday 7 p.m.

What: Class 4A playoffs second round Series: MA leads 7-2 (2003-2015). The teams last met in the playoffs in 2003, a 19-7 WM win in the Class 3A first round

Playoff history: MA 45-26 in 29 appearances, 11-6 in second round; WM 1920 in 20 appearances, 3-11 in second round. … MA finished as 3A runner- up last season.

Notes: Madison Academy’s AJ Rice, a Mississippi State linebacker commit who also plays tight end, had 14 tackles and caught a TD pass from freshman quarterback Charleston Owens. … West Morgan head coach Drew Phillips played for Mustangs’ head coach Bob Godsey at Brooks. … Defensive coordinators Dan (Madison Academy) and Bryan (West Morgan) are brothers. … The Rebels are ranked No. 4.

Up next: Winner plays either Anniston or Good Hope, site TBD