DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — In Week Six of the high school football season, the stakes are getting higher as every game starts to carry significant playoff implications. This week’s featured game is no different as Providence Christian hosts Ariton in a crucial 2A Region 2 showdown.
The Ariton Purple Cats come into the matchup undefeated in region play, but they know facing a tough Eagles defense means they can’t stick to their usual game plan.
“We’ve got to mix it up against them because they are so good,” Ariton head coach Steve Kilcrease said. “You can tell from week to week on their films. Their linebackers are on their keys, and they’re coming. We’ve got to change it up, give them some different looks, and hopefully catch them off guard. But when it comes down to it, we’ve got to run the football.”
Ariton’s ground game is a strong point, boasting a stable of running backs, but Providence Christian feels confident about their own approach.
“You just have to game plan for what they do. They like to run the ball, and they’re really good up front. They’ve got big linemen, they block well, and they’ve got a stable of backs who run the ball well,” said Providence Christian head coach Kenny Keith.
Providence senior fullback/linebacker Calvin McClintock added, “Ariton will try to test your manhood by running up the middle, and when that doesn’t work, they’ll go for a deep ball. We’ve been focusing on stopping the run, but we’re reminding our DBs to keep their eyes out of the backfield.”
On offense, Providence Christian will also lean on their ground game, but the Purple Cats have shown some vulnerability to big plays earlier in the season.
“We give up big plays, and if we can focus on stopping that, we can stop almost any team,” said Ariton senior H-back/linebacker Trey Connell. “It’s just about being on the same page.”
Ariton has only played one away game so far this season, but they are confident the change of environment won’t affect their performance.
“Honestly, keeping our composure is key. Treat it like we’re at home, make their home our home, and dominate,” said Ariton senior tight end/defensive end Tristan McGuire.
For Providence, home-field advantage could play a significant role in this matchup, especially with playoff seeding on the line.
“It’s a great deal because this is fighting for the number two spot in the region,” said Providence offensive/defensive tackle Will Price. “Trying to host playoff games at home instead of going on the road will be a major advantage.”
McClintock added, “This is huge—it’s homecoming, and we’re expecting a big show out Friday night. We haven’t hosted a home playoff game since 2019, so that would just be awesome because this year we got a group of special guys and I think that we deserve it and we can, if the lord wills it of course.”
The game kicks off at Providence High School at 7 p.m. Friday night. Tune in to WDHN’s Extra Point at 10:15 p.m. for game highlights.
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