Class 7A Lee-Montgomery and 6A Sidney Lanier will battle at Alabama State University Thursday night for bragging rights in the city of Montgomery. Last season, Sidney Lanier lost in the first round of the playoffs to Daphne while Lee was disqualified from the playoffs for using an ineligible player. 

Both teams have pretty good chances to make it to the playoffs this season, but both teams are in the battle of Montgomery early in the season. "I know Thursday night is going to be a tough football game, a city rivalry," said Generals Head coach Tyrone Rodgers. "We know Lanier is a good football team. A city game which is always a big game. Were excited to kick the football season off here in Montgomery. We believe a great crowd will be at Alabama State and were ready for some football."

For Lee-Montgomery on offense, the Generals must replace their quarterback from last season and slot receiver Kaniaus Johnson is making the transition to quarterback. "He has taken the bull by the horns," added Rodgers. "He has done an outstanding job and it looks like we can do what we do in the past on offense. He is not as tall as you might want in a quarterback but he is a football player. He is very intelligent and has a lot of intangibles at the QB position."

The key to the whole offense will be the offensive line. Lineman Cameron Hill, Luke Walker, and William Derico have been starters since 9th grade and bring a lot of experience and leadership this season. They will need to help out the inexperienced Johnson at QB and the running back by committee this season. Hill stands at 6-3, 280-pounds and has offers from Alabama State, Alcorn State, Bowling Green, Kennasaw State, Massachusetts, Morgan State and Tennessee State. Derico stands at 6-3, 313-pounds and will be solid at right tackle. 

Coach Rodgers is going with a committee at running back and is looking for someone to step into that featured back but said they have a few will get some carries Thursday night. One guy to look at will be WR/LB Kevonte Ruggs. Ruggs played linebacker with the Generals last season due to his brother Henry Ruggs at wide receiver but is going to make the switch to receiver for most of this season. "Kevonte came to me and said I will play where ever you need me," said Rodgers. "His athleticism will give us a chance to win. He has a physical statue to him, can go get the deep ball. He is learning on the run with the route running. His brother Henry only had two years of football and this is Kevonte second year. He is getting better and better everyday. We is working hard at it." Ruggs had the great attitude whatever I need to do for the team, he was willing to make that move. Ruggs will play linebacker in key situations but not everydown on defense this season.

On defense for the Generals, the front seven is going to be key on stopping the run and will be a little inexperienced up front. In the secondary, there is big time talent. CB Jakorey Hawkins and CB Edward Johnson lead the way for the Generals. Throw in safety Chris Ware and those three will need to be the cornerstone to the defense especially early in the season. Coach Rodgers in his sixth season at Lee said this is his best secondary. Hawkins is one of the best corners in the state. He holds offers from Auburn, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Mississippi, Penn State, South Carolina, Troy and others."We have the most experience in the secondary," added Rodgers. "We going to lean on those guys defensively. We don't have that one guy to make havoc on the line so it's going to take a group effort in stopping the run." Defensive end Phillip Hopkins will play a big roll on the defensive front.

After the Daphne loss last season in the playoffs, Head coach Marvin Cunningham rallied his team after the game and told them these important lessons. "We talked about every play counts when you get into the playoffs," said Poets Cunningham. "When you get in the playoffs you have to play as a unit with all 11 guys playing together on the same page. We have to move on and get better and I think that is what we did this summer. We bought in a new attitude with the weight room, taking business in the class room and taking care of each other that we took a big step in that area that has carried over since the Daphne game."

James Foster will lead the way for the Poets at quarterback. The Missouri commitment can make all the throws down the field. Lee-Montgomery knows that it's going to be a tough task but likes the matchup of his secondary against the Poets offense. Foster was MVP of the Cam Newton 7-on-7 camp at Prattville this summer and has progressed into one of the top quarterbacks in the state. "James is a caring kid, he cared about his teammates," added Cunningham. "He takes time with the young guys. He is a leader on the field and in the class room. He has matured the last two years and leads by example. You can't really ask for much more. He is the first one running laps to the first one on the field for practice. With that leadership, the young guys are picking up on that and I believe that is why we has such a great summer. Kids wanting to be here for practice over the summer. I don't think that it happened much in the past so that is a tribute to James and his hard work. That is pretty special. We know things come up in a kids life but we want to be accountable."

During one practice this summer, Foster wasn't feeling we but still showed up for practice. His teammates went to bat for him to the head coach and asked Coach Cunningham if Foster could sit out and get some fluids in him during a summer practice. His leadership has been rubbing off to his teammates. The care he has put in to the other players and the players responding back to Foster. Cunningham said that is a big change for the Lanier program.

Foster has some weapons with him on offense. Running back Jacory Merritt leads the Poets run game. "We had to put a little weight on him this year," added Cunningham. "Reads the holes real well and good zone runner and does some great things for us in the backfield.

At wide receiver there is senior Da'Coreyon Johnson to lead the way. "Johnson is such a special kid," said Cunningham. "One of the those kids that can disappear on you in the phone booth if you are not ready. Understands the game so well. Looks at the game from the quarterback position with running his routes real well." Junior Delancey Tolliver is another good receiver for the Poets. "He is a very good possession receiver for us," added Cunningham. "He does the nasty stuff for us on the inside and outside. Another special player for us."

On defense, the Poets have some big time talent of their own. Defensive tackle Alfred Thomas has a high motor that will get your attention if your on the offensive line. "Anytime that you can get a lineman to double team one of your defensive lineman, that's big," said Cunningham. "It makes your game plan a little easier. He is going to play at 110 percent that will not slow down. He might not say two words but on that field he is just dedicated." Thomas holds offers to Auburn, Cincinnati, Georgia, Kentucky, Memphis, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee.

At linebacker is La'Dedric Jackson. The Missouri commit is the quarterback on defense. He does a great job in getting everyone in the right position. He takes pride in understanding personnel and formations. Jackson has good study habits and is a tremendous athlete.

Sidney Lanier understands that this is a big game between the two Montgomery schools. "We have to take care of the ball and tackle well," said Cunningham. "I really think the biggest thing is that we have to keep our emotions at an even keel. It's going to be a hard thing for us, but we know it is a rivalry game but we have to keep things in check. We have talked about what we have to do but not get so jacked up because we still have to go out and play it."

Two things to watch Thursday night will be the Poets offense against the Generals secondary and can the Generals move the ball on the ground against the tough Poets front seven. This is good to be a good one!