Tigers and Bulldogs to meet in spring game

By Michael Butler

Tallassee's varsity football team will travel to LaFayette on Thursday, May 18 to scrimmage the Bulldogs and put the finishing touches on spring workouts. The Tigers have 56 players that will be in 9th-12th grades next fall.

Last year's scrimmage was a shootout of offenses at J. E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium. JaTarvious Whitlow is no longer on the LaFayette squad, but THS head coach Mike Battles likes what he has coming back on the offensive side for the purple and gold in 2017.

"Offensively, I think we're going to be in pretty good shape," Battles said. "You've got Casey Baynes at quarterback and probably the largest receiving corp we've ever had. All three of our wide receivers are 6-3 or better."

Battles is referring to Jake Burton, Kalvin Levett and JJ Griffin.

"In the backfield, you've got Trent Cochran-Gill and Markevious Matthews. Our offensive line has come a million miles. They're going to have to improve. We lost Nick Talley - a three-year starter, Jake Baker - a four-year starter, Keno Morris - a three-year starter. You're talking about some guys who have been doing it for a while."

Caleb Stewart is the lone returning starter on the offensive line. Battles noted that there are a lot of holes to fill on defense as well.

"There are a lot of guys that will be starting their first ball game. We're going to have to get a lot more physical and aggresive."

Battles says the format for Thursday night will possibly change as the evening progresses.

"We do the spring game however we want to. If we get to a point where I don't think our starters have gottten a lot done, I just tell Coach (James) Lucas and he plays whoever he wants to. If he wants to keep his starters in, we do that."

Battles assures that everybody in a Tallassee uniform will get on the field.

"The biggest thing is playing with the young kids. We'll get them on video ane evaluate it from there."

Action will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

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