Tigers begin second season
By Michael Butler
It's back. The post-season returns this week and like usual, the Tallassee Tigers are a part of it.
Tallassee is making its tenth straight playoff appearance and will play host to Thomasville on Friday, Nov. 10. Last year, the Tigers advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Andalusia 51-7. It was the deepest run for a THS team since 1999 when the Tigers reached the semifinals.
The Tigers have matched their best regular season record since 2010 at 9-1 and rose to No. 4 in this week's Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 4A Poll, the highest in head coach Mike Battles' tenure and best since 2000 at THS.
Thomasville is 7-3 and fell out of the poll after last week's loss to Clarke County, which is No. 9 in Class 3A. Their other losses have come against No. 1 Andalusia, No. 3 UMS-Wright. Tallassee's only defeat came at Munford on Sept. 22. The Lions are now ranked No. 8. Tallassee is 3-0 against ranked teams this season; Handley (21-13), TR Miller (33-29) and Leeds (36-21).
This will be the first meeting between Tallassee and Thomasville.
THS coach Mike Battles is in his sixth season in Tallassee with a 48-21 (70%) record. He is 165-76 (68%) overall in 20 seasons as a head coach. Jack Hankins is in his 16th year of coaching in Thomasville. He is 147-49 (75%) with a Class 4A state championship in 2010. That team beat Battles' Bibb County team in the semi's 38-14.
The two teams have one common opponent, W.S. Neal. Tallassee beat the Eagles 28-13 on Sept. 1 in Brewton. Thomasville played Neal at home on Sept. 8 and won 36-19.
Tallassee did not play last week.
"I think it's worked out great last year and this year," Battles said of the break. "It's good for the coaches. It's good for the players because they get a week to get their legs back under them."
Battles talked about the tough draw and the strength of Thomasville's region.
"Three teams are ranked in the top ten," he said. "The thing about the playoffs, people want to make a deep run. Eventually, you've got to beat all these teams. I like the fact we're getting them at home."
Kickoff will be at 7:00 p.m. at J. E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium. 1300 WTLS/106.5 FM will broadcast live with an airtime of 6:00. Audio will be simulcast on TuneIn Radio, Spectrum Cable TV Channel 97 and Tallassee Times TV. Live video streaming is not permitted in the post-season.
A city-wide pep rally will be at the bus loading area of THS between the gyms and main building on Thursday evening at 6:15. "Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to come out and support the Tigers," Tallassee prinicipal Matt Coker said.
School is out in Tallassee on Friday; therefore, there will be no pre-sale of game tickets. All tickets will be sold at the gates which open at 5:15. Tickets are $8 per person. There is no reserved seating in the post-season.
Tallassee in ASWA Top 10
*Highest Ranking By Year
Year |
Top Ranking |
Head Coach |
| 2017 |
No. 4 |
Mike Battles |
| 2013 |
No. 7 |
Mike Battles |
| 2012 |
No. 8 |
Mike Battles |
| 2010 |
No. 9 (5A) |
Rodney Dollar |
| 2000 |
No. 4 |
Jared Jones |
| 1999 |
No. 3 |
Mark Rose |
| 1996 |
No. 6 |
Steve McCord |
| 1991 |
No. 4 |
Woody Weaver |
| 1990 |
No. 6 |
Woody Weaver |
| 1989 |
No. 4 |
Woody Weaver |
| 1988 |
No. 10 |
Woody Weaver |
| 1983 |
No. 10 (3A) |
Mark Rice |
| 1961 |
No. 5 (3A) |
Jackie Davis |
| 1960 |
No. 3 (3A) |
Jackie Davis |
| 1959 |
No. 6 (MA) |
Jackie Davis |
| 1954 |
No. 8 (BPH) |
Charles Hattaway |
*The ASWA weekly poll began in 1960.
Tallassee was ranked by the Montgomery Advertiser in 1959 and Birmingham Post-Herald in 1954.
THS was ranked in the Class 4A poll in all years unless noted otherwise.
The Tigers moved from Class 3A to 4A when the number of AHSAA classifications expanded from four to six classes in 1984. The Tigers have been in Class 4A for 26 of 34 seasons since 1984.
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