Syrupmakers hit the road
The Cairo Syrupmakers finished their nonregion schedule with a 2-2 record, defeating Drew High School 7-6, and Jordan High 70-0. The Syrupmakers lost to two AAAA teams, Bainbridge and Thomas County Central, both by scores of 17-14. After four straight games at West Thomas Stadium, the Syrupmakers will hit the road this week in the first of six very crucial region games. The Syrupmakers will open with the 2-2 Monroe Tornadoes at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany.
Monroe, who lost last week to a very good Brooks County team, will present a big challenge to the Syrupmakers as they open region play. “Monroe is very talented in a lot of areas, and we have to get better in a lot of areas. They have some very skilled athletes and a quarterback who, much like some of those players they have had in the past, can just throw it all over the field. Right now, we’re working on getting Cairo better, so this will be a tough opening game in region play,” said Cairo coach Tom Fallaw.
In last week’s loss to rival TCCHS, the Syrupmakers were once again hampered by penalties and turnovers, one of which resulted in a Yellow Jacket touchdown, the difference in the game.
In last week’s loss to Brooks County, Monroe’s quarterback Charles Stafford completed 21 of 39 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, but Monroe squandered three other opportunities in the red zone as Brooks County improved to 3-1 with a 21-12 win at Hugh Mills Stadium last Friday. Stafford threw TD passes of five and six yards to Jawaski Randle, but in three other trips inside the Brooks County 20, Monroe lost 15 yards and turned the ball over twice on downs and was intercepted once. Monroe, which fell to 2-2, also hurt itself by being penalized 11 times for 75 yards – several were drive killers.
“Monroe always seems to play well in Albany. It will be important for us to come out and take control of the game early and not let them hang around late in the game,” said Fallaw. In 2009, the Syrupmakers escaped the Monroe game in Albany 10-7. The Makers have given up about 10 points a game this season, and so have the Tornadoes. The Monroe defense gave up 21 points last week, and 14 the week before in a 14-13 loss to Albany, in which the Tornadoes were stopped six inches from the goal line as time expired against the Indians.
Kickoff for this week’s Monroe-Cairo game is set for 7:30 p.m. at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany.
