This week in HS Sports: It’s never wrong to do the right thing

This is an opinion piece.

Class 7A, Region 2 has a valid argument as the best high school football region in the state this year in any classification.

Four teams from the region (No. 1 Auburn, No. 4 Central-Phenix City, No. 6 Opelika, No. 10 Carver-Montgomery) were ranked in the top 10 in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A rankings and a fifth, Enterprise, made the playoffs and is in the quarterfinals this week.

However, in an oddity that I can’t remember seeing in my 30-year career covering high school sports in Alabama, two Region 2 head coaches have been suspended for a game each this season.

Enterprise coach Ben Blackmon was suspended for his team’s region game with Opelika in early October after a video circulated that appeared to show Blackmon sitting next to an Enterprise assistant while that coach videoed a game between Opelika and Dothan. Opelika defeated Enterprise 30-13 on Oct. 11.

This week, it was Opelika that was in the spotlight. Coach Bryan Moore has been suspended for tonight’s huge quarterfinal playoff game at Hoover after he was seen on the sidelines of last week’s Hoover-Fairhope playoff game wearing a media pass and taking notes. The Bucs host the Bulldogs tonight at the Hoover Met. Jamie Ferguson will serve as Opelika’s interim coach in the team’s biggest game of the year.

I know both coaches well and respect both.

One question comes to mind. Why?

This isn’t 20 years ago when you had to meet an opposing coach at Jack’s on Saturday morning and exchange film. Coaches have access to Hudl and other techniques to scout opponents. Maybe buy a ticket and sit in the stands while not videoing without permission of the two teams. Call the coach of the home team. He might save you a seat in the press box. It’s not the worst thing in the world. It just looks bad and it comes at the worst possible time for Opelika — the week of the state quarterfinals.

As a good friend once told me, “It’s never wrong to do the right thing.” No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes. My wise friend also told me, when you do make a mistake, just do the NEXT right thing.

No doubt in my mind that coach Blackmon and coach Moore will learn from this year and move on.

Young guns face off

Two of the top young quarterbacks in the state will face off tonight when Kaleb Freeman and Pleasant Grove host Gunner Rivers and St. Michael in a Class 4A playoff game.

Both are just sophomores.

Freeman has passed for 2,360 yards and 32 touchdowns for the 9-1 Spartans this season.

“He’s been in the program since the seventh grade,” Pleasant Grove head coach Darrell LeBeaux said. “We knew he had a chance to be a good quarterback. He’s a solid kid. He reminds me a little of Zyquez (Perryman), who was a sophomore when we got here. Kaleb has some of those same qualities.

“He also had a chance to be in the offense as a freshman last year and learn behind Eric Handley, and that gave him a chance to see what was going to be expected of him. I’m definitely proud of him and his growth. We are just asking him to get better every week. He doesn’t even have his driver’s license yet.”

Rivers – the son of his coach and NFL legend Philip Rivers – continues to live up to his last name and his first name for that matter. Gunner has completed 66 percent of his passes for 3,049 yards and 31 TDs for the 10-1 Cardinals.

“He’s sharp,” LeBeaux said. “He doesn’t make many mistakes. His accuracy is at a high level. He protects the football. They protect him and put him in a position to get layups, to get rolling and get in a rhythm. He moves well in and out of the pocket.”

Of course, both coaches know balance will be important tonight. Noah Moss has rushed for 1,353 yards for the Cardinals, while Collin Moore has gained 1,256 yards and scored 17 times for the Spartans.

“You throw to score and run to win. That’s what coach (Shane) Steichen with the Colts always told us,” Philip Rivers said. “We can throw it well, and teams have a tough time usually because they don’t see very many real passing games, but you have to mix in the run. When you are playing a team like this, if you can’t run a lick, you are going to be in trouble.”

Expect a lot of fireworks in this game tonight.

News you can use

GET PREP SPORTS IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for the Birmingham, Huntsville or Mobile high school sports newsletters at al.com/newsletters.

Thought for the Day

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6.

Ben Thomas is the high school sports managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at bthomas@al.com.