Lionhearts

PRATTVILLE -- High above East Main Street heading toward the old part of town, a huge white sheet hangs from a railroad trestle bridge.

Saturday afternoon, the streets of this town about 13 miles northwest of Montgomery, will be empty. That sign will be the only indication where the residents of this town of 30,000 people can be found - "State Bound."

In the marquee game of the AHSAA Super Six, the undefeated champions of the southern bracket, Prattville (14-0), comes to Legion Field to take on four-time defending Class 6A champion Hoover (13-1), in a rematch of the 2004 state championship game.

"Everyone is real excited - the town is more excited than the actual team," senior Lions quarterback Larry Smith said. "We're on a mission now. We're more focused and more committed. Last time I think we were just happy to be there, but this time we have a great shot at winning."

Smith, a Vanderbilt commitment, is a three-year starter at quarterback, and started in the 2004 state championship game, which the Lions lost to the Buccaneers 22-7. He wants a little redemption from his three-interception performance in 2004.

"We didn't play well," Smith said. "It was our first time being back in like 20 years. But now we've been there before, and we know how to handle it this time."

Smith, who has thrown for 2,271 yards and 20 touchdowns, has only thrown two interceptions all season and is a tuck-and-run threat anytime the passing game isn't there, rushing 82 times for 443 yards and five touchdowns this season.

Junior Lions running back Justin Albert is another big reason the Prattville offense has been tough to stop this year. Albert is the Lions' leading scorer with 25 touchdowns, 21 rushing, to go along with his 1,319 yards rushing on 165 carries this season.

Senior Bucs running back Dennis King has nearly identical numbers, 1,346 yards rushing on 187 carries and 19 total touchdowns, 11 rushing.

Add in senior Bucs quarterback Ross Wilson's 3,187 yards passing and 71 percent completion rate, and it's clear Saturday's game could be high-scoring.

"Well, what phase are they not good in?" said Prattville coach Bill Clark said. "How do you pressure them? How do you stop the running game? You don't have all the answers. We got our work cut out for us - no doubt."

The Lions team, and the Prattville community, is still reeling from the loss of assistant coach Lorenzo Pickett, who died suddenly before practice on Thanksgiving Day.

Pickett, 39, who had a history of seizures, suffered an attack between 7 and 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving, one day before Prattville's quarterfinal game against McGill-Toolen.

"We say we're a family," Clark said, who spoke at a memorial service for Pickett, a player on Prattville's 1984 championship team and an eight-year assistant for the Lions, held in the school auditorium last Saturday attended by 1,500 people.