Mike Grayson / Special to the Demopolis Times

Man that is one spooky photo that these guys have stuck up on this column!

Maybe the good thing about it is that someone might be able to tack it up in a barn and keep the mice and rats away.

I was relaxing a bit this week and I waxed nostalgic on the words of Arthur Schopenhauer. Schopenhauer was quoted &8220;Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see&8221;.

Then I reflected on my fortune cookie fortune from a recent visit to The China Buffet, &8220;Pray for what you want, but work for the things you need&8221;.

Who is Arthur Schopenhauer and what has a fortune cookie fortune got to do with tonight&8217;s games?

First of all, Schopenhauer is / was a German philosopher and the overall answer is &8220;not much&8221;.

I just wanted to share with everyone.

Sumter County at Demopolis

Last Friday in Thomasville Demopolis ran into a maroon and gray buzz saw.

Fortunately it was a preseason game and didn&8217;t count for much other than proving your strengths and weaknesses.

If you will subscribe to that line of reasoning then it is truly better to play a rugged opponent and lose but clearly identify your opportunities for improvement; than schedule some &8216;cupcake&8217;, win big and go merrily on your way as a lamb to slaughter, oblivious to your weaknesses.

I believe Coach Goodwin read the same fortune cookie I had. This week the Fighting Tigers have most definitely been working for the things they need and I&8217;m sure praying for thing they want (survival of the week of practice).

Since coming to Demopolis in 1999, Goodwin is 7-0 versus the Sumco Wildcats. The average score during this time has been decidedly in DHS&8217;s favor 48-8.

The closest game Goodwin&8217;s charges have had against SCHS was a 33-8 win in 2001. The last Sumter victory was 22-9 in 1994 Coach Cody Keane&8217;s group.

Last year Demopolis led only 14-0 at the half before lack of depth, heat and frustration on Sumter&8217;s part allowed Demopolis to notch a 38-0 victory.

Last year DHS only completed 4 of 11 passes but who needs to throw when you pile up 368 rushing yards. Also Rod &8216;Rock&8217; Jones scored 4 TD&8217;s for the Tigers.

That was then, this is now.

SCHS will return 14 starters from last year&8217;s team. In my opinion, one of their best players was a very athletic young man named Cordarrow Law.

Law returns this year as a senior and if there wasn&8217;t a typo in last years game roster, he has grown from 5&8217;9&8221; 185 to 6&8217;2&8221; 235. You could possibly hear his name, a lot, on the radio broadcast. Just a plug here, game will be broadcast on 99.1 FM, pre-game tailgate at 6 pm, kickoff at 7 with the post game wrap up and area scoreboard immediately following the game. Canned Good says &8220;Wear blue and show up at Tiger Stadium&8221;.

WAP at Coosa Valley

The Titans load up and head to Harpersville to take on Coosa Valley Academy Rebels. WAP was spanked by Shelby last Friday in the AISA opener.

By the way, Shelby may just be one of the top three teams in AISA Class A Region 1. CVS, sorry CVA, was bested by Central Christian of Selma last week.

Central Christian may be the second of that aforementioned top three (South Choctaw being the third). This is a winnable game for either team. Both teams are looking to establish a winning mindset and there is no better time than early on in the season to do.

Marengo HS at John Essex

Saltwell will be the scene for this throw down between Marengo county school system teams. JEHS outscored #6 1A Linden in their preseason game, but tonight the scores count and bragging rights on the line. One thing is for sure, Mr. Hallmark will support a winner.

Marion Schools at Southern

Southern may very well establish scoring records in this game.

Last year, the Cougars hung 81 on the board against WAP. Last week against AAA Tuscaloosa Acad they scored 69. This game has the potential for being colossal. Colossal if Marion derails the Cougar Express or colossal in the victory margin by Southern. In case you are wondering, Vegas has not posted a line on this one.

Sparta Academy at Marengo Academy

This is the home opener for The Longhorns. The Warriors from Evergreen are going to discover there is no easy way to get here (Marengo) from there (Conecuh). However, if they can play as good as their sausage this could be another long night for the Bovines.

Regardless of your team allegiance, the kids need your support. It should be a very pleasant night so go out and support &8216;the good guys&8217;. If it should sprinkle, do not worry you are not going to melt.

Play hard. Play for fun. Play to win.