Russell County will travel to the Cramton Bowl to face Sidney Lanier in a key Class 6A Region 2 contest Thursday night. Both teams are coming off wins and want to continue their win streaks.

Russell County has a two-game win streak with wins over Valley (16-6) and Dothan (24-7). Sidney Lanier has a three-game winning streak with wins over Lee-Montgomery (28-13), Sumpter Central (54-0) and Northview (26-6). 

With the all the rain that the State of Alabama had on Monday and Tuesday, playing on Thursday has been a little difficult for both teams. "Being off the last two days has changed our schedule with the short week," said Poets Head coach Marvin Cunningham. "Anytime you don't get your normal reps during the week could have an effect with your players, but we have to mentally tough enough to get through a week like this."

James Foster will lead the way for the Poets at quarterback. The Missouri commitment is having a great season through the first three games of the season. Wide receiver Adjante Oliver can make a diving catch all over the field and is a big target for Foster and the Poets offense. 

Junior Jacory Merritt leads the Poets run game and it looks to bring a little more balance to the Poets offense. "The run game has been good," added Cunningham. "Jacory as a 11th grader is figuring out his O'line. We are doing better each week and we can always do better. We know coming down in November that the run game has to be solid, we know you have to run the ball in the playoffs. So we think by midseason it should be where it needs to be."

The Poets defense has been stingy this season only giving up 26 points in those three games. "For the last three years our defense has done a great job," said Cunningham. "Defense is one of my specialties so we work extra hard in that area."

Alfred Thomas, Glenn Adams, Oliver and L'Dontay Garrison have played well defensively for the Poets. "These four guys have been in the fire the last four years," said Cunningham. "We have some smart guys and guys that can figure out the situation of the game so we hope that we can keep that up."

Linebacker La"Dedric Jackson will run you down from sideline to sideline making important big stops for the Poets defense. Oliver and Garrison play on offense and don't get many plays off during the game.

Russell County (2-1) comes into this game much improved from the last few years. Quarterback Gary Johnson and running backs Jalen Mitchell and Diondre Crawford have done a great job of finding the end zone in the first three games of the season. Wide receiver D'Andre Hartwell is a guy that can make a play on the football at anytime. The offensive line is led by guard Omar Thomas.

The Russell County defense is led by defensive end Damon Lloyd and defensive tackle Simeon Hill. Both look to shut down the Poets run game and make the Sidney Lanier one sided with only the passing game, but with Foster that could be a problem for the Russell County back end of the defense.