ScoutSouth.com: Cordova vs. Clay County

Both Cordova and Clay County head into Saturday's match-up with perfect records on the line, not to mention a state title. ScoutSouth.com caught up to Coach Basden (Cordova) and Coach Horn (Clay County) this week, and they were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedule to talk about the game.

Cordova comes into the game after a hard fought road win over Calera (26-18). The game was perhaps the toughest of the year for the Blue Devils, and that's saying something considering Cordova faced Winfield, Gordo, Aliceville, and Pike County over the course of the season and throughout the playoffs.

Even so, Coach Scott Basden sees Clay County as the best team his Blue Devils have faced this season.

"Obviously they're (Clay County) a great team," Coach Basden said from Cordova, (Ala.). "Coach Horn does a great job, and you can see that in how well they're coached."

"They also have the best athletes we've seen this season. They will cause some match-up problems for us on both sides of the ball. Their offensive and defensive lines are a lot bigger than ours, so we'll have to overcome that to win."

On the opposite side of the field you have a Clay County team that advanced to the finals last year only to fall to Pike County in the title game.

Clay County also played in their fair share of tough games this season with probably their biggest win over 5A Benjamin Russell. They also defeated a one loss Colbert Heights team in the 2nd round of the playoff's, 70-14. They went on to beat Lincoln, and 3A power, Colbert County to complete the trip back to Birmingham.

But Coach Danny Horn knows a good football team when he sees one, and he he shares his thoughts about the Cordova Blue Devils.

"They aren't 14-0 for nothing," Coach Horn said from the Clay County campus. "They're obviously a very good team. They're well coached, and their line comes off the ball real well."

"They (Cordova) have the best athletes we've seen all season long, and we've seen some good ones. It will be a hard fought game."

Both coaches have their game plans set, and both have an idea of what it will take to win this game.

Cordova Coach Scott Basden said, "I think the team that wins the physical battle will probably win the game, that and turn-overs.

Clay County Coach Danny Horn stated, "Turn-overs and mistakes will decide the winner. The two teams match-up well on paper, but we don't play the games on paper."

Players to watch:

Cordova: Tim Simon (RB), Rico Everett (WR/CB) and Ryan Smith (QB/DB).

Clay County: Chase Horn (QB), Ross Cotney (FB/LB), Alan Holt (DE) and Rock Ward (RB).

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