The preliminary is over. Now get ready for the main event.
Proving they could handle the trappings of success, West Forsyth easily disposed of winless Parkland 52-6 last week.
The victory demonstrated that the Titans have the ability to handle the role of favorite. Now comes the bigger test — can they handle the role of worthy conference rival?
Hosting Mount Tabor in what will be the most important game to date for both teams, West has a chance to take a big step towards the Central Piedmont title with a victory. It’s an opportunity the Titan players are looking forward to, especially Phil Taylor. Taylor played for the Spartans last year but transferred to West for his senior season.
“I’m excited about this game but also extremely focused,” noted the 5’9” defensive back. “I’m determined to win, not just for myself but for my teammates. I still have some good friends (at Tabor) and we’ve gone back and forth, kidding around a little bit about who has the better team. But I shut all of that out a couple of weeks ago so I could start getting mentally prepared. I’m anxious to get this one going.”
West lost to the Spartans last season and have won just one of the meetings between the two teams in the past six years. Both teams enter Friday’s contest with 5-1 overall records and 1-0 marks in CPC play.
“It’s the same old story with them — they are fast, physical and talented,” West coach Adrian Snow mentioned earlier this week. “They’re also very well coached. Our defense had better be working at maximium capacity because they can score from anywhere on the field …