Albany looks ahead after tough road loss
The Albany Lions came up short against the Anson Tigers on Friday, September 26, falling 22–6 in what Coach Denney Faith described as a hard-fought and emotional game. The loss marks the first time Anson has beaten Albany since 2001, ending a 24-year streak and highlighting the Tigers as a serious contender in Class 2A this season. Anson now sits at 5–0 with a physical, playoff-ready team that made an impression on the Lions’ longtime head coach.
“I think they have a really good football team,” Faith said. “We’ve played a couple of teams in their district, and I’d say they’re as good or better than either of them.”
While the outcome was disappointing, Albany’s defense turned in another strong performance. The Lions forced two interceptions, added a sack, and played fast, physical football to keep the game within reach for much of the night.
“The defense played lights out,” Faith said. “Great effort, good assignment football, tackling well — I couldn’t be more proud of how those guys performed.”
Offensive Struggles
Albany’s offense, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm against Anson’s stout defense. The Lions were held to 75 total yards — 44 rushing and 31 passing — and completed only 4 of 15 passes on the night. Albany’s lone score came in the second quarter on a safety, followed by a fourth-quarter field goal.
Faith said the responsibility for the recent offensive struggles falls on him.
“I’m taking the blame on that one,” he said. “Our kids are playing hard. I’ve just got to do a better job of getting them where they need to be.”
He noted that both Anson and Coahoma presented difficult defensive challenges over the past two weeks, but emphasized that better execution and positioning will be the focus moving forward.
Bye week comes at a good time
With district play around the corner, the Lions will use their bye week to reset, both physically and mentally. Faith said the emphasis this week will be on improving execution through increased reps rather than diving into a detailed game plan.
“We’re just trying to execute better,” he said. “We’ll spend a lot of time doing things to get better with ourselves. More reps will help us improve.”
The week off also offers a much-needed break after a tough pre-district stretch. Albany has faced four playoff contending teams in its first five games — a run Faith called a true test for his young roster.
“This is a good time to heal up and recharge,” he said. “We’ve been through the gauntlet, but I think we’re better for it.”
As district play approaches, the Lions will take the field as a battle-tested group. Faith said his team is ready.
“With the schedule we’ve been through, I think we’re ready for the challenge,” he said
