Enterprise ready for playoff rematch with Auburn

For the second time in three weeks the Enterprise Wildcats (8-3) are heading to Auburn to face off against the Auburn Tigers (9-2) but this time it’s in the quarterfinals of the Class 7A State Playoffs.

Auburn defeated Enterprise 42-28 in their matchup three weeks ago in a game that the Wildcats struggled with on both sides of the ball. Enterprise coach Rick Darlington said after his Wildcats knocked off Class 7A No. 3-ranked Fairhope last week that his squad was hungry for a rematch.

“They’re the only team that beat us by double digits,” Darlington said after the playoff win. “They’re really good but we’d like to get another chance (at them). We’re just glad to get to keep playing no matter who it is, though.”

Enterprise is coming off a thorough 34-10 win over Fairhope in which a rejuvenated Wildcat defense dominated from beginning to an end, while Auburn is coming off an equally dominating 39-3 win over Baker in the first round.

As the Enterprise defense will be out for revenge against Auburn’s efficient, balanced offensive attack, the Wildcats also come into Auburn with an offense that was humming in the first round.

Enterprise’s three-headed monster in the Wildcat backfield of running backs Amare Griffin (1,235 yards and 16 touchdowns) and Mykel Johnson (1,201 yards and 22 touchdowns) and quarterback Quentin Hayes (1,316 total yards and 14 total touchdowns) will look to add to their record-setting season. The Enterprise offense has already set the school record for points in a season this year with 467 points and it also has rushed for more than 4,000 yards as a team, which is believed to also be a school record. According to Maxpreps, Enterprise’s leads the entire state and is Top 10 in the country.

Enterprise has not made it to the second round of the playoffs since 2016 and hasn’t made it to the third round since 1993. So, the Wildcats are looking to make history this week.