The AHSAA
MONTGOMERY – The Alabama High School Athletic Association recognized eight area high school football players late Tuesday afternoon in its weekly spotlight.
Sand Rock had three players recognized in Jacob Cornejo, Ace Ashley and Olin Pruitt for their performances in a 42-27 win at West End of Walnut Grove.
Cornejo accumulated 172 rushing yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns (59 and 1 yards). He also had 6 ½ tackles and had an interception on defense.
Ashley completed 14-of-20 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns (15, 2, and 27 yards). Pruitt was his top receiver with five catches for 105 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown. He also had two interceptions on defense.
Sand Rock (6-1) hosts Spring Garden (7-0) on Friday.
Cedar Bluff and Piedmont both had a pair of players recognized. Representing the Tigers is Jacob Burleson and Nick Clifton for their performances in a 27-10 win over Gaylesville.
Burleson was 14-of-24 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 53 yards on seven carries for two more scores. He also had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on defense. Clifton connected on field-goal attempts of 32 and 29 yards in the win.
Cedar Bluff (4-3) hosts Appalachian (0-6) on Friday.
For Piedmont, Jack Hayes was 8-of-9 passing for 183 yards and three touchdowns (17, 35 and 13 yards) in the first quarter before giving way to backup Cole Wilson in the Bulldogs’ 56-12 homecoming win over Pleasant Valley. Coleman Reid caught four passes for 129 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown.
Piedmont (6-1) travels to Hokes Bluff (3-4) on Friday.
Finally, Cherokee County High School quarterback Cade Hopper was 10-of-24 passing for 196 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown to Jack Amos, in the Warriors’ 42-14 loss to defending state champion Handley.
The Warriors (5-2) host Cleburne County (4-3) on Friday.
In other statewide happenings, Oneonta High School had a secret weapon in its arsenal last Friday as the Redskins aimed at the moon of all AHSAA football records with its 35-14 victory over Scottsboro. The secret weapon was senior running back/return specialist Collin Moon.
He certainly did his part by returning six punts for 176 yards in return yardage – returning two 73 and 66 yards, respectively, for touchdowns, and Oneonta posted the 700th victory of its legendary history.
For his heroics, Moon grabbed the limelight claiming this week’s AHSAA Football Spotlight. And for the Redskins football program, they officially joined a very exclusive club. That includes only two others – T.R. Miller and Fayette County. Both schools posted their 700th wins earlier this season.
Moon has been having a sensational senior year and the Redskins (7-1) are sitting in a logjam with Etowah and Dora with just one loss in Class 4A, Region 6. Good Hope sits at the top at 4-0, followed by Etowah (4-1). Oneonta and Dora are 3-1.
Coach Phil Phillips has compiled a 32-14 record since taking over the program four years ago in 2018. The school has seen its share of great coaches walk through its halls. Among they were Alabama High School Sports Hall of Famers Hugh O’Shields, James Porch, and Robert Herring … and future Hall of Famer Josh Niblett, now at Hoover.
O’Shields compiled a 143-38-3 record from 1966-1982, coaching back-to-back state titles in 1971 and 1972. The ’71 team tied Abbeville in the Class 2A state finals, and the ’72 team won the crown outright.
Maurice Carkuff is second in wins with a 117-59 record from 1985-1999.
Porch coached the Redskins to a 9-0 record in his only year in 1940 and then moved to Verbena where his teams won 50 in a row from 1950-1954.
Herring served as head coach in 1984 guiding Oneonta to a 9-2 record. He went on to win back-to-back state crowns at Oxford and had over 300 wins in his coaching career.
Niblett was head coach from 2000-2004 leading the Redskins to two state finals – winning the 3A crown in 2004 with a perfect 15-0 record before moving Oxford and then to Hoover where his teams have won six large-school state championships.
Clair Strickland has the best winning percentage going 35-3-2 during the WWII years from 19401-45.
Don Jacobs was 65-25 as head coach from 2010-2016, Bill Hawkins was 53-29-8 from 1957-65 and Gardner Gilliland was 40-18 as head coach from 205-2009.
W.A. McIntosh coached the first team in 1907. The school has had winning seasons in 81 of its 111 years.
A number of other coaches saw their careers jump-started in this historic program which now sports an overall record of 700-360-33. T.R. Miller leads the state at 704-328-20 and Fayette County is second at 703-360-35.
Also last week, Cordova High School (600-361-25) won its 600th game overall beating Carver-Birmingham 22-20 – just one week after Sylacauga (601-411-40) and Maplesville (601-332-19) reached that milestone on September 24.
The Oneonta milestone win edged out what came close to becoming a national record by Fort Payne senior place-kicker Alex McPherson. The youngest of three brothers in what has proven to be the best family of kickers in AHSAA history, Alex came up just a little short in his 70-yard field goal attempt just before halftime as the Wildcats beat Southside-Gadsden 24-16 in Class 6A, Region 7.The Auburn early commit and younger brother of NFL place-kicker Evan McPherson, did make a 40-yarder and was 3-of-3 on extra points in the win.
Ironically, Alex served as the holder when Evan kicked a 60-yard field goal in 2017 in a win over Brewer to set the AHSAA record for longest field goal made from a snap and hold. Alex’s longest field goals, 57 and 56 yards, came in 2019 when he booted field goals of 57 and 56 yards in wins over Albertville (21-13) and Mae Jemison (31-30). Evan and Alex’s older brother Logan McPherson also had long field goals of 57 and 56 yards in a 2012 win over Boaz – setting an AHSAA record for the two longest field goals in a single game.
The AHSAA’s longest field goal on record (61 yards) was kicked by Auburn’s Sage Ledbetter on a free kick following a fair catch in a 31-7 win over Smiths Station in the 2015 season. Michael Proctor also kicked a 60-yarder in 1991 in Pelham’s 39-16 victory over Mountain Brook. His field goal also came on a free kick.
“I’m a little upset, I wanted it to go in,” Alex McPherson told the Gadsden Times. “I thought I should have made it. It was close and I gave it a good kick. I knew if I hit it solid it had a chance. It came up short, but it was a great kick. I can’t be too mad about it.”
He did connect on a 70-yard kick during pregame warm-ups.
The national high school record for longest field goal belongs to Dirk Borgognone, who boomed s 68-yarder on Sept. 27, 1985, for Reno High School in Nevada in a game against rival Sparks. That record still stands.
BUZZER BEATERS
RAY BARRERA, OXFORD: Kicked a 37-yard field goal with eight seconds left to lift the Yellow Jackets to a 26-24 win over Arab in Class 6A, Region 7. Just 1:33 earlier, Oxford scored a touchdown on a 6-yard run by Jaydon Thomas to cut the lead the Knights’ lead to 24-23, but the try for two failed. After a failed onside kick, Oxford used all three of its timeouts and get the ball back at its own 20-yard line with 1:13 left and drove into field goal range in the final minute to set up Barrera’s winning kick.
BRAXTON HORNSBY, DOTHAN: Caught five passes for 43 yards, including a game-winning 18-yard grab for the winning touchdown with 2.2 seconds remaining as the Wolves beat Jeff Davis 20-18 in Class 7A, Region 2.
HAYDEN GARRISON, CHELSEA: Completed 18-of-28 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning 30-yarder with 17 seconds left, and added a rushing touchdown in the 41-34 win over Huffman in Class 6A, Region 5.
KELTON WASHINGTON, WEST POINT: Turned in a clutch performance with 28 carries and 108 rushing yards in a 14-8 Class 5A, Region 7 win over Sardis. He had eight carries resulting in first downs and six rush attempts in the final drive of the night to pick up two first downs as West Point (5-2) ran out the clock to seal their third straight win.
JARELL STINSON, OPELIKA: Knocked down Lee-Montgomery’s two-point pass play in overtime to seal the Bulldogs’ 21-20 Class 6A, Region 2 win over the Generals.
MILESTONES
TY ROPER, FOLEY: Became the first player in AHSAA history to have two kickoff returns of 99 yards for touchdowns in a single game as Foley downed Davidson 35-31. He also rushed for 135 yards on 15 carries and tallied a third TD in the Class 7A, Region 1 win. Roper joins 18 others in AHSAA lore to accomplish the feat of two kickoff returns in the same game. Jerron Smith of Hazel Green had two kickoff returns for TDs in a 49-26 win over Mae Jemison earlier this season and senior Emmanuel Henderson of Geneva County in a 54-49 loss to Ariton in 2019 for the latest two entries into the club prior to the Foley senior’s accomplishment versus Davidson.
SARALAND WINS 100TH GAME FOR COACH: The Spartans (6-2) beat Gulf Shores 41-16 to hand head coach Jeff Kelly his 100th win at the school. Jarel Williams returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a TD and caught five passes for 118 yards in the win. Kelly owns a 147-67-0 overall head-coaching record in 18 seasons with stints at Satsuma and Jackson before taking over Saraland’s program in 2011. The school’s first year was 2010. Kelly, now in his 11th season with the Spartans, is 100-33 during his tenure. The school has a 103-40-0 overall slate. Saraland opened the season 0-2 but has since won six in a row and improved to 5-0 in Class 6A, Region 1 with the win. The Spartans reached the Class 6A state finals in 2014 and 2018 under Kelly’s leadership. He also led Jackson to the 4A state finals in 2009.
CENTER POINT SENIORS CLOSE TO MAKING HISTORY: The Eagles’ 47-6 win over Hayden improved Center Point to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Class 5A, Region 6 – and needing one more win either this week against St. Clair County or next week against Corner — to become the first school’s senior class this century to reach the playoffs all four years in high school. Quarterback Jabari Collier was 7-of-11 passing for 116 yards and two TDs and tailback Troy Bruce rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries for the Eagles of Coach George Bates. Receiver Harold Holloman also had four catches for 111 yards and two scores. The last time a senior class clinched four straight football playoff berths was the Class of 2000. The Eagles’ current seniors could become the first senior class in the 21st century to accomplish the feat and just the ninth in school history with a region win next week.
RUSHING
EARL WOODS, HUEYTOWN: Accounted for seven touchdowns and 431 total yards in the 75-55 win over Northridge in Class 6A, Region 4. He rushed for 226 yards and five touchdowns on 24 carries and completed 14-of-22 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
MAKHI HUGHES, HUFFMAN: Had 42 carries for 280 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-34 loss to Chelsea in Class 6A, Region 5. He also scored on a pair of successful 2-point conversion runs and also played 35 snaps on defense and special teams.
ELI JACOBS, BOAZ: Rushed for 260 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns as Boaz beat Douglas 49-20 in Class 5A, Region 7. His touchdowns came on runs of 12, 83 and 7 yards.
JACKIE BELUE, DESHLER: Picked up 253 yards rushing and scored three TDs in the Tigers’ 27-14 Class 4A, Region 8 win over Rogers.
BRAYLON McREYNOLDS, McGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC: Rushed for 224 yards and three touchdown on 10 carries as the Yellow Jackets beat Robertsdale 38-31 in Class 6A, Region 2.
JORDAN WASHINGTON, HELENA: Totaled 221 yards on 26 carries and scored a touchdown as Helena beat Calera 31-21 to clinch the Class 6A, Region 3 title.
RI FLETCHER, HARTSELLE: Rushed for 221 yards and four touchdowns and had 22 receiving yards for another score in Hartselle’s 52-35 win over Muscle Shoals in Class 6A, Region 8.
EMMANUEL HENDERSON, GENEVA COUNTY: Had 10 carries for 220 yards and three touchdowns (65, 17 and 33 yards) to lead Geneva County to a 40-21 victory over Houston County in 2A, Region 2.
RAYSHAWN HARDY, BOB JONES: Ran for 216 yards and three touchdowns (70, 15 and 2 yards), and threw a 19-yard TD pass in a 62-21 Class 7A, Region 4 win over Albertville.
MASON CARTEE, PRICEVILLE: Ran for 214 yards and four touchdowns (55, 40, 21 and 2 yards) on 27 carries in a 41-20 Class 4A, Region 8 win over Central-Florence.
GAGE ALEXANDER, HUBBERTVILLE: Had 17 carries for 208 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-0 Class 3A, Region 6 win.
MASON CARTEE, PRICEVILLE: Picked up 198 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns in a 41-20 Class 4A, Region 8 victory over Central-Florence.
TYLER COOPER, AUSTIN: Ran for 170 yards on 26 carries and scored two TDs in a 31-21 Class 7A, Region 4 victory over Huntsville.
TREVOR MORRIS, G.W. LONG: Gained 199 yards rushing and had two touchdowns with runs of 67 and two yards in a 38-12 win over Cottonwood in Class 2A, Region 2.
DEONTAY AVERETT, FLOMATON: rushed for 199 yards and 3 TDs for the Hurricanes on 30 carries in a 32-23 Class 3A, Region 1 win over Excel.
COSNER HARRISON, SAINT JAMES: Managed 198 yards and four touchdowns on 28 rush attempts as the Trojans beat Dale County 45-20 to improve to 5-0 in Class 4A, Region 2.
JORDAN PEARSON, SHADES VALLEY: Managed 198 yards rushing and a key touchdown in the Mounties’ 10-8 win over Homewood in Class 6A, Region 5.
BRIAN THOMAS, LEE-MONTGOMERY: Rushed for 197 yards on 29 carries and scored one touchdown in the Generals’ 21-20 overtime loss to Opelika in 6A, Region 2.
WILL STOKES, MADISON ACADEMY: Ran for 193 yards and four touchdowns (70, 9 and 9 yards, and 1 yard) on 17 carries in a 42-7 Class 4A, Region 7 win over Madison County.
JAMARIUS HAYNES, HANDLEY: Ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 42-14 win over Cherokee County. The 4A, Region 4 win was Handley’s 11th victory in a row.
BRAXTON BROOKS, SAMSON: Rushed for 173 yards and completed 6-of-8 passes for 87 yards with a 20-yard TD as the Tigers downed Red Level 30-8 in Class 1A, Region 1.
JOSEPH ANDERSON, MONTEVALLO: Totaled 10 carries for 168 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the 48-6 win over Sumter Central in 4A, Region 3.
QUALIN McCANTS, FAIRHOPE: Piled up 158 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries as the Pirates beat Theodore 21-12 to take sole possession of first place in Class 7A, Region 1.
JARIUS HOUSTON, CHICKASAW: Had four rushing attempts for 143 yards and scored four touchdowns in a 40-14 win over Millry.
JAMARION JOHNSON, HILLCREST-TUSCALOOSA: Rushed 24 times for 137 yards and one TD, and quarterback Ethan Crawford had 80 yards and two TDs on 14 carries as the Patriots downed McAdory 30-7 in Class 6A, Region 4. Crawford also completed 10-of-17 passes for 113 yards.
MYKEL JOHNSON, ENTERPRISE: Accounted for 228 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns in Enterprise’s 49-35 win over Smiths Station in 7A, Region 2. He rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries, caught four passes for 78 yards and two TDs and had 44 yards in kick returns.
JERMAINE COLEMAN, VIGOR: Had 21 carries for 145 yards and one touchdown in the Wolves’ 21-19 win over Faith Academy. Vigor improved to 8-0 with the AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week win.
SZEMERICK ANDREWS, GOSHEN: Had 138 rushing yards on 19 carries and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 26-yard run as the Eagles beat Pike County 15-13 in Class 3A, Region 4 for their first win of the season. He also had seven tackles on defense.
PASSING
KALEB NIX, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Tossed five touchdown passes and 348 yards on a 17-of-29 passing effort as the unbeaten Red Devils (8-0) beat Prattville 42-21 in Class 7A, Region 2.
ALEX BANKS, DALE COUNTY: Completed 20-of-31 passes for 316 yards and two TDs in a 45-20 loss to Saint James in Class 4A, Region 2.
PEYTON FLOYD, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: The 5-foot-8, 135-pound sophomore and son of head coach Josh Floyd completed 15-of-23 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns, adding 11 rush attempts for 47 yards and a score in the 49-35 Class 7A, Region 3 win over Vestavia Hills.
PARKER ADAMS, CHARLES HENDERSON: Finished 11-of-19 passing for 275 yards and four touchdowns (44, 66, 17 and 32 yards and rushed for one TD as the Trojans picked up their first win of the season beating Rehobeth 40-7 in Class 5A, Region 2.
BRAYDEN KYLE, DECATUR HERITAGE: Completed 13-of-17 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 159 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 10 carries as the Eagles posted a 48-16 win over R.A. Hubbard in 1A, Region 8.
ANTHONY JOHNSON, MIDFIELD: Completed 21-of-24 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns and added a 46-yard scoring run in the 70-8 win over Cold Springs in Class 2A, Region 5.
CORNELIUS SPIDA JONES, CARVER-BIRMINGHAM: Completed 14-of-25 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns and added 110 yards rushing in the 22-20 Class 5A, Region 5 loss to Cordova.
TRACE THOMPSON, ETOWAH: Was 18-of-22 passing for 237 yards and five touchdowns in the Blue Devils’ 44-0 win over Hanceville in Class 4A, Region 6.
BRANDON MUSCH, WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN: Completed 17-of-19 passes for 236 yards and a 35-yard touchdown, in a 35-7 win in Class 4A, Region 7 over St. John Paul II Catholic. He also rushed for two touchdowns covering 14 and 8 yards.
ED JOHNSON, ARAB: Was 13-of-20 passing for 230 yards and two TDs, and rushed 33 times for 75 yards and another score in a 24-23 loss to Oxford in 6A, Region 7.
TANNER BAILEY, GORDO: Passed for 230 yards and four touchdowns in the Green Wave’s 54-0 Class 4A, Region 5 win over Hamilton.
A.J. WALLACE, MOODY: The junior quarterback led the Blue Devils to a 41-13 win over Corner in Class 5A, Region 6 with a 16-of-23 passing effort for 226 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 90 yards on 12 carries.
E.J. OUSLEY, PRATTVILLE: Was 14-of-29 passing for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ 42-21 loss to unbeaten Central-Phenix City in 7A, Region 2.
JOHN MICHAEL DOWNS, BIBB COUNTY: Completed 13-of-20 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns as the Choctaws downed West Blocton 35-29 in Class 4A, Region 3.
TY FETNER, HANDLEY: Passed for 219 yards and a pair of third-quarter touchdowns to Maurice Cameron in the Tigers’ 42-14 Class 4A, Region 4 win over Cherokee County.
KAYDYN MITCHELL, HOUSTON ACADEMY: The Raiders’ quarterback accounted for seven touchdowns, six passing and one rushing, and 271 total yards, helping Houston Academy score on all eight possessions and break a six-game losing streak to city rival Providence Christian with a 54-0 win in Class 3A Region 2. He completed 13-of-18 passes for 219 yards with touchdowns of 7, 23, 69, 13, 6 and 22 yards and added 52 yards rushing with an 18-yard TD run.
AIDEN QUINN, WINFIELD: Directed the Pirates to a 46-0 win over Holly Pond in Class 3A, Region 6 completing 8-of-12 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns.
BLAKE JOHNSON, FAYETTE COUNTY: Was 11-of-18 passing for 194 yards to lead the Tigers past Haleyville 27-0 in Class 4A, Region 5.
SAMUEL ROBERTSON, OXFORD: Was 18-of-28 passing for 192 yards and one TD – and drove the Jackets from their own 20 to a game-winning field goal in the final 1:13 of the fourth quarter in a 245-23 win over Arab in Class 6A, Region 7.
SAWYER DEERMAN. AMERICAN CHRISTIAN: finished 8-of-10 passing for 184 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots beat Wilcox Central 41-0 in Class 4A, Region 3.
WHITT WINFIELD, NORTHRIDGE: Was 13-of-22 passing for 181 yards and two TDs and added seven rush attempts for 75 yards and another score in a 75-55 loss to Hueytown in Class 6A, Region 4.
QUENTIN HAYES, ENTERPRISE: Accounted for 236 yards passing and rushing with three touchdowns in Enterprise’s 49-35 win over Smiths Station in Class 7A, Region 2. He was 9-of-14 passing for 175 yards and two scores and rushed for 61 yards and one TD.
CASH TURNER, ORANGE BEACH: Completed all four of his passes attempted for 162 yards and two TDs as the Makos downed Washington County 44-14 in Class 2A, Region 1.
KOBIE STRINGER, G.W. LONG: Was 7-of-10 passing for 141 yards and two TDs, rushed for 65 yards on eight carries and another TD in the Rebels’ 38-12 win in 2A, Region 2.
PASS RECEIVING
RAYMON BLACKMON, DOTHAN: Totaled five pass receptions for 152 yards and a TD as the Wolves beat Jeff Davis 20-18 in 7A, Region 2.
CHRISTIAN ROSS, DALE COUNTY: Pulled down nine receptions for 147 yards, including a 50-yard TD, in a 45-20 loss to Saint James in 4A, Region 2. Teammate Derrion Crossley also had seven catches for 124 yards with an 82-yard touchdown catch.
WES JOHNSON, ARAB: The senior grabbed seven receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns (39 and 49 yards) from his twin brother and Arab quarterback Ed Johnson in a 24-23 loss to Oxford in 6A, Region 7.
DAVION DOZIER, MOODY: Snared nine receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns as the Blue Devils posted a 41-13 win over Corner in Class 6A, Region 6.
KOHL SUMMERVILLE, GORDO: Grabbed three receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns as Gordo downed Hamilton 54-0 in Class 4A, Region 5.
KOLLYN SHELLNUT, NORTHRIDGE: Caught five passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns and completed 4-of-6 passes foe 60 yards and another TD in a 75-55 loss to Hueytown in Class 6A, Region 4.
WILL WELLS, HOUSTON ACADEMY: Had five receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns covering 7 and 69 yards and teammate Chapman Andrews had three receptions, all for TDs (23, 13 and 22 yards) as the Raiders beat Providence Christian 54-0.
SHANE ROBERSON, UMS-WRIGHT: Caught five passes for 114 yards as the Bulldogs defeated Satsuma 42-7 in Class 5A, Region 1.
DEFENSE
MATTHEW McDONALD: The senior linebacker accounted for 18 tackles, including one sack and three others for losses in a 41-13 Class 4A, Region 6 win over Corner.
BRETT BECKWORTH, WEST LIMESTONE: Totaled 14 tackles, recorded a sack and had a tackle for a safety in a 47-16 win over Wilson in Class 4A, Region 8.
JORDAN DRIVER, HOLT: Totaled 12 tackles in a 33-0 Class 4A, Region 3 loss to Dallas County.
ZION GRADY, CHARLES HENDERSON: Had 12 tackles and two sacks in a 40-7 Class 5A, Region 2 win over Rehobeth. Teammate Damiel Hart also had 12 stops for the Trojans.
T.J. DUDLEY, MONTGOMERY-CATHOLIC: Had 10 tackles, including three for losses, as the Knights’ defense recorded their sixth shutout in eight games this season with a 44-0 win in Class 3A, Region 4 over Childersburg.
ETHAN HAMM, LAUDERDALE COUNTY: Had seven tackles and an interception as the Tigers beat Phil Campbell 13-6 in a Class 3A, Region 8 defensive struggle.
JAQUERAIUS THOMAS, CARVER-MONTGOMERY: Intercepted two passes to help the Wolverines beat Eufaula 20-12 in Class 6A, Region 2. His first pick came late in the first half to set up Carver’s first TD. He returned his second pick 55 yards for a touchdown in the second half to seal the win.
JAVION BELLE-McCRARY, PICKENS COUNTY: Made two interceptions on defense and fired three TD passes on offense to lead the Tornadoes past Berry 25-6 in Class 1A, Region 6.
JAHLIL HURLEY, FLORENCE: Made two interceptions on defense and caught a 74-yard touchdown pass on offense to key the Falcons’ 42-0 Class 7A, Region 8 win over Sparkman.
CHRYSTYILE CALDWELL, ELBA: Had a 76-yard interception return for a TD, recovered a fumble and was in on 11 tackles in the Tigers’ 82-14 Class 2A, Region 2 win over Abbeville. He also ran for a 24-yard score on offense.
NATE STEINER, ELBERTA: Intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, as the Warriors downed LeFlore 31-12 in 5A, Region 1.
SUYETA DROWNING BEAR, WEST POINT: Intercepted a pass at the West Point 2-yard line and also had one rushing play for 65 yards and a TD to help preserve a 14-8 victory over Sardis in 5A, Region 7.
J’MANI JOHNSON, MURPHY: Had three sacks among his seven tackles in the Panthers’ 14-7 Class 7A, Region 1 win over Murphy.
SPECIAL TEAMS
OWEN POOVEY, DECATUR: The Red Raiders’ punter had two punts downed inside the 10 – the second one leading to a blocked Hazel Green punt for a Decatur TD – and kicked a 28-yard field goal in a 24-17 Class 6A, Region 8 win over Hazel Green.
ANDY GARRIS, ARITON: Returned a punt 77 yards and converted 6-of-6 extra-point attempts while also scoring on a 22-yard run in the unbeaten Purple Cats’ 42-0 Class 2A, Region 2 win over Zion Chapel.
COLE TURNER, VESTAVIA HILLS: Returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and caught nine passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns as the Rebels fell to Hewitt-Trussville 49-35 in Class 7A, Region 3.