Staff Reports
MONTGOMERY – Cherokee County High School’s Whit Johnson highlighted the area’s football performances from Friday night in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Spotlight.
Johnson returned an interception 100 yards in the fourth quarter to lead the Warriors past Class 4A, Region 4 rival White Plains 48-12. He also snagged s 24-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Cade Hopper on offense.
His 100-yard pick was the longest reported since J.U. Blacksher’s Jaiveyon Tucker sped 102 yards with an interception for a touchdown in a 53-0 win over McIntosh last year.
The state record (108 yards) has been done twice, first by Demopolis DB Tommy Wilson in a 49-7 win over American Christian in 2012 and in again in 2018 by Notasulga’s Jimmy Pitts in a 52-0 victory over Autaugaville.
Three players each from Spring Garden and Sand Rock, and two from Gaylesville, were also recognized for their Week 4 efforts.
Ryley Kirk completed 9-of-13 pass attempts for 140 yards and a 23-yard touchdown and rushed for 30 yards and a pair of scores to lead the unbeaten Panthers (4-0) to a 34-14 win over Cleveland in Class 2A, Region 6.
Kirk’s top receiver was Cooper Austin, who led the Panthers with five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Luke Welsh led the Panther ground game with 140 yards rushing on 18 carries and scored on a 22-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Sand Rock’s Ace Ashley completed 19-of-32 pass attempts for 281 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown to Olin Pruitt, in a 20-7 loss at Southeastern. Pruitt finished with eight receptions for 152 yards.
On defense, the Wildcats were led by Ethan Clanton’s 12 tackles.
DJ Lee turned in another outstanding performance on Friday night for the Gaylesville Trojans. Lee ran for 141 yards on 25 carries with three touchdowns, and completed three passes for 82 yards and a 28-yard touchdown as Gaylesville fell to Valley Head 34-28. He also had nine tackles on defense.
Seth Lee also recovered a pair of fumbles in the loss.
In other statewide happenings, Tallassee High School junior Jalyn Daniels had touchdown runs of 99 and 89 yards in the span of just over three minutes last week in the third quarter of the Tigers’ Class 5A, Region 4 high school football battle with Elmore County.
Those two big plays stretch a precarious 21-14 lead to 35-14 and Tallassee rolled to its first victory of the season winning 49-21. Daniels also burst into the AHSAA Football Spotlight for Week 4 of the 2020 season with his outstanding performance.
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound junior finished with 349 rushing yards and five touchdowns on
20 carries. He dashed his way into the AHSAA Record Book with his 99-yard run with 6:51 left in the third quarter. He almost equaled that effort with 3:21 left in the period when he scored on his 8 9-yard run. His other TD runs covered 5, 27 and 37 yards.
The 99-yard run from scrimmage, the maximum distance possible officially in a high school football game, made his the 17th player in AHSAA history since 1972 to accomplish that feat, according to the AHSAA Record Book, and the first since Geneva’s Kahari McReynolds ran 99 yards for a TD versus Samson and Emmanuel Henderson of Geneva County sped the same distance for a TD versus the same school in 2019. McReynolds also had a 99-yard interception return in the same game, a 40-28 win over Samson.
Tallassee and Elmore County combined for 899 total yards, 524 by Tallassee and 375 by Elmore County. Coach Mike Battles’ Tigers averaged 13.4 yards on just 39 total plays. Payton Stephenson was 14-of-23 passing for 170 yards and rushed 24 times for 129 yards for the Wildcats.
Daniels edged out three other record-book performances to earn this week’s AHSAA Spotlight.
Sastuma’s defense, led by 6-foot, 185-pound senior linebacker Billy Scott, limited LeFlore minus-3 yards total offense, the fifth best defensive effort in AHSAA history, according to the AHSAA Record Book. He had 3.5 sacks among his eight tackles as the Gators beat LeFlore 21-2 in a game played Saturday night. Satsuma’s defense forced two turnovers.
The minus-3 total yards allowed was the best defensive effort reported since Corner limited Vincent to minus-47 total yards in a 63-6 win in 2015. Uniontown set the state mark (minus-67 yards) in a win over Greensboro in 1977. Charles Henderson limited Bullock County to minus-17 yards in a 57-0 win in 2013, and W.S. Neal downed Cottage Hill Christian 48-0 in 2012 allowing minus-7 total yards.
Westminster Christian quarterback Brandon Musch completed 24-of-50 passes for 387 yards and seven touchdowns and ran for 121 yards and a TD on 12 carries in a 59-54 loss to DAR. He finished with 508 total yards. He became the 27th quarterback to throw for seven touchdowns in a single game and the first since Malik Inabinette of Montevallo and Aaron Dove of Falkville to throw for seven TDs in a game in 2018. Both had eight TD passes in wins over Greensboro and Coosa Christian, respectively.
The 508 total yards by Musch was the most this season by any player in the AHSAA. The 500-yard milestone was reach four times last year: by Seth Brown of St. John Paul II Catholic (614) versus West Morgan; by Logan West of Florala (568) versus Houston Academy; by Charlie Cater of Locust Fork (509) versus Cleveland; and by Maddux Herring of Ariton (501) versus Geneva County.
Other top performances reported from last week’s AHSAA action included:
PASSING
JOSH LUNDY, HOOVER: Completed 18-of-27 passes for 349 yards and five touchdowns — with three scoring tosses and 13 completions overall gaining 20-plus yards — in the Bucs’ 42-7 Class 7A, Region 3victory over previously unbeaten Oak Mountain.
HESS HORNE, EUFAULA: Was 17-of-27 for 281 passing yards and five touchdowns in a 33-7 Tigers win over Class 6A, Region 2 foe Park Crossing. His TD passes covered 58, 22, 4, 24 and 39 yards. He also completed a two-point conversion pass in the win.
ZACH PYRON, PINSON VALLEY: Was 21-of-26 passing for 280 yards and four touchdowns and had a rushing touchdown as the Indians beat Jackson-Olin 34-18 in Class 6A, Region 6.
DAMION KEMMERLIN, GENEVA: Totaled 277 yards passing on an 11-of-14 performance and had TD tosses of 76, 70 and 4 yards and also had 37 yards rushing for 314 total yards as the Panthers beat Ashford 41-8 in Class 4A, Region 2.
WILL NOLES, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Was 5-for-8 passing for 233 yards and three touchdowns in the Warriors’ 50-14 victory over Locust Fork.
MICHAEL RICH, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: Was 15-of-21 in passing for 221 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 28-27 Class 5A, Region 7 loss to Arab. He also rushed for two scores.
TUCKER KILCREASE, BRANTLEY: Completed 11-of-14 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns as the unbeaten Bulldogs (4-0) downed Pleasant Home 54-0 Saturday in Class 1A, Region 1. Wesley Person had one TD reception and Dequan Pittman had the other TD. He also had two rushing touchdowns.
MARTVIOUS GLANTON, ABBEVILLE: Accounted for 244 yards rushing and passing and had one TD in the Yellow Jackets’ 42-30 Class 2A, Region 2 loss to Geneva County. He passed for 144 yards and a TD and rushed for 100 yards on 11 carries.
CONNER HARRELL, THOMPSON: The junior QB completed 17-of-23 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns – mostly coming in the first half – as the Warriors downed Hewitt-Trussville 35-21 in a game televised nationally on ESPN U. Thompson lead 35-7 at intermission.
KADIN BENNEFIELD, BOAZ: Had 110 yards rushing and first-half touchdowns of 14, 14 and 7 yards in a 38-0 win over Sardis.
FOX TINKER, PISGAH: Scored on a 10-yard run in the second overtime, then threw the winning 2-point pass in the Eagles’ 42-40 win over Whitesburg Christian.
PASS RECEIVING
RYAN SCOTT, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Caught three passes for 186 yards and two TDs in a 50-14 Class 2A, Region 6 win over Locust Fork.
RODARIUS THOMAS, EUFAULA: The Tigers’ wide receiver caught seven passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-7 Class 6A, Region 2 win over Park Crossing. His first two TDs covered 58 and 22 yards and gave Eufaula a 15-0 halftime lead His final TD covered 39 yards.
TIMOTHY McREYNOLDS, GENEVA: Nabbed four passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns and added 85 yards on 11 carries in the Panthers’ 41-8 win over Ashford.
JOSH McCRAY, ENTERPRISE: Caught five passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns covering 64 and 29 yards and rushed 16 times for 79 yards and two more scores in the Wildcats’ 45-28 Class 7A, Region 2 loss to Central-Phenix City. McCray also had 146 yards on seven kick returns and threw one pass for 31 yards to finish with 395 all-purpose yards.
RYAN PEPPINS, THOMPSON: The junior had six catches for TDs covering 55 and 66 yards in a 35-21 win over Class 7A, Region 3 rival Hewitt-Trussville.
CODY ROBERTS, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: Snagged four receptions for 134 yards in a 28-27 loss to Arab.
PEYTON ELLIS, OPP: Snagged three pass receptions for 130 yards with two touchdowns covering 66 and 42 yards in the Bobcats’ 54-6 Class 3A, Region 2 win over Daleville.
JAREL WILLIAMS, SARALAND: Caught four passes for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Spartans downed Class 6A, Region 1 foe Blount 35-13 on Saturday.
QUINDARRIUS MAYES, HUEYTOWN: Caught five passes for 111 yards, including the 22-yard game-winning reception, as the Gophers beat Class 6A, Region 4 rival Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 28-24.
MARQUARIUS WHITE, CLAY-CHALKVILLE: Hauled in eight passes for 101 yards and three scores, including two touchdown receptions in the final quarter, to lead the Cougars to a 38-33 come-from-behind victory over Minor in Class 6A, Region 6.
COOPER DAVIDSON, GUNTERSVILLE: Scored touchdowns on all three of his receptions and returned a punt for a score in a 50-0 Class 5A, Region 7 win over Douglas.
DEFENSE
MARIO BERRY McADORY: Was responsible for two safeties from his defensive position on defense, made nine tackles with two tackles-for-losses and three sacks and added two quarterback pressures in the Jackets’ 25-6 Class 6A, Region 4 win over Bessemer Academy.
BRADEN TURNER, McGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC: Scored a pair of touchdowns on defense to spark the Yellow Jackets’ 21-0 Class 6A, Region 1 win over Citronelle. He returned an interception for a TD in the second quarter and fell on a fumble caused by teammate Robert Greenwood for a score in the fourth period.
JAYVEN ANDERSON, ABBEVILLE: Made 18 tackles in the Yellow Jackets’ 42-30 loss to Geneva County.
CAMERON DUNKLIN, LEEDS: Led the Green Wave defense with 14 tackles, including two sacks and three other stops for losses, as Leeds beat Hayden 19-3.
TREVOR WILLETT, WEST END: Had 11 tackles, including five for a loss, and two sacks in the Patriots’ 54-20 win over Gaston. Teammate Isaiah Roberson also had 11 tackles and Hunter Tucker had 10.
JAX VAN ZANDT, THOMPSON: Led the Cass 7A Warriors’ defensive effort with 11 tackles as Thompson beat Hewitt-Trussville 35-21.
KEVIN MONTAGUE, MADISON COUNTY: Recorded eight tackles, six sacks and a blocked field goal in a 29-14 Class 4A, Region 7 win over Randolph.
EMMANUEL HENDERSON, GENEVA COUNTY: Forced a fumble and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 30-14 lead before the half on way to a 42-30 win over Abbeville in a battle of unbeaten in Class 2A, Region 2. He scored on touchdown runs of 23 and 4 yards on offense. Geneva County teammate J’Quan Broxson also eight tackles, including four for losses and two for quarterback sacks.
CHRYSTYILE CALDWELL, ELBA: Totaled 10 tackles, including two for losses, and added 77 yards rushing on two carries with a 66-yard TD run as the Tigers beat Cottonwood 56-6.
MICAIH MYERS, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Had two interceptions, including one returned
80 yards for a touchdown, in the Warriors’ 50-14 victory over Locust Fork.
HAYDEN O’DELL, ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL: Had two interceptions as the Saints beat Class 5A, Region 1 foe Faith Academy 20-6.
JORDAN AUSTIN, COLBERT COUNTY: Intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble in a 24-16 Colbert County Class 2A, Region 8 win over Hatton.
SPECIAL TEAMS
TREY STODDARD, MUSCLE SHOALS: Kicked a 36-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Trojans to a 31-29 win over Athens.
JALEN HOLMES, MADISON ACADEMY: Returned a kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown and an interception 55 yards for a score in a 36-32 win over North Jackson.
KADARIUS ZACKERY, LANETT: Scooted 91 yards for a touchdown on a punt return, had two interceptions on defense and scored on a 32-yard run as the Panthers beat LaFayette 26-0 in Class 2A, Region 4.
KENUWYN DIXION, BRANTLEY: Returned a kickoff 65 yards for a TD in a 54-0 Class 1A win over Pleasant Home.