In the Shoals community of Colbert Heights, the color purple has taken an all-important meaning for those who know the Denton family.
         Danielle Denton, the courageous and inspiring 13-year-old daughter of Colbert Heights High School head football coach Ivan Denton and his wife Carol, died Sept. 10 from respiratory complications after a long battle with cystic fibrosis. Her funeral was Monday, Sept. 14.
       Last Friday night, her older brother Will Denton, a senior quarterback for the Wildcats, turned in one of the top performances of his prep career completing 18-of-29 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-36 win over Clements. The performance and how the home and visiting communities have responded grabs the AHSAA Prep Spotlight for Week 4.
      It was homecoming night at Clements High School, but more importantly, it was a night the school and community expressed its love and admiration for Danielle and her family by filling the stadium with the color purple – the official color of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a color closely associated with Danielle’s valiant effort.
     It was a night, said Coach Ivan Denton, “that will be with us a long, long time.”
     Denton said the team and assistant coaches worked hard to prepare for the game, and provided incredible support for the head coach and his son. “The players really rallied around him, lifted him up,” said Denton. “Will missed the Lauderdale County game, and I think it was good for both of us to get out there and get caught up in the game. Will played well, but so did the entire team. He was only sacked one time and that was because he scrambled out of the pocket and was caught from behind.  It wasn’t about winning but about picking yourself up when you get knocked down and moving forward.” 
    The spirit of his daughter was alive and well in the hearts of all the Wildcats’ players, he said. “She had so much courage and strength,” said Denton. “Unless you lived in our house, no one could know just how much pain she had to deal with. If you didn’t know her, you wouldn’t even know she was sick.”
    Danielle was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age 5. A very bright student and talented artist, Denton’s daughter would spend her spare time painting pictures, he said. When she would sell a painting she would then give the money to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
    Though she had several extended stays in the hospital, Denton said the family tried to keep things as normal as they could. “My wife Carol would stay with Danielle at the hospital and I would stay back home with Will – which allowed me to do my job. My wife has just been incredible.”
    In recent weeks, which Danielle’s condition began to take a turn for the worse, Denton said they have been “blessed by so many others. While we were in Birmingham (at Children’s Hospital), Brooks High School sent the team some purple spats, so the players were decked out in purple. Colbert County, West Morgan, Sheffield, Cherokee … all the surrounding communities went out of their way to pray for Danielle, to show their love and support.”
     Danielle started a prayer revival or sorts on Facebook, he said. “This has been difficult for us, but the prayers and the response have really been important. We prayed for her to be healed, and I think those prayers have been answered. This has really put what we do in perspective.”
     Other highlights from week 4 included:

SPECIAL TEAMS
RYAN SULLIVAN, FALKVILLE: Kicked the game-winning 20-yard field goal with 4   seconds left in a 40-37 win over Class 2A Cold Springs. The quarterback was also 19-of-28 passing for 199 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 94 yards and a TD on 20 carries. He was 14-of-16 passing in the second half.
FISHER WILLOUGHBY, COLD SPRINGS: Returned a kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown and tacked on an interception, a fumble recovery, 35 rushing yards, 32 receiving yards and a 2-point conversion a 40-37 Class 2A loss at Falkville.
ANTONIO HILL, ELBA: For the third time in four games this season, Hill blocked a punt and scored off it – leading the Tigers to a 44-0 win over New Brockton. The blocked kick in the third quarter helped Elba pull away from a 14-0 halftime lead.
KENDRICK WILLIAMS, GENEVA COUNTY: Returned the opening kickoff 80 yards to set the tone in Geneva County’s 41-13 win over Houston County. He also had two receptions for touchdowns (37 and 28 yards) and eight tackles on defense.

PASS RECEIVING
AUSTIN HALLMARK, SARDIS: The senior wide receiver had seven receptions for 220 yards with TD catches of 26 and 13 yards in the Lions’ 28-7 Class 4A win over Hokes Bluff. He made a diving grab for the 26-harder and tipped the ball to himself on the 13-harder. Hallmark also rushed seven times for 38 yards, including a 14-yard TD run.
MYRON MITCHELL, WALKER: Had his third straight 100-yard receiving effort with six catches for 143 yards and three TDs in a 41-14 win over Pelham. Teammate Marquell Oliver also had three receptions for 107 yards and one TD.
BRET CLARK, NEW HOPE: Grabbed six receptions for 135 yards and two scores and threw a touchdown to quarterback Adam Browner in a 33-20 win over Pisgah.
QUARTER HENDERSON, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Caught seven passes for 123 yards and a 7-yard touchdown in the Warriors’ 35-20 victory over Jacksonville.
RILEY COLE, ONEONTA: Hauled in six receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown as the Redskins beat Locust Fork 62-0.  Cole also had 17 tackles, four for loss, and broke up two passes on defense.
HUNTER TARVIN, WEST END: Caught six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the Patriots’ 34-0 win over Section.
BAYLEY BLANCHARD, PIEDMONT: Caught six passes for 109 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown, in the Bulldogs’ 44-26 win over Glencoe.

PASSING
DREW GUY, FAYETTE COUNTY: Completed 24-of-32 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-16 victory over Danville.
JACKSON HOLLADAY, WALKER: Went over 300 yards passing for the third straight week completing 16-of-22 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns as the Vikings beat Pelham 41-14.
HUNTER GRANT, WEST END: Was 13-of-16 passing for 302 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more scores in the Patriots’ 34-0 Class 2A win over Section.
TYREN DUPREE, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Piled up 352 total yards in a 35-20 Class 4A win over Jacksonville. He was 9-for-15 passing for 176 yards and a 7-yard touchdown and rushed for 176 yards on 17 carries with a 3-yard score.
AHMAD ISAAC, MIDFIELD: Was 10-of-13 passing for 268 yards and five touchdowns as Midfield beat Prattville Christian 60-20. He also rushed for one TD and returned an interception for a seventh TD in the win. 
TYLER JOHNSTON, SPANISH FORT: Threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns – all in the second quarter – and also ran for 82 yards and another score the Toros beat Saraland 41-18.
BLAKE STIDHAM, HAMILTON:
CAMERON THOMAS, LEE-HUNTSVILLE: Completed 8-of-12 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns and scored another on a 10-yard run as the Generals snapped an eight-game losing streak with a two-overtime 43-42 win over Scottsboro.
CHRIS HUFF, CORNER: Was 16-of-25 passing for 254 yards and a TD as Corner beat Dora 37-17.
JACOB FREE, BRANTLEY: The Brantley quarterback passed to freshman receiver Parker Driggers for a 22-yard touchdown with 2.3 seconds remaining to lift the Bulldogs to a 19-14 win over Red Level. Free finished 13-of-23 with 145 yards and three touchdowns.
HUNTER GWIN, PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN: Completed 9-of-19 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, most coming in a second-half of the Eagles 20-16 comeback win over Samson. The Eagles, now 4-0 for the first time in school history, trailed 16-0 at halftime, but rallied behind Gwin’s TD passes of 52 yards to Brandon Barnes and of 25 yards to Jackson Reeves, the later a go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
BRADEN PYRON, MARION COUNTY: was 19-of-19 passing for 230 yards and five touchdowns (13, 17, 34, 39 and 74 yards) in a 54-6 Class 1A win over Lynn.
HEATH BURCHFIELD, JAMES CLEMENS: Was 16-of-29 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns as the Jets (3-1) beat Buckhorn 23-7.
KO POWELL, ONEONTA: The senior quarterback completed 13-of-18 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown on carries in the Redskins’ 62-0 Class 4A win over Locust Fork.
ROSS CROCKER, CULLMAN: The quarterback scored a touchdown three different ways while engineering a 29-26 win over Austin. He caught a touchdown on a trick play, ran 20 yards for another TD, threw a 28-yard touchdown and also had a successful 2-point conversion pass after the final TD.

RUSHING
DYLAN McQUEEN, SCOTTSBORO: According to WWIC announcer and school historian Greg Bell, McQueen became the first Wildcats player in school history to score a rushing TD, a receiving TD and throw a TD pass in the same game as Scottsboro lost a double-overtime 43-42 decision to Lee-Huntsville. Scottsboro’s[RI1]  Dylan McQueen rushed 17 times for 121 yards and a TD in a 43-42 double-overtime loss to Lee Huntsville. 
KRITIAN JONES, HACKLEBURG: Went over 4,000 yards rushing for his career with 102 yards as Hackleburg beat Shoals Christian 49-14. The senior running back scored on runs of 8 and 51 yards.
CAMERON LONGMIRE, GEORGIANA: The Georgiana sophomore ran for 228 yards and two touchdowns last Friday to spark the Panthers to a 38-12 win over Class 1A, Region 2 rival McKenzie in a battle of Class 1A unbeaten teams. Longmire also had 11 tackles on defense for Coach Ezell Powell’s Panthers (5-0).
XAVIER THORNTON, MILLRY: Had 28 rush attempts for 326 yards and five touchdowns as Millry beat Marengo 49-34 on Friday night.
DEVONTIA JOHNSON, CHEROKEE: Rushed 310 yards and five touchdowns as the Indians beat Phillips, 55-20.
KALEB BARKER, PRICEVILLE: Rolled up 450 total yards with 275 yards rushing on 14 carries and 175 yards passing on an 11-for-21 performance as Bulldogs (4-0) beat Westminster Christian 40-28. He also accounted for six touchdowns – four rushing and two passing.
GARRETT SANDERS, G.W. LONG: Rushed for 298 yards on 18 carries with four touchdowns (55, 33, 20 and 68 yards) and also had a 10-yard touchdown reception in the Rebels’ 48-0 win over Ariton. He kick six extra points and had four tackles and a fumble recovery on defense.
DERRICK DUNIGAN, BILLINGSLEY: Turned in a workhorse effort with 39 carries times and 253 rushing yards to lead the Class 1A Bears to a 28-9 win over Verbena.
DARNELLE JACKSON, PIEDMONT: Rushed for 255 yards and three touchdowns (96, 15, 1 yards) in the Bulldogs’ 44-26 win over Glencoe in a battle of Class 3A unbeaten teams.
Teammate Tyler Hayes also accounted for 281 total yards and TD runs covering 67 and 3 yards. He completed 8-of-14 pass attempts for 141 yards and a 4-yard touchdown.
GRAYSON WAKEFIELD, DECATUR HERITAGE: Grayson Wakefield accounted for 249 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as Decatur Heritage beat Vina 36-8. Wakefield connected on 3-of-4 pass attempts for 101 yards and one TD and rushed for 148 yards and three scores on nine carries.
CHASE WILSON, GLENCOE: Rushed for 134 yards and passed for 122 for 256 total yards in Glencoe’s 44-26 loss at Piedmont. He scored on runs of 54 and 2 yards.
ALEX McNEAL, DALEVILLE: Rushed for 212 yards on 24 carries with three touchdowns (10, 51 and 25 yards) and had a 55-yard punt return to set up a score in a 28-14 win over Slocomb.
HUNTER DUNCAN, SUSAN MOORE: Rushed 16 times for 225 yards and two touchdowns (5 and 90 yards) in the Bulldogs’ 49-14 win over Holly Pond.
JORDAN BENTLEY, GUNTERSVILLE: The senior rushed for 213 and scored four touchdowns, one coming on a 42-yard interception return, as the Wildcats beat Randolph 27-0. His now has 84 career touchdowns with three coming on interception returns. He also has 4,618 career rushing yards.
RAHEEM BOHAM, OPP: Had 207 yards rushing on 21 carries with two in the Bobcats’ 60-42 win over Geneva.
KYLE REDMOND, SOUTH LAMAR: Gained 207 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns in a 46-36 victory over Meek.
DESMON TURNER, FORT PAYNE: Had 24 carries for 200 yards and one touchdown in Fort Payne’s 24-7 win at Albertville.
NICHIOLAS SIMS, MURPHY: Returning to action after missing three games with a toe injury, Sims rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns as Murphy rallied to beat Theodore 32-31. The winning score came in the final seconds of the game.
JARED SMITH, WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN: Ran for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, and threw a 2-yard TD pass in a 40-28 loss to Priceville.
GARY FEARN, HUNTSVILLE: Had 31 carries for 210 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-34 win over Sparkman.
R.J. STEVENS, BALDWIN COUNTY: Dashed 70 yards for a touchdown on the game’s first play and finished with 205 yards rushing and three scores as the Tigers beat LeFlore 30-0. The 4-0 start is the best for Baldwin County since 2003.
MARKISE LEVERETTE, BIBB COUNTY: Rushed for 197 yards and scored on an 81-yard TD pass as the Choctaws beat Class 4A West Blocton 40-22. He finished with the 96 yards receiving.
ALEX MALUDA, NORTHSIDE: Had 195 yards rushing on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns in a 40-6 victory over Holt.
JUWAN RICHARDSON, ASHFORD: Rushed for 150 yards with two touchdowns (65 and 45 yards), was 4-of-5 passing for 68 yards and had a 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Yellow Jackets’ 62-40 win over Catholic of Montgomery. Richardson also had a 41-yard punt and two tackles on defense.
JACOB WASHBURN, J.P. PENNINGTON: The senior running back pounded out 198 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries in a 21-20 overtime loss to Good Hope 21-20.
DOMONIQUE JONES, KEITH: Rushed for 185 yards with four touchdowns on runs of 12, 75, 5 and 5 yards as the Bears knocked off previously unbeaten Ellwood Christian 58-6.
ERIC GEORGE, NORTH SAND MOUNTAIN: Picked up 152 yards rushing and three touchdowns (3, 4, 81 yards) on 13 carries, returned an interception 84 yards for a score and kicked four extra points in a 34-21 win over Sylvania.
TYLER ROSE, LEEDS: Rushed 17 times for 185 yards and three TDs as the Green Wave shut out Elmore County 49-0.
JACKSON GRIFFIN, GENEVA: The Panthers running back rushed for 197 yards on 17 carries with three touchdowns (3, 15 and 26 yards) in a 60-42 loss to Opp.
DILAN KILPATRICK, FYFFE: Rushed for 169 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns in the Red Devils’ 41-0 Class 2A win against Ider.
JACOB GRAVES, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Rushed for 168 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns (2, 1, 1 yards) in the Warriors’ 35-20 win over Jacksonville.
NIC ROLLO, COLD SPRINGS: Totaled 166 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries in a 40-37 loss at Falkville. Among his runs was an 86-yard carry.
JOSEPH SCHAUER, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Gained 159 yards and scored three touchdowns on 18 rushes as the Warriors beat Pleasant Valley 48-25.

DEFENSE
WILL KIRK, PLAINVIEW: The senior safety had two interceptions returned for touchdowns against Sand Rock in the Bears’ 24-7 win. He also had a forced fumble and three solo tackles. On offense he had two catches for 34 yards.
VICTOR CULLEN, MINOR: Had 12 tackles and recovered two fumbles, returning both for touchdowns, as the Class 6A Tigers beat Jackson-Olin 47-30.
LEE WHISENANT, GOOD HOPE: Returned a fumble 86 yards for a touchdown and had a clutch interception in the fourth quarter of a 21-20 double-overtime victory at J.B. Pennington. The win was the Raiders’ first of the year and first in head coach Alan Scott’s return to his alma mater.
TRENT HATCHER, WICKSBURG: Totaled 19 tackles in a 39-28 win over Abbeville.
BEN DAVIS, GORDO: Had 15 tackles in a 24-16 victory over Greensboro. He also had four receptions for 48 yards at tight end.
MICHAEL SHARPLY, JAMES CLEMENS: The junior linebacker had six tackles, two sacks, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass in a 23-7 Class 7A win over Buckhorn.
RICKY HALL, PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN: Had 17 tackles to lead Providence Christian to a 20-16 win over Samson. Teammates Andrew Peterson and William Ernst added 12 tackles each and three sacks.
TYLER BERRY, FORT PAYNE: Registered 14 tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss in the Wildcats’ 17-14 win at Albertville.  Teammate Daurice Andrews added 12 tackles, including three touchdown-saving stops.
LEVI HAMMACK, ADDISON: Had two of the Bulldogs’ seven sacks for a defense that forced five turnovers in a 37-18 win over Hanceville. Addison limited Hanceville to minus-8 yards total offense through three quarters. Hammack added 43 rushing yards and a touchdown and recovered an errant snap on a punt attempt for another score.
TREYVON DUNLAP, ENTERPRISE: Recorded 15 tackles in Enterprise’s 34-14 loss to Auburn.
ETHAN McMINN, CULLMAN: Had an interception and 14 tackles in the Bears’ 29-26 come-from-behind win over Class 6A Austin. The defensive back also converted a fourth down with a 31-yard run on offense and had a short run for a TD. Teammates Justin Patterson and Logan Shugarts each added 10 tackles.
RYAN GRIDER, SCOTTSBORO: Had 11 tackles in Scottsboro’s 43-42 loss to Lee-Huntsville.
ALEX McMAHAN, SAND ROCK: Posted 11 tackles, including 2 for lost yardage, in the Wildcats’ 24-7 loss to Plainview.
LOGAN HURLEY, GAYLESVILLE: Managed 11 tackles, including four for lost yardage, in the Trojans’ 26-19 loss to Valley Head.
HUNTER GREEN, CLEVELAND: The junior had 11 tackles, four for loss, two sacks, and returned an interception 16 yards for a touchdown in the Panthers’ 58-28 win over Collinsville.