Lawrence County High School’s 62-54 football triumph over East Lawrence last Friday night was a game for the record books.
The two Northeast Alabama rivals battled for almost four hours from start to finish, enduring four regulation quarters and an AHSAA-record-tying seven overtime periods before the Red Devils finally secured a 62-54 win. The marathon game grabbed the AHSAA Prep Spotlight for Week 1 of the 2015 high school football season.
“Never as a player, assistant or head coach have I seen a seven-overtime game,” Lawrence County coach Rich Dutton told reporter J.R. Tidwell of the Moulton Advertiser following the game.
The seven overtimes tied the AHSAA state record for most overtime periods in a single game dating back 36 years to Murphy’s 33-26 win over Theodore in 1979 at Mobile. Etowah beat Oxford 69-63 in 1991 in the AHSAA’s only six overtime game of record, and three schools have battled to five overtimes, including Smiths Station vs. Chavala in a 32-26 Panthers’ win in 1974, Tarrant’s 35-28 win over Cherokee County in 1988 and Gardendale’s 45-42 win over Erwin in 2000.
Homewood’s 41-34 Class 5A state championship game at Birmingham’s Legion Field in 2000 went five overtimes as well. Lauderdale County and Northview have the distinction of being the only schools on record to play five overtime games in one season (1986 and 1985, respectively).
The NFHS National Record was set on Nov. 29, 2010, when Jacksonville (TX) nipped Nacogdoches (TX) 84-81 in a game that finally ended after 12 overtime periods. According to the NFHS Record Book, two games have endured nine overtimes, five have gone eight overtimes and the Lawrence County-East Lawrence game is the 10th to go seven and the first since 1997.
“I’ve never been to seven overtimes, so it was uncharted water for myself and everyone else,” said East Lawrence coach Jarrod Helms said. Helms is in his first year as head coach.
Jakob Terry, Lawrence County’s sturdy running back scored four touchdowns – the game’s first on a 5-yard run in the first quarter and the last one in the final overtime. Quarterbacks Dallas Keenum of Lawrence County and Chase Ratliff of East Lawrence scored four and three TDs, respectively, in the overtime periods. Each also scored two 2-point conversions.
The game was tied at 26-26 at end of regulation, 32-32 after the first OT, 40-40 after the second, 48-48 after the fourth and 54-54 after the fifth extra period. Neither team scored in the third and sixth overtime periods.
“Right now I feel numb,” Dutton said. “There were so many highs and lows in the game, you are just zapped. You know it is over, but it has not sunk in yet. East Lawrence did a phenomenal job. (Coach) Jarrod Helms has them going in the right direction.”
Helms said, “I know that our kids are disappointed, but in a game like this there really are no losers… We learn things every day and during every game we play.”
In other highlights from last weekend’s prep football games:
MILESTONE
FUMBLE-LESS STREAK ENDS: Jordan Bentley of Guntersville had a streak of more than carries without a fumble dating from a playoff game November of 2013 until last Friday night’s come-from-behind 33-21 win over North Jackson. On his 10th rush of the game, the streak ended at 321. His outstanding play did not, however. He rushed 24 times for 193 yards and three touchdowns, threw a halfback pass 28 yards for a fourth touchdown and also was the Wildcats’ defensive leader from his safety position with 7 tackles and an interception. Bentley led Guntersville from a 15-point deficit to the victory. A 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior, he upped his career rushing totals to 4,011 yards and 68 rushing touchdowns with his stellar performance and started a new fumble-less streak that now stands at 14 heading into this week’s game versus Madison County at Gurley.
LEE BEAT CARVER FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2002: Junior running back Damion Wright had 126 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 22 carries as the Generals (2-0) beat Carver-Montgomery 34-13 – the first Lee win in the series since 2002.
SAND ROCK COACH GETS FIRST: New Sand Rock head coach Steven Chesnut earned his first victory as head coach of the Wildcats with a 41-6 victory over visiting Gaylesville Friday night. Chesnut, who was the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator, took over for longtime Sand Rock coach Russell Jacoway, who retired after 32 years as the Wildcats’ head coach last February. Jacoway, who went 0-10 in his first season in 1983 and 15-0 in his third season (1985) winning the 2A state title, finished his career 228-132 – all at Sand Rock.
CORNER DEFENSE SMOTHERS VINCENT: Coach Zac Willis’ Yellow Jackets limited Vincent to minus-47 yards rushing and no passing yardage in a 63-6 win. The minus-47 yards rushing ranked third all-time behind Greensboro’s minus-67 yards in a win over Uniontown in 1977 and Cedar Bluff’s minus-48 yards allowed versus Donoho in 2012. The minus-47 total yards ranks first all-time reported to the AHSAA for total yards allowed.
RUSHING
JACOB WASHBURN, J.B. PENNINGTON: The senior running back rushed for 279 yards and four touchdowns (1, 5, 40, 62 yards) on 29 carries in the Tigers’ 36-18 win over Boaz. On defense, he had eight tackles and broke up two passes.
ANDREW CASH, FLOMATON: The Hurricanes quarterback ran for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-26 win over Jay, FL.
TYSON WILLIAMS, DOTHAN: Rushed for 237 yards on 21 carries with three touchdowns and had five receptions for 64 yards and a score in a 31-28 loss to Smiths Station.
DEONDRE HAMPTON, BROOKS: Rushed for 239 yards and six touchdowns on 26 carries as the Lions beat Sheffield 56-20. The 6-foot, 185-pound junior had TD runs covering 6, 6, 3, 6, 16 and 46 yards.
OSTIN McPHERSON, ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL: Had 20 carries for 245 yards and three touchdowns as St. Paul’s won its 17th game in a row with a 51-28 win over St. Stanislaus, MS.
ALARIC WILLIAMS, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: Rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries in the Panthers’ 49-14 win over Hokes Bluff. Williams scored on runs of 65, 5 and 19 yards, all in the first half.
STEFAN PALMER, AUTAUGAVILLE: The senior had 212 totals yards, 135 rushing on eight carries and 77 receiving on three catches, as the Eagles beat Calhoun 38-0. He rushed for two TDs and had a third on a pass reception.
AUSTIN HARRIS, FAIRVIEW: Picked up 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in a 34-12 road win over Hanceville. The senior also caught two passes for 58 yards, including a 39-yarder for a score.
BEN ROBINSON & NOAH RICE, ADDISON: Combined for four rushing touchdowns and more than 300 yards rushing in a 42-33 road win over Vinemont. Rice ran for 156 yards and scores of 55, 48 and 17 yards while Robinson picked up 165 yards and a TD.
PEYTON GILLILAND, CLEVELAND: The senior quarterback rushed just four times but picked up 163 yards and three touchdowns (63, 33 and 49 yards) in the Panthers’ 42-21 win over Pisgah. He also completed 4-of-5 passes for 59 yards and had seven tackles and an interception on defense.
DAVION STOVALL, HEADLAND: Rushed for 231 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries in a 53-0 win over Dale County.
GARRETT SANDERS, G.W. LONG: Had only five rush attempts but scored four touchdowns and added a fifth score on a 55-yard reception as the Rebels beat Barbour County 61-0.
JACQUEZ, HALL, BESSEMER CITY: Had 20 rush attempts for 203 yards and two TDs as the Tigers beat Shades Valley 24-17.
KEYVONTAE MAYFIELD, SHELBY COUNTY: The junior had 203 yards rushing on 22 tries and scored three TDs in a 32-31 loss to Helena.
ELDRIC JONES, CENTRAL-TUSCALOOSA: Rushed for 198 yards on 21 carries, including a 94-yard touchdown run, in a 14-2 victory over Brookwood.
DAX BENTON, HUBBERTVILLE: Ran for 183 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown in a 34-12 victory over Holy Spirit.
DONTE EDWARDS, DAVIDSON: Had 172 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 26 carries as the Warriors edged Mary G. Montgomery 38-36.
COLEY LOCKE, DALEVILLE: The Warhawks quarterback rushed for 165 yards on 12 carries, including TD runs of 41 and 80 yards, in Daleville’s 27-9 win over Charles Henderson.
DAMON WILLIAMS, GADSDEN CITY: Ran 14 times for 166 yards with touchdown runs of 45 and 47 yards and had a 26-yard catch to set up another score in Gadsden City’s 41-19 victory over Oxford.
DESMON TURNER, FORT PAYNE: Totaled 158 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 23 carries to lead the Wildcats to a 42-7 win over New Hope. He also had one pass reception for 15 yards and two punt returns for 62 yards.
DILAN KILPATRICK, FYFFE: Had 26 carries for 203 yards and two touchdowns as the Red Devils beat Geraldine 31-14.
TAYLOR HAYES, PIEDMONT: Rushed for 145 yards on 26 carries, including a 17-yard touchdown, and passed for 79 yards and another score in the Bulldogs’ 35-20 victory at Cherokee County.
AUSTIN BUSH, GLENCOE: In his first varsity start at running back, the junior rushed 17 times for 119 yards and four touchdowns (6, 20, 4 and 10 yards) in the Yellow Jackets’ 43-13 win over Plainview.
TORREY TERRY, EUFAULA: Touched the ball only three times, scoring two rushing touchdowns and one pass receiving TD (34, 24 and 61 yards) in a 61-6 Tigers’ win over Russell County. He averaged 38.3 yards per touch.
PASSING
KALEB PARKER, PRICEVILLE: Had 552 total yards and accounted for seven touchdowns in a 63-18 win over West Morgan. Barker ran for 166 yards and six touchdowns and threw for 386 yards and a score.
GARRETT BOLAND, VINEMONT: Accounted for 351 total yards in a 42-33 loss to Addison. The junior quarterback connected with seven different receivers during a 19-of-26 passing display for 218 yards. He also collected 133 rushing yards and touchdowns of 30, 1 44 and yards. Colby Nicholas was Boland’s most frequent target with seven catches for 100 yards.
TY PIGROME, CLAY-CHALKVILLE: Was 15-of-21 passing for 324 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 63 yards and two more scores as the Cougars beat Minor 49-14 for their the 17th straight win.
HEATH BURCHFIELD, JAMES CLEMENS: Was 14-of-17 passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns (17, 26, 69 yards) in a 45-7 win over Athens.
DREW GUY, FAYETTE COUNTY: Was 18-of-37 passing for 284 yards and two touchdowns in a 19-14 loss to Gordo.
COLE FREDERICK, HILLCREST-TUSCALOOSA: Completed 14-of-21 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-0 victory over Oak Mountain.
BO NIX, SCOTTSBORO: The freshman quarterback completed 14-of-21 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown in the Wildcats’ 32-30 loss to Sparkman.
PRESTON HERRING, ARITON: Completed 9-of-14 passing for 251 yards and three touchdowns in the Purple Cats’ 50-13 win over Florala.
DALTON ADKINSON, NEW BROCKTON: Completed 11-of-16 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown in the Gamecocks’ 47-0 win over Pleasant Home.
KENNON CASEY, G.W. LONG: Was a perfect 7-of-7 passing for 172 yards with three touchdowns in the Rebels’ 61-0 win over Barbour County.
HUNTER GRANT, WEST END: Was 13-of-18 passing for 234 yards and three TDs in the Patriots’ 41-28 win over Susan Moore. Grant also had 103 rushing yards and three more scores on 12 carries to account for 337 total yards and six touchdowns.
JORDAN KING, SLOCOMB: Completed 13-of-16 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns and added 67 yards rushing on 14 carries in a 35-0 win over Rehobeth.
TYCE THOMAS, BROOKS: Passed for 214 yards and rushed for 82 in a 56-20 win over Sheffield. He had a 29-yard TD pass to Lazarius Decatur.
JOSH DECKER, CEDAR BLUFF: Completed 9-of-15 pass attempts for 188 yards and three touchdowns (37,38, 40 yards) and rushed for 103 yards on 20 carries with two 2-yard TD runs to lead the Tigers past rival Collinsville 33-26.
PASS RECEIVING
DE’QUAN JOHNSON, SOUTHSIDE-SELMA: Had five touchdowns in the Panthers’ 38-32 overtime win over Keith. Johnson had six receptions for 201 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning reception in OT. He also returned an interception 80 yards for a fifth TD and added three rushes for 28 yards. Southside rallied from a 16-0 deficit in the game, which started on Friday night but finished Saturday after storms forced suspension in the first quarter.
DARIUS SMITH, SLOCOMB: Caught three passes, all for touchdowns, as Slocomb beat Rehobeth 35-0.
MALIK TALLEY, SCOTTSBORO: The senior receiver caught 6 passes for 175 yards and a TD in the Wildcats’ 32-30 loss to Sparkman.
ANDRE LITTLE, WEST END: Caught eight passes for 126 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots’ 41-28 win over Susan Moore.
JUSTIN McKNIGHT, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Caught seven passes for 108 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown reception, in the Warriors’ 35-20 loss to Piedmont.
JOSE OROZCO, HANCEVILLE: Grabbed three passes for 77 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown catch, and had more than 100 yards on kickoff returns in Hanceville’s 34-12 loss to Fairview.
DEFENSE
ETHAN McMINN, CULLMAN: Registered 15 tackles, made an interception and ran for a 10-yard TD on offense to lead the Bearcats to a 31-6 win over Etowah.
BRANDON WILLIAMS, OPP: Recorded 15 tackles in Opp’s come-from-behind 21-18 win over Straughn.
JORDAN BARNES, BUCKHORN: Had two interceptions, recorded nine solo tackles and seven assists, and broke up a pass in a 22-20 win over Austin.
COLE REVIS, HACKLEBURG: Recorded 4.5 sacks and teammate Tanner Swinney had four as Hackleburg beat Marion County. The Panthers defense had 10 sacks on the night.
DARNELL JACKSON, PIEDMONT: Had 10 tackles and scored Piedmont’s first touchdown on a 25-yard fumble return in the Bulldogs’ 35-20 victory at Cherokee County. Jackson also rushed for 135 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns (71, 10 yards). Teammate Austin Brazier also posted five tackles and three sacks in the win.
TYSON WOODS, SCOTTSBORO: The sophomore linebacker had 11 tackles, including three for losses, as the Wildcats lost a close 32-30 decision to Sparkman.
ROMAN PAYTON, NORTHRIDGE: Made two interceptions on defense, one in the end zone and the other at the Northridge 2-yard line, to help preserve a 24-17 win over Tuscaloosa County. He also rushed for 89 yards and two TDs on 11 carries.
DREW McCLENDON, COLD SPRINGS: Registered 12 tackles, including four for loss, in a 21-20 loss to Danville.
CALEN MURRY, HEADLAND: Returned an interception and a fumble for touchdowns in the Rams’ 53-0 win over Dale County.
RICKY HALL, PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN: Had 15 stops in the Eagles’ 44-0 win over Zion Chapel.
LEVI HAMMACK, ADDISON: Had had back-to-back sacks on a second-half defensive stop capped off by a safety as the Bulldogs beat Vinemont 42-33.
DEZMOND JOHNSON, SLOCOMB: Returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown and had four tackles on defense in the Red Tops’ 35-0 win over Rehobeth. He also rushed for 49 yards on eight carries with a touchdown, caught three passes for 55 yards and had 45 yards on two punt returns.
SPECIAL TEAMS
HUNTER GIBSON, SPARKMAN: Scored the game-winning touchdown on a 72-yard punt return as the Senators beat Scottsboro 32-30. He also scored on a 97-yard kick return and 55-yard run.
KAINAN SMITH, GOOD HOPE: Returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and returned the next kickoff 69 yards before exiting early with an injury in a 46-14 loss to Cordova. KEENAN LEWIS, SARDIS: The senior halfback returned a punt 77 yards for a TD and rushed for 129 yards on 11 carries with two more scores in a 50-35 Lions win over Sylvania.
ISAAC RODRIGUEZ, CULLMAN: In just his second football game, the sophomore soccer standout kicked a 43-yard field goal and made all four of his extra-point attempts as Cullman beat Etowah 31-6.
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