Teams Rebounding Well from 0-10 Seasons
MONTGOMERY – Geneva County and Huffman high schools are two football programs that understand each year is a new year. Neither school won a game in 2023 with the Vikings not scoring a single point in 10 games and the Bulldogs scoring only 40 in their 10 losses last season.
This is a new season indeed. Class 2A Geneva County posted a wild 72-62 victory over Class 1A Kinston last week, and Class 6A Huffman downed Class 6A Columbia of Huntsville 52-14. The Bulldogs and Vikings grab this week’s AHSAA Football Spotlight for their amazing turnaround in just one year.
The two schools edged out Class 1A Vina’s five-overtime 52-44 win over Class 3A Brindlee Mountain – another major turnaround by the Red Devils which finished 1-8 last season.
A big reason for Class 2A Geneva County’s newfound success has to be running back Brendan Hall. Another reason is new head coach Al Gilmore, who served as offensive coordinator at 1A powerhouse Elba prior to his arrival at Hartford – guiding the Tigers’ offense and star running back Alvin Henderson to national prominence last season with record-setting rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns.
On Friday night, Gilmore’s Bulldogs (2-0) got their second straight 300-yard rushing effort from Hall, who has rushed for 609 yards and nine TDs in his team’s first two game. That is also a tribute to the offensive line’s blocking success up front – another of Gilmore’s specialties. Hall rushed for 302 yards and five touchdowns and also returned a kickoff 81 yards for a sixth score and snared a 58-yard TD pass for a seventh score. Hall scored on runs of 44, 52, 18, 58 and 52 yards. Quarterback Daden Hutchens was 3-of-4 passing for 140 yards and three TDs and rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown for 205 total yards. He completed a 74-yard TD pass to Dylan Tate and the 58-yarder to Hall. Leading Geneva County on defense was Bruce Sconiers with 15 tackles, and Earl Rodgers with 13.
Kinston, coached by Rudy Free, had its share of standouts as well in a game which accounted for 134 points, which is tied for 10th most points scored in a single game in AHSAA history. Kinston’s Colby Tew ran for 215 yards and five touchdowns in the setback – also adding an 82-yard kickoff return for a sixth TD. Kinston’s Gabriel Hataway rushed for 128 yards and quarterback Brant McCollough added 109 – highlighted by an 82-yard TD run. Kinston finished with 474 total yards and Geneva County had 592 – with both combined for 1,066 yards which is 11th best all time according to the AHSAA Record Book.
While it was a record for combined points for both schools, it was a not a team record offensively for either. The 72 points for Geneva County were well off the school best of 95 against Clio in 1922, while the 62 points for Kinston were shy of the school record 74 from 2021 against Barbour County.
Huffman High School’s dismal season in 2023 in the first year for Coach Rodney Bivens Jr. was put in the past for good as the Vikings scored 52 points in their 52-14 victory over Columbia. Jayden Grant had 11 carries for 131 yards and scoring on a 23-yard run and also snagged a 43-yard TD pass for the Vikings (1-1), who snapped a 12-game losing streak. Columbia (0-2) suffered its 83rd consecutive loss dating back to 2015 in the setback. Huffman’s Dylan Craig also topped 100 yards rushing with 108 on 13 carries with TD runs covering 3 and 63 yards.
Quarterback Justin Nelson was 7-of-11 passing for 139 yards and rushed for 46 yards on seven carries with two TDs. Huffman has made a remarkable comeback this season already after becoming the first team in AHSAA prep history to go through a 10-game season without scoring a single point in 2023. The Vikings were outscored 558-0. Bivens Jr., a veteran coach with a solid reputation as a builder, took over the struggling Vikings program last year after the once dominant Class 6A program fell on hard times with 15 straight losing seasons. Bivens became the fifth head coach for the Vikings during that stretch – inheriting a team with few seniors with the roster dominated by freshman and sophomores. This year’s team has 17 seniors, 16 juniors, 11 sophomores and 10 freshmen listed on its varsity roster.
Huffman reached the Class 6A state finals in 1985 falling to Northview of Dothan 32-15. The Vikings enjoyed a strong run under the direction of coaches Jerry Partridge (88-80) from 1979-1993 and Curtis Coleman (83-49) from 1994-2005. Coleman had back-to-back seasons of 12-1 and 13-1 in 2000 and 2001.
At least four Vikings alumni advanced to the NFL including offensive lineman Andre Smith, who became the only offensive lineman to be named Mr. Football by the Alabama Sportswriters Association in 2005. Smith earned All-America honors in high school and college at Alabama where he was named the Outland Trophy recipient as the nation’s top collegiate interior lineman. He also received the Jim Parker Trophy, Jacob Blocking Trophy and was a unanimous All-America selection in 2008. Smith was a first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals (6th pick overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft. He spent the next 13 years in the NFL. Philip Doyle, Huffman’s place-kicker in the mid-1980s, was, like Smith, a Parade All-American. Doyle and set the NFHS National high school kicking record with 22 field goals in a single season in 1985 – a record that would stand until 1997. Former Huffman linemen Marcell Dareus and James Manley have also played in in the NFL as has defensive back DeQuan Menzie.
As for Vina and Brindlee Mountain’s historic five-overtime thriller, Trevor Baker rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries and scored four TDs in a wild 52-44 win over Brindlee Mountain. Christian McCarley was also 5-of-6 passing for 110 yards and three TDs in the win. Defensively, Cai Lawler had 13 tackles for the Red Devils (1-0) of Coach Cody Renfrow, currently in his second season at the helm.
The five overtimes was the longest game in the AHSAA since Lawrence County beat East Lawrence 62-54 in seven overtimes in 2015. Seven OTs tie the state record set by Murphy and Theodore in a 33-26 Panthers win 45 years ago in 1979.
Vina was 1-27 over the last three years, and Brindlee Mountain’s program has a 2-58 record dating back six seasons. Jake Pittman is in his first season as the Lions’ head coach and is the seventh head coach in the school’s 19-year varsity history.
Etowah and Oxford played a six-overtime game in 1991 which was eventually won by the Blue Devils 69-63, and four other games have gone five overtimes according to the AHSAA Record Book. The most recent five-OT game came in the Class 5A state finals at Legion Field in 2000 with Homewood pulling out a 41-34 win over Benjamin Russell to claim the state title. That same year Gardendale beat Erwin 45-42 in a five OT game. Tarrant beat Cherokee County 35-28 in five OTs in 1988, and Smiths Station won a 32-26 five-OT game over Chavala in 1974.
MILESTONES
DYLAN ‘DINO’ EMBRY, LOCUST FORK: Piled up a school-record 405 yards rushing on 27 carries and scored six touchdowns in a 58-42 victory over Ohatchee. He also completed 9-of-13 passes for 101 yards giving him 506 total yads for the night. And for good measure, he had 12 tackles on defense and three quarterback hurries. Emby currently leads the AHSAA with 675 rushing yards in two wins – averaging 337.5 yards per game,
LUKE GILBERT, PISGAH: Pisgah and Fyffe met four times in the last two seasons, in the regular season and again in the semifinals – with the outcome always the same with the Red Devils winning enroute to capturing the Class 2A state football championship. This season, Pisgah knew it would have one shot at revenge only – since the Fyffe has moved to 3A and the Eagles remained in 2A. Pisgah got its revenge. Gilbert completed 20-of-25 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 64 yards and a fourth TD as the Eagles downed the Red Devils 30-22 on Thursday night. Jackson Smalley caught three of the scoring tosses from Gilbert, including a 54-yarder in the second half to seal Pisgah’s first win in the series since 2003.
DAWSON CAMBRON,NEW HOPE: Collected six pass receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns and also scooted 53 yards for a third TD on a punt return as New Hope (1-1) Beat DAR 69-0. The Indians lead the AHSAA in scoring after two weeks into the season with a 70.0 points per game average. Cambron leads the state in receiving this season with 24 catches, 529 yards and six TDs after two games.
QUINTAVIOUS ROGERS, COLLINSVILLE: Picked off a Cedar Bluff pass just 1:08 into the game and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown to set the pace as the Panthers blanked Cedar Bluff 42-0. The victory was the 100th at Collinsville for Coach Ernie Willingham, who is in his third head-coaching stint for the Panthers. He coached Collinsville from 1998-2002, from 2013-19, and 2021to the present. His overall record is 100-67 for the Panthers in 16 seasons and is 151-97 overall including his seven-year stretch as head coach at Appalachian. Rogers also had 76 yards rushing on six carries – all in the first half.
HAMILTON, PHIL CAMPBELL COMBINE FOR 1,192 YARDS: The Aggies posted a 55-40 win over Phil Campbell as both teams opened the season last week. Hamilton had 620 total yards in the win and Phil Campbell had 572 yards – 476 coming on the ground. Hayden Wingo carried the ball five times for 158 yards as the leading rusher for Phil Campbell. Noah Raper had seven carries for 127 yards and three Bobcat touchdowns. The 1,192 total yards by both teams rank eighth all time. The record was set last week by Ohatchee and New Hope in a 76-71 thriller played in Calhoun County.
GLENWOOD HALTS HENDERSON’S STREAK: Senior quarterback Levi Pinder completed 18-of-22 passes for 359 yards and two TDs and rushed for 27 yards and another score in Glenwood’s shocking win over Elba. The Gators’ defense did its part as well by holding Elba running back Alvin Henderson under 300 yards snapping his streak of four straight 300-yard rushing games. Henderson still rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-22 loss. The effort pushed Henderson’s career total of rushing yards to 7,780 yards, and his three touchdowns give him 140 career rushing TDs, 146 total touchdowns, 149 touchdowns accounted for and 888 total points. He moved into eighth all-time in career rushing yards, moving past West Jefferson’s Thomas Banks (7,634, 1991-93). He is 128 yards from seventh place (Aliceville’s Kendal Gibson, 7,908 yards, 1997-90) and 186 from sixth (Parrish’s Tony Dixon, 7,966, 1999-2003).
He remains second in career rushing touchdowns, third in career touchdowns, ninth in touchdowns accounted for and third in total points. Glenwood, which is participating in the AHSAA for the first time this season, also handed Elba its first regular-season defeat since 2021 snapping a streak of 28 straight regular-season wins. It also snapped a home-field streak that had reached 17 straight victories.
PASSING
WILL O’DELL, OAK MOUNTAIN: Rolled up 473 total yards with 296 yards passing and two TDs on a 12-of-18 performance and 177 yards rushing and two more scores on 13 carries as the Eagles (2-0) beat Pelham 38-20. His longest TD pass covered 65 yards, and his longest TD run was 80 yards.
BROCK BRADLEY, SPAIN PARK: Completed 19-of-26 passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns – the final score a 9-yard strike to Corey Barber for the game-winning TD as the Jaguars beat Hoover 39-37.
AARON FRYE, CLAY-CHALKVILLE: Was 16-of-20 passing for 305 yards and four touchdowns as Clay-Chalkville rolled to a 62-7 win over Ramsay at Legion Field in the AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week. The victory was the 14th in a row for the defending Class 6A state champion Cougars of Coach Stuart Floyd.
JAKE RICKMAN, FAYETTE COUNTY: Was 15-of-19 passing for 305 yards and six TDs as the Class 4A Tigers beat Class 1A South Lamar 57-8.
PRESTON LANCASTER, TUSCALOOSA ACADEMY: Was 13-of-15 passing for 295 yards and four TDs in the Knights’ 46-0 win over Pickens County.
MAC BEASON, HOOVER: Was 20-of-30 passing for 286 yards and one TD in the Bucs’ 39-37 loss to Spain Park.
TYLER PIERCE, BOAZ: The Pirates’ quarterback completed 13-of-17 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns as the Pirates bolted past Albertville 56-7 in the 84th Backyard Brawl. He now has 44 career TD passes and ties him with A.J. Milwee for first on the schools’ career TD pass list. Milwee is now a at the University of Texas serving as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Longhorns.
QUAY JACKSON, McKENKZIE: Was 15-of-20 passing for 248 yards in a 36-14 win over Prattville Christian.
GUNNER RIVERS, ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC: The sophomore quarterback led the Cardinals to a 20-19 win over John Carroll Catholic completing 17-of-32 passes for 243 yards and two TDs.
J.J. WILLIAMS, MONTGOMERY-CATHOLIC: Amassed 380 yards total offense and accounted for five touchdowns in the Knights’ 51-14 win over St. Clair County. He was 8-of-12 passing for 240 yards and two scores and rushed 10 times for 140 yards and three scores for Catholic (2-0).
T.J. RUSSELL, CARVR-MONTGOMERY: completed 12-of-19 passes for 232 yards and two scores as Carver (2-0) beat Percy Julian 44-12.
JAYDEN PARKS, BRANTLEY: Finished 9-of-18 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Crenshaw County rival Luverne 40-24. Parks also rushed for 130 yards and two more scores – giving him 320 total yards and five TDs accounted for in the win.
LUCAS TERRY, NEW HOPE: Was 12-of-15 passing for 239 yards and five TDs as the Indians (1-1) beat DAR 69-0. After two games, New Hope currently leads the AHSAA in scoring with 70.0 ppg.
WILL MYERS, HOMEWOOD: Had 256 total yards as the Patriots beat Briarwood Christian 28-7. He completed 13-of-17 passes for 131 yards and rushed for 126 yards. He scored on two spectacular runs of 55 and 52 yards.
BLAISE VICKERY, HACKLEBURG: Passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-13 win over Lynn.
KAMERON KEENAN, RAMSAY: Was 17-of-36 passing for 225 yards and one TD in the Rams’ 62-7 loss to defending 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville.
JUSTIN BALDWIN, OPP: Passed for 225 yards and four TDs as the Bobcats downed Northview (FL) 34-7. D.J. Hines had a 58-yard TD reception, Kal Crittenden caught a 14-yard scoring toss, Damirian Thompson hauled in an 18-yard TD catch, and A.C. Hightower had a 5-yard TD reception in the win.
ACE NORRIS, BERRY: Passed for 203 yards and three TDs on an 18-for-22 performance as Berry downed Pickens Academy 58-25.
TY McCOY, EUFAULA: Passed for 193 yards and two touchdowns on a 12-of-18 passing performance and rushed for a third TD as the Tigers beat Russell County 34-21. He also rushed for 70 yards on 17 carries to finish with 263 total yards.
COLE WILSON, PIEDMONT: Fired 12-of-19 passes for 185 yards and four TDs covering 59, 46, 6 and 6 yards in a 34-13 win over Saks. Ismael Bethel and Rollie Pinto had two TD receptions each.
EVAN CAGLE, HALEYVILLE: Finished 18-of-32 passing for 183 yards and two TDs and rushed for a third score to lead the Lions past Tarrant 28-7.
DYLAN CARLISLE, HALE COUNTY: Was 10-of-12 passing for 178 yards and three TDs in a 54-27 triumph versus Oakman.
DALLAS HEDSTROM, DALE COUNTY: Was 6-of-9 passing for 176 yards and four touchdowns – to three different receivers – to lead the Warriors past G.W. Long 34-14. Hedstrom also had two interceptions from his defensive back position on defense.
DAX VARNADORE, FORT PAYNE: Completed 21-of-32 passes for 172 yards and one score in a 23-129 loss to Guntersville.
K.J. LACEY, SARALAND: Led the Spartans to a 59-6 win over Blount in Class 6A, Region 1 completing 16-of-22 passes for 166 yards and five touchdowns. Dillon Alfred had four catches for just 33 yards but had three TDs – all short throws covering 3, 4 and 15 yards.
JAKE NEEL, GORDO: Rushed for 128 yards and two scores on 23 carries and completed 17-of-26 passes for 166 yards and one TD in a 36-35 win over Bibb County. He finished with 294 total yards.
BRYCE WHITAKER, HOKES BLUFF: Was 10-of-16 passing for 165 yards and one TD and rushed for 58 yards and a second score as Hokes Bluff downed Southside 21-13.
BRODY KILLEN, LEXINGTON: Was 5-of-6 passing for 165 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-12 win over Elkmont. Buck Shoot hauled in the longest throw – a 55-yard connection for a TD.
BRIAN CHAPMAN, SARDIS: Was 10-of-16 passing for 160 yards and one TD and rushed for 90 yards and three more scores as Sardis beat Cleburne County 34-13.
BRAYLON MORRIS, COTTONWOOD: Completed 5-of-6 passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 100 yards and three scored on 14 carries as the Bears (2-0) ran past Ashford 54-6. Teammate Klete Meadows rushed for two TDs on runs of 19 and 17 yards and caught a 40-yard TD pass.
CASEN FIELD, VINCENT: Was 7-of-12 passing for 144 yards and 2 TDs and led a 94-yard drive in the fourth quarter to the winning touchdown as the Jackets beat B.B. Comer 21-18.
RUSHING
KOLIN WILSON, GULF SHORES: Rushed for 359 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 32 carries in a tough 21-18 loss to Class 7A Mary Montgomery. He scored on runs of 15 and 65 yards and also had carries of 52, 50, 55 and 34 yards.
CADE BIRGE, SLOCOMB: Accounted for 377 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Red Tops past New Brockton 40-34. He finished the night with 19 rush attempts for 285 yards and five TDs and was 5-of-15 passing for 92 yards and another TD.
SPENCER UNRUH, CORNER: Picked up 249 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 16 carries and added a 96-yard kickoff return in a 35-18 win over Dora.
RONALD WILDER, GREENE COUNTY: Totaled 238 yards rushing on 15 carries and scored twice in Greene County’s 48-6 win over Francis Marion.
TRISTAN CHILDERS, BOAZ: Rushed for 200 yards on 24 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Pirates’ 56-7 win over Albertville. Childers scored on runs of 1, 9, and 2 yards.
KEYSHAWN WOODS, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Gained 192 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns (17 and 9 yards) in the Warriors’ 42-21 win at Arab.
ALVIN HENDERSON, ELBA: Rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries in a shocking 49-22 loss to Glenwood school. The loss snapped a 28-game regular-season winning streak by the Tigers, and the Glenwood defense snapped Henderson’s streak of 300 yards rushing games at three. Henderson, a senior, still managed to score on runs of 55, 56 and 9 yards.
QUINDARIUS SHIELDS, ROBERTSDALE: Gained 178 yards and scored two touchdowns on 21 carries as Robertsdale (2-0) beat Elberta 13-10. The Bears snapped a 24-game losing streak in the season opener and are now 2-0 for the first time since opening the 2020 season at 3-0 on the way to a 4-5 season. Shields’ longest run was a 78-yard TD run.
MaCARRI JOHNSON, WEST MORGAN: The Rebels’ running back rushed for 166 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries in a 42-10 win over Brooks.
T.J. KEETON, HUBBERTVILLE: Gained 167 yards and three touchdowns rushing in a 36-8 win over University Charter.
KANE ROBISON, SAND ROCK: Ran for 164 yards on 27 carries and accounted for both Wildcat touchdowns (1 and 4 yards), both in the first quarter, in a 14-8 win over West End.
CONNER NELSON, LEEDS: Gained 158 yards rushing on 15 carries and scored three TDs in a 28-18 victory over Shades Valley. He was also 4-of-6 passing for 41 yards.
BO WILLS, UMS-WRIGHT: Scooted for 158 yards and a TD on 20 carries as the Bulldogs notched their first victory beating LeFlore 25-6.
He also threw a 9-yard TD pass.
LAKE NORRIS, BERRY: Scored five rushing touchdowns on 12 carries and totaled 152 yards in a 58-25 win over Pickens Academy.
DALTON JORDAN, PIKE LIBERAL ARTS: Totaled 147 yards rushing and four touchdowns with TD runs of 12, 13, 3 and 43 yards as the Patriots blanked Samson 40-0.
ALEX BATY, GAYLESVILLE: Had 14 carries for 136 yards and three touchdowns and teammate Aydn Heinrich added 131 yards and two TDs on just three carries in the Trojans’ 58-6 win over Asbury. Gaylesville is 2-0 to start the season for the first time since 2013.
KELIJAH LUCAS, CHILTON COUNTY: Rushed for three touchdowns in the Tigers’ 28-27 win over Jemison. Chilton County’s defense forced an incomplete pass on the Panthers’ two-point try with six seconds remaining to preserve the one-point win. The game was interrupted by lightning and rain and was delayed in the second half for more than two hours before resuming and finishing at 11 p.m. Jemison quarterback Houston Harris led his team down the field in the final five minutes for the final TD – setting up the two-point conversion pass with just six ticks remaining. His 4-yard TD pass to Damion Stafford set up the two-point final play.
DALTON JORDAN, PIKE LIBERAL ARTS: Rushed for 147 yards and four touchdowns in the Patriots’ 40-0 shutout win over Samson.
JAYDEN McNABB, GOSHEN: Ran 10 times for 126 yards and on TD and completed 5-of-7 passes for 69 yards and a third score as the Eagles beat Alabama Christian 40-7.
CONNER BATES, SPRING GARDEN: Ran for 114 yards on 18 carries scoring Spring Garden’s first touchdown on a 2-yard run in a 34-12 triumph over Pleasant Valley. He also caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Noah Barber and posted four tackles and a fumble recovery on defense.
DAMIEN MARTIAL, FOLEY: Scored three touchdowns, including the game-clinching 25-yard scoot for a TD with 3:14 left, to help Foley slip by B.C. Rain 25-14.
PASS RECEIVING
COREY BARBER, SPAIN PARK: Had nine receptions for 208 yards with TDs covering 50 and 9 yards as the Jaguars downed Hoover 39-37. Barber also ran 36 yards for a third score in the win.
ZACH FITZGERLD, OAK MOUNTAIN: Caught three passes for 167 yards and two TDs in a 38-20 win over Pelham. His long was an 80-yard TD catch.
NOAH GAUNT, RANDOLPH: Managed 153 yards receiving and two touchdowns at receiver and also recovered a fumble for a third score in a 32-31 win over Madison Academy on Friday.
KENA REGO, TUSCALOOSA ACADEMY: Pulled in six pass receptions for 147 yards and one TD in a 46-0 win over Pickens Academy.
JAQUAN REEDER, HACKLEBURG: Caught seven passes for 138 yards and two TDs as the Panthers downed Lynn 33-13.
BRAYDEN COLLNS, OHATCHEE: Had nine catches for 132 yards and one TD in a 58-42 loss to Locust Fork.
ELI WILLIAMS, WEST END: Grabbed two receptions for 126 yards with one catch going 80 yards for a TD in a 14-8 loss to Sand Rock.
CHRISTION BISHOP, CENTRAL-TUSCALOOSA: Caught three passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-21 win over Calera.
JAXON POTTER, AUSTIN: The Black Bears’ receiver had four catches for 111 yards and two scores as Austin blanked Decatur 41-0.
SHIYA RICE, RAMSAY: Caught seven passes for 110 yards and the Rams’ only score in a 62-7 loss to defending Class 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville at Legion Field.
BRANT SWEATT, ALBERTVILLE: Had eight pass receptions for 110 yards and a TD in a 56-7 loss to Boaz.
ZACHAI STEELE, EUFAULA: Pulled down five pass receptions for 110 yards and two TDs in Eufaula’s 34-21 victory over Russell County.
JABARI STAPLES, CLAY-CHALKVILLE: Claimed four pass receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns as the defending Class 6A Cougars beat Ramsay, the 2023 Class 5A state runner-up, 62-7 at Legion Field.
BRANDON LOCKWOOD, HALE COUNTY: Grabbed four passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a 54-27 victory over Oakman.
TRISTAN SMITH, DALE COUNTY: Caught two passes for 96 yards and two TDs and also rushed for 104 yards and another score on 12 rush attempts to finish with 200 yards total offense as the Warriors downed G.W. Long 34-14.
JAKALEB FAULK, HIGHLAND HOME: Snared a 52-yard TD pass on the first offensive play of the game and played outstanding defense the rest of the night as Class 2A Highland Home shut out Class 5A Charles Henderson 24-0.
DEFENSE
TIMMY RIVERS, CITRONELLE: Had a season-high 19 tackles and forced a fumble in the Wildcats’ 42-14 win over Orange Beach.
WALKER TURNER, ENTERPRISE: Managed 17 tackles and one stop for a loss and teammates Brack Sawyer and Tomorris Green each added 10 tackles and an interception as the Wildcats downed Pike Road 24-6.
ELLIS McGASKIN, WILLIAMSON: Recorded 16 tackles on defense and rushed for a pair of scores on offense as the Lions (2-0) pounded Wayne County (MS) 44-6. He had four tackles resulting in lost yardage.
LANDON EVERETT, GULF SHORES: Had 16 tackles in a 21-17 loss to Mary Montgomery.
ADAM YAZEL, GARDENDALE: Accounted for 15 tackles and blocked a punt that led to a score in the Rockets’ 42-16 victory over Pinson Valley.
LEVI MARTIN, SARDIS: Totaled 15 tackles in a 34-13 win over Cleburne County.
BILLY NEILL, BAYSIDE ACADEMY: Totaled 15tackles with two sacks as the Admirals downed Marbury 32-14.
VINI PORES, THOMPSON: Totaled 13 tackles the Warriors’ 27-21 win over Lipscomb Academy (TN).
OWEN ROBINSON, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Had 11 tackles, including three sacks in the Huskies’ 42-14 win over Gadsden City.
ROMELLO COOPER, CHELSEA: Combined with Briston Hardy to post a safety tackling a Wetumpka runner in the end zone. That two-point play proved to be the difference as the Hornets came from behind to win 15-14. Cooper finished with nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for losses, and two sacks in the win.
TERENCE TUBBS, CENTER POINT: Returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown in a 36-6 win over Fultondale.
CAM GENTLE, GUNTERSVILLE: Swiped two interceptions and had four tackles in a 23-9 come-from-behind win over Fort Payne.
JACK JONES, ATHENS: Recorded two interceptions, forced one fumble and had one fumble recovery in the Golden Eagles’ 42-7 win over Buckhorn.
JON HARPER KILCREASE, BRANTLEY: Managed 10 tackles on defense in the Bulldogs’ 40-24 win over Luverne, and teammate Cooper Layton have five stops and returned an interception 50 yards for a TD. He also had three receptions on offense for 90 yards and a TD.
EVAN PETRISKE, SCOTTSBORO: The senior had 10 tackles and a sack as the Wildcats beat North Jackson 14-6.
A.J. SMALLWOOD, OPP: Recorded nine tackles and recovered a fumble in the Bobcats’ 34-7 win over Northview (FL).
ANDREW GIL, HOUSTON ACADEMY: Had nine tackles and an interception as the Raiders beat Pike County 31-7.
BRAYDEN BENBOW, ZION CHAPEL: Had seven tackles, including three quarterback sacks and another tackle for loss, and recovered a fumble in the Rebels’ 36-0 win over Ellwood Christian.
He also rushed 64 yards on just two carries.
ZION DANZEY, HEADLAND: Had six tackles, including two for losses, and returned an Abbeville fumble for a TD as the Class 5A Rams won 41-22 over their Henry County rivals.
TEAGAN FOWLER, WICKSBURG: Managed nine tackles and forced a fumble on defense and scored two rushing touchdowns on offense as Wicksburg beat Genva 45-20.
JERROD CODY, COTTONWOOD: Recovered three Ashford fumbles for the Bears on defense.
ZIQUON HORTON, COLBERT COUNTY: Horton and teammate Cash Fuqua each returned interceptions for touchdowns, and D.J. McCray raced 70 yards on a punt return for another for score as the Indians beat Tanner 63-0.
CADEN TAYLOR, SATSUMA: Had six tackles, including three sacks, forced two fumbles and scooped up another fumble returning 65 yards for a touchdown as the Gators beat Cottage Hill Christian 30-18.
ERIC HINES, AMERICAN CHRISTIAN: Returned an interception for a 56-yard touchdown in a 17-14 overtime loss to Northridge.
SPECIAL TEAMS
JAMES BRYANT, HOOVER: Kicked the season’s first 50-yard field goal to give Hoover a 30-27 lead in the second half. The Jaguars came back to win 39-37.
ZION PICATOSTE, GOSHEN: Kicked field goals of 39 and 35 yards, added three extra points and had a 44-yard punt for the Eagles’ special teams in a 40-7 win over Alabama Christian.
HAKIM DUNNIGAN, COLUMBIA: Returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and rushed for 127 yards on 10 carries with a 64-yard TD.
BRAYLON SOLES, GENEVA: Raced 85 yards for a TD on a kickoff return in the Panthers’ 45-20 loss to Wicksburg.
JACKSON MITCHELL, PIKE LIBERAL ART: Returned a punt 59 yards for a TD and snagged five pass receptions for 57 yards and another TD in the Patriots’ 40-0 victory over Samson.
JACK LENGHAN, McGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC: Blocked a punt in special teams’ work, rushed for 102 yards and two TDs and caught three passes for 62 yards as the Jackets beat Murphy 32-6.
JACKSON CARLISLE, CENTRAL-TUSCALOOSA: Totaled 3.5 sacks among his eight tackles to lead the Falcons past Calera 47-21.
CALEB SCOFIELD, NORTHRIDGE: Kicked a game-winning 30-yard field goal in overtime to lift Northridge past American Christian 17-14.
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