ELBA – Senior running back Alvin Henderson became the AHSAA’s all-time leading rusher Friday night with 199 yards on 27 carries as the Tigers (8-2) beat Florala (7-3) 40-24 in a key Class 1A, Region 2 game.
He scored four TDs in the win – upping his season total to 2,625 yards on 207 carries and 46 touchdowns – which leads the nation this season according to MaxPreps. His career rushing total is now 9,935 yards and 178 rushing touchdowns. He could become the first 10,000-yard rusher in state history in the first round of the playoffs – which would put him in an elite group nationally as just the eighth high school running back to reach that milestone in his career.
     Friday night’s effort surpassed the previous record (9,839 yards) set by Alexandria’s Mac Campbell in a career that spanned from 1993-1997.
     Campbell was very supportive of Henderson’s chase for his record that stood the test of time for 27 years. He made the trip from his home in Huntsville Friday night to be on hand for Henderson’s milestone achievement. Campbell, who was a high school teammate on Alexandria’s 1997 Class 4A state championship team of Florala head coach Kyle Davis, personally congratulated Henderson following the game during a special ceremony on the field. AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon was also in attendance congratulating Henderson as the team and head coach Marc Sieving looked on during the post-game ceremony and celebration.
    Elba clinched a No. 2 seed in the Class 1A state playoffs with the win and will be at home in the first round of the AHSAA state football playoffs when they begin in two weeks.
    Florala held Henderson in check until he finally broke loose on a 34-yard TD run late in the first period. He broke the record with a five-yard run on a third-and-4 play to notch an important first down as Elba clawed back from a two-touchdown deficit to post its eighth win of the season.
     Henderson, who is committed to Auburn University, came into Friday night’s game at Elba on Senior Night needing just over 104 yards to break Campbell’s AHSAA all-time career rushing record. Florala’s defense did an outstanding job in slowing him down in the first half. The Tigers found their groove late in the first half and Henderson took control following his strong blocking up front in the second half.
     Elba’s star running back, who has committed to Auburn University, led the nation with 68 touchdowns scored last season and set the AHSAA single season rushing record with 3,523 yards on 225 carries – a 15.7 yards-per-carry average – and also set a state mark with 61 rushing touchdowns. This year he is  averaging a career best 262.5 yards rushing per game. He has averaged 13.4 yards per carry over his high school career with 744 carries. He has rushed for 178 touchdowns and has scored 188 touchdowns overall including pass receiving, punt and kickoff returns. His tandem yards total, which includes kick returns, passing, and receiving yards, is 10.481 yards in 52 games.
    Also Friday night, Russell County’s Bryson Riggins passed for 543 yards and nine touchdowns – both season highs this season in the AHSAA – to lead Russell County to a 77-40 victory over Rehobeth in Class 6A, Region 2. The win clinched the No. 2 seed in Class 6A, Region 2 for Russell County (7-2).