AHSAA TV Network to also Tape Delay Class 2A Lanett at B.B. Comer

       MONTGOMERY – Hueytown High School hosts Benjamin Russell High School Friday night in the first round of the AHSAA Class 6A State Football Playoffs. For two teams that are meeting on the football field for just the third time in both schools’ history, Friday night’s playoff clash could go a long way in determining who will reach the Super 7 state finals in December.
        Hueytown reached the 6A finals season scoring a single-season state record 784 points along the way. The Gophers (7-3) of Coach Greg Patterson got off to an ominous start this season dropping their first two games of the season to Ramsay (8-2) and defending Class 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville (8-1). Since then, however, Hueytown has gone 7-1 and have won their last six games in a row. This year’s team is averaging 45.7 points per game – down a little from last season’s state-leading 52.6 ppg. However, in the current six-game win streak, Hueytown is averaging 51.7 ppg.
        A big reason is senior quarterback Earl Woods. The  talented runner and passer, who was named the 2021Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year after compiling 5,195 total yards last season, has begun to post those kinds of numbers again this year. He passed for 3,072 yards, rushed for 2,23 yards, and accounted for 57 touchdowns (32 passing and 27 rushing) in the Gophers’ championship run last year. Patterson is 36-13 and in his fourth season as the Hueytown head coach. His overall record, which includes a stint at Sumiton Christian, s 50-39.
      Benjamin Russell has also had quite a turnaround this year. Veteran coach Smitty Grider took over the Wildcats’ program this season with the best record since the school’s Class 6A semifinal run in 2015 under head coach Danny Horn, now back at Central of Clay County. The Wildcats finished 2-7 and 3-7 in 2020 and 2021. Grider, who owns a 133-67 career record, came to Alexander City from Dothan where he led the Wolves into Class 7A over the last three seasons. He also guided Park Crossing to the Class 6A semifinals in 2016.
    The Wildcats feature an outstanding junior quarterback Gabe Benton and a strong stable of receivers including juniors Christopher Foster, Malcolm Simmons, and senior Za’Corrion Milliner. Benton has completed 140-of-226 passes this season for 2,595 yards and 29 touchdowns with just five interceptions. Miliner is the leading receiver with 32 catches for 714 yards and 12 TDs. Foster has 47 catches for 673 yards and four scores, and Simmons, 26 catches for 476 yards and six touchdowns. Simmons also has 714 yards rushing and 11 more touchdowns on 105 carries, and Benton has 245 yards and two TDs on 55 carries.
      The AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week is one of 104 first-round state playoff games set for Friday night.
      WOTM TV will be producing Hueytown-Benjamin Russell battle, which will be shown over the AHSAA TV Network’s participating stations across the state. The contest will also be live streamed over the NFHS Network and over wotm.tv. Executive producer is Vince Earley of WOTM TV. The commentators will be longtime TV personality Mickey Shadrix and for high school and college coach Rick Rhoades. WOTM TV has put together a strong network of cable affiliates across Alabama. Thursday’s game will be live on WOTM TV and WABM TV MY68 as well as Comcast Channel 17, WOW Channel 3, APT Channel 25.5, and most Spectrum networks.
       WOTM TV is also producing a second game, Lanett at B.B. Comer in Class 2A. The game set to be played at Legion  Stadium in Sylacauga Friday, will be tape-delayed and showed over the weekend.
        To access the AHSAA Hueytown-Benjamin Russell Game of the Week over the NFHS Network, go to the following link
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ahsaa/gamdbcac72fc2
      The Lanett vs. B.B. Comer game will be live on the NFHS Network Friday night at the following links: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ahsaa/game594c2c5ab
and over the B.B. Comer NFHS SBP at: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/bb-comer-high-school-sylacauga-al/gama5ea9c28a6
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/montgomery-county-public-schools-montgomery-al/gam6886b014cc

The AHSAA Radio Network’s Scoreboard Show will also air across the state Friday night. Go to www.ahsaaradionetwork.com for network information.

2022 AHSAA TV NETWORK
STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS GAME OF THE WEEK
SCHEDULE
All Games also airing Live at 7 p.m., on WOTM TV/
AHSAA TV Network, WABM TV MY68, and NFHS Network

Round 1:   Nov. 4          (6A) Benjamin Russell at Hueytown
                   Nov. 4          (2A) Lanett at B.B. Comer, taped delayed (live on NFHS Network)