AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week
MONTGOMERY – For high school football fans across Alabama, Thursday night’s AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week couldn’t get much bigger.
Unbeaten Class 4A Anniston High School (5-0) travels to the Field of Champions to take on defending Class Piedmont (3-1) in the first meeting between the schools in 74 years. The Bulldogs hold a 4-0 edged in the series – series that Piedmont has not scored a point in. Anniston, which dominated the Calhoun County football scene for much of the 20th century, beat Piedmont 46-0 and 51-0 in 1924 and 1925. The two teams did not play again until 1947 with Anniston winning 26-0 and again the next year 41-0 in 1948.
WOTM TV will be producing the clash which will be shown over the AHSAA TV Network’s participating stations. 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.
Roll the years ahead to 2022 and the situation is much different. Piedmont, coached by Steve Smith, has been one of the winningest teams in the state over the last decade. The Bulldogs have won 12 or more game every year since 2015 with four Class 3A state titles (2021, 2019, 2016, 2015). Smith, now in his 17th season as head coach, has compiled s 189-34 record at Piedmont since taking over the program in 2006 with a fifth state title in 2009. His overall record, including 11 years at Cedar Bluff, is 274-79. Since 2010, only one school in the AHSAA has won more games than Piedmont – Fyffe High School (157-11). Piedmont (149-22) is second, Hoover (148-24) is third, and Maplesville (145-19) ranks fourth. During Smith’s tenure, Piedmont has made the playoffs in the 16 previous seasons compiling a 48-11 playoff record and 104-11 region record.
Piedmont has 562-410-30 overall record since its football program began 1924. Anniston has a 589-388-27 record in 103 seasons. On the other hand, the Bulldogs have struggled in more recent times. Head coach Rico White, 59-94 overall, has had a history of tackling some tough rebuilding situations during his head-coaching career with stops at Central-Hayneville, Abbeville, Russell County and Bullock County. He is currently in his fifth season as Anniston’s head coach. The Bulldogs are 29-22 during his tenure and clinched a spot in the Class 4A state playoffs in each of his first four seasons. He inherited a team that had not a winning season for six straight years. This year, Anniston is 5-0 overall and is averaging 42 points a game. White’s team sits atop of the Region 4 standings currently with a 3-0 record. Piedmont is 3-0 in Class 3A, Region 6 and comes into Thursday’s game averaging 32.5 points per game. Piedmont opened the season with 21-14 loss to Class 4A Cherokee County but has since won three in a row.
Both teams have seasoned quarterbacks – senior Cam Sandlin for Anniston and senior Jack Hayes for Piedmont. Both are playmakers and both show strong leadership on and off the field. Hayes broke the AHSAA career touchdowns accounted record last week in a with 28-of-37 passing performance for 401 yards and five touchdowns. The old mark (175) was held by current University of Alabama safety Kristian Story (175) while quarterbacking at Lanett High School from 2015-2019). Hayes comes into this week’s game with 179 TDs accounted for (133 TD passes and 46 rushing TDs). His career touchdown passes total is one shy of the current career record (134) set by Chris Smelley of American Christian from 2002-2005. Smelley is now on the coaching staff at Hoover High School.
Anniston receiver Jaylon Cunningham may be the best all-around athlete Calhoun County. He had two TD receptions in the first quarter of last week’s 48-13 Class 4A, Region 4 win over White Plains, and also had a third TD on a 6-yard run in the second quarter.
Piedmont’s Hayes will be making his 50th start as the quarterback Thursday night, has a strong contingent of receivers including Ismael Bethel, who had five catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns covering 65 and 80 yards in last week’s 42-13 Class3A, Region 6 win over Ohatchee. Thomas Propst caught 11 passes for 127 yards, Max Hanson grabbed seven passes for 66 yards, and running back Parker Thornton had four catches for 24 yards. Rollie Pinto also caught a pass for an 11-yard TD reception.
Auburn beat Lee-Montgomery last week 58-7 in last week’s AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week. Next week’s Game of the Week will feature Orange Beach (3-1), coached by Jamey DuBose, versus St. Michael Catholic ((3-2), coached by former NFL quarterbacking sensation Philip Rivers, in a highly anticipated Class 4A, Region 1 contest at Fairhope.
Thursday’s AHSAA TV Network Game of the Week is one of eight games set for tomorrow night. Among them will be a small-school battle of major interest in Crenshaw County with 1A powerhouse Brantley (4-1) hosting
WOTM TV has put together a strong network of cable affiliates across Alabama. Tonight’s game will be live on WOTM TV as well as WABM TV 68 in Birmingham and most Spectrum networks. Check out the listings on the AHSAA website at the following link:
https://www.ahsaa.com/Portals/0/Sports/Football/Super%207/WOTM-Cities-November2020.pdf?ver=OVOVtQ2dCsWzvgoL086upQ%3d%3d×tamp=1605813191158
To access the AHSAA Game of the Week over the NFHS Network, go to the following link
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/ahsaa/gam2aad388e8c
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 FOOTBALL 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
Week 0: Aug. 18 Helena 28, Chelsea- KICKOFF CLASSIC, CRAMTON BOWL
Aug. 19 Auburn 17, Hoover 14 – KICKOFF CLASSIC, CRAMTON BOWL
Week 1: Aug. 25 Southside-Selma 42, Hokes Bluff 7
Week 2: Sep. 1 Mountain Brook 49, Minor 14
Week 3: Sep. 8 Valley 46, Sylacauga 14
Week 4: Sep. 15 Auburn 58, Lee-Montgomery 7
Week 5: Sep. 22 Anniston at Piedmont, Thursday, 7 p.m., Field of Champions Stadium
Week 6: Sep. 29 Orange Beach at St Michael Catholic
Week 7: Oct. 6 Lee-Montgomery at Central-Phenix City
Week 8: Oct. 13 Prattville at Lee-Montgomery
Week 9: Oct. 20 Gulf Shores at Vigor
Week 10: Oct. 27 Hueytown at Gardendale
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