MONTGOMERY – Senior place-kicker Cole Porch’s 54-yard field goal in the final moments of the fourth quarter Friday night tied the Aggies’ Class 5A, Region 5 battle with Talladega County rival Munford at 22 all.
     His teammates responded by posting a touchdown in overtime to win the key region contest 29-22 to clinch the fourth and final spot in Region 5 for the upcoming AHSAA alive state football championships alive. The kick can been seen, thank to WOTM TV, at the attached link:
     The longest field goal in Aggies football history earned Porch this week’s AHSAA Special Teams Spotlight for Week 9 of the high school football season.
      The Aggies (7-2) of Coach Matt Griffin are now off until the first round of the state playoffs Nov. 8.  The 54-yard field goal is the third longest in the AHSAA this season. Alex McPherson of Fort Payne has kicked a 57 and 56-yarder for the Wildcats. Porch’s kick is also the longest field goal in Sylacauga High School and Talladega County prep history, based on field goals listed in the AHSAA Record Book. The longest in state history was a 61-yard free kick by Sage Ledbetter of Auburn vs. Smiths Station in 2015. Porch now joins six other prep place-kickers with 54-yard field goals in their careers. Will Reichard of Hoover, now at the University of Alabama, was the last prep player to boot a 54-yarder. His kick came in 2018 versus Oak Mountain. A total of 21 field goals of 55 yards or longer are listed in the AHSAA Record Book. McPherson’s older brother Evan McPherson kicked a 60-yarder in 2017 for Fort Payne against Brewer in 2017 for the longest kick in AHSAA history from a traditional center snap, hold and kick.
   Special teams turned in several outstanding performances in addition to Porch’s kick last week.
     Those  reported include:
EVAN McGUIRE, THOMPSON: The Alabama All-Star place-kicker selection booted three field goals, including one from 44 yards and another from 42, in a 35-29 loss to Hewitt-Trussville.
NOLAN JOHNSON, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN:  Provided all the Panthers’ points in a 6-3 victory over Crossville with a game-tying 19-yard field goal late in the third quarter and the game-winning 25-yard field goal with just over two minutes to go in the game.
CARTER SHELTON, ROGERS: The freshman made a 22-yard field goal as time expired to give Rogers a 23-20 win over Central-Florence, securing a No. 3 seed in the playoffs for the Pirates.
DANIEL SPARKS, GADSDEN CITY: Kicked a 30-yard field goal, was 2-for-2 on extra points and booted a 47-yard punt near the end of the game that pinned the Tigers on their own 2-yard line to essentially secure Gadsden City’s 17-14 win over Grissom for the Titans’ first win of the season.  
TRISTAN CHEATHAM, COLBERT HEIGHTS: The freshman kicked nailed a 20-yard field goal that hit the cross bar and bounced through in overtime to lift playoff-bound Colbert Heights to a 31-28 win over Phil Campbell.
J.J. VALLEHO, PRICEVILLE: Kicked a clutch 35-yard field goal as Priceville beat West Morgan 24-22.
NATHAN TUCKER, EAST LAWRENCE: Scored on a 99-yard kickoff return in a 31-18 loss to Westminster Christian.
JUDSON LISENBY, HOUSTON ACADEMY: Punted seven times for a 45.3 average with two 50 yarders and also converted his only point after attempt in a 42-7 loss to Providence Christian.
CHARLES RICHARDSON, BARBOUR COUNTY: Returned a kickoff 84 yards for a TD in a 78-26 loss to Daleville. H also had 71 yards rushing and another TD.
RUSSELL WEEKS, NEW BROCKTON: Punted three times for a 46-yard average and had a long kick of 66 yards as the Gamecocks beat Zion Chapel 38-0.