Players Of the Week
By JOSH BEAN
For The ASWA
McAdory senior Damien Whitfield found himself in the right place at the
right time - twice - on Friday night.
Whitfield intercepted two passes, both on tipped balls, and returned the
first pick 85 yards for a touchdown and added 35-yard pick-six to keep the
Yellow Jackets (13-0) undefeated with a 29-22 victory over Cullman in the
Class 5A quarterfinals.
"They both just fell in my hands," Whitfield told The Birmingham News after
the game. "I didn't see anything but grass, and I wanted to score."
For his performance, Whitfield is this week's Alabama Sports Writers
Association Defense/Special Teams Player of the Week.
The two other finalists for the Defense/Special Teams award are Oneonta's
Jalen Johnson and Tanner's Dexter Douglas.
Johnson blocked
two punts, one of which resulted in a safety, to go with seven tackles and a
pair of passes break-ups in a 33-0 victory over J.O. Johnson. Douglas
recorded
12 tackles, including 10 solos, and two tackles for a loss in Tanner's 14-0
victory at Fultondale.
The ASWA Offensive Player of the Week is Madison Academy's Kerryon Johnson,
who shined in Friday's 66-28 victory over Colbert County in the 3A
quarterfinals.
Johnson rolled up 239 yards on 20 carries - scoring on runs of 2, 25 and 58
yards, benefitting from freshman Malik Miller's 125-yard, four-touchdown
performance.
"I
give it all to my line, they created multiple holes," Johnson told The
Huntsville Times.
Johnson beat out two other finalists for the award, Muscle Shoals' Tyler
Jackson and Sweet Water's Jakoby Aldridge.
Jackson rushed for 56 yards and two TDs and caught four passes for 138 yards
and two more TDs - one week after suffering a neck injury against Pinson
Valley - in a 49-21 victory over defending 5A champion Hartselle.
Aldridge rushed for 226 yards on nine carries, scoring three TDs and setting
up another with a 77-yard kickoff return, in a 55-20 victory over Lamar
County.
ASWA members from
Birmingham, Decatur, Huntsville, Oneonta, Mobile and Montgomery
submitted nominations this week.
Other standout performances from this past weekend:
OFFENSE
Jamarcus Brown, Pickens County:
Rolled up 241 all-purpose yards and his six TDs - four rushing, one
receiving and one an 81-yard kickoff return - in a 54-32 victory over
Hubbertville.
Calen Campbell, Hoover:
Ran 32 times for 194 yards and two touchdowns (8 and 11 yards) in the 21-7
victory over Vestavia Hills.
Ryan Carpenter, Colbert County:
Logged 29 carries for 201 yards and two TDs in a 66-28 loss to Madison
Academy.
Harvey Harris, Carver-Montgomery:
Ran 23 times for 154 yards and three first-half touchdowns in a 26-20
victory over Spain Park. His scores covered 21, 5 and 55 yards.
Sammy Harris, Spanish Fort:
Caught seven passes for 135 yards and two TDs in a
28-17 victory over Benjamin Russell.
DeAnthony Holcombe, Washington County:
Rushed for 170 yards and two TDs on 10 carries in a
33-12 victory over Mobile Christian.
Jeremy Johnson, Carver-Montgomery:
Was 23-of-27 passing for 298 yards and ran 18 times for 79 yards and a
touchdown in a 26-20 win over Spain Park.
Jordan Johnson, Vestavia Hills:
Carried 21 times for 105 yards with a 1-yard touchdown in the 21-7 loss to
Hoover.
Ostin McPherson, St. Paul's:
Rushed for 168 yards and two TDs on 23 carries in a 24-3 victory over
Briarwood Christian.
Malik Miller, Madison Academy:
Recovered a fumble on a kickoff for a TD and added 10 carries for 125 yards
and four TDs in a 66-28 victory over Colbert County.
Hayden Moore, Clay-Chalkville:
Rushed for 132 yards with a 57-yard touchdown and
threw for 128 yards on 11-of-16 passing with a 28-yard scoring toss in a
30-9 victory over Mountain Brook.
Nick Mullens, Spain Park:
Completed 26-of-55 passes for 299 yards, including an 8-yard scoring pass,
in the 26-20 loss to Carver-Montgomery.
Trey Nation, Leeds:
Ran 13 times for 78 yards and tossed a 15-yard halfback pass to Jabari
Rogers for a touchdown in the 24-14 loss to Fayette County.
Joel Poe, Spanish Fort:
Completed 19-of-28 passes for 244 yards and three TDs
in the Toros' 28-17 victory over Benjamin Russell.
Jackson Richard, Madison County:
Threw for 152 yards and three TDs and ran for TD in the fourth quarter of a
35-23 victory over Brooks.
Tyler Rogers, Mobile Christian:
Rushed for 166 yards on 33 carries in a season-ending loss at Washington
County.
Tyler Smith, Oneonta:
Rushed for 146 yards on 26 carries and second-half touchdown runs of 24 and
3 yards in a 33-0 victory over J.O. Johnson.
ArDarius Stewart, Fultondale:
Rushed 27 times for 114 yards and completed 7-of-20 passes for 73 yards in a
14-0 loss to Tanner.
Tyrone Stewart, Woodland:
Ran 18 times for 248 yards and four TDs in a 30-24 loss to Reeltown.
Kai Thomas, Dora:
Caught a 31-yard touchdown pass, scored the game-clinching TD on a 64-yard
run with 1:29 remaining, and intercepted two passes in a 33-21 victory over
Charles Henderson.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
Blake Bean, Oneonta:
Recorded 11 tackles, 2 sacks, and 6 tackles for loss in a 33-0 victory over
J.O. Johnson.
Thomas Boyd, Oneonta:
Had 12 tackles, 3 sacks, and 9 tackles for loss in a 33-0 victory over J.O.
Johnson.
O.J. Guice, Brantley:
Returned a kickoff 80 yards for the Bulldogs' first touchdown in a 20-14
victory at Linden.
Jared Holloway, St. Paul's:
Had two of the Saints' three sacks in the first half
as St. Paul's stuffed Briarwood Christian.
Shaquille Law, McIntosh:
Scored on a 92-yard fumble return as McIntosh stunned Maplesville.
Hunter Patterson, Clay-Chalkville:
Picked off two passes and led a smothering defense with 10 tackles in the
30-9 victory over Mountain Brook.
Shaun Rupert, Carver-Montgomery:
Broke up three passes in the final minute - all inside the 20-yard line -
and added five tackles in a 26-20 win over Spain Park.
Kylen Towner, St. Paul's:
Made two interceptions in the second half as the Saints smothered Briarwood
Christian 24-3.
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