AHSAA Spotlight for Week 6

Johnson Shines On National TV As Wolverines Knock Off Auburn

        MONTGOMERY, Ala. - G.W. Carver High School senior Jeremy Johnson was at his best on national television Friday night as he engineered the Wolverines' 46-20 shocker over previously undefeated Auburn High School at Duck Samford Stadium.    

        The 6-foot-6 senior quarterback grabbed the AHSAA Prep Spotlight for Week 6 with 248 yards passing, 114 yards rushing and five total touchdowns as Carver (5-1) jumped into a tie with four other schools in Class 6A, Region 3.

        Going into this week's region schedule, Auburn, Carver, Central-Phenix City, Opelika and Smiths Station are all 3-1 in region play.  Coach Billy Gresham's Wolverines will be back home at Cramton Bowl to face Robert E. Lee Thursday night. Auburn is at Central and Opelika is at Smiths Station on Friday as the logjam begins to shake out.

        Johnson, an early Auburn commitment, and his Carver teammates stole the spotlight in the ESPN-U televised game by completing 11-of-18 passes for two scores and rushing for three TDs on 10 carries. He led the Wolverines to points on their first four possessions - and when he found Harvey Harris open for a 77-yard TD connection with just over three minutes left in the half, Carver found itself ahead 32-0. Harris also scored on a 75-yard run and finished with 203 yards rushing on 15 carries.

        Johnson scored on runs of 2, 47 and 37 yards, the last one closing out the scoring in the fourth period. He also threw a 44-yard TD pass to Draequon Murphy to open the third period.

        Johnson's impressive performance edged out a team effort at Oneonta, a big night for Fort Payne kicker Logan McPherson, and a four-interception performance by Hanceville's Brontae Harris for this week's top spotlight.

        Three quarterbacks combined to throw seven touchdown passes in Oneonta's 63-8 win over Douglas. Starter Cody O'Toole was 15-of-22 passing for four touchdowns - all in the first half. Back-up Drew White fired two touchdown passes in the third quarter and Carter Sims threw the final touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

        The seven TD passes placed the Redskins in the AHSAA Record Book, tying 14 other schools for the third-most TD passes in a single game. Oneonta is, however, the first school in state history to use three quarterbacks in accomplishing the feat. Alvin Scott and Jalen Johnson had two TD receptions each, all in the first half, to snag all of O'Toole's touchdown heaves.

        The TD passing record (9) was set by Victory Christian's (Pell City) Brent Gulledge in 2004 when he completed 14-of-22 passes for 374 yards in a 70-6 win over Lyman Ward. Jeremy Robinson of Highland Home is second all-time with eight TD passes in an 81-0 win over R.C. Hatch in 2002. He was 11-of-20 for 214 yards in that win.

        McPherson, a senior place-kicker. tied five others for the third-longest field goal in state history with a 57-yarder as Fort Payne downed Boaz 24-6 in a matchup of unbeaten teams in Class 5A, Region 7. McPherson was 3-of-3 on extra points and drove 3-of-5 kickoffs into the end zone. He also just missed on a 56-yard field goal try. He punted three times for a 35.0 average, including a 47-yarder that was downed at the Boaz 15-yard line and a 41-yarder that was downed at the Boaz 3.

        Hanceville's Harris snagged four interceptions, returning his first pick 90 yards for the game's first touchdown, to lead the Bulldogs to a 12-0 victory over Winfield. He finished with 114 return yards on the four interceptions and rushed 14 times for an additional 116 yards and the game's other TD - a 50-yard sprint as the Bulldogs won their third straight game.

In other highlights from week six:

GARRETT CRIDER, CULLMAN: Had two 2-yard touchdown runs, including what turned out to be the game-winning score in overtime of a 21-20 thriller against Russellville, the Bearcats' first over the Golden Tigers since 1986. It was also the 100^th victory at Cullman in Coach Mark Britton's tenure.

A.J. TRAVIS, NORTHSIDE: The running back rushed for 344 yards on 24 carries and scored seven touchdowns in a 50-46 win over Sipsey Valley. Travis scored on runs of 58, 45, 22, 10, 36, 24 and 11 yards. Sipsey Valley's Garret Lewis also threw four touchdown passes and accounted for 400 yards in total offense in the loss.

TERRENCE DELONEY, EAST LAWRENCE: Piled up 314 yards rushing and passed for 102 yards as East Lawrence overcame a 21-point halftime deficit to beat Priceville 42-35. His TD runs covered 47, 58 and 79 yards. He also threw two TD passes.

BRANDON PETERS, WILLIAMSON: Ran for 305 yards and four TDs on 17 carries in a 34-21 win over Faith Academy. His TD runs were 46, 94, 53 and 55 yards.

JORDAN CHUNN, MADISON COUNTY: Rushed for 303 yards and five touchdowns, including a 99-yarder, in a 67-7 win over Pope John Paul II Catholic. His other TDs covered 7, 54, 11 and 54 yards.

GEOFFREY BRAMBLETT, LOCUST FORK: Completed 22-of-30 passes for 242 yards and ran for 50 yards on 16 carries for two other TDs - accounting for six in the game and 25 on the year. He is 110-of-180 passing (61.1 percent) for 1,308 yards and 16 TDs in the first six games and has 475 yards rushing on 97 attempts with nine scores. As a punter he is averaging 41.7 yards on 16 punts. Clay Smith caught six of Bramblett's passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns and now has 33 receptions for 584 yards and eight scores on the year.

LUKE BAILEY, FAIRVIEW: The quarterback rushed 17 times for 98 yards, including four touchdowns, in a 30-16 homecoming victory against St. Clair County. The victory was Bailey's 22^nd as the Aggies quarterback, which moved him past current head coach George Redding, who held the record with 21 wins as a prep quarterback at Fairview.

AUSTIN JOHNSON, ELBA: The Tigers quarterback accounted for 353 yards passing and rushing with three scores in a 43-7 win over Goshen. He completed 12-of-16 passes for 190 yards with a touchdown and rushed 15 times for 154 yards and two 1-yard TD sneaks.

BRODY MEEKS, LYNN: Completed 16-of-25 passes for 283 yards and one TD and rushed for 99 yards and a score on 15 carries to finish with 382 total yards in Lynn's 42-18 loss to Marion County.

JALEN HARRIS, NORTHVIEW: The Cougars quarterback threw for 157 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in Northview's 37-27 loss to Enterprise.

TONY MINNIFIELD, ST. JUDE: Connected with Kendall Richardson for a 99-yard touchdown pass as the Pirates beat Wadley 49-12.

JERMARCUS BROWN, PICKENS COUNTY: Rushed for 315 yards and scored all four touchdowns in a 28-0 win over Parrish. Brown scored on runs of 88, 37, 81 and 14 yards.

TERRANCE HOLLINGSWORTH, BERRY: Ran 19 times for 300 yards and scored five touchdowns in a 46-20 win over Brilliant. Hollingsworth scored on runs of 34, 70, 14, 46 and 13 yards and made 10 tackles on defense. His half-brother, J.C. Finch, intercepted two passes, returning them 44 and 40 yards for touchdowns, and added five tackles. 

MITCH STULTS, HAMILTON: Passed for 236 yards and four TDs, rushed for 100 yards and another score, added a sixth TD on a fumble return and had seven tackles as the Aggies beat Vinemont 56-49.

TY JONES, VINEMONT: Carried the ball a whopping 38 times for 230 rushing yards - his fourth game of at least 200 yards this season - and scored three touchdowns in the wild 56-49 loss to unbeaten Hamilton.

DIANTAE THOMAS, DOTHAN: The quarterback rushed for 124 yards with two touchdowns, including a game-winning 14-yarder with 2:30 left, helping the Tigers rally past Daphne, 28-24. Thomas directed a game-winning eight-play, 51-yard drive after returning from a dislocated shoulder early in the fourth quarter, capping it with his TD run. He also passed for 67 yards on the night.

SIDNEY BATTLE, CLAY-CHALKVILLE: Rushed for 240 yards on 18 carries and scored four touchdowns (1, 45, 55 and 21 yards) as the Cougars (6-0) downed Grissom 42-12.

LEE BRASCOM, ENTERPRISE: The Wildcats running back rushed for 229 yards on 18 carries with one touchdown in Enterprise's 37-27 win over Northview.

ROBERT SMITH, SLOCOMB: Rushed for 236 yards on 24 carries with four touchdowns, including three in the second half, as the Red Tops rallied from a 25-6 third-quarter deficit to beat Abbeville 28-25. Smith's TD runs covered 137 of his total yards on runs of 56, 18, 15 and 49.

DEMARCUS FLOWERS, DALEVILLE: Flowers rushed for 227 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown in Daleville's 27-17 win over Pike County.

CAMERON BLANKS, COTTONWOOD: Rushed for 218 yards on 16 carries with three touchdowns and had five receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown as the Bears rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit to a 35-21 win over Houston Academy. Blanks scored on a 4-yard run with 4:20 left to put Cottonwood up 28-21 and sealed the win with a 25-yard TD run with 1:58. He had five tackles on defense.

COURTNEY DOWNING, CHARLES HENDERSON: Rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-7 win over St. James at Troy.
JOHNNY SILAS, NEW BROCKTON: Rushed for 213 yards on 38 carries with three touchdowns in the Gamecocks' 20-14 win over Highland Home.

TRENT THRASH, FYFFE: The junior running back/linebacker rushed 16 times for 201 yards and one touchdown and made seven tackles in a 32-7 victory over Sand Rock. Thrash's TD covered 68 yards.

JORDAN HOWARD, GARDENDALE: Ran for 170 yards and four touchdowns as the Rockets beat Huffman 42-30.

MATT BELUE, RED BAY: The workhorse had 36 carries for 154 yards and two TDs as Red Bay upset Sheffield 21-14.

HAYDEN STEPHENS, TANNER: Rushed for 165 yards and four touchdowns on nine carries in the unbeaten Rattlers' 69-13 win over Colbert Heights. His TD runs covered 31, 27, 24 and 38 yards.

LUKE HOLT, HORSESHOE BEND: Recorded 17 tackles and also scored two rushing touchdowns in a 21-20 win over LaFayette. Corey Battles also rushed for 103 yards and caught four passes for 73 yards to finish with a game-high 176 total yards.

KENNETH JORDAN, WENONAH: Blocked a punt, intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and returned it six yards for a touchdown and also contributed seven tackles to lift the unbeaten Dragons past Central-Tuscaloosa 53-0.

ZAVIER CARMICHAEL, ST. PAUL'S: Intercepted three passes as the Saints knocked off previously unbeaten Spanish Fort 31-21.

SHAQUILLE LAW, McINTOSH: Scored four different ways in the Demons' 50-31 win over Fruitdale. Law returned an interception 62 yards for a TD, scooted 72 yards with a recovered fumble for another score, returned a kickoff 80 yards for a third TD and raced 38 yards on a run from scrimmage for his final touchdown.

ZACH MAGNUSSON, FORT PAYNE: The senior wide receiver/defensive back caught seven passes for 119 yards and a touchdown as Fort Payne downed Boaz 24-6 in a matchup of unbeaten teams in Class 5A, Region 7. Magnusson's touchdown covered 34 yards on a third-and-25 play. He also broke up a pass, intercepted another and had what would have been a 99-yard interception return for a TD wiped out by a block-in-the-back penalty.

J.C. FINCH, BERRY: Scored on interception returns of 44 and 40 yards in a 46-20 win over win over Brilliant. Zac Pasley and Clancy Brown also had 12 and 11 tackles, respectively, for the Wildcats.

SETH ROBERTS, ARITON: Recorded 15 tackles with a sack and added a touchdown run in the Purple Cats' 47-28 win over Houston County.

JAMARIUS HENDERSON, DALE COUNTY: Had 13 tackles on defense and rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns as the Warriors beat Barbour County 28-14.

CHRIS HILL, PICKENS COUNTY: Had 12 tackles and three sacks in a 28-0 win over Parrish. Teammate Terrien Steele also had 10 tackles and four sacks.

ZAC WELDON, G.W. LONG: Had 10 tackles with two sacks and a safety in the Rebels' 32-8 win over Wicksburg.

MARCUS WILSON, GENEVA: Returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown and caught touchdown passes of 15 and 65 yards in the Panthers' 39-27 win over Montgomery Catholic.

TYLER BOLAND, VINEMONT: Scored three touchdowns and made an interception in the Eagles' 56-49 loss to Hamilton. His last two scores came in the final three minutes of the game with a 58-yard punt return and 50-yard touchdown catch.

JESSE SEALS, ADDISON: Returned his third punt of the season for a touchdown with an 85-yarder in a 28-0 shutout over Winston County-rival Meek.

DESHAWN RIEBESEHL, MARION COUNTY: Caught all three of the Red Raiders' completed passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns covering 79 and 25 yards as Marion County (6-0) won its 13^th game in a row beating Lynn 42-18. Riebesehl also had 34 yards rushing and an interception on defense. Teammate Ready Swanigan had 173 yards rushing with TD runs of 85 and 54 yards on the first and last of his seven carries as the defending 1A champs piled up 454 total yards.

PEYTON GILLILAND, BOAZ: The freshman receiver had nine catches for 196 yards and a 59-yard touchdown as the Pirates fell to Fort Payne 24-6 in a battle of Class 5A unbeatens.

ANGEL VASQUEZ, STANHOPE ELMORE: Kicked a game-winning 32-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining as the Mustangs overcame a two-touchdown deficit to beat Prattville 24-21. Vasquez was also 3-for-3 on extra points.

ANDREW PARKER, BRANTLEY: Returned two punts 60 and 62 yards for touchdowns as the unbeaten Bulldogs (6-0) beat Geneva County 60-0. He also rushed for 128 yards and two more scores (55, 10 yards) on five carries for four total touchdowns.

 /  ALABAMA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 
Ron Ingram / Director of Communications / 334-263-6994