Yancey's
250th Career Victory Headlines AHSAA Prep Football Spotlight
MONTGOMERY - Briarwood Christian's 39-14 win over Moody Friday night wasn't
any real surprise. Winning games is something the Lions faithful have
certainly grown accustomed to.
The victory, Coach Fred Yancey's 250th win in his
legendary prep career, did come as a surprise to his own team. But that,
too, shouldn't have been any real surprise either. Yancey said a week before
the win that any wins he has personally doesn't belong to him.
"It's about the players, the assistant coaches," he said.
"I have been blessed to have great kids and great coaches throughout my
coaching career."
No. 250 thrusts Yancey and his Class 5A powerhouse team in the
AHSAA Spotlight for Week 2 of the 2011 prep football season. In his 22nd
year as Briarwood's head coach, Yancey has a 209-63 record at the Shelby
County private school. Twelve of his teams have won 10 or more games. His
1998 and 1999 teams won Class 3A state titles and the 2003 squad won the 5A
state crown. The Lions have also finished second twice - 2007 and 2010.
Noted for his outstanding defenses and outstanding quarterbacks, his former
player Barrett Trotter is the starting quarterback this season for defending
BCS National Champion Auburn.
His teams at Briarwood have scored 7,287 points in 273 games - an average of
27 ppg. His defenses have only 14.1 ppg. His teams have also compiled a
92-12 area/region record during that span including 30 region wins in a row
in the 1990s and 61-7 in the decade just completed.
Quarterback Ben Craft, who said the team was unaware of the significance of
last weekend's victory prior to the game, threw for 101 yards and three
touchdowns in just one quarter of play as the Lions rolled to a 39-0
halftime lead. Matthew Furuto scored three times with a 25-yard TD pass
reception, threw a 30-yard TD pass and ran 8 yards for another score.
"The Lord has blessed me," said Yancey, who now ranks fourth in the state
among active prep coaches with a 251-83-1 record. Forty-two wins came
outside the state in Tennessee and Georgia. "Hopefully, we will be able to
notch several more wins before my coaching career is over."
Yancey's coaching milestone edged out a trio of super pass receiving
performances and a clutch quarterbacking effort for this week's AHSAA
Spotlight top honor.
Etowah wide receiver Darrin Peterson caught three passes for 195
yards, including touchdowns of 93 and 99 yards, as the Blue Devils upset
Fort Payne 21-14. Peterson also returned a punt 34 yards in the second half
to set up the winning TD.
Justin
Pride, Butler: Had eight receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns
(46, 79, 50 and 29 yards) and also scored on a 95-yard kickoff return in a
49-34 loss to DAR.
Greensboro receiver
JeVontey Smith hauled in 10 catches for 221 yards and three
touchdowns and returned a kickoff 80 yards for another score to lead the
Raiders past Montevallo 38-13.
Junior quarterback Jason Smith helped McGill-Toolen overcome a 28-0
halftime deficit with 239 yards passing and 154 yards rushing in the 35-45
win over Fairhope. He was 16-of-33 passing for four touchdowns (38, 23, 4
and 76 yards) and rushed for a 1 yard TD among his 23 carries.
Other top prep highlights reported were:
Jacob Davis, Sylvania:
The Aggies wide receiver scored on a
58-yard run, caught a 48-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 58 yards
for a touchdown as the Rams downed Section 49-14. The punt return was his
sixth kick return for TD over the last 12 games dating back to last season.
He finished with four carries for 85 yards and two receptions for 72.
Brody Meeks, Lynn: The sophomore quarterback was
19-of-32 passing for 340 yards and six touchdowns in a 47-40 win over
Berry. He had TD passes covering 41, 7, 17, 18, 76 and 34 yards and also
scored himself on a 9-yard run as the Bears came back from ma 40-27
deficit to win.
Ladavian Williams, Ashford:
Piled up 253 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, leading the Yellow
Jackets to a 38-0 win over Bullock County. Williams rushed for 173 yards and
scores of 10 and 30 yards and added an 80-yard kickoff return for a
touchdown. He also had an interception on defense in the game.
Colby Spann, Colbert Heights:
Scored on a 98-yard interception return just
before the first half ended, then raced 95 yards with the second-half kick
off for another score as to turn a 21-14 lead into a 47-20 win over Phil
Campbell. Spann also scored on a 10-yard run.
Quante Brown, Greensboro:
Completed 17-of-29 passes
for 356 yards and four touchdowns as the Raiders beat Montevallo 38-13.
Kit Grider, North Jackson:
The freshman completed 14-of-18 passes for 308
yards, three touchdowns and rushed for another TD in his debut as the
starter and led North Jackson to a 48-7 win over Douglas. He connected with
Kahne Cooper for seven completions, 202 yards and two TDs.
Joel Poe, Spanish Fort: The senior QB completed 19-of-21 passes for
221 yards and TD passes of 8 and 22 yards in the Toros' 35-16 win over Gulf
Shores. He also added 96 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Michael Gilmore, Center Point:
Was 13-of-21 passing for 234 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 48
yards and another score as the Eagles thumped Shelby County 46-15.
Antoine Davis, Midfield: Completed 12-of-18 passes for 248
yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots downed Oak Grove 34-13.
V.J. Maye, Shades Valley: Was 14-of-26 passing for 275
yards with three TD passes and rushed for another in a 41-33 loss to Pell
City.
Jameis Winston, Hueytown: Completed 14-of-18 passes for 267 yards and
five touchdowns in a 39-12 win over Wenonah. Cameron Broadnax
was on the receiving end of 10 of the
passes for 192 yards and four scores.
Marcellus Redmond, Fayette
County: The Tigers
quarerback completed 13-of-19 passes for 221 yards and four touchdowns to
beat Dora 33-25. Cameron Poe-Mitchell had six of the receptions for
150 yards and TDs covering 6 and 69 yards.
E.J. Moss, Ashville:
Moss ran for 181 yards on 16 carries with three
touchdowns and completed 6-of-8 pass attempts for 102 yards and another
score as the Bulldogs beat West End 40-15. Teammate
Tommy Bothwell and rushed for 175 yards
and three scores on 14 attempts.
Luke Bailey, Fairview: The Aggies quarterback completed 13-of-20
passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 68 yards on 11 carries
and scored the game-game winning touchdown in a 28-21 win over Cherokee
County.
Nykalos Ashe, Sunshine: Ran for 253 yards and two touchdowns in a
38-25 win over Holy Spirit.
DeMarco Hall, Pickens County: Piled up 185 185 all-purpose yards and
scored five touchdowns as Pickens County remained undefeated with a 58-7
victory over Shades Mountain Christian. Hall now has 11 TDs in the first two
games.
T.J. Yeldon, Daphne:
The senior who has committed to Auburn ran 14 times for 212 yards, with TD
runs for 19 and 68 yards in a 45-7 victory over Baldwin County.
Rudy Ford, New Hope: Rushed for 210 yards and scored on runs of 52,
67, and 7 yards to lead New Hope to a 26-20 win over Geraldine. Ford also
had 43 receiving yards and made four tackles on defense.
Anteryius Aldridge, Marengo: Rushed for 204 yards and a touchdown on
a 22 carries and recorded 12 tackles on defense in a 38-0 victory over A.L.
Johnson.
Joseph Stassen, Bayside Academy: The RB ran 23 times for 153 yards,
including a decisive 2-yard TD run with 6:39 to play, in a 28-27 victory
over T.R. Miller. With the win, Bayside ended T.R. Miller's 18-game
regular-season home winning streak.
Hunter O'Mary, Hubbertville:
Rushed for 122 yards and
five touchdowns and teammate Aaron Dillard added 180 yards and another score
as the Hubbertville Lions beat South Lamar 40-33. O'Mary scored on runs of
10, 28, 4, 9 and 16 yards.
Jordan Howard, Gardendale:
Had 23 carries for 228 yards and three touchdowns, including a 90-yard score
in the first half, as the Rockets beat Bessemer City 18-14.
Tevin Peterson, Etowah:
The sophomore safety had two key interceptions in the Blue Devils' 21-14 win
over Fort Payne. Both picks came in the fourth quarter on Fort Payne's
final two drives.
Demarcus Holcombe, Washington County: The two-way star scored four
touchdowns, including two on defense, in a 48-13 victory over Excel. He
scored on a 35-yard interception return, a 70-yard fumble return, and had TD
catches of 38 and 70 yards.
Troy Hobbs, Davidson: The senior cornerback blocked a field goal with
4 seconds to go to preserve a 14-13 victory over Vigor.
Quintin Miller, Ariton:
Miller intercepted a pass in the end zone with
one second left to preserve Ariton's 28-21 win over Cottonwood. He also had
10 tackles on the night.
Shontez Hazlitt, Athens:
Had a sack among six tackles, intercepted a pass and scored a rushing
touchdown for Athens in a 41-24 win over Johnson.
Chris Grant, Fairfield:
Had 11 tackles and three sacks on defense and scored twice on offense as
Fairfield beat Parker 24-7.
Nate Craft, Brookwood:
Booted a 52-yard field goal with 10
seconds left in the first half to to help the Panthers beat Wilcox-Central
44-6.
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