AHSAA Spotlight, Week 4 

Marion County Passes 500 Yards In Offense For 3rd Straight Game

       MONTGOMERY-- It took just 34 offensive plays for Marion County High School to roll up 541 yards in total offense last Friday as the Red Raiders grabbed the AHSAA Prep Football Spotlight in a wild 69-43 win over Hubbertville.
    Coach Rusty Funk's team, which in 2010 became the first team in state history to score over 400 points and give up more than 400 points in the same season, rushed for 212 yards on 25 tries, had 329 yards on just nine pass completions and scored at least seven times on distances of 40 yards or more to remain unbeaten at 4-0  and 3-0 in Class 1A, Region 5.
    It marked the Raiders' third straight game with 500 total yards or more after gaining 340 in the season opener versus Hackleburg.
    Hubbertville (3-1), which dropped to 2-1 in region play, rolled up 299 yards for a combined team total of 840 yards for the game.
   The standouts were plentiful, starting with Marion County place-kicker Ben Riggs going a perfect 9-of-9 on extra points. He has now kicked 34 straight extra points this season and 36-of-37 with one blocked (versus Hackleburg) on the year.
   Junior quarterback Sean Wallace completed 9-of-11 passes for 329 yards with six TDs covering 65, 59, 50, 48, 43 and 41 yards. He had no interceptions. Wallace also rushed for 33 yards and returned a fumble 76 yards for another TD.
   Receiver Ben Johnson had five pass receptions for 175 yards with three TDs. DeShawn Reibesehl had 2 receptions for 70 yards and also rushed for 114 yards on nine carries with TDs of 2 and 35 yards.
   Hubbertville running back Aaron Dillard had 147 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 28 carries and completed 2-of-8 passes for another 23 yards for Coach Lamar Harris' Lions. Hunter O'Mary also ran for 116 yards on 23 attempts with a 48-yard TD run.
    The offensive donnybrook produced the state's 12th highest scoring game on record with 122 points combined. It also beat out several other individual clutch performances turned in by Hueytown senior quarterback Jameis Winston, East Limestone place-kicker Josh Appleby and Linden running back Marquis Shelton.
   In a game televised live nationally on ESPNU Friday night, Winston, who has committed to Florida State, dismantled host McAdory's strong defense as the Gophers won the battle of unbeatens 48-14. Winston was 13-of-17 passing for 208 yards and two TDs, rushed 22 times for 100 yards and two more scores and added a 26-yard touchdown reception on a trick play in the fourth quarter.
    Appleby kicked a 31-yard field goal with 18 seconds left against Russellville to break a 28-28 tie, then moments later teammate Leon Jones scooped up a fumble and rambled 75 yards for another score as the Pirates shocked the Tigers 37-28.
   And Shelton accounted for three touchdowns and 247 yards total offense as Linden beat defending Class 1A state champion Sweet Water 25-14 to snap a nine-game Bulldogs winning streak in the series. He scored the game-clinching touchdown on a 36-yard run as Bears coach Andro Williams, a former Sweet Water player and assistant coach, notched his first win over his alma mater.

    Other outstanding performances reported include:

Andrew Jones, Wicksburg: A week after excelling with his passing arm, the Panthers' quarterback did it with his legs by racking up 185 yards rushing on just eight carries with three touchdowns. His game-winning 62-yard score came with less than three minutes to go rallied the Panthers to a 33-28 win over Cottonwood. Wicksburg trailed 28-14 midway in the third quarter, but Jones ignited the Panthers' comeback with a 76-yard touchdown run and then guided another scoring drive before delivering his game-winning score. Jones added 59 yards passing on just six completions.

John Knight, Thomasville: Blocked a punt that set up a touchdown and returned a fumble for a TD in a 57-16 win over Saraland as Tigers coach Jack Hankins recorded his 100^th career victory. Thomasville's defense has now scored a TD in three straight games as the Tigers' current winning streak was extended to 20 games.

Luke Bailey, Fairview: Went over the 300-yard passing mark for the fourth straight week with 321 yards in a 62-28 win over DAR. He was 15-of-19 with four touchdowns. He also scored on a 14-yard run and caught a pass for a two-point conversion. Spencer Byrd was his favorite target with five receptions for 146 yards and two scores.

Tyler Martin, Boaz: The senior tailback/linebacker rushed for 196 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Pirates past Scottsboro 18-15. Martin scored touchdowns on runs of 41 and 52 yards and registered 14 tackles with two stops for losses at linebacker. Late in the game when  Scottsboro drove deep into Boaz territory attempting to go ahead or tie with a field goal, Martin recorded a sack and a quarterback hurry that resulted in an interception sealing the win for Boaz.

Zac Crocker, Cullman: Completed 21-of-28 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-14 win over West Point.

C.J. Cutts, Bibb County: Cutts ran 36 times for 288 yards and four touchdowns as the Choctaws beat Jemison 56-35. Fullback Brett Seales added 138 yards and two scores on 17 carries.  Jemison quarterback Trevon Bryant passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns. The game was also highlighted by two kickoff returns for touchdowns. Akeem Dobyne returned the second half kickoff 72 yards for a Bibb County score and Edward Hubbard returned a Choctaws kickoff  93 yards for a Jemison score later in the third period. 

Dustyn Moseley, Jackson: The senior quarterback completed 14-of-23 passes for 352 yards and three TDs to lead the Aggies to a 40-14 road victory over UMS-Wright.

Ben Craft, Briarwood Christian: The senior quarterback completed 22-of-33 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions (4-0) from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Chelsea 45-34. Briarwood scored three TDs in the final period. Hornets quarterback Jake Ganus rushed for 199 yards three touchdowns on 31 carries and was 14-of-23 passing for 129 yards and another TD.

Darrin Peterson, Etowah: Caught nine passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the Blue Devils' 35-32 win over Albertville.

Aaron Daughtrey, Ashford: Recorded 16 tackles, including four quarterback sacks, in the Yellow Jackets' 31-30 overtime loss to St. James.

Toby Pee, Sardis: Rushed for 238 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, including an 80-yard score, in the Lions' 48-21 win over Randolph.

Takwain Whigham, Barbour County: Returned an interception with 5:36 to play for 35 yards and a game-winning touchdown in the Jaguars' 35-26 victory over Houston County. He accounted for four scores in a game that featured seven lead changes. He had 104 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 17 carries, was 7-of-12 passing for 132 yards and a 53-yard TD strike, ran in a pair of 2-point conversions, kicked one extra point and punted twice for a 44.2-yard average in addition to his seven tackles on defense.

Michael Lindsey, Elba: Racked up 320 all-purpose yards and accounted for five touchdowns in Elba’s 48-14 win over Samson. Lindsey rushed for 171 yards on 14 carries with TD runs of 6, 85, 11 and 5 yards. He completed his only pass of the game for a 19-yard TD, caught three passes for 43 yards and returned three punts for 87 yards.

Curtis Williams, Collinsville: The junior wide receiver/safety scored on a punt return, a interception return and a pass reception in a 56-14 win over Woodville. He returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown and an interception 27 yards for a score. He also hauled in a 32-yard scoring pass. Williams also had three tackles and one assist to go along with two receptions for 49 yards.

Reginald Foster, Goshen: Rushed for 224 yards on 22 carries and four of Goshen’s five touchdowns in the Eagles' 35-28 win over New Brockton.

Jacob Kennedy, Berry: Was 10-of-13 passing for 220 yards and five touchdowns in the Wildcats' 56-14 win over Meek. Berry led 56-0 at the half. Teammate Terrance Hollingsworth also rushed nine times for 125 yards, caught two passes for 69 yards and a TD and passed for a 45-yard touchdown.

Trent Miles and Jonathan Wallace, Central-Phenix City: Miles ran 30 times for 183 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Wallace rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in Red Devils' 40-25 win over Enterprise. Wallace also passed for 121 yards and another score.

Hunter Childers, Red Bay: The quarterback rushed nine times for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns covering 92 and 96 yards to spark the Tigers (4-0) to a 35-14 win over previously unbeaten Lamar County. He also completed 2-of-4 pass attempts for 65 yards with a 45-yard touchdown strike.

Jim Furlow, Oak Grove: The senior running back rushed for 273 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries as the Tigers beat Good Hope 39-21. He had scoring runs of 6, 3 and 31 yards - the final two coming in a 27-point fourth quarter effort.

Ladarius Rodgers, Leeds: Rushed for 203 yards on 27 carries and scored three touchdowns as the Green Wave (3-1) handed Walter Wellborn (3-1) a 35-14 setback, the Panthers' first loss of the season.

Ryheem Dixon, Flomaton: Ran for 201 yards and six TDs on 12 carries in a 54-12 victory over Mobile Christian. He scored on runs of 37, 1, 19, 5 and 52 yards.

Trey Roberts, McGill-Toolen: Ran for 207 yards and three TDs on 15 carries, all in the first half, as the Jackets beat Foley 28-14. His scoring runs covered 51, 30 and 68 yards.

Jakoby Aldridge, Marengo: Ran for 212 yards and TD runs of 53, 26 and 16 yards in a 50-48 Marengo victory over St. Luke's Episcopal.

Justin Vaughn, Robertsdale: Completed 16-of-18 passes for 201 yards and five TDs as the Bears downed Satsuma 49-20 for their first victory of the season. Vaughn's TD passes covered 9, 10, 19, 13 and 20 yards.

Marlon Moore, Vigor: Intercepted a pass and returned it 79 yards for a TD for a Vigor defense that registered its third shutout of the season in a 36-0 win over Gulf Shores. He also scored on a 20-yard run, ran in a 2-point conversion and passed for a 2-point conversion.

Xavier Sowells, Sporlock, B.C. Rain: Intercepted 2 passes and scored on a 34-yard run in a 13-6 victory over Monroe County in a Saturday night game.