PREP ROUNDUP (First Round): Lee holds off Pelham to advance; Trinity, Pike Road, MA win
COMBINED REPORTS
PELHAM – The Robert E. Lee Generals broke out to a big lead and then held on for a 23-21 win to advance to the second round of the AHSAA Class 6A playoffs on Friday.
A series of possessions in the first half proved to be the difference.
Christopher Dillihay opened the scoring with a 60-yard romp to give the Generals a 7-0 lead. On Pelham’s next possession, the Lee defense recorded a safety for a 9-0 advantage.
On the ensuing kickoff, Reggie Davis went 80 yards giving the Generals a 16-0 advantage.
Lee would score their final points of the night before the half ended on a quarterback sneak by Jakel Williams to give the Generals a 23-7 lead.
Pelham would fight back but Lee’s defense would make a stand in the final moments to earn the win.
Lee (8-3) will be at home for the second round and face Saraland on Friday at Cramton Bowl. Pelham finishes 8-3.
Helena 22, G.W. Carver 19
HELENA – The Carver Wolverines led 19-0 at the end of a half.
But the Huskies scored the 22 straight with the final points coming in the last minutes on the way to a Class 6A first-round game on Friday.
Carver took the early lead on two touchdowns passes, one from Marquarius Moore to Juwan Gaston for 43 yards and a second to Sidney Franklin for 60 yards and a 13-0 lead.
The Wolverines added to that lead with a 5-yard scoring run from Karl Ligon before the end of the first half.
But Helena stormed back and took the lead on a Marquis Johnson touchdown run with just over two minutes left in the game. Carver drove inside the Helena 40-yard line in the final seconds but an interception on the last play ended the threat.
Helena (7-4) advances to play at Spanish Fort next week while Carver’s season ends with a record of 7-5.
Daphne 42, Prattville 33
DAPHNE – The Lions were within two points in the final minutes but the Trojans used a halfback pass for the final touchdown to pull away for the win in the AHSAA Class 7A first round game on Friday.
Kameron Shanks gave Prattville its only lead of the night returning a punt in the first quarter for 46 yards for a 6-0 lead. But Daphne would answer with 21 consecutive points before the Lions started their comeback.
E.J. Ousley had three touchdown passes and Keondre Powell added a 3-yard touchdown run for the Lions (7-4).
Daphne (10-1) will face Auburn next week.
Trinity 10, Flomaton 7
It wasn’t your typical first-round game, nor your typical first-round opponent.
Trinity, as the second seed in 3A Region 4, earned a home game in the first round of the 3A state playoffs against the third seed from Region 1. But because of COVID-19, the third seed was Flomaton, a team that was undefeated on the field but had a pair of forfeits to T.R. Miller and Hillcrest-Evergreen because of COVID outbreaks.
As a result, Trinity faced its toughest first-round opponent since a 2005 loss to Thomasville. Only six previous times in first-round playoff games had Trinity faced an opponent with eight or more wins and five of those were losses.
Grayden Flowers’ 42-yard field goal with 7.4 seconds remaining gave the Wildcats a hard-fought 10-7 win over the Hurricanes, marking the first time since a 2000 win over Dale County (9-1) that Trinity’s first-round opponent wasn’t a typical first-round pushover.
Trinity (9-2) will travel to Slocomb to take on the Red Tops, a winner over Southside-Selma, in the second round of the playoffs next Friday. Flomaton, just two years removed from winning a state championship, ends the season at 8-3 with its first loss on the field this season.
Walton Cherry had 20 tackles, Will Chandler had 14 and Ky Williamson had 12 as the two teams slugged it out for every inch on the field, heading into the locker room with a scoreless tie at the half.
John David Bonner, the Wildcats’ leading rusher with 48 yards on 13 carries, completed 12 of 21 passes for 147 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown pass to Jake Hufham with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter.
Hufham finished with 114 yards on seven carries and was the fifth leading tackler on the team as well with eight stops and a fumble recovery.
Hufham’s touchdown reception broke a scoreless tie but the Hurricanes rallied for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game. After losing the ball on a fumble at the Trinity 2-yard line late in the third quarter, Flomaton came back with the next possession, scoring on a Damerion Findley run with 9:16 remaining to tie the game at 7-7.
Montgomery Academy 24, Providence Christian 9
Jashawn Cooper rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown and the Montgomery Academy defense forced three turnovers as the Eagles defeated Providence Christian 24-9 in the first round of the 3A state playoffs at McLemore Field on Friday night.
MA (11-0) will travel to Brundidge next week to play Pike County (6-4), an upset winner over Hillcrest-Evergreen, in the second round of the state playoffs. Providence Christian ends the season at 4-6.
Montgomery Academy’s 15-point margin of victory in the first round ties the 2014 team’s 45-30 win over Daleville for the largest winning margin by the Eagles in the first round in the last 14 years.
In the process, first-year coach Robert Johnson became the first MA coach to ever win a first-round playoff game in his inaugural season.
Cooper’s 24-yard touchdown run became the Eagles’ only first-half points scored in a defensive struggle. Britton Kohn scored on a 1-yard plunge midway through the third period to give the Eagles a little breathing room and Alex Kohn, who kicked extra points following each of the three touchdowns, added a 33-yard field goal with 10:58 remaining.
Britton Kohn sealed the win with a 12-yard touchdown run with 2:26 remaining.
Jamal Cooper added 68 rushing yards for the Eagles. Britton Kohn completed just 2 of 5 passes for 5 yards (all to Alex Kohn) but finished with 30 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Defensively, Ridge Lindsey had five tackles and a pair of interceptions, while Carter Wallis had five tackles and an interception. Nigel Walker also had five tackles, while Jamal Cooper had four tackles.
Montevallo 27, St. James 21 (OT)
Joseph Anderson dove into the end zone from four yards out in overtime to lift Montevallo to a 27-21 victory over St. James at Carlisle Field in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.
Montevallo (6-4) returns home to play Handley in the second round of the playoffs next week. St. James ends the season at 7-4, the Trojans’ first loss in the first round since losing to Montevallo in 2015.
Anderson carried 38 times in the win, tying the game at 14-14 at the half on a 1-yard plunge as time expired, then getting the ball all three times in overtime to gain the 10 yards necessary to send the Bulldogs into the second round. He finished with 144 yards.
Johnathan Dreyer hit Anthony Martin with a 12-yard pass midway through the first quarter to break a scoreless tie, but Cosner Harrison answered with a 3-yard run late in the quarter to tie the game at 7-7.
KJ Jackson hit Cooper Wright with an 18-yard pass early in the second quarter to put the Trojans in front for the first time, but Anderson’s plunge sent the teams into the locker room tied at the half.
Harrison, who had 134 yards on 24 carries, scored on a 2-yard run late in the third period and Holt Harrison added the extra point – his school-record 45th PAT of the season – for a 21-14 lead.
St. James held on downs on the ensuing Montevallo possession at the Trojan 39-yard line, but a bad pitch two plays later resulted in a Montevallo fumble recovery at the 28. Five consecutive Anderson runs later, the final one covering 12 yards, tied the game at 21-21 with 5:36 remaining.
Kavounte Britton’s interception gave Montevallo one last shot at victory in regulation, but the Bulldogs ran out of time and a hurried 42-yard field goal attempt by Giovanni Hernandez was well short, sending the game into overtime.
Montevallo won the toss and elected to play defense, a strategy which worked after three runs by Harrison and one by Will Wales left the Trojans four yards short of the goal line.
Harrison finished the year with 1,777 yards and 23 touchdowns on 253 carries this season.
Alabama Christian 56, West Blocton 14
Jalen Clark completed 10 of 12 passes for 307 yards and five touchdowns as Alabama Christian posted its largest margin of victory ever in 28 playoff appearances with a 42-point rout of West Blocton in the first round of the 4A state playoffs on Friday.
ACA (9-2) remains at home next week to play Jacksonville in the second round, while West Blocton ends the season at 5-5.
Clark threw for five touchdowns but the senior also rushed for 106 yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight carries.
He threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Weathers less than three minutes into the game for a 6-0 lead, the first of three first-quarter touchdowns for the Eagles. Otasowie Dion, who had 50 yards on six carries, added a 10-yard touchdown run and Clark added a 3-yard scoring run less than a minute later for a 21-0 lead.
After West Blocton got on the scoreboard with a 40-yard fumble return late in the quarter, Clark answered with a 2-yard run two minutes later for a 28-8 lead eight seconds into the second quarter. Clark followed with three second-quarter touchdown passes, connecting with Hayes Hunt for seven yards, Weathers for 26 yards and Avery Stuart for 54 yards with 50.5 seconds remaining in the first half for a 49-8 lead.
Clark and the first-team unit stayed out on the field for the first possession of the second half, allowing him to throw a 73-yard bomb to Preston Hicks for a 56-8 lead before giving way to the reserves.
Hicks led the receiving corps with four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, with Hunt and Weathers each on the receiving end of a pair of passes, resulting in three more scores.
Defensively, Miller McCarthy had 14 tackles and an interception to lead the Eagles, while Jack Thomas had 12 tackles and a fumble recovery. Dion finished with six tackles and a pair of sacks, while Donovan Emerson and Grant Sutton each had six tackles.
Pike Road 46, Shelby County 7
PIKE ROAD – Quinshon Judkins rushed for 203 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries to lead Pike Road to an easy win over Shelby County in the first round of the 5A state playoffs on Friday night.
Pike Road (11-0) now travels to Mobile to play UMS-Wright (7-3) in the second round of the playoffs next Friday.
The Patriots took a few moments to warm up, then quickly ended any drama. Quarterback Eli Clark three three incompletions on his first five attempts, then hit his final six attempts to finish 8 of 11 for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Trey Wallace had 46 yards on three receptions, including a 19-yard touchdown catch, and Blake Durham had 71 yards on five catches, including a 7-yarder for a touchdown.
Judkins, meanwhile, averaged 20.3 yards per carry and a touchdown in every 2.5 carries, scoring on a 12-yard run early in the game, then closing out his night with scoring runs of 69, 23 and 11 yards in three of his final five carries.
Opelika 51, Wetumpka 28
OPELIKA – The Indians fell behind early and was unable to make up ground in their season-ending loss to the Bulldogs in the AHSAA Class 6A first round on Friday.
The Indians were down 21-0 before they dented the scoreboard.
Quarterback Robert Rose passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Wetumpka (5-6). Brandon Bowman had a catch for a touchdown.
Opelika (8-2) will face Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa next Friday.
UMS-Wright 27, Holtville 6
HOLTVILLE – The Bulldogs’ record season came to an end on Friday at the hands of UMS-Wright in the first round of the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs.
Holtville managed just 177 yards of offense against last year’s Class 4A state champions. Braxton Buck had one touchdown pass along with 74 yards in the air. Drew Pickett finished with 98 yards rushing.
Michael Forney had 13 tackles and a sack while John Williamson had an interception for Holtville, which ends its season at 7-4.
UMS (7-4) will return home to face Pike Road in the second round next week.
AHSAA 2020 State Football Playoffs
First-Round Results
River Region teams in bold.
CLASS 1A
Sweet Water (7-2) 61, J.F. Shields (3-8) 22
Notasulga (8-1) 32, Florala (7-3) 30
Linden (11-0) 47, Marengo (5-5) 14
McKenzie (8-2) 54, Loachapoka (6-5) 32
Brantley (11-0) 65, Billingsley (5-6) 9
Keith (8-3) 22, Fruitdale (7-3) 14
Maplesville (8-3) 41, Samson (6-4) 0
Millry (8-2) 55, Central-Hayneville (6-4) 28
Berry (9-1) 50, Sumiton Christian (6-5) 14
Woodland (8-3) 30, Waterloo (6-5) 6
Brilliant (6-5) 43, Valley Head (8-3) 25
Ragland (9-2) 20, R.A. Hubbard (5-6) 16
Winterboro (9-1) 30, Hackleburg (4-7) 8
Hubbertville (9-2) 44, Cedar Bluff (6-5) 37
Decatur Heritage (9-2) 48, Wadley (3-8) 37
Pickens County (8-3) 33, Woodville (5-6) 8
CLASS 2A
Abbeville (9-1) 44, Thorsby (5-5) 6
B.B. Comer (10-1) 1, St. Luke’s Episcopal (4-7) 0, forfeit
Isabella (10-1) 13, Ariton (5-6) 7
Clarke County (8-2) 43, Randolph County (7-4) 21
Leroy (9-1) 54, LaFayette (5-5) 15
Geneva County (8-3) 48, Highland Home (6-5) 26
Lanett (9-2) 51, J.U. Blacksher (3-7) 7
G.W. Long (9-1) 17, Luverne (7-4) 0
Spring Garden (10-1) 72, Tanner (6-5) 21
Red Bay (9-1) 26, Winston County (7-4) 0
North Sand Mountain (10-0) 19, Southeastern (6-5) 0
Addison (7-4) 22, Colbert County (7-4) 15
Aliceville (6-4) 27, Hatton (5-6) 14
Cleveland (8-3) 24, Falkville (8-3) 0
Mars Hill Bible (9-2) 64, Lamar County (4-7) 18
Westbrook Christian (10-1) 42, Section (5-6) 0
CLASS 3A
Slocomb (10-1) 39, Southside-Selma (6-5) 20
Trinity Presbyterian (9-2) 10, Flomaton (8-3) 7
Montgomery Academy (11-0) 24, Providence Christian (4-7) 9
Pike County (6-3) 39, Hillcrest-Evergreen (6-5) 21
T.R. Miller (9-2) 42, Dadeville (6-5) 14
Thomasville (9-1) 52, Wicksburg (6-5) 18
Montgomery Catholic (9-2) 52, Bayside Academy (8-3) 21
Opp (8-3) 14, Greensboro (6-5) 8
Winfield (10-1) 40, Sylvania (6-5) 24
Ohatchee (10-1) 28, Lauderdale County (7-4) 14
Fyffe (11-0) 69, Oakman (7-4) 21
Walter Wellborn (9-1) 63, Phil Campbell (5-6) 20
Piedmont (10-1) 47, Colbert Heights (5-6) 14
Plainview (10-1) 41, Vinemont (7-4) 14
Saks (8-3) 22, East Lawrence (9-2) 15
J.B. Pennington (8-3) 41, Geraldine (6-5) 14
CLASS 4A
Alabama Christian (9-2) 56, West Blocton (6-5) 14
Jacksonville (7-3) 27, Jackson (6-5) 24
American Christian (11-0) 65, Geneva (4-7) 21
Mobile Christian (9-1) 17, Cherokee County (7-4) 14
Anniston (4-6) 25, Williamson (7-4) 16
Bibb County (9-2) 52, Dale County (7-4) 21
Handley (9-1) 32, Vigor (5-5) 20
Montevallo (7-4) 27, St. James (7-4) 21
Etowah (8-2) 31, Randolph (5-6) 7
Haleyville (8-3) 48, Central-Florence (8-3) 18
Madison Academy (10-0) 48, Dora (5-6) 14
Northside (9-2) 20, Deshler (6-5) 13
Gordo (10-1) 41, Brooks (6-5) 12
Oneonta (7-4) 27, Madison County (9-3) 24
West Limestone (10-1) 44, Hamilton (5-6) 0
Good Hope (10-1) 33, North Jackson (6-5) 8
CLASS 5A
Pike Road (11-0) 46, Shelby County (6-5) 7
UMS-Wright (7-4) 27, Holtville (7-4) 6
Demopolis (11-0) 38, Rehobeth (6-5) 25
Faith Academy (10-1) 49, Sylacauga (8-3) 13
St. Paul’s Episcopal (11-0) 44, Talladega (3-8) 20
Selma (7-4) 22, Carroll (3-7) 6
Central, Clay County (10-1) 45, Satsuma (5-6) 14
Andalusia (8-3) 44, Marbury (6-5) 7
Alexandria (10-1) 57, West Point (4-7) 20
Parker (6-4) 35, East Limestone (6-4) 21
Guntersville (10-0) 62, Hayden (6-5) 3
Pleasant Grove (8-2) 47, Mae Jemison (4-7) 18
Ramsay (10-0) 56, Lawrence County (5-6) 20
Fairview (10-1) 27, Center Point (7-4) 22
Russellville (9-2) 14, Fairfield (5-6) 7
Leeds (9-2) 41, Boaz (5-6) 14
CLASS 6A
Opelika (8-2) 51, Wetumpka (5-6) 28
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (9-2) 31, McGill-Toolen Catholic (7-3) 21
R.E. Lee (7-3) 23, Pelham (8-3) 21
Saraland (9-2) 45, Northridge (8-3) 7
Spanish Fort (8-3) 26, McAdory (4-7) 13
Helena (7-4) 22, G.W. Carver (7-4) 19
Blount (7-4) 40, Hueytown (5-6) 24
Eufaula (9-2) 52, Stanhope Elmore (5-6) 28
Pinson Valley (8-2) 45, Arab (5-6) 0
Shades Valley (4-7) 28, Cullman (8-3) 14
Oxford (10-1) 44, Minor (7-4) 6
Briarwood Christian (8-3) 31, Hartselle (8-3) 17
Mountain Brook (10-1) 38, Muscle Shoals (6-5) 7
Gardendale (9-2) 52, Fort Payne (8-3) 24
Homewood (7-4) 34, Athens (7-4) 31
Clay-Chalkville (10-1) 63, Southside-Gadsden (7-4) 0
CLASS 7A
Theodore (10-1) 40, Enterprise (8-3) 28
Central-Phenix City (7-4) 49, Fairhope (8-3) 21
Auburn (9-1) 39, Baker (5-5) 3
Daphne (10-1) 42, Prattville (7-4) 33
Thompson (11-0) 49, Grissom (6-5) 7
Hewitt-Trussville (9-2) 55, James Clemens (8-3) 12
Oak Mountain (7-4) 41, Austin (8-3) 28
Hoover (10-1) 49, Sparkman (6-5) 14
Second Round Pairings
All games Friday, Nov. 13, 7 p.m., unless noted.
CLASS 1A
Notasulga (8-1) at Sweet Water (7-2)
McKenzie (8-2) at Linden (11-0)
Keith (8-3) at Brantley (11-0)
Millry (8-2) at Maplesville (8-3)
Berry (9-1) at Woodland (8-3)
Ragland (9-2) at Brilliant (6-5)
Winterboro (9-1) at Hubbertville (9-2)
Pickens County (8-3) at Decatur Heritage (9-2)
CLASS 2A
B.B. Comer (10-1) at Abbeville (9-2)
Clarke County (8-2) at Isabella (10-1)
Leroy (9-1) at Geneva County (8-3)
G.W. Long (9-1) at Lanett (9-2)
Red Bay (9-1) at Spring Garden (10-1)
Addison (7-4) at North Sand Mountain (10-0)
Aliceville (6-4) at Cleveland (8-3)
Westbrook Christian (10-1) at Mars Hill Bible (9-2)
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CLASS 3A
Trinity Presbyterian (9-2) at Slocomb (10-1)
Montgomery Academy (11-0) at Pike County (6-3)
Thomasville (9-1) at T.R. Miller (9-2)
Opp (8-3) at Montgomery Catholic (9-2)
Winfield (10-1) at Ohatchee (10-1)
Walter Wellborn (9-1) vs. Fyffe (11-0)
Plainview (10-1) at Piedmont (10-1)
J.B. Pennington (8-3) at Saks (8-3)
CLASS 4A
Jacksonville (7-3) at Alabama Christian (9-2)
Mobile Christian (9-1) at American Christian (11-0)
Bibb County (9-2) at Anniston (4-6)
Handley (9-1) at Montevallo (7-4)
Etowah (8-2) at Haleyville (8-3)
|Northside (9-2) at Madison Academy (10-0)
Gordo (10-1) at Oneonta (7-4)
Good Hope (10-1) at West Limestone (10-1)
CLASS 5A
Pike Road (11-0) at UMS-Wright (7-4)
Faith Academy (10-1) at Demopolis (11-0)
Selma (7-4) at St. Paul’s Episcopal (11-0)
Andalusia (8-3) at Central, Clay County (10-1)
Alexandria (10-1) at Parker (6-4)
Pleasant Grove (8-2) at Guntersville (10-0)
Fairview (10-1) at Ramsay (10-0)
Leeds (9-2) at Russellville (9-2)
CLASS 6A
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (9-2) at Opelika (8-2)
Saraland (9-2) at R.E. Lee (7-3) (Cramton Bowl)
Helena (7-4) at Spanish Fort (8-3)
Eufaula (9-2) at Blount (7-4)
Pinson Valley (8-2) at Shades Valley (4-7)
Briarwood Christian (8-3) at Oxford (10-1)
Mountain Brook (10-1) at Gardendale (9-2)
Clay-Chalkville (10-1) at Homewood (7-4)
CLASS 7A
Central-Phenix City (7-4) at Theodore (10-1)
Daphne (10-1) at Auburn (9-1)
Hewitt-Trussville (9-2) at Thompson (11-0)
Oak Mountain (7-4) at Hoover (10-1)