FRIDAY RECAP (Week 8): Pike Road earns another region title; Prattville's gets OT win over Hillcrest; Billingsley, Wetumpka earn playoff spots
COMBINED REPORTS
Pike Road 49, Russell County 6
SEALE -- Braylon Outlaw took the first snap from scrimmage 50 yards for a touchdown, one of four touchdowns for the Pike Road senior as the Patriots stunned previously unbeaten Russell County 49-6 to wrap up the Class 6A Region 2 championship on Friday night.
Outlaw needed just 17 seconds to score the first touchdown. His second score took a little more work, with his 3-yard run capping a methodical seven-play, 57-yard drive. A successful two-point conversion extended the lead to 14-0 with 7:41 left in the first quarter.
Russell County responded with a gritty nine-play drive, finally breaking through for a touchdown to make it 14-6. But the rally was short-lived as Ja’Michael Jones ran 55 yards for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage to give the Patriots a 21-6 lead with 3:34 remaining in the first quarter.
Big plays were the norm for the Patriots, who turned in another in the second quarter when Miles Khatri intercepted a pass deep in Patriot territory and returned it 55 yards to set up a five-play drive for a 28-6 lead.
Jordan Holmes added a 7-yard touchdown run for a 35-6 halftime lead.
Outlaw returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown and a 42-6 lead before Khatri scored an offensive touchdown to close out the scoring.
Outlaw finished with 100 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries, an interception return for a touchdown and six tackles. Jones added 102 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and Khatri had eight tackles, an interception and an offensive touchdown.
Pike Road (7-2) finished region play with a 6-0 record, winning a region title for the sixth time in the eight-year history of the program. Russell County (7-1) dropped to 4-1 in region play and will finish second in 6A Region 2, followed by Wetumpka and Stanhope Elmore.
Prattville 38, Hillcrest 31 (OT)
TUSCALOOSA -- Tristin Blackmon rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries as the Lions upended Hillcrest 38-31 in overtime in a crucial 7A Region 3 game on Friday.
Prattville (5-3) improved to 4-2 in region play and can tie Thompson (5-1) for the Region 3 championship with a win over the Warriors next week at Stanley-Jensen Stadium. The Lions are tied with Hewitt-Trussville, Hoover and Vestavia Hills for second place in the region.
Will McKay completed 15 of 23 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice. DeShawn Hall led the receivers with six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Donovan Brown added five receptions for 68 yards.
Defensively, Callahan Minor had three tackles and returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown, while Kavion Tyus had two tackles and a fumble recovery, which he returned 19 yards.
Wetumpka 41, Park Crossing 6
The Indians kept the Thunderbirds winless with an easy victory on Friday at Cramton Bowl.
Charlie Skipper passed for three touchdowns and Jordan Hill and Jacob Smoke added touchdown runs as Wetumpka clinched a playoff spot in Class 6A, Region 2.
The Indians defense scored the first points on a tackle in the end zone by Walt Myrick with just over seven minutes left in the first quarter. They added a touchdown early in the second quarter on Skipper’s first touchdown pass, 10 yards to John Hudson Wingard. Hill scored on a 4-yard run in the last seconds of the half.
Elex Smeland kicked a 28-yard field goal to push the Wetumpka lead to 20-0 midway through the third quarter and Skipper added two more touchdown passes with Andrew Voyles and Kaleb Ballard on the other end of the strikes.
The T’Birds got their only points late in the third quarter on a 1-yard run from Javion Jones.
Smoke ended the scoring in the final period on a 45-yard run.
Skipper finished with 159 yards passing on of 12-of-21 with an interception. Hill added 117 yards rushing.
Jones subbed at quarterback for Park Crossing in the second half and threw for 112 yards.
The T’Birds (0-7, 0-5) lost their 20th straight game dating back to Oct. 6, 2023. They face P. Julian next Friday.
Wetumpka (5-3, 3-2) renews its rivalry with Stanhope Elmore next Friday at home.
Montgomery Academy 46, Prattville Christian 6
The Eagles wrapped up the Class 3A Region 2 championship for the second consecutive year, crushing Prattville Christian 46-6 at McLemore Field on Friday night.
Montgomery Academy’s defense sacked PCA quarterback Nolan Stuart nine times and had 13 tackles for loss in holding the Panthers to minus 32 yards rushing.
Montgomery Academy (8-1) jumped out to a 39-0 halftime lead to earn their sixth Region 2 victory in as many games. The Eagles close out region play with a game next Friday against Alabama Christian (3-3 in region play) but own the head-to-head tiebreakers over everyone else.
Reid McBride completed 12 of 19 passes for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while rushing for 100 yards and two more touchdowns on five carries. The sophomore threw a 4-yard pass to David Whisenhunt for the game’s first score, added an 18-yard touchdown run later in the first quarter, then threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Brody Watrous for a 29-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
Braden Gordon had four receptions for 87 yards and had 9 yards and a pair of touchdowns on two carries. The junior added 11 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and a sack.
Jarrett Friendly had 111 yards on four receptions, while tailback Ali Nelson rushed for 58 yards on four carries.
Defensively, Nathaniel Shaw had seven tackles and a sack for Montgomery Academy, followed by Knox Wingate with six tackles and a sack. Biscuit Lester had four tackles with four sacks, while Mitch Corley had four tackles, including three for loss. Kingston Nelson also had four tackles, including one for loss.
After Rob Ashworth kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 39-0 lead, the Panthers got on the scoreboard when Stuart hit Cody Chapman with a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Stuart was 13 of 15 for 152 yards and a touchdown in the loss, while Chapman had 34 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Defensively, Wade Mora had five tackles to lead the Panthers.
Prattville Christian (1-8) closes out the season next week with a game at Slocomb.
Alabama Christian 35, Slocomb 15
Christian Snipes passed for two touchdowns, caught a pass for one and ran for another score to help the Eagles keep their playoff hopes alive with the win over the Red Tops on Friday at John Mark Stallings Field on the campus of Faulkner University.
ACA held a 14-0 lead at halftime on touchdown runs from Snipes and Ethan Dabney and then scored three more times in the third quarter with Snipes throwing touchdown passes to Bryson Dabney and Beau Gainey. He later scored on a reception from Bryson Dabney that made it 35-0.
Snipes finished with 67 yards rushing and 74 yards passing on 5 of 10 attempts.
Micah Merritt added 69 yards rushing. ACA had 11 different players carry the ball at least once.
Mekhi Gardner led the defense with eight tackles while Bryson Dabney added six tackles and Levi Summers had five.
ACA (4-4, 3-3 Class 3A, Region 2) can earn a playoff berth with a win against Montgomery Academy next week. Slocomb falls to 1-7, 1-5 in region play.
Elmore County 35, Marbury 3
MARBURY -- Tyler Payton set the tone with a 60-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game as the Panthers cruised to a 35-3 win over Marbury on Friday.
Elmore County (5-3) improved to 3-2 in region play and wrapped up third place in the region with the win. Marbury (1-7) dropped to 1-4 in region play.
Payton rushed for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 10 carries, including a 2-yard run in the second quarter to give the Panthers a 14-3 halftime lead.
Dysen Mangham kicked a 40-yard field goal on Marbury’s first possession, but the Bulldogs never threatened again.
Gage Davis ran 30 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, then threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Beau Taylor in the fourth quarter. Tate McNeely added an interception return for a touchdown for the game’s final points.
Davis completed 12 of 20 passes for 137 yards and rushed seven times for 40 yards. Taylor had two receptions for 51 yards.
Cam Bryson completed 11 of 23 passes for 104 yards but his interception proved costly. Connor Kervin led the Marbury ground game with 21 yards on six carries and Cole Kenyon led the receivers with three receptions for 39 yards.
Elmore County returns home to play host to Sylacauga next week, while Marbury travels to Holtville.
Billingsley 36, Notasulga 19
BILLINGSLEY -- The Bears clinched their first playoff berth in four years, defeating Notasulga 36-19 in a 1A Region 4 game at Mims Field on Friday night.
The Bears (4-4) climbed to third place in the region at 3-2, tied with Notasulga and a game ahead of fifth-place Verbena with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs. Regardless of what happens next week at home against Keith, the Bears own the head-to-head tiebreakers with both Notasulga, who travels to Autauga next week, and Verbena, who plays host to Maplesville.
Kyle Boice had 15 carries for 142 yards and a touchdown and completed 4 of 10 passes for 54 yards and three touchdowns.
Kaden Cotton had 25 carries for 181 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes from Boice for 34 yards and a touchdown. Boice also threw touchdown passes of 9 yards to Trent Cobern and 11 yards to Dequavion Ray.
Defensively, linebacker Caleb Massey had eight tackles, including one for loss, Cobern had seven tackles and two passes defensed from his outside linebacker position and Boice had six tackles and one pass defensed from his strong safety position. Defensive end Gabe Cardenas had four tackles and a sack.
The game was called with approximately five minutes remaining due to an injured player.
Valley 46, Holtville 14
VALLEY -- The Bulldogs were eliminated from playoff consideration after falling to Valley 46-14 on Friday and suffering their fifth consecutive loss.
Jacob Burgess threw for 100 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs, but the running game was held in check as Jay Lucas managed just 33 yards.
Bryant Boone was Holtville’s leading receiver with 33 yards.
Defensively, Brock Godwin had a team-high seven tackles and an interception. Blake Irvin had a fumble recovery.
Holtville (2-6) dropped to 1-4 in region play and will play host to Marbury next week.
Valley (6-2) wrapped up second place in region play at 4-1.
Sparta Academy 24, Hooper Academy 21
HOPE HULL -- The Colts churned out 301 rushing yards and a pair of 100-yard rushers but it wasn’t enough to overcome Sparta 24-21 on Friday at Davis-Henry Field.
Ayden Newman rushed for 170 yards on 24 carries and Kingston White rushed for 108 yards on 13 carries to lead the Hooper offense. Defensively, Hudson Allen had a game-high seven tackles and Jeremy Griggs had an interception for the Colts.
Hooper (2-6) will close out Region 1 play next Friday in Luverne against Crenshaw Christian before returning home to close out the season on Oct. 30 against Lowndes Academy.
FLAG FOOTBALL
Catholic 33, Hoover 0
BIRMINGHAM -- Catholic had to turn to its defense to record its seventh shutout of the year as Hayden Fitts and Molly Dwyer returned interceptions for touchdowns in a 33-0 win over the Class 7A Buccaneers at John Carroll on Wednesday.
Catholic quarterbacks threw four interceptions but returned the favor on defense by intercepting four Hoover passes as the Knights jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first quarter.
Fitts completed 9 of 16 passes for 109 yards but was intercepted three times. She rushed four times for 23 yards and three touchdowns and had six stops on defense along with an interception return for 55 yards.
Backup quarterback Charley Frank completed 3 of 10 passes for 17 yards but was also intercepted once. The eighth grader also ran the ball twice for 17 yards. Avery Sadler went 2 for 4 for 34 yards.
Ellis O’Connor led the receivers with 3 receptions for 47 yards. Haley Ishman had two catches for 36 yards, Sadler had three catches for 25 yards and Frances Rogers had a pair of receptions for 27 yards.
Defensively, Addi Little led the way with seven stops, while Dwyer had five stops and an interception return for 55 yards and Rogers had five stops and two interception returns for 40 yards.
Catholic 44, John Carroll 7
BIRMINGHAM -- Hayden Fitts threw three touchdown passes and the Catholic defense recorded five interceptions to lead the Knights to their 11th consecutive win with a 44-7 rout of John Carroll on Wednesday at John Carroll.
Fitts completed 12 of 24 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns, ran the ball five times for 45 yards and a touchdown and had a team-high seven stops on defense, along with three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
Haley Ishman had three receptions for 45 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also recording two tackles on defense and an interception return for a touchdown as Catholic built a 25-7 lead at the half.
Frances Rogers had four receptions for 46 yards on offense and also had an interception on defense.
Ellis O’Connor had three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown and Kallie Hampton had two catches for 23 yards.
Defensively, Addi Little had seven stops to lead the Catholic defense.
Catholic (16-4) will travel to Trinity on Tuesday at 4 p.m. to close out the regular season before hosting a first-round playoff game on Nov. 4.
LAMP 18, Wilcox Central 0
CAMDEN -- Chloe Thomas threw a pair of touchdown passes to Chelsye Leach-Peck to lead the Golden Tigers to an 18-0 region victory at Wilcox Central on Wednesday.
KK Benson rushed for another touchdown for LAMP and J’Kyria Eutsey had three interceptions to lead a defensive effort that recorded the shutout.
LAMP (3-7) improved to 2-4 in 1A-5A Region 4 play.