Football Friday: Sept. 8, 2023

September 9, 2023

WVUA 23 Sports,

WVUA 23 recaps Week 3 of the High School football season. Enjoy highlights from:

Central pulls away late in win over Paul Bryant

By WVUA-23 Sports Reporter Alex Boothe

Paul Bryant and Central would meet Friday night in a back-and-forth high scoring affair with the Falcons pulling away late for a 42-27 win. The game featured a battle between first year head coaches, the Stampede’s John McKenzie and the Falcons’ Demario Pippen.

The first Paul Bryant drive of the game would end up with the Stampede finding ‘pay dirt’. Near the goal line, quarterback Edwin Merriweather would use play action to fake out the defense and find wide receiver Miles Madden wide open in the back of the end zone for the easy score, putting Bryant up 7-0 early.

Central’s defense evened the score on the next Stampede drive. Backed up on their own three-yard line, Merriweather was stripped from behind and Pherron Dancy would fall on the fumble in the end zone for the Falcons touchdown, evening the score at 7-7.

The Central offense got in on the scoring too. Falcons quarterback David McNeil aired it out to wide-open receiver Jalen Powell, who was behind the defense. Powell walked into the end zone to give Central it’s first lead, 14-7.

Paul Bryant evened the score on its next possession. On fourth and goal, Merriweather ran right before pitching the ball to running back James Freeman. Freeman did the rest, scoring a touchdown. The extra point made it 14-14.

Late in the first game, McNeil and the Falcons strike again. Central’s quarterback used a goal line sneak to score the teams third touchdown of the first half and take a 21-14 lead at halftime.

The Falcons did not give up the lead in the second half, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a road win to begin region play.

Next up for Paul Bryant (1-2, 0-1) will look to bounce back at home against McAdory (1-2, 0-1). Meanwhile, the Central Falcons (2-1, 1-0) will return home and host the Brookwood Panthers (1-2, 0-1).

Pickens County steamrolls Sumiton Christian 56-0

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Molly Harrold

Pickens County delivered a dominant 56-0 win over Sumiton Christian.

The Tornadoes Santonio Jones set the tone early. Jones had two punt return touchdowns, including one that covered 53-yards. Later, Jones would add a touchdown reception to his impressive stat-line.

Pickens County’s offense got in on the action late in the first quarter. A screen pass was set up beautifully, as the Tornadoes Kemaurion Plott followed his blockers for a 35-yard catch and score.

Tornadoes quarterback Michael Billups had one rushing touchdown and three passing touchdowns just in the first half.

In the second quarter, Caleb Hill ripped off a long 60-yard touchdown run.

Pickens County led 48-0 at halftime.

Next week, Pickens County (3-0, 1-0) travels to play region-rival Berry-Fayette (1-1, 0-1)

Patrician Academy cruises to victory over Picken Academy 34-8

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Avery Lake

Patrician Academy’s versatility was too much for Pickens Academy to handle in the Saints 34-8 win.

Patrician Academy’s Jay Lindsey, who recently flipped his commitment to Alabama, was a force on offense — both running and receiving.

Lindsey set up Patrician Academy’s first touchdown with a 20-yard run. The Saints Lee McBride followed with a touchdown run for the first score of the game.

Following a Pickens Academy turnover, Lindsey found the end zone on a 50-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

Pickens Academy are not able to get anything going on offense as a three-and-out gives the ball back to the Saints. Lindsey got back to work. The three-star tight end prospect grabbed a one-handed catch on a slant route and outran the Pickens Academy secondary on a 60-yard touchdown.

Next week, Pickens Academy (0-3) faces Coosa Valley Academy (0-2), with both teams looking for the first win of the season.

Patrician Academy (2-2) has a bye week before playing Monroe Academy (1-2) on Sept. 22.

Hueytown steamrolls Brookwood 56-0

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Juliet Brown

It was all Hueytown on Friday night at Brookwood’s new Billy Joe Stadium.

The Golden Gopher defense shut down the Panther offense, forcing a three-and-out on the first drive of the game. Hueytown special teams came up big, blocking the Brookwood punt deep in Panther territory. While the Golden Gopher’s first offensive drive ended with a missed field goal, the offense had no issues scoring as the game went on.

Hueytown quarterback, Jebron Ellington, rushed into the end zone to put the Golden Gophers up 7-0 with 4:16 left in the first quarter.

Brookwood’s Matthew Hughes picked off Ellington in the end zone, but the Panther offense couldn’t get anything going. Jacob Rowell had a rough night for Brookwood, throwing three interceptions in the first half. His running backs didn’t offer any help as the Hueytown defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage.

Alex Vassar picked off Rowell midway through the second quarter which set the Golden Gophers up in Brookwood territory. TJ Howell found the end zone a couple plays later to put Hueytown up 21-0 with 6:58 left in the second quarter.

Kole Caldwell intercepted Rowell and returned it for a pick 6, but a holding call negated the touchdown. The Panther defense got a much needed stop after the Golden Gophers turned it over on downs.

Rowell threw his third interception of the half which led to another Ellington quarterback keep for a touchdown. The following play, Brookwood fumbled in the endzone which resulted in a Hueytown touchdown. The Golden Gophers led 35-0 at halftime.

Hueytown (1-2, 1-0) shut out Brookwood (1-2, 0-1) to win 56-0. The Golden Gophers travel to Hillcrest (3-0, 1-0) next week. The Panthers play at Central Tuscaloosa (2-1, 1-0) for week four.

Tuscaloosa Co. demolishes Chelsea 42-21

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Kalani Bagsby

Tuscaloosa County’s wide receiver Jordan Chambers Smith led the way to a 42-21 smashing win over Chelsea High.

The game started by Chelsea kicking off to Tuscaloosa County, and shortly followed by fumble recovery by Tuscaloosa County High School.

In the first quarter, the Chelsea hornets running back Emerson Russell makes a big play towards the endzone, leading to Russell making the first touchdown of the game for the hornets. Shortly thereafter, the Wildcats quarterback, Braden Smith, who has a powerful arm gets the ball to wide receiver Jordan Chambers Smith with style and grace scoring a touchdown for the Wildcats.

Tuscaloosa County intercepts a Chelsea pass, ending the first quarter with a score of 7-7. In second quarter the Wildcats completed a stunning 63-yard touchdown pass, with a strong connection between quarterback Braden Smith and wide receiver Jordan Smith.

The Wildcats were determined to make their way to the end zone, and running back Kamorri Jackson plowed his way through the Hornets line, scoring yet another Tuscaloosa County Touchdown. Running back for the Wildcats, Kevin Riley scores the final touchdown of the first half, making the score 28-14.

In the third quarter, Chelsea makes a comeback with running back Emerson Russell scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown making the score 28-21. This was no threat to the Wildcats, as they went on to score shortly after with a 40-yard rushing touchdown making the score 35-21. In the fourth quarter, the game came to a close with the Wildcats intercepting a Chelsea pass and scoring an additional touchdown making the final score of the game 42-21, with a Tuscaloosa County High School Wildcat win.

Next week Tuscaloosa County (3-0, 1-0) goes on the road to face the Hewitt-Trussville Huskies (2-1, 1-0), and Chelsea (1-2, 0-1) will host the Oak Mountain Eagles (1-2, 0-1), hopeful for a comeback win.

ACA rolls to win in region opener

By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Alex Chasen

American Christian Academy made it look easy, shutting out the Holt Ironmen 55-0.

On the game’s opening drive, the Patriots defense set the tone. Holt’s quarterback was forced to leave the pocket and scramble, allowing the Patriots defense to attack and cause the fumble. ACA’s Caleb Morrison scooped up the loose football and returned it for the first touchdown of the game.

The Patriots were just as effective on offense.

On their first drive, after working their way downfield and in a fourth-and-one situation, running back Jackson Willingham forcefully ran over a few Ironmen for the first down. Then, quarterback Kai Young dropped back and threw a 20-yard corner shot into the end zone to senior wide receiver Davis Dare, a theme that continued to spiral for the Ironmen all night.

Young finished the game 4-4 passing for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

Next week, the American Christian Academy (2-1, 1-0) will stay at home to face Bibb County Choctaws (3-0, 1-0). The Holt Ironmen (0-2, 0-1) will look to get their first win of the season against the Hale County Wildcats (1-2, 0-1).

Montevallo overcomes slow start to beat Hale County

By WVUA-23 Sports Reporter Riley Theis

Montevallo storms back behind 19 unanswered points in the third quarter in a come-from-behind 33-21 win over Hale County.

The Wildcats were red-hot to start the game. On the first play from scrimmage, Hale County quarterback Antwain Zinnerman delivered a touchdown pass to TJ Hatch. It was 6-0 after a missed extra point.

Hale County found the end zone again following a Montevallo fumble. Erius Hamilton ran for a five yard touchdown, and the two-point conversion made it 14-0 midway through the first quarter.

Hale County led Montevallo 21-14 at halftime.

The second half was a different story. Montevallo scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, with quarterback Braxton King accounting for two of the scores. King threw a touchdown pass to Javon Rogers to tie the game at 21.

Following a rushing touchdown by the Bulldogs Charlie Adams, King broke free and scrambled for a 25-yard score to give Montevallo a 33-21 lead.

In the game, King had two passing touchdowns and a pair of rushing touchdowns.

Hale County will look to bounce back next week as they travel to Holt (0-2) for a conference game. That game is scheduled for September 15th at 7 p.m.

For the Bulldogs, they will look to carry their success into next week as they travel to Dallas County (0-2). That game is scheduled for September 15th at 7 P.M.

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Aliceville at TA- Kenneth Kelly

Vestavia at Thompson – McCann

Montevallo at Hale Co. – Riley Theis

Northridge at Hillcrest- Riley Theis

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