The AHSAA
MONTGOMERY – With each passing week, Piedmont senior quarterback Jack Hayes seemingly surpasses another state record, and his efforts are recognized in the AHSAA Football Spotlight.
Following a 15-of-35, 232-yard, four-touchdown passing performance in a 30-28 loss to Anniston on Thursday, Hayes became the AHSAA’s all-time career touchdown passes leader. Hayes had 195 yards and three touchdowns in the second half of Piedmont’s near comeback. He also ran for 47 yards on 16 carries.
Hayes tied the AHSAA career record (134) set by American Christian’s Chris Smelley (2002-05) with a 21-yard first-quarter touchdown pass to sophomore Ishmael Bethel to give Piedmont at 7-0 lead.
Anniston battled back to take a 30-7 lead into the final quarter, but Hayes fired three touchdown passes in a tremendous effort that fell just short. His touchdown passes covered 35, 31, and 15 yards in the fourth quarter to freshman Rollie Pinto, senior Thomas Propst and Bethel respectively.
Hayes now has 137 career touchdown passes thrown. He also increased his career record for touchdowns accounted for to 183, a mark he set in a win at Ohatchee the week prior.
For the season, Hayes is 89-of-138 passing for 1,245 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s rushed for 355 yards and four scores on 59 carries.
Other AHSAA Spotlight area honorees mentioned for performances this week included Cherokee County’s Jacob Cornejo and Tae Diamond, Spring Garden’s Chapel Pope and Braxton Haney, Sand Rock’s Ace Ashley, Jace Turner and Brian Giles, and Collinsville’s Mason McAteer and Keaton DeBoard.
Cornejo ran for 243 yards on 17 carries and scored four touchdowns. He also returned an interception for a score in the Warriors’ 56-26 victory over Munford. Cornejo’s touchdown runs were from 27, 20, 51 and 12 yards. Diamond delivered 116 yards and a 21-yard TD in the win.
Pope led the Panthers with 122 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns (2 and 54 yards) and completed 5-of-8 pass attempts for 120 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown connection with Haney in a 41-12 victory at Cedar Bluff.
Ashley connected on 26-of-44 pass attempts for 383 yards and three touchdowns, two to Turner for 50 and 80 yards, in the Wildcats’ 44-21 homecoming loss to West End of Walnut Grove. His other touchdown pass went to Giles for 43 yards.
Turner also had three tackles and an interception on defense for the Wildcats.
McAteer connected on 8-of-17 pass attempts for 203 yards and three scores and added a 4-yard TD run in the Panthers’ 48-12 win at Gaston.
DeBoard grabbed six passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns (65, 23, 38 yards) and added 90 rushing yards on seven carries with a 51-yard score.
In other statewide happenings, Central-Florence High School and Westminster Christian Academy’s non-region football game last Friday night was not a game for the faint of heart. Central (3-2), coached by Heath Wood, scored on the game’s final play as the clock struck zero and then scored a 2-point conversion to win 70-69 over Westminster Christian Academy.
The game produced a number of AHSAA state records – including most first downs, most points scored by both teams in the fourth quarter, most points in a loss, and with 148 offensive plays by both teams combined – to claim the AHSAA Football Spotlight for this week.
Central, which rolled up 650 total yards on 66 offensive plays, led 34-14 at the half, by as much as 48-21 in the third quarter, came from behind twice in the final two minutes to finally win the game. The winning touchdown was a “Hail Mary” pass from quarterback Jackson Brewer that traveled 30 yards into the end zone, was batted in the air and caught by Drake Dorsett for the touchdown to pull Central to within one at 69-68. Jaden Smith then scored the 2-point conversion to seal the win.
Westminster (4-2), coached by Louis LeBlanc, outscored Central 35-22 in the fourth quarter and 55-36 in the second half – with its final three touchdowns coming in the final 4:25 of the game.
Westminster quarterback Brandon Musch accumulated 577 total yards with a 37-of-57 passing performance for 567 yards and seven TDs and 19 rushes for 110 yards and two scores. He had no interceptions. Receiver Owen Lockette had 10 catches for 172 yards and four TDs, Amos Baldwin had eight catches for 130 yards and one TD, and Kyle Everleth snagged nine receptions for 67 yards and two TDs.
Central’s Brewer finished 7-of-13 for 201 yards and two scores and running back Evan Hanback had 198 yards rushing on 19 rush attempts and scored two touchdowns. Dorsett had four rushes for 61 yards and one score and caught two passes for 88 yards and two scores.
Among the AHSAA state record entries from his game:
- Most Points in the fourth quarter, both teams (57) – Westminster had 35 and Central scored 22 in the final period
- Most Points both teams (139) – ranking second all-time behind Childersburg’s 82-64 win (146) over Central Coosa in 2016 and tying Parrish’s 81-58 win (139) over Hubbertville in 2003
- Most points in a loss (69) – Westminster’s total which came up one point short broke the previous record (64) set by Central Coosa in its loss to Childersburg in 2016
- Most first downs (67) – Central-Florence had 35 and Westminster had 32 – both surpassing the single-game record set by McGill-Toolen (31) versus Davidson in 2013 and the 67 total established a new mark for two teams
- Pass completions in a single game (37) – Westminster Christian’s Brandon Musch was 37-of-57, which ranks third all-time behind Cullman’s Tyler Caldwell, who completed 42-of-61 versus Mountain Brook in a 2008 game, and 38 completions by Westminster’s Brian Park in a game versus Red Bay in 2008
- Most pass attempts in a single game (57) – Musch ranks eighth with his 57 attempts behind all-time leader Robert Nomberg of Northview (68) in a 33-23 loss to Greenville in 1987
- Most touchdowns accounted for (9) – Musch had seven TD passes and two rushing scores to rank tied for second behind Brayden Kyle of Decatur Heritage, who had 11 in a 76-60 win over Ragland in 2021
- Most yards passing by 2 QBs (668) – Musch (467) and Brewer (201) rank third all-time in the AHSAA Record Book with Falkville’s Aaron Dove and Coosa Christian’s Caiden Lipscomb setting the record (932) in 2018
- Most passing yards (467) – Musch turned in the 25th best total all-time – tying with current University of Maryland starting QB Taulia Tagovailoa of Thompson, who was 39 of 52 with three TDs in a 35-0 win over Huntsville in 2017.
MILESTONES
A.J. GREEN, THOMPSON: Ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in a battle of defending state champions as the Class 7A Warriors (4-2) snapped Class 6A Clay-Chalkville’s state-leading current win streak at 20 in a row.
JARRETT DAUGHTRY, FAITH ACADEMY: Finished 15-of-16 passing for 246 yards and three touchdowns as the Rams beat St. Paul’s Episcopal 34-7 for the first time in the series’ 14-game history dating back to 2008. He was 11-for-11 last week and has thrown just one incomplete pass in his last 27 attempts.
DAYLON EDMUNDS, MILLRY: Rushed for 169 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns as Millry downed Clarke County 27-7. His 31-yard TD run in the fourth quarter was one of three for the Wildcats in the final period to break the game open. Millry trailed 7-6 heading into the final quarter. Edmunds also had a 17-yard TD run in the first half. The game was the seventh meeting between the schools and the first played between the two schools since 1970. The victory was the first in the series for Millry. Clarke County won in 1970, 1941, 1940 and 1939. The two teams tied 33-33 in 1944 – giving Clarke County a 5-1-1 edge in the series.
KADEN GOODEN, WEAVER: Snapped a 13-game losing streak accounting for five touchdowns as the Bearcats beat Asbury 46-8. Gooden rushed for three TDs and passed for two.
RUSHING
RYKELUS ROBERTSON, VINCENT: Rushed 28 times for 353 yards and four TDs to lead the Jackets (5-1) to a 42-13 victory over Childersburg.
FLUFF BOTHWELL, ONEONTA: Rushed for 272 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries, caught four passes for 95 yards and one TD and scooped up a punt blocked by teammate Jacob Handley and raced 35 yards for a sixth score as the Redskins (6-0) beat Springville 53-22. His rushing TDs covered 35, 32, 1 and 9 yards, and his pass reception from Landon Abernathy covered 27 yards. Bothwell also forced a Springville fumble which was returned 70 yards for another Oneonta touchdown. Abernathy was 7-of-11 passing for 157 yards.
SYLVESTER SMITH, MUNFORD: Gained 270 yards rushing on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns. He also completed 8-of-17 pass attempts for 72 yards and a 4-yard TD in the Lions’ 56-26 loss at Cherokee County. His touchdown runs covered 33, 5 and 82 yards.
BRAYDEN JENKINS, THEODORE: Totaled 267 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries as the unbeaten Bobcats (6-0) rallied from a 21-7 first-half deficit to beat Opelika 34-24.
MASON TEAGUE, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: Had 28 carries for 258 rushing yards and four touchdowns (3, 17, 73 and 73 yards) as the Panthers beat Boaz 41-20. He rushed for 201 yards in the second half.
CHRISTIAN MOSE, ALMA BRYANT: Had 130 yards rushing and 130 yards passing for 260 total yards to lead the Hurricanes to a 42-20 win over Robertsdale. He had three rushing TDs and passed for another.
EASTON SMITH, WEST LIMESTONE: Piled up 233 yards rushing on 31 carries and scored three touchdowns in a 37-7 win over East Limestone.
ALVIN HENDERSON, ELBA: Rushed for 224 yards on 15 carries with five touchdowns in the Tigers’ 40-7 win over Providence Christian. Henderson’s touchdowns covered 46, 70, 38, 26 and 2 yards.
RAYSHAWN MILLER, SLOCOMB: Miller rushed for 221 yards and five touchdowns in a 39-20 win over Ashford. Miller’s TDs covered 29, 15, 16, 39 and 60 yards.
SZEMERICK ANDREWS, GOSHEN: Ran for 212 yards on 15 carries with four touchdowns and had four tackles on defense in the Eagles’ 63-19 win over Kinston.
XZAVARIOUS TURNER, JACKSONVILLE: Totaled 197 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 17 carries in a 35-6 win over Ohatchee.
ANTONIO TRONE, CARVER-MONTGOMERY: Rushed for 183 yards on 24 carries as the Wolverines beat Lee-Montgomery 27-21.
SANTAE McWILLIAMS, SARALAND: Had 23 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 42-21 win over Foley.
JULYON JORDAN, GUNTERSVILLE: Ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in a 52-21 win over Buckhorn.
NOAH SPRAYBERRY, HOKES BLUFF: Rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries in the Eagles’ 30-16 victory over White Plains.
KOLBY PEAVY, EXCEL: Rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries in a 42-13 win over J.U. Blacksher.
OMARIAN CURRY, WALTER WELLBORN: Gained 154 rushing yards on 13 carries and scored two TDs in the Panthers’ 48-28 win over Talladega.
TREY INGE, McGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC: Had 146 rushing yards on 13 carries as the Yellow Jackets downed St. Michael Catholic 27-7.
MILES JONES, LEEDS: Gained 137 yards rushing on 17 carries and caught a 30-yard scoring pass to pace the unbeaten Green Wave (5-0) to 51-7 win over Sylacauga.
WYATT BOLDEN, NEW HOPE: Rushed for two touchdowns and caught a pass for a third TD – and then scored the game-winning two-point conversion as New Hope beat Decatur Heritage 48-47.
RONNIE ROYAL, GULF SHORES: Rushed for 122 yards and scored four touchdowns as the Dolphins beat Murphy 35-14. He also had an interception on defense.
PASSING
CARSON CREEHAN, MADISON ACADEMY: Completed 20-of-25 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-20 win over Madison County.
COLE McCARTY, MOODY: Was 9-of-11 passing for 279 yards and four touchdowns as the Class 5A Blue Devils (6-0) beat Shelby County 47-0.
TYLER PIERCE, BOAZ: Finished 21-for-40 passing for 271 yards the Pirates’ 41-20 setback to Southside-Gadsden.
HAYES HUNT, ALABAMA CHRISTIAN: Managed 265 yards passing and four touchdowns on a 15-of-26 performance to lead the Eagles past Montgomery Academy 33-27.
PAYTON STEPHENSON, ELMORE COUNTY: Passed for 254 yards and two TDs in a 35-13 win over St. Clair County.
L.J. CORMIER, SIPSEY VALLEY: Passed for 250 yards and four touchdowns in a 36-19 win against Oak Grove.
BRYSON McGREW, LEE-MONTGOMERY: Was 16-of-34 passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the Generals’ 27-21 loss to rival Carver-Montgomery.
AIDAN QUINN, WINFIELD: Was 10-of-11 passing for 229 yards and four touchdowns as the Pirates beat Hamilton 52-0.
KADYN MITCHELL, HOUSTON ACADEMY: Completed 12-of-14 passes for 225 yards with five touchdowns during a 41-0 win over Abbeville.
WALKER McCLINTON, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN: Completed 6-of-12 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns – including a 90-yard TD connection with his brother Webber McClinton – and the Wildcats downed Marbury 30-3.
BRYSON HUGHES, G.W. LONG: Connected on 18-of-26 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns and added 77 yards on 13 carries for 295 total yards in the Rebels’ 26-22 loss to Dale County.
TYLER JONES, WEST END: Was 10-of-17 passing for 224 yards and two touchdowns and scored on a 3-yard run in a 44-21 victory over Sand Rock.
TY’JARIAN WILLIAMS, ALICEVILLE: Was 15-of-21 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns and rushed six times for 115 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-13 win over Class 6A Central-Tuscaloosa for Class 2A Aliceville (5-1).
GRAY JENNINGS, OPP: Had 204 yards passing and three touchdowns in Opp’s 23-13 win over Rehobeth.
GAUGE NESMITH, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: Was 15-of-24 passing for 204 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-20 win over Boaz.
ETHAN CRAWFORD, HILLCREST-TUSCALOOSA: Was 11-of-15 passing for 193 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 10 times for 68 yards and another TD as the Patriots (6-0) remained unbeaten with a 35-10 victory over Gadsden City.
PEYTON FLOYD, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Was a near perfect 13-of-14 passing for 186 yards and five touchdowns as the Class 7A Huskies (4-2) beat Class 6A Huffman 49-8. His TD tosses covered 21, 3, 10, 34 and 22 yards.
JAYDEN PARKS, BRANTLEY: Passed for 195 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-27 loss to Class 2A unbeaten Highland Home (6-0). He fired a 46-yard TD pass to his brother Jordan Parks for the Bulldogs (4-2).
JACK SMITH, HARTSELLE: Completed 11-of-21 passes for 194 yards and one TD and ran for three other scores in the Tigers’ 69-21 win over Oxford.
KAMERON SANDLIN, ANNISTON: Was 13-of-20 passing for 148 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 53 yards and another core to lead the Bulldogs (6-0) in their 30-28 win over defending 3A state champion Piedmont.
BRAYDEN WALKER, SPANISH FORT: Fueled Spanish Fort’s come-from-behind 18-15 win over arch-rival Daphne with a 14-of-27 passing performance for 159 yards and one touchdown.
BO SOLLEY, DECATUR HERITAGE: Passed for six touchdowns in a 48-47 loss to New Hope.
BRAX GARRISON, GORDO: Passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in a 54-18 win against Pickens County.
PASS RECEIVING
THAD PEARCE, WEST END: Had seven catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns (48 and 50 yards) in a 44-21 win over Sand Rock for West End (5-1).
GARRETT ALLEN, ELMORE COUNTY: Had seven catches for 168 yards and two scores as the Panthers beat St. Clair County 35-13.
D.J. LAVENDER, PLEASANT GROVE: Caught seven passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns 49-28 victory over Park.
KENLI PREYER, GENEVA COUNTY: Pulled down five pass receptions for 150 yards with two touchdowns in a 40-33 loss to rival Geneva.
WYATT BAILEY, SIPSEY VALLEY: Caught three passes, all for touchdowns and 150 yards in a 39-16 triumph over Oak Grove.
PRESTON HICKS, ALABAMA CHRISTIAN: Caught four passes for 144 yards and two TDs, including an 84-yard reception that tied the game late and sparked the Eagles to a 33-27 win over Montgomery Academy.
D’ANGELO BANKHEAD, WINFIELD: Pulled down five receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-0 victory over Hamilton.
JORDAN WOOLEN, HOOVER: Had nine receptions for 137 yards and one TD as the Bucs (5-1) rallied to win 26-14 over Mountain Brook (5-1).
WADE DOBBINS, BOAZ: Caught six passes for 121 yards in 41-20 loss to Southside-Gadsden.
BLAINE BURKE, MOODY: Caught two passes for 115 yards and a touchdown and rushed six times for 93 yards and another score in a 47-0 win over Shelby County.
LUKE HARKLESS, MONTGOMERY-CATHOLIC: Hauled in three receptions for 108 yards and one TD as Catholic (6-0) beat Pike Liberal 56-0 for the Knight’s 20th regular-season win in a row.
DEFENSE
LAKENDRICK JORDAN, DALE COUNTY: Turned in an outstanding all-around performance with two interceptions, a blocked extra-point kick and nine tackles on defense in a 26-22 in over G.W. Long. He returned on of his picks for touchdown and added 131 rushing yards on 20 carries on offense.
CONNER HACKETT, HOLTVILLE: Recorded 14 tackles in the Bulldogs’ 26-7 loss to West Blocton.
BRAYLON CHATMAN, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Had 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack in the Huskies’ 49-8 win over Huffman.
CHARLIE WRIGHT, JACKSONVILLE: Totaled 11 tackles in a 35-6 win over Ohatchee.
COLBY BALLARD, OPP: Totaled nine tackles and two interceptions in the Bobcats’ 23-13 win over Rehobeth.
LUKE DICKINSON, BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN: Had nine tackles including a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a QB pressure, in the Lions’ 34-14 win over Oak Mountain.
ALEC HUSKEY, HUNTSVILLE: Managed two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, as the Panthers beat Mae Jemison 54-0.
ROCK SAINSBURY, WEST END: Had two interceptions in the Patriots’ 44-21 victory over Sand Rock.
MALIK BROWN, CENTER POINT: Totaled nine tackles and 3.5 sacks on defense in a 27-6 win over Fairfield.
SPECIAL TEAMS
IAN FOSTER, PIKE COUNTY: Had a spectacular night on the Bulldogs’ special team returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown with five minutes left to give the Bulldogs an 18-13 win over Headland. Earlier in the game, Foster had a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown.
KAM SHANKS, PRATTVILLE: Returned a kickoff 80 yards and a punt 30 yards for touchdowns as the Lions downed Stanhope Elmore 49-10 for their 10th straight win over the Mustangs. He also caught a 33-yard TD pass.
LUCIUS RENSHAW, HOUSTON ACADEMY: Kicked field goals of 37 and 35 yards and converted all five extra-point kicks as Houston Academy (5-0) blanked Abbeville (41-0).
JOSE ARREGUIN, BOAZ: Kicked the AHSAA’s first 50-yard field goal this season in the Pirates’ 41-20 loss to Southside-Gadsden. He also connected on a 27-yard field goal in the game.
JAYLEN VAUGHN, HOLT: Returned a kickoff for a touchdown and ended the night with 138 all-purpose yards in a 27-6 loss to Wenonah.
JORGE CASTILLO, CHILTON COUNTY: Booted a 24-yard field goal in overtime to lift the Tigers to a 24-21 win over Tallassee. Cameron Miller fired a TD pass to Jakoby Worthy with under two minutes left in the fourth quarter and Castillo’s PAT tied the game to send it into overtime.
GREYSON SIMPSON, ASHVILLE: Kicked field goals of 43 and 24 yards in the Bulldogs’ 28-6 loss to Hayden. He also had five tackles and an interception on defense.
EVAN STANCIL, WEST END: Kicked a career-long 43-yard field goal and was 5-for-5 in extra points in the Patriots’ 44-21 victory over Sand Rock.