By Roy Mitchell, Cherokee Post Herald

GAYLESVILLE – Appalachian junior defensive back Sam Stidham set two new state high school football records on Thursday night at Gaylesville. He returned three interceptions for touchdowns, and had four total in the game, in the Eagles’ 37-14 Class 1A, Region 8 football victory.

Stidham had a 41-yard return for a score in the second quarter, a 34-yard return for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, and a 70-yard pick-6 later in the fourth quarter.

Several players have returned two interceptions for scores in a game in Alabama High School Athletic Association history before, but never three.

Pike Liberal’s Jack Baggett returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Barbour County and Shoals Christian’s Jack Strickland took back two against Phillips last year.

The last time a high school player had three interceptions in a game was back in 2011 by Jackson’s Lakendrick James against Oneonta.

Stidham had his fourth pick against Gaylesville in the fourth quarter. That one was returned for approximately 11 yards, but he was tackled before reaching the end zone again.

“After I had the first interception, I would have thought they would have stopped throwing it my way, but they just kept throwing it up, and I went and just kept grabbing it,” Stidham said. “I had no idea about the record until after the game. I’m still shocked. I don’t have much to say about it. I guess I got lucky with it.”

Stidham also had seven carries for 47 yards and completed 3-of-9 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles (3-3, 2-1).

Sean Poss posted 185 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries for the Trojans (3-3, 1-3). Jack Sentell added 97 yards on 22 carries. Aydn Heinrich finished with 33 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Gaylesville took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter but Appalachian took a 16-8 advantage at halftime. The Eagles outscored the Trojans 21-6 in the second half for the final.

Gaylesville has next Friday open. The Trojans will travel to Ragland on Oct. 16.