By Barry Allen
Special to the Dispatch
REFORM, Ala. – The Pickens County High School football team resembles a video game. The top-ranked Tornadoes can score from anywhere on the field, on offense or defense.
Coach Patrick Plott’s fast-paced squad has piled up 311 points in the first six games, an average of 51.8 points per game. The Tornadoes have scored 70 or more points twice and 50 or more points four times this season. Pickens County beat Lynn 78-13 on Sept. 13 and hit the 70-point mark again in last week’s 70-6 win against Parrish. The Tornadoes scored 35 points in the first quarter and 35 points in the second and played a lot of younger players in the second half.
So, why are the Tornadoes so powerful?
“I think our pace has a lot to with it,” Plott said. “We are a pretty balanced team. We can run the ball and we can throw the ball. Teams have to be able to stop the run and the pass.”
The offense is led by quarterback Devonte Simon and do-it-all running back/receiver Jermarcus Brown.
“They are talented kids,” Plott said. “Brown has great vision. He can do so many things with the ball. He is an explosive runner and excellent pass catcher and he is a threat on special teams.”
Brown has 17 touchdowns in the first six games, including 10 scored in the last two weeks against Aliceville (6 TDs) and Parrish (4 TDs). He has 12 offensive touchdowns and five defensive or special team’s touchdowns this year. He had over 2,800 rushing yards last year as a junior.
The Tornadoes scored a school-record 588 points last season and are pace to better that mark this year.
Pickens County (6-0, AHSAA 4-0 Class A, Region 5) will put its undefeated record on this line this Friday night when the Tornadoes host Hubbertville (5-1, 3-1 Class A, Region 5) at G.S. Spruill Stadium in Reform.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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