OAKMAN, Ala. — Nothing has been decided with one week remaining in Alabama High School Activities Association Class 2A, Region 4 play.
Aliceville, Lamar County, and Oakman are tied for the top spot in the region. On Friday, Oakman forced the tie with a 28-27 victory against Aliceville. Lamar County held up its end of the tie by beating region rival R.C. Hatch 56-6 on the road.
All three teams have a 5-1 region record. Aliceville clinched a playoff berth last week, while Lamar County and Oakman secured spots Friday night. The final week of region play will decided the top teams in the region, both of whom will receive home-field advantage when AHSAA playoff action begins Nov. 8.
Lamar County (7-1) will play host to Hale County (5-3, 4-2 AHSAA Class 2A, Region 4). Aliceville will play host to Marion (3-5, 2-4). Oakman will play host to Cold Springs (5-3, 3-3). If the teams end in a three-way tie, Aliceville will be top seed and Lamar County will be the No. 2 seed.
Oakman’s victory featured a dramatic finish. The teams combined for three touchdowns in the final four minutes.
Darion Manning tied the contest at 21 for Aliceville with a 30-yard touchdown run.
The Wildcats went back on offense and moved 65 yards on four plays. A 40-yard pass reception by Quinton Harris moved the ball to the Aliceville 1-yard line. Jase Trotter scored two plays later on a 1-yard run.
Jaterrius Steele returned the kickoff 61 yards for a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets. However, Oakman snuffed a two-point conversion attempt and sealed the win.
Trotter led Oakman with a 12-of-20 passing night for 271 yards and two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Deontre Muse’ led the Wildcats’ receiving corps with five catches for 168 yards.
Five turnovers hurt the Aliceville cause. Down 21-13, the Yellow Jackets were driving late in the first half before suffering interceptions on back-to-back possessions. Things stayed tight until all of the fireworks in the final minutes.
n Pickens County 35, Marion County 13: At Guin, Ala., the Tornadoes came out on top in a showdown for the AHSAA Class 1A, Region 5 lead.
Last season, Marion County won a regular-season meeting and a dramatic one-point decision in the AHSAA North State semifinals.
“The kids really wanted this one bad because last year was such a tough loss,” Pickens County coach Patrick Plott said. “Marion County has been good for a long time. Last year’s playoff game showed we could play with them. It is a big accomplish for this program to get over the hurdle and get this type of win.”
Jermarcus Brown rushed for 271 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tornadoes (8-0, 6-0 AHSAA Class 1A, Region 5). Brown scored on runs of 10, 49, and 53 yards.
Quarterback Devonte’ Simon also enhanced a Pickens County rushing attack, which went for better than 400 yards. Simon rushed for 109 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown run. Simon also threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Stefon McCoy.
“It was the best game of the year by our offensive line,” Plott said. “At the point of attack, we had a great game. We had some turnovers in the losses last year. This time, we did a great job of executing and making sure we took advantage of our opportunities.”
Dontae Hughes led the defense with 11 total tackles and three sacks. Chris Hill and Justin Barton also had 11 tackles apiece.
The victory wrapped up the region championship and home-field advantage for the Tornadoes. The final region game of the year will be Friday when Pickens County travels to Berry (5-3, 4-2).
n Berry 34, South Lamar 7: At Berry, Ala., the Stallions dropped their third straight in AHSAA Class 1A, Region 5 play.
Hershel Smith rushed for 214 yards for South Lamar (2-6, 1-5). Smith scored the lone touchdown for the Stallions on a 68-yard run. Jason Lawson led the defense with 10 tackles.
Berry (5-3, 4-2) received 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Terrance Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth scored on touchdowns runs of 2 and 78 yards and also threw a 26-yard touchdown to Weston Bonner.
Bonner rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on runs of 68 and 2 yards.
South Lamar will complete region play Friday when it plays host to Parrish (1-7, 1-5) Friday.
n Hale County 42, Sulligent 0: At Sulligent, Ala., the Blue Devils were shut out for the second time this season in AHSAA Class 2A, Region 4 play.
Hale County (5-3, 4-2) secured a playoff spot from this region with the win. Deacon Medders rushed for a touchdown and passed for another to lead the Wildcats.
Hale County scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to build a 21-0 halftime lead. The Wildcats scored on a 49-yard pass from Medders to Parker Dare, a 25-yard run by Danny Coleman and a 51-yard interception return by Blake Williams.
The Wildcats got another non-offensive touchdown in the third quarter when Tyler Gilliam blocked a punt and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. Hale County completed the scoring with an 11-yard run from Medders and a 20-yard run from Jaxon Marshall.
Sulligent (0-8, 0-6) will play Thursday at R.C. Hatch (0-8, 0-6).
n Pickens Academy 42, Meadowview Christian 14: At Carrollton, Ala., the Pirates secured the No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff game at home with their victory in Alabama Independent Schools Association Class A, Region 2 play.
Pickens Academy (7-1, 5-1) built a 42-0 halftime lead. Quarterback Josh Lewis was 8 of 13 for 91 yards and 141 rushing yards on just three carries. Pirates scored on runs of 52 and 75 yards.
Pickens Academy also received an 11-yard touchdown run by Chance Britt, a 15-yard touchdown run by Oliver Owens, and a 40-yard touchdown run by Preston O’Neal. Lance Acker had four receptions for 61 yards.
Pickens Academy had 312 yards of total offense and eight first downs. Austin McCool had a 4-yard interception return for touchdown. Trevor Hester also had an interception.
Pickens Academy will travel to Patrician Academy (7-2, 5-0 AISA Class AA, Region 2) Friday night.
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