From Special Reports
SULLIGENT, Ala. — Sulligent High School clinched its seconds straight playoff berth with a 14-7 win over Cherokee in Alabama High School Activities Association Class 2A, Region 8 play Friday night.
Sulligent improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in region play, while guaranteeing itself at least one of the top four spots in the region.
“It wasn’t pretty but the we got the job done,” Sulligent coach Daniel Merchant said. “The defense stood tall and played great all night.”
Sulligent rushed 34 times for 227 yards with two touchdowns. Cordarius Metcalf had nine rushes for 144 yards and a touchdown, while Caleb Williams had 13 rushes for 85 yards and a touchdown. Tyreke Metcalf rushed five times for 13 yards.
In the air, Sulligent’s C.J. McLemore was 2 of 8 passing for 47 yards with an interception. Cordarius Metcalf completed his only pass attempt for 29 yards. That throw went to Duston Summerville, while Cordarius Metcalf had a 36-yard reception on third down to set up the go-ahead score. Caleb Williams also had an 11-yard catch, as the Blue Devils finished with 303 yards.
Cherokee (3-3, 1-2) was held to 171 total yards.
Summerville led the defensive attack for the Blue Devils. His second interception came with Cherokee on the Sulligent 3-yard line in the closing minutes. Hunter Motichek added several tackles for loss and two sacks. Cornellius Bankhead also had a couple of tackles for loss and a sack.
n Marengo Academy 46, Pickens Academy 14: At Carrollton, Alabama, the Longhorns built a 40-0 halftime lead en route to their Alabama Independent School Association victory against the Pirates.
Marengo Academy (4-1, 1-0 Class AA, Region 2) had 267 of its 307 total yards on the ground. Pickens Academy (2-4, 0-2) had 40 carries for 91 yards. It had 145 total yards.
Chance Britt led Pickens Academy with 20 carries for 58 yards. Ryan Harcrow had five carries for 26 yards.
Brant Criswell was 3 of 7 for 54 yards and a touchdown. Will Jones had two catches for 29 yards. Grady McGlawn had one catch for 25 yards.
Daniel Powell led the Pirates with 10 tackles. Riley Harcrow had seven.
n Hale County 27, Lamar County 12: At Moundville, Alabama, the Bulldogs slipped to 0-3 in Class 2A, Region 4 play with the road defeat.
Lamar County (2-4, 0-3 region) received an 8-yard touchdown run by Isaac Whittle and a 21-yard touchdown run by Cullen Carter.
Lamar County finished with 230 yards of total offense, including 186 rushing and 44 passing. The Bulldogs had 18 first downs and committed the only turnover in the game.
Hale County (3-3, 1-3) finished with 335 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns late to build on a 13-12 lead.
Cullen Carter completed 5 of 10 passes for 44 yards for the Bulldogs. On the ground, Whittle rushed 23 times for 114 yards, while Carter had 22 rushes for 77 yards. Bo Spencer had two pass receptions for 17 yards.
On defense, Carter led the way with 11 total tackles. Whittle and Tamijah Long each added eight.
n In other games from the area, Aliceville (5-2, 3-0 Class 3A, Region 4) clinched a playoff berth with a 54-12 win at Greene County. Pickens County (5-1, 3-0 Class 2A, Region 4) also clinched a playoff berth with a 45-12 win at Hatch. South Lamar (3-3, 2-1 Class 1A, Region 6) won its third straight with a 27-14 win at Marion County.
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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