THORSBY, Ala. — The James Thompson era began with a dominating performance as the Pickens County High School football team defeated Thorsby 52-0 in the Alabama High School Activities Association (AHSAA) season opener.
Junior quarterback Zach Thomas led the Tornadoes with two passing scores and two rushing scores. Caleb Bonner also had a couple of rushing scores.
After winning the AHSAA Class 1A state championship in 2013, Pickens County has moved back down to that classification this season. It will begin Class 1A, Region 5 play Friday night when it plays host to Holy Spirit Catholic.
n Corner 35, South Lamar 21: At Warrior, Alabama, the Class 1A Stallions hung tough but didn’t have enough firepower to match the Class 5A Yellow Jackets.
Fresh off a victory over county rival Lamar County, South Lamar (1-1) kept the momentum going with a 7-0 lead after one quarter. Corner (2-0) scored 35 unanswered points, including taking a 21-7 lead at halftime. Still, South Lamar closed within two scores and had another drive deep in Corner territory late.
Noah Dismukes threw a pair of touchdowns for the Stallions. Dismukes threw a 34-yard touchdown to Jarrett Bryant and an 8-yard touchdown to Sam Dowdle.
Buster Griffin also had a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown for South Lamar.
South Lamar will open AHSAA Class 1A, Region 5 play Friday night when it plays host to Hubbertville.
n Gordo 20, Aliceville 0: At Gordo, Alabama, quarterback Kody Chapman threw for a pair of touchdowns as the Greenwave shut out the Yellow Jackets.
Chapman was 16-of-22 for 116 yards, with a 3-yard touchdown to Donnie Billups and a 35-yard touchdown to Thomas Langdon.
Collin Herring had a 1-yard touchdown run and eight tackles on defense to lead Gordo (2-0).
Aliceville was held to 135 yards of total offense and committed three turnovers. Albert Wells led the Yellow Jackets (0-1) with nine total tackles.
Coach Rico Jackson’s Aliceville squad will play a second-straight road game Friday when it plays at Keith in the AHSAA Class 2A, Region 4 opener.
n Hamilton 48, Sulligent 28: At Hamilton, Alabama, the Blue Devils pounded out 365 yards of total offense but couldn’t pull out the win in a slugfest against the Aggies.
For Sulligent (1-1), Tyreke Metcalf had three rushing touchdowns and a career-high 151 receiving yards. The other touchdown was a 12-yard pass from C.J. McLemore to Tyler Gilmore.
McLemore was 7 of 12 for 206 yards with the touchdown. Metcalfe had five receptions. Hayden Nolen also had two catches for 26 yards.
Ethan Carter led the way with 12 rushes for 83 yards, while Metcalfe had 11 carries for 50 yards. Devin Burnett and Xavier Broyles each added 21 yards rushing.
Carter also had one catch for 17 yards.
Hamilton (2-0) scored the final three touchdowns of the first half to take a 35-14 lead at halftime.
Sulligent will open AHSAA Class 2A, Region 8 play Friday night at Sheffield.
n Oakman 40, Lamar County 8: At Vernon, Alabama, the Wildcats scored on three of their first four possessions and cruised to a victory over the Bulldogs.
For Lamar County (0-2), Marc Duncan hit Ric Rogers for a 58-yard touchdown pass for the only score.
Lamar County will open AHSAA Class 2A, Region 8 play Friday night when it plays host to Phil Campbell.
n Pickens Academy 55, North River Christian 6: At Carrollton, Alabama, Will Jones rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another Friday night to lead the Pirates in their season opener in Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) action.
Jones connected with Grady McGlawn on a 63-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. He added a 66-yard touchdown run and a 2-yard run to help Pickens Academy build a 42-6 halftime lead.
Dylan Fonder had a 10-yard touchdown run. Riley Harcrow added the conversion run. Noah Vail ran for a 7-yard touchdown. Harcrow added a 6-yard scoring run. Jones added the conversion run.
Seth Peeks scored on a 20-yard run, and Hamner Allen added a 14-yard touchdown run for the Pirates, who had 39 carries for 303 yards.
Harcrow led the defense with nine tackles. Jeff White added four. Jones and Dylan Fondren had interceptions.
Pickens Academy (1-0) will travel to Butler, Alabama, on Friday to take on Patrician Academy.
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