ALICEVILLE, Ala. — The Aliceville High School remembered being shut out 13-0 last season at county rival Pickens County.
The Yellow Jackets avenged the loss in a big way Friday night, chewing up 356 rushing yards en route to a 38-14 win at Memorial Field.
“We just did what we do best,” Aliceville coach Eddie Hill said. “We are a power football team and just try to stay together and run the ball like we are supposed to do and make sure our young men have class in everything that they do.”
Most of Aliceville”s rushing attack was put on the shoulders of senior running back Marquis Mayhew. The 6-foot, 190-pounder carried 26 times for 236 yards and a touchdown to help the Yellow Jackets improve to 4-1.
“He”s a heck of a good back,” Hill said of Mayhew. “He”s averaging about 114 yards a game, but he”s just got to learn how to hold onto the ball. I think the line came together tonight and we played some good aggressive football.”
Aliceville quarterback Javaris Dancy completed only 2 of 7 passes for 40 yards and an interception but added two rushing scores to help the cause.
Fullback Jeremy McMullen, a 260-pound eighth-grader, hauled in both of Dancy”s passes for 40 yards out of the backfield.
Marquise Colvin also had a career night for the Yellow Jackets, rushing for two touchdowns and intercepting two passes for a defense that held Pickens County to -25 rushing yards.
Pickens County struck first in the heated rivalry following an 11-yard punt by the Yellow Jackets on the first possession. The Tornadoes took over at midfield and moved into scoring position following a 38-yard completion from Demarcus Hall to LaGlendale Hughes down to the 8-yard line.
Hughes punched it in on the next play to give Pickens County a 6-0 lead.
But the Yellow Jackets tied the score before the end of the opening quarter when Mack Burden intercepted Hall and raced 48 yards for the touchdown.
Aliceville”s defense contributed again when Colvin intercepted Hall on the first play of the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets took the lead four plays later when Mayhew scored from 10 yards.
Colvin”s second interception on the next drive also led to an Aliceville touchdown. Dancy scored on a 2-yard quarterback sneak to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 18-6 at halftime.
Aliceville padded its lead on its first possession of the second half. The Yellow Jackets marched 56-yards on nine consecutive rushing plays and scored on Colvin”s 6-yard run on a pitch left. Tremaine Jackson kicked the extra point to make it 25-6.
Pickens County stayed alive when Hall leaped in front of a receiver and made a one-handed catch on a Dancy pass down the right sideline. He secured the ball, reversed field, and went 93 yards for the touchdown.
Hughes plowed in for the conversion to give the Tornadoes life at 25-14 with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter.
But Aliceville responded on the ensuing drive, going 62 yards in seven plays. Dancy scored untouched on a 5-yard naked bootleg to the left on the final play of the third quarter.
The Yellow Jackets added their final score with less than eight minutes to play when Colvin raced in from 15 yards out.
Pickens County, which played without standout quarterback Deion Curry among others, had only 32 yards offense and turned the ball over four times.
“We felt like there was some things in the passing game we could get,” Pickens County coach Scott Marchant said. “But, to their credit, Aliceville”s defensive backs played well. They made plays on the ball and our receivers didn”t become defenders when the ball was maybe not thrown perfectly. We”ve got a lot to work on, but Aliceville gets the credit because they played awfully good.”
Hughes had 17 yards on 10 carries and two catches for 49 yards to lead the Tornadoes.
Hall was 1 of 4 for 38 yards and three interceptions, while Devonte Simon was 2 of 7 for 19 yards.
Pickens County (4-1) will look to bounce back next week at Autaugaville, while Aliceville will stay at home to play host to Gordo.
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