Haleyville QB Ivey Passes For 496 Yards In Victory
Haleyville High School senior quarterback Tanner Ivey has seen some highs and lows in his high prep football career for the Lions.
As a sophomore starting quarterback and linebacker, he broke his hand in a game that saw then-Fayette County head coach Waldon Tucker become the state’s all-time career wins leader. As a junior, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, said his dad Mike Ivey, and lost a lot of weight as he continued to play the dual role of quarterback and linebacker.
This season, however, new head coach Mike Heaton introduced a new offensive scheme that would spread the field and allow Ivey and his teammates to throw the football more. Heaton also decided to take Ivey off his linebacker post and use him only when necessary on defense as an additional defensive back.
Friday night that strategy came to full fruition as Ivey completed 24-of-38 passes for 496 yards and six touchdowns as the Lions beat Priceville 68-37. Leading only 42-28 at the half, Ivey and his teammates outscored the Bulldogs 26-0 in the third quarter before exiting the game for good with 1:32 remaining in the period. The performance earned him the AHSAA Prep Spotlight for Week 7.
“Tanner was injured the week before against Brooks,” said Heaton. “We had made up our minds that we would spread the field and throw a little more. Tanner has worked so hard, is a great leader and it all just kind of came together. It was an incredible performance by him and our offense. He’s a tough kid and probably didn’t throw for 500 yards in either of the two previous seasons. He is now 104-of-169 on the year for 1,563 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s only thrown four interceptions.”
The 496 yards passing ranks ninth all-time and is the top single-game performance in the state this season. The record (565 yards) was set by Chris Smelley of American Christian in the Class 1A semifinals in 2005. Seven other 500-yard plus performances have also been recorded in the AHSAA Record Book.
Ivey’s favorite target was Matt Smith, a 5-6 receiver, with five catches for 117 yards and two TDs (54 and 17 yards). Ben Richards also had a 79-yard TD reception, Dakota Rushing had a 67-yarder, Colby Roberts hauled in a 2-yarder and Brody Sherrill raced 41 yards for another score.
Ironically, Ivey’s only pass interception was returned for a touchdown by Priceville.
Haleyville finished with 625 total yards.
Ivey’s performance edged out a strong defensive effort by Cedar Bluff (7-0). The Tigers limited Donoho to minus-48 yards rushing in a 53-9 win. The rushing total was best defensive effort in the state since Greensboro limited Uniontown to minus-67 yards to set the state record in 1977.
Levi Mintz supplied the offense by completing 17-of-23 pass attempts for 327 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for another score.
In other top performances reported last weekend:
MITCH STULTS, HAMILTON: The senior quarterback was 13-of-14 passing for 263 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for 45 yards and two scores and added eight tackles and two interceptions on defense as the Aggies beat Winfield 51-28. Stults returned one of his picks for a touchdown. With the performance, he moves to within 126 yards of the AHSAA career all-purpose yardage record. Hamilton plays at Winston County this Friday night.
KRISTIAN JONES, HACKLEBURG: The Panthers’ freshman running back ran for 351 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries in a 40-16 win over Phillips.
NICK MULLENS, SPAIN PARK: Completed 40-of-46 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-13 win over Oak Mountain. He had a string of nine consecutive completions and another string of 12 straight completions. His 40 completions set a new Class 6A record and ranks second all-time for all AHSAA classes.
CODY O’TOOLE, ONEONTA: The quarterback was 19-of-25 passing for 308 yards with four touchdowns – upping his season total to 1,600 yards and 25 touchdowns – as the unbeaten Redskins (7-0) beat Fairview 59-21. Alvin Scott had seven catches for 105 yards and two scores, two interceptions for 74 yards and another TD. He now has 13 TD receptions on the season. Jalen Johnson also had five receptions for 132 yards and two scores to give him nine on the year.
ARDARIUS STEWART, FULTONDALE: The Wildcats quarterback led Fultondale to a 59-36 win over Vincent with 233 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 25 carries. He also passed for a sixth TD and intercepted a pass in the end zone to prevent a Yellow Jackets score. His TD runs covered 34, 15, 1, 37 and 3 yards. Stewart connected with Kristopher Lewis on a 55-yard TD pass and finished 2-of-7 for 60 yards.
DAMAUNTEY JOHNSON, VINCENT: Was 9-of-12 passing for 234 yards and two TDs in the Jackets’ 59-36 loss to Fultondale. Teammate Jace Green had three receptions for 172 yards and TDs covering 72 and 87 yards.
JOEL POE, SPANISH FORT: The quarterback was 22-of-28 passing for 307 yards and three touchdowns as the Toros (6-1) beat Vigor 38-30. Poe’s TDs covered 6, 3 and 11 yards.
NATHAN TURNER, PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN: Ran 26 times for 207 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-12 win over Houston County. Nick McAllister also had 17 tackles on defense.
ANTHONY ROBINSON, LINDEN: The Patriots quarterback threw five touchdown passes and scored on a 56-yard punt return in Linden’s 58-0 victory over Marengo. Robinson completed 13-of-16 passes for 262 yards.
LUCAS WEBB, TUSCALOOSA COUNTY: The defensive back scored on interception returns of 70 and 27 yards in a 35-13 win over Minor.
CLANCY BROWN, BERRY: Had 16 tackles and two sacks in a 22-6 win over Lynn. Terrance Hollingsworth also gained 145 yards rushing on18 carries with a 54-yard scoring run. He added three catches for 20 yards and a 15-yard TD reception and also threw a 70-yard TD pass. The win was the 70th for head coach Danny Raines at Berry, making him the school’s all-time winningest coach. Berry has had eight straight winning seasons and seven playoff berths since Raines took over the program in 2003.
C.J. JONES, COLLINSVILLE: The senior quarterback completed 11-of-17 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns as Collinsville edged previously unbeaten Spring Garden 45-41. The touchdown passes covered 19, 30, 9 and 6 yards. The final TD came with 56 seconds remaining. Jones also intercepted a Spring Garden pass at his own 28-yard line with 23 seconds left to seal the win. Teammate David Hernandez was 6-of-6 on extra points, kicked a 35-yard field goal and caught a TD pass for the Panthers.
FORREST LIVINGSTON, SPRING GARDEN: The senior running back carried 34 times for 258 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-41 loss to Collinsville. His TDs covered 27, 41, 3 and 8 yards.
TYLER VANN, NORTH SAND MOUNTAIN: Completed 18-of-25 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns as North Sand Mountain downed rival Ider 29-20. Vann’s scoring passes covered 20 and 35 yards. He also ran for TDs of 15 and 7 yards.
STEPHON MOORE, FORT PAYNE: The senior cornerback picked off two passes and returned both for touchdowns as the Wildcats downed Columbia 57-0. The first return covered 70 yards and the second was good for 65. Moore also had two tackles, one pass broken up and a fumble recovery.
JOHN DAVID JENNINGS, GAYLESVILLE: Rushed for 138 yards on 22 carries and scored three first-half touchdowns to lead the Trojans to a 21-6 victory at Woodville. On defense Jennings also had nine tackles, including one for lost yardage.
C.J. SAVAGE, PIEDMONT: Caught four passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the unbeaten Bulldogs' 49-7 victory at Susan Moore.
TOBY PEE, SARDIS: Rushed 23 times for 165 yards and three touchdowns, caught six passes for 115 yards and a TD and threw for the winning touchdown in the Lions' 48-40 win over St. Clair County.
AUSTIN MILLS, COOSA CHRISTIAN: Rushed for 244 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries in the Conquerors' 13-7 win over Shades Mountain Christian.
JONATHAN FORD, WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN: Completed 18-of- 25 passes, including 10-for-10 in the second half, for 277 yards and a touchdown in the Warriors' 31-20 win over Sand Rock. Ford also ran 12 times for 52 yards and two scores.
CLARK QUISENBERRY, ENTERPRISE: The Wildcats quarterback accounted for 277 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winning 9-yard TD pass to Tyrell Lane with two seconds left on a fourth-and-9 play to give Enterprise a 27-24 win over Dothan. Quisenberry threw for 171 yards with two TDs and rushed for 106 yards on 13 carries, including a 47-yard touchdown run.
ZACH WALKER, G.W. LONG: Walker rushed for 220 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns (49 and 60 yards) and also had 11 tackles and an interception on defense in a 41-20 win over Cottonwood. Teammate Stetson Payne, the Rebels’ quarterback, rushed for 170 on 19 carries with TD runs of 7 and 18 yards.
MARQUAVIUS KING, ABBEVILLE: The Yellow Jackets quarterback threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns in Abbeville’s 40-22 win over Barbour County.
COURTNEY DOWNING, CHARLES HENDERSON: Rushed for 261 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries as the Trojans beat Headland 73-6.
RAHEEM PEARSON, PIKE COUNTY: Pearson rushed for 236 yards and four touchdowns, pacing the Bulldogs to a 47-34 win over Montgomery Catholic.
SETH ROBERTS, ARITON: Roberts collected 14 tackles, including a quarterback sack, in Ariton’s 27-12 win over Wicksburg.
DAVID WINSLETT, BEAUREGARD: Was 10-of-14 passing for 187 yards and three touchdowns and added 76 yards rushing on six carries as Beauregard beat St. James 41-7.
KARTEZ CARR, ST. CLAIR COUNTY: Upped his season rushing total to 1,403 yards and 13 touchdowns with a 29-carry, 294-yard performance in the Saints’ 48-40 loss to Sardis. Carr also had three receptions for 36 yards and a fourth TD plus a 37-yard kickoff return to finish with an all-purpose total of 387 yards. He has scored seven two-point conversions on the year.
JAMARCUS JUNE, LUVERNE: Piled up 231 yards rushing on 24 carries and scored twice as the Tigers beat defending 2A state champion Elba 26-21. He also returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown, added 12 tackles on defense and punted four times for a 35-yard average. He also raced 20 yards one other time on a fake punt.
CHASE CHEANEY, HORSESHOE BEND: The quarterback was 18-of-23 passing for 238 yards and two touchdowns and added two rushing TDs in the Generals’ 56-28 win over Prattville Christian. Teammate Cory Battle also had 23 carries for 166 yards and three TDs, returned a kickoff 85 yards for a fourth score and caught two passes for 60 yards.
KALEB BECK, DADEVILLE: Was 13-of-16 passing for 245 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 55 yards and another score in the Tigers’ 33-6 win over Beulah.
TYWONE STEWART, REELTOWN: Ran for 266 yards and four touchdowns on 17 carries in the Rebels’ 34-10 win over Montgomery Academy.
JALEN WASHINGTON, LANETT: Caught four passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 33-27 win over Randolph County. He caught the game-winning score with 47 seconds left before intercepting a pass a few seconds later to seal the victory.
READY SWANIGAN, MARION COUNTY: Returned two punts for touchdowns of 68 and 60 yards and rushed for 98 yards on four carries with scores covering 4 and 58 yards in the unbeaten Red Raiders’ 56-7 win over South Lamar. Swanigan finished with 143 punt return yards on three returns and totaled 241 all-purpose yards on just seven touches with four TDs.
DEVANT’E WILLIAMS, MOODY: Ran 10 times for 201 with touchdowns covering 60 and 78 yards and teammate Michael Barron accounted for three TDs in a 63-35 win over Springville.
TERRELL WOODS, BOAZ: The senior defensive end had 10 tackles with three sacks and six stops resulting in losses as Boaz nipped Southside-Gadsden 27-13. Woods also caused a fumble. Teammate Ryan Smith also returned an interception 56 yards to give the Pirates the lead for good at 20-13 and finished with nine tackles.
DAKE RIVERS, BEAUREGARD: Recorded 15 tackles and teammate Courtney Collins had 13 in the Hornets’ 41-7 win over St. James. Rivers also caused one fumble and had two tackles for losses while Collins had three tackles resulting in lost yardage.
DANTE REESE, HANCEVILLE: Spearheaded a defense that forced six turnovers in a 62-14 win over Winston County. He had two interceptions. Teammate Sheldon Lewis also returned a third interception 45 yards for a touchdown for the Bulldogs.
TY JONES, VINEMONT: The running back ran 19 times for 224 yards, eclipsing the 200-yard mark for the third straight week and fifth time this season as the Eagles beat Good Hope 33-12. Jones had four touchdowns covering 8, 50, 65 and 37 yards.
JOHN EVERETT, ADDISON: The quarterback completed 6-of-7 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-7 win over Sumiton Christian. Jesse Seals caught both TD passes (86 and 46 yards) and had a 57-yard punt return to set up another score.
LEVI ALDRIDGE, ADDISON: Had two of the Bulldogs’ three fumble recoveries and returned both of them for touchdowns – a 68-yarder and a 30-yarder – as Addison beat Sumiton Christian 47-7.
GEOFFREY BRAMBLETT, LOCUST FORK: Was 19-of-39 passing for 299 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 61 yards on 15 carries in the Hornets’ 58-34 loss to Douglas. He is now 129-of-219 passing on the year for 1,607 yards and 21 touchdowns and has 536 yards rushing and nine more scores. Teammate Taylor Bentley caught 10 passes for 169 yards and four TDs.
KEENAN LEWIS, DOUGLAS: Had 19 carries for 225 yards and one TD in a 58-34 win over Locust Fork.
HAYDEN STEPHENS, TANNER: Was one of three Rattlers running backs to go over 100 yards rushing in Tanner’s 46-20 win over Sheffield. Stephens had 199 yards on 25 carries with scoring runs of 1, 38 and 4 yards. Fred Rich had 108 yards on 14 carries with TDs covering 13, 2 and 28 yards while Jonathon Fletcher gained 111 yards on eight carries and added an interception on defense. Rich recorded eight tackles.
WILL BREWSTER, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Completed 12-of-15 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns (53 and 69 yards) in less than two full quarters of action in the 24-0 win over Hewitt-Trussville. Brewster went out in the second quarter with an injury and did not return.
CHARLES BUCHANON, PLEASANT GROVE: Carried 20 times for 221 yards and two touchdowns (57 and 12 yards) and added three catches for 42 yards, including a 25-yard scoring reception, in a 36-22 win over Fairfield.
RONNIE CLARK, CALERA: Accounted for 231 of the team’s 314 yards in a 24-16 win over Bibb County. Clark ran 23 times for 189 yards and two touchdowns (15 and 7 yards) and caught seven passes for 42 yards. Sheldon Nixon led the defense with 12 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
BROOKS GARRETT, PINSON VALLEY: Was 10-of-13 passing for 157 yards and five touchdowns and added an 80-yard scoring run in a 66-32 win over Curry.
MICHAEL POWERS, HOOVER: Had eight receptions for 204 and two touchdowns and added a fumble recovery to help the Bucs beat Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 31-14.
KENNY SMITH, CORNER: Caught 11 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns (65, 33 and 13 yards) as Corner beat Jemison 24-21. Quarterback Blake Byrd was 14-of-24 passing for 276 yards. His 13-yard TD connection with Smith with 43.7 seconds remaining gave the Yellow Jackets the come-from-behind victory.
HUNTER PATTERSON, CLAY-CHALKVILLE: Registered 13 tackles in a 21-14 overtime win over Gadsden City.