Vestavia Hills Clinches 300th Victory Of Anderson Era;
Win Earns Week 3 Prep Spotlight For Rebels, Hall of Fame Coach
Vestavia Hills High School downed Huffman 30-8 last Thursday night at Birmingham’s Lawson Field to go to 3-0 on the season. It marked the 300th victory for the Rebels in the Buddy Anderson coaching era.
Anderson, 300-122 in his 36th season at the helm, became the first head football coach in AHSAA history to register 300 wins at the same school. The milestone victory for the legendary coach and Vestavia program grabbed center stage this week in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Prep Spotlight for Week 3.
Receiver Patrick Haywood hauled in four passes for 113 yards with two going for touchdowns covering 27 and 53 yards in the first quarter to take the suspense out of Anderson’s 300th win.
Anderson, a Thomasville native, attended Samford University where he was a member of the Bulldogs football team. He was hired as an assistant coach at Vestavia in 1972 and was elevated to head coach in 1978. His 1979 team won the Class 4A state championship and finished 12-2. The 1998 squad was 15-0 and claimed the Class 6A state title. He was the sixth coach in the school’s history and the other five compiled a collective 27-45-1 record.
His teams have gone 116-43 since 2000 with three semifinal appearances (2002, 2006 and 2007).
Glenn Daniel of Luverne is the AHSAA’s winningest coach with a 302-169-16 record over 46 seasons from 1947-92. He posted 261 wins in 38 seasons at Luverne, including winning the 1991 state 3A championship. His other 41 wins were at Pine Hilll, which is now closed.
Waldon Tucker of Fayette County, who retired following the 2010 season with a 309-126-3 career record, won 284 games in the AHSAA at Gordo and Fayette County with a state championship at each stop – 1980 (Gordo) and 1996 (Fayette). He started his career at a non-member school where his teams recorded 25 victories.
And Jimmy Moore, 305-94-6 overall, was 91-30 at Colbert County after compiling 214-64-6 record while coaching in Mississippi.
Buddy Anderson and his dad Dovey Anderson are both enshrined in the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame. Dovey, who compiled a 182-81-5 head football coaching record at Thomasville, was inducted in the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1991. Dovey played in the first game ever held at Legion Field as a member of the Howard College (now Samford) football team in 1927. The combined 482 wins is the most in AHSAA state history by a father and son combination
AHSAA active coaches closest to compiling 300 wins are Jamie Riggs of T.R. Miller (276-75-0) and Mike Battles, Sr., of Handley (272-155-2). Riggs, in his 25th season at T.R. Miller, is 264-56-0. He was 12-19 in three seasons at Opp prior to his stint at the Brewton school.
Battles has won 201 games in Alabama while coaching at Pell City, Walter Wellborn, Hueytown and Handley. His 2011 team at Handley finished 15-0 and won the 3A state title. He coached four seasons at Irwin County, Ga., with an undefeated 13-0 team in 1975. He also coached seven seasons in Mississippi with stops at Pascagoula, Gautier and Biloxi. His 1996 team at Gautier was 9-0 and his 1997 team finished 10-1.
Other highlights reported for Week 3 included:
RUSHING
Jamarius Henderson, Dale County: Rushed for 338 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries and added an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, helping the Warriors overcome a 14-13 halftime deficit en route to a 56-26 win over Pike County. His first TD run covered 80 yards in the first half. He added seven tackles (two for losses) and forced a fumble on defense.
Ready Swanigan, Marion County: Helped the Red Raiders roll up 516 yards rushing with 18 carries for 227 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-22 win over Parrish. The senior’s TD runs covered 18, 23 and 64 yards. He also scored on a 10-yard pass reception and a spectacular 100-yard interception return in the third quarter to give him five TDs on the night.
Chris Carr, Donoho: Was a perfect 7-of-7 passing for 179 yards and one TD and rushed for 262 yards on eight carries with four scores as the Falcons beat Jacksonville Christian 55-33. His TD runs were 31, 58, 57 and 59 yards. He finished with 441 total yards.
A.J. Travis, Northside: Rushed for 232 yards on 34 carries and scored on runs of 17, 15 and 20 yards in a 28-21 victory over American Christian Academy. Travis also made an interception.
Jordan Bentley, Guntersville: Rushed 20 times for 241 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-6 win over Fairview. His five TDs tied a school record.
Hayden Stephens, Tanner: Rushed 15 times for 232 yards and four TDs (64, 5, 70 and 3 yards) as the Rattlers beat Cherokee 49-13.
Quenton Samuels, W.S. Neal: Rushed 17 times for 290 yards and four TDs and added a two-point conversion run in a 48-2 victory over Cottage Hill Christian.
Tyler Rogers, Mobile Christian: Ran 14 times for 224 yards – including 214 in the first half – and had scoring runs of 80, 67, 3 and 8 yards in a 42-14 victory over Leroy.
Dalton Parks, DAR: The sophomore running back rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries as the Patriots won their homecoming game over Butler 43-6.
Reggie Hall, Opelika: Ran for 195 yards and three TDs on 24 carries and added one reception for 38 yards and a score in a 36-20 win over Central-Phenix City.
Martavious Brown, Notasulga: Ran six times for 228 yards with four touchdowns of 29, 72, 66 and 61 yards in a 60-27 victory at Verbena.
Maceo Booker, James Clemens: Ran for 182 yards on 27 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead James Clemens to a 34-12 win over Sparkman.
Devonte’ Simon, Pickens County: Had three rushing touchdowns, threw for two and scored on a 75-yard interception return in a 78-12 victory over Lynn.
Tre Nation, Leeds: Had 32 carries for 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns as the Green Wave beat Midfield 30-15. He also tackled a Midfield runner in the end zone for a safety in the third period.
Jeremy Mobley, Greene County: Piled up 146 yards and three touchdowns rushing and caught a touchdown pass in a 48-6 win over Holt.
Deacon Medders, Hale County: Rushed for 169 yards, scored one touchdown and threw for two more scores in a 19-12 victory over Cold Springs. He also had an interception in the final seconds to seal the win.
Delontae Williams, Cedar Bluff: Rushed for 155 yards on 12 carries and scored five touchdowns (4, 3, 20, 68 and 55 yards) in the Tigers' 49-20 victory at Coosa Christian.
Torrey Green, Hanceville: The senior running back led the Bulldogs to a 26-12 win over Hamilton with 186 yards rushing on 16 carries. He scored three touchdowns on runs of 5, 22 and 74 yards.
Tyler Boland, Vinemont: Had 164 rushing yards on eight carries with TD runs of 47, 46 and 43 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury in the Eagles’ 19-15 win over Cordova.
T.J. Pratt, Hubbertville: Scored the game-winning touchdown with 4:26 left to beat Berry 20-16. He finished with 138 rushing yards and two TDs.
PASSING
Riley Eisner, Good Hope: Stepping in when senior quarterback Sebastion Fendley was injured in the first quarter. The freshman responded by completing 19-of-30 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns the rest of the way in a 41-27 win over Winston County.
Santiago Taylor, Aliceville: The freshman quarterback completed 14-of-19 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns in a 46-3 win over Sulligent.
Cooper Sellers, Houston County: Completed 13-of-17 passes for 270 yards and three TDs and rushed for one score as the Lions beat Wicksburg 27-13 to snap a 12-game losing streak.
Cory Gill, Cottonwood: Was 18-of-29 passing for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the Bears’ 35-7 win over Providence Christian.
Tyler Glenn, Cullman: Completed 11-of-19 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns — 15-yard screen pass to Garrett Crider, 16-yard catch-and-run by Seth Donaldson and 51-yard shovel pass to Mason Jones — in the Bearcats’ 35-24 win over West Point.
Dewayne Charleston, Linden: Was 9-of-10 passing for 221 yards and three touchdowns in a 53-17 win over St. Luke’s Episcopal.
Ty Sparks, Piedmont: Completed 6-of-14 pass attempts for 173 yards and three touchdowns (53, 63 and 27 yards) and also rushed for 72 yards and a TD on three carries in a 41-7 victory at Glencoe.
Bryant Horn, Benjamin Russell: Was 12-of-16 passing for 147 yards and five touchdowns and added a sixth score rushing in a 58-6 win over Booker T. Washington. The Wildcats’ quarterback has accounted for 10 TDs in the last two games despite playing little more than a half in each contest.
Garrett Miller, Ardmore: Threw a 2-point conversion pass in overtime of a 36-34 win over North Jackson. Miller also scored on runs of 29 and 14 yards, threw an 11-yard touchdown and ran in a 2-point try to force OT.
Ryan Sullivan, Falkville: Was 20-of-24 passing for 216 yards and four touchdowns, rushed for 67 yards and two scores and had five tackles on defense in Falkville’s 49-6 win over Appalachian.
Tre Smith, Saks: The senior accounted for five touchdowns in the first half (two rushing, two passing and one on an interception return) as the Wildcats posted a 46-7 win over Susan Moore. He finished with 112 yards rushing on six carries and was 5-of-10 passing for 123 yards.
Johnny Tubbs, Akron: Ran for a touchdown, threw two touchdown passes and caught a touchdown pass in a 56-13 win over Holy Spirit.
PASS RECEIVING
Devonte Wells, Autaugaville: Had eight catches for 178 yards and TDs of 60, 55 and 30 yards in a 26-20 win over Billingsley.
Demarcus Bingham, Foley: Caught eight passes for 151 yards and a 30-yard TD in a 32-24 loss to Daphne.
Ben Mills, Coosa Christian: Had 10 catches for 112 yards in the Conquerors' 49-20 loss to Cedar Bluff.
C.J. Savage, Piedmont: Caught two passes for 116 yards, both for touchdowns (53 and 63 yards), in the Bulldogs' 41-7 win at Glencoe.
Darian Coleman, Saks: Had four catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns (32 and 67 yards) in a 46-7 win over Susan Moore.
D'Andre Mack, Hartselle: Had two catches for 105 yards with an 8-yard TD reception before leaving the Tigers’ 14-6 win over Athens with an injury. He also rushed for 37 yards on five carries.
JaTevin Madison, Fayette County: Caught five passes for 101 yards and scored on receptions of 15 and 59 yards in a 21-7 win over Gordo.
DEFENSE
Dailyn Patton, Tuscaloosa County: The defensive lineman made two tackles in the end zone for a pair of safeties in an 18-0 victory over Hueytown.
Tyrris Carr, J.O. Johnson: Picked off two passes, returning the second 40 yards for a score, in the Jaguars' 34-7 win over Pope John Paul II.
Waid Miller, Hartselle: Had 17 tackles in the Tigers’ 14-6 win over Athens. Teammate Jorden Robinson also had 11 stops.
Caleb Wooten, Cottonwood: Had 13 tackles and blocked a punt that he recovered in the end zone for a touchdown in the Bears’ 35-7 win over Providence Christian.
Taylor Lewis, Houston Academy: Registered 18 tackles with a quarterback sack and a caused fumble in the Raiders' 27-13 win over G.W. Long. Teammate Shelby White was in on 15 overall tackles, including a key stop on fourth-and-2 at the 3 right before the half that prevented one Rebels score.
Tim Harton, Lamar County: Scored on a 67-yard interception return and a 61-yard run in a 45-0 win over R.C. Hatch.
Cole Murphy, Gaylesville: Recorded 12 tackles, rushed for 79 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown and completed 3 passes for 47 yards and a score in the Trojans' 43-28 loss to Ragland.
Taylor Garrison, Robertsdale: Returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown and sealed the game with an interception as Robertsdale held off Northview 28-26.
Quintin Downey, Spring Garden: Recovered a pair of fumbles in the Panthers' 34-7 loss at Valley Head.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jalyn Martin, Collinsville: Scored touchdowns on punt returns of 64 and 55 yards and on runs of 25 and 58 yards, all in the first half of the Panthers' 35-12 homecoming victory over Woodville.
Riley Wiggins, Hartselle: Averaged 38.1 yards on nine punts, six of which were downed inside the 20-yard line, to help the Tigers nip Athens 14-6.
Brandon Byner, Bessemer City: Returned a punt 82 yards for a score, ran 91 yards for a touchdown and caught a 61-yard scoring pass as Bessemer City beat Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 37-9.