Austin QB Moves Into Record Book In Upset Win;
Goes Over 6,000 Career Passing Yards And Into Week 9 Spotlight
Chris Sparkman directed Austin High School to a 28-22 win over previously unbeaten Bob Jones Friday to grab the AHSAA Prep Spotlight for Week 9.
Sparkman completed 13-of-25 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 78 yards and another score to lead the Black Bears to the Class 6A, Region 8 upset victory. In the process, the senior passed current University of Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron on the AHSAA’s all-time career passing list.
Sparkman now has 6,164 yards, 509 completions and 49 touchdowns and another 11 scores rushing with this week’s game remaining.
According to the AHSAA Record Book, 22 players had passed for more than 6,000 career yards entering this season including McCarron, the former St. Paul's quarterback who ranked 22nd with 6,066 yards.
Sparkman’s performance edged out Bradley Darby of Waterloo. The senior running back and linebacker was a key on both sides of the ball in Waterloo’s first win of the season, a 34-0 shutout of Vina. He had 12 carries for 168 yards and touchdowns of 47 and 5 yards and also had 10 tackles, a sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and an onside kick recovery as Waterloo posted its first shutout since renewing football in 2006.
Other top performances reported were:
RUSHING
Nick Gibson, Pinson Valley: Had 38 carries for 368 yards with six touchdown runs covering 4,
15, 23, 78, 5 and 29 yards in the Indians’ 53-34 come-from-behind victory over Moody.
Austin Childers, Red Bay: Rushed 37 times for 340 yards and five touchdowns in Red Bay’s 38-20 win over Colbert Heights.
Kolby Wall, Brindlee Mountain: Carried 45 times for 214 yards, including a 5-yard TD, in a 27-12 loss to Sylvania.
Jamarius Henderson, Dale County: Accounted for six touchdowns in the Warriors' 57-38 win over Geneva. He finished with 217 yards rushing on 18 carries with five touchdowns and had 110 yards on two kick returns – one going for an 81-yard touchdown. Defensively, the linebacker was in on 11 tackles, including two for losses and one for a quarterback sack.
De'mon Anderson, Carroll: Rushed for 247 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-winning 1-yard run with 21 seconds left to give the Eagles a 28-21 win over Rehobeth.
Chance Key, Brilliant: Rushed 22 times for 256 yards and 4 TDs (1,133, and 70 yards) as Brilliant beat Marion County 43-34 to earn a 1A playoff berth for the first time in 10 years.
Thomas Ozmint, Glencoe: Rushed for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 22 carries in the Yellow Jackets’ 44-14 win over Ashville.
Blake Devine, Southside-Gadsden: Scored three rushing touchdowns and a fourth on a punt return as unbeaten Southside downed Brewer 42-0. He rushed just three times for 126 yards with scoring runs of 20, 45 and 40 yards.
T.J. Green, Geneva County: Rushed for 260 yards and three touchdowns, including a 95-yard run, in the Bulldogs' 28-14 win over Kinston. Green also scored on runs of 44 and 3 yards.
Ben Mills, Coosa Christian: Rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in the Conquerors’ 39-24 victory over Woodville.
Austin Harris, Fairview: Carried 26 times for 215 yards, including 180 and four touchdowns in the second half, in a 32-28 victory over Crossville.
Bryant Farley, West Point: Had 245 rushing yards and two touchdowns, a 38-yarder to open the third quarter and a 50-yarder for the game-winner, to lead the Warriors to a 16-14 road victory over East Limestone.
Jermarcus Brown, Pickens County: Rushed for 234 yards on 12 carries and scored five touchdowns in a 34-8 win over Berry. His touchdown runs covered 29, 25, 32, 7 and 92 yards.
Austin Harris, Fairview: Rushed for 225 yards on 25 carries, including 180 and all four of his touchdowns in the second half, to lead the Aggies' to a playoff-clinching 32-28 road win over Crossville. His scores covered 19, 1, 7 and 1 yards.
Xavier McCollum, Winfield: Had 19 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Pirates to a 45-22 win over Good Hope. Xavier Chaney also had seven rush attempts for 100 yards and two touchdowns, including a 92-yard scamper in the first half.
Brontae Harris, Hanceville: Ran for 219 yards and three touchdowns, including a 52-yarder, and returned an interception 53 yards for another score in the Bulldogs' 54-13 road rout of Cordova, which clinched its second region title in three seasons.
Ahmad DeRamus, Gadsden City: Gained 178 yards rushing with one touchdown and passed for two others in the Titans’ 42-41 overtime win over Huntsville.
Jonathon Cuzzort, Valley Head: Carried 14 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns and also caught at 15-yard TD pass as the Tigers downed Collinsville 41-13 to clinch the Class 1A, Region 7 championship, Valley Head’s first since 2007. Cuzzort scored on runs and 5 and 10 yards.
Cole Murphy, Gaylesville: Rushed for 214 yards on just 10 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. He also completed both his pass attempts for 47 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown to Gage Davis, and posted nine tackles (2 for lost yardage) in the Trojans' 49-40 loss to Donoho. Teammate Dylan Mitchell also ran for 94 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns.
PASSING
Andy Jones, Houston Academy: Piled up 302 yards and five touchdowns and led HA on TD drives in six straight possessions before the last possession ended the game in a 41-27 win over Providence Christian. He completed 8-of-11 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 123 yards and two scores.
Brody Meeks, Lynn: Was 18-of-32 passing for 268 yards and five touchdowns while running for 74 more yards and a TD on seven carries in a 49-48 loss to Hubbertville. He finished with 342 yards total offense. He also completed four 2-point conversion passes and added a 2-point conversion run to have a hand in all 48 points for the Bears.
Jase Trotter, Oakman: The quarterback totaled 388 yards of offense in the Wildcats' 42-38 win over Cold Springs. Trotter completed 17-of-21 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed 15 times for 102 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner from 5 yards out with 21 seconds remaining.
Hayden Maples, Fairview: Completed 19-of-25 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown in the Aggies' 32-28 victory over Crossville.
Sebastion Fendley, Good Hope: Completed 15-of-28 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns in the Raiders' 45-22 road loss to Winfield.
Brody White, Crossville: Completed 18-of-25 passes for 233 yards and four touchdowns in a 32-28 loss to Fairview.
Khiran Williams, Dothan: The Tigers quarterback had 173 yards rushing on 17 carries and completed 10-of-18 passes for 104 yards as Dothan beat Foley 20-17.
Jake Maddox, Geraldine: Was 7-of-8 passing for 167 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-14 win over Pisgah. Maddox’s TD passes covered 27, 60 and 45 yards.
PASS RECEIVING
Ben Cagle, Lynn: Pulled down eight receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-48 loss to Hubbertville. He now has 86 catches for 1,360 yards on the year.
Jackson Dennis, Houston Academy: Caught three passes for 91 yards and two TDs and had eight tackles on defense as the Raiders beat Providence Christian 41-27. Dennis recovered a fumble to set up his first touchdown. His TD right before the half covered 70 yards.
Ethan Widner, Fairview: Caught 11 passes for 118 yards as the Aggies won 32-28 over Crossville.
Austin Crumbley, Good Hope: Caught five passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders’ 45-22 loss to Winfield.
D.J. Chapman, Cedar Bluff: Caught two passes for 110 yards and two scores in the Tigers' 62-13 win over Spring Garden.
Cody Henderson, Winston County: Had 108 receiving yards, 52 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the Yellow Jackets' 42-8 win over Vinemont.
DEFENSE
Rashad Roberson, Oneonta: Returned a punt 50 yards for a TD, returned another punt 43 yards for a touchdown, broke up two passes and had four tackles in a 62-14 victory over Sardis.
Hunter Doppler, Corner: The Jackets linebacker had 20 tackles and an interception in a 36-23 loss to Bibb County.
Kenyan Dupree, Cherokee County: Intercepted two passes and blocked a punt in the Warriors' 28-7 win at Hokes Bluff.
G.Q. Harwick, Etowah: Scooped up and returned a fumble for a score and intercepted a pass that resulted in a touchdown in the Blue Devils’ 31-3 win over Boaz.
Lucas Wooten, Sylvania: Intercepted two passes in the final two minutes as the Rams downed Brindlee Mountain 27-12. Wooten returned one of the picks 65 yards for a touchdown and also finished with 15 tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Joseph Bright, Glencoe: was 6-for-6 on extra points and kicked a 33-yard field goal in the Yellow Jackets’ 44-14 win over Ashville.
Tyler Durham, Brilliant: Returned two kickoffs for 148 yards and one TD that covered 80 yards and also had an interception in a 43-34 win over Marion County.