Cold Springs Records First Shutout Since 2004
To Grab First AHSAA Spotlight Of Season
Quarterback Logan Campbell combined an excellent night on offense with strong leadership on defense to help Cold Springs grab the AHSAA Prep Spotlight for Week 1 of the 2013 high school football season with a 34-0 win over Decatur Heritage.
The senior turned just seven carries into a 214-yard, three-touchdown performance as the Eagles posted their first shutout since 2004. Campbell came close to adding two more rushing scores and an interception return for a TD, but all were called back because of penalties.
The last shutout registered by the Panthers came in week 10 of the 2004 season against Good Hope 27-0. That team, finishing 7-4, was the last Cold Springs team to reach the playoffs.
Elliott’s team showed marked improvement last year en route to a 3-7 season which snapped a 35-game losing streak with a season-opening win over Decatur Heritage.
The Cold Springs performance edged out two offensive explosions by Ready Swanigan and Brody Meeks of Class 1A teams Marion County and Lynn, respectively.
Swanigan needed only nine carries to pile up 146 yards and four touchdowns as Marion County rolled up 520 total rushing yards in a 61-31 win over Hackleburg. His scores covered 24, 64, 33 and 6 yards. Teammate Colbey Cole also had an 84-yard TD run, Jared Wallace added a 55-yard touchdown jaunt ad Aaron Pollard scored on a 69-yard run. Swanigan had a fifth TD on a 40-yard interceptions return, and Wallace also returned a punt 60 yards for a TD.
Meeks completed 19-of-25 passes for 344 yards and five touchdowns and also rushed for 222 yards and two more scores in a 47-38 win over Winston County. Meeks led Coach Jon Randolph’s Bears back from a 32-12 halftime deficit and finished with 556 yards total offense and 633 all-purpose yards. Meeks added 67 in return yardage.
He came into the season needing only 2,300 yards to set the state record for all-purpose yardage. His 556 total yards if fifth best in AHSAA history. Jack Poundstone of Trinity Presbyterian set the mark of 614 yards in 2008 against Cordova.
Receiver Ben Cagle was his top receiver, snagging 14 passes for 233 yards and two TDs. He also made two interceptions on defense. The 14 catches ranks tied for 15th all-time for a single game.
Other top performances reported for Week 1 included:
PASSING LEADERS
Bryant Farley, West Point: The three-year starter at quarterback connected with Tristan Dubberly for passing touchdowns of 19 and 48 yards and added a 55-yard score on the ground in a 25-18 win . Farley completed two passes to Lance Ray for 55 yards on a 10-play, 99-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to ice a 25-18 comeback win for the Warriors over Brewer. He got big help from his defense, which had two goal-line stands that stopped the Patriots at the 1-yard line each time. The last stand set up the winning 99-yard march.
Tyler Whalen, Bob Jones: Passed for 267 yards and two TDs (10 and 27 yards) and scored on a 4-yard run as the Patriots beat Northridge 48-20.
Dylan Stone, Glencoe: in his first varsity start at quarterback, Stone finished with 295 total yards in the Yellow Jackets' 29-12 victory over Westbrook Christian. Stone rushed 20 times for 174 yards and a touchdown while throwing for another 121 yards.
Marcellus Butler, Eufaula: Completed 10-of-17 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-14 win over Abbeville. The game was called in the fourth quarter
Jamarcus Ezell, Choctaw County: Finished 14-for-20 passing and for 220 yards and a touchdown and added 107 yards and two touchdowns on 12 rushes in a 19-13 victory.
Santiago Taylor, Aliceville: Threw for 220 yards and four touchdowns in a 43-26 loss to Gordo.
Cole Guffey, Hazel Green: The sophomore quarterback completed 8-of-11 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the Trojans' 51-7 win at Grissom.
RUSHING LEADERS
Lorenzo James, Sparkman: Rushed for 220 yards and a 73-yard touchdown on `15 carries in the Senators’ 28-8 loss to Huntsville.
Troy Dixon, UMS-Wright: Had 34 carries for 234 rushing yards and two TDs in a 49-35 loss to McGill-Toolen. He also passed for one TD and returned a kickoff for another.
Charles Buchannon, Pleasant Grove: Despite playing the first half and just one play in the third quarter, Buchannon rushed for 204 yards on 17 carries and scored five touchdowns in the 42-26 win over Mortimer Jordan. Buchannon scored four rushing touchdowns (1, 1, 3 and 74 yards) and grabbed a 52-yard touchdown reception. He contributed six tackles on defense and added two pass break-ups.
Zach Weldon, G.W. Long: Rushed only six times but scored four touchdowns and rushed for 157 yards on the limited touches in a 55-0 win over Zion Chapel.
Terrance Hollingsworth, Berry: The senior had a hand in all five touchdowns as Berry beat rival Northside 32-28. Hollingsworth scored on runs of 1, 7 and 4 yards, returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Weston Bonner.
Ronnie Clark, Calera: Accounted for 187 yards total offense and five touchdowns, all in the first half, in a 69-0 triumph over Holt. Clark completed 6-of-7 passing attempts for 90 yards and three touchdowns (45, 7 and 11 yards) and ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns (5 and 50 yards) on five attempts. He also caught a pass for 22 yards.
Justin Woolfolk, Montgomery Academy: Ran 13 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ 28-13 win over St. James.
Xavier McCollum, Winfield: Rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown and recorded 12 tackles in a
PASS RECEIVING
Keith Mixon, Shades Valley: Caught seven passes for 159 yards with TDs of 32 and 65 yards in a 38-15 win over Oak Mountain. He also ran for a 71-yard touchdown, finishing with 89 yards on four carries.
Wendell Washington, Samson: Caught six passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 10-yard TD with under four minutes to play, and rushed for 107 yards on six carries with one touchdown in a 33-29 win over Kinston.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Bratcher Underwood, Houston Academy: Was a major weapon in field position in the Raiders' 32-22 win over Geneva. In addition to hitting a 35-yard field goal and 3-of-3 extra points, he punted for a 42.6-yard average on three punts that went inside the 15 (14, 5 and 1 yard lines) and booted all six kickoffs into the end zone, resulting in Geneva starting nine of its 10 possessions at the 20 or inside the 20.
Morgan Finley, Madison County: Kicked a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the game to lift the Tigers past East Limestone 24-21. He booted a 27-yarder earlier in the quarter to set up the winning kick.
Blake Devine, Southside-Gadsden: In less than half a quarter of action, Devine was responsible for 181 all-purpose yards in the Panthers' 35-14 win over Hokes Bluff. Devine returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and ran for a 95-yard score by the 6:41 mark of the first quarter.
Ben Patterson, Priceville: Scored on a 75-yard kickoff return and a 55-yard punt return in the Bulldogs’ 48-35 win over West Morgan.
Desmon Turner, Fort Payne: Returned two punts for touchdowns (76 yards and 64 yards) and caught a 30-yard TD pass in Fort Payne's 46-0 victory over North Jackson.
DEFENSE
Tranealius Abrams, Blount: Intercepted three passes in the Leopards’ 44-0 victory over LeFlore.
Mac Wilson, Carver-Montgomery: Recorded three sacks and recovered a fumble to pace the Wolverines defense as Carver beat Prattville 20-7.
Tony Bridges, McGill-Toolen: Returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and returned an interception 64 yards for a game-clinching, fourth-quarter TD in a 49-35 victory over UMS-Wright.
Nick McCallister, Providence Christian: Recorded 19 tackles, including two for losses, and combined with two other players to stop a game-tying two-point conversion with 13 seconds left to help preserve a 35-33 win over New Brockton.
Tyler Smith, Slocomb: Recorded 13 tackles, three for losses and one for a sack, and had a fumble recovery in the Red Tops' 26-0 shutout of Rehobeth. Teammate Chad Peacock had a team-high 15 tackles with three for losses.
Mason Brown, Glencoe: Recorded 14 tackles (two for a loss), a sack and a fumble recovery in the Yellow Jackets' 29-12 victory over Westbrook Christian.