AISA 1st ROUND: Lowndes Academy advances; Macon East eliminated

STAFF REPORT

Lowndes Academy 34, Pickens Academy 0 

HAYNEVILLE -- Clayton Hussey returned an interception for a touchdown and Jackson Self added a pair of scores as the Rebels shut out Pickens Academy 34-0 in the first round of the AISA Class A state playoffs on Friday at Rebel Field.

Lowndes improved to 9-3, its best record since reaching the AA finals in 2008 and only the second time since 2008 that the Rebels have reached the semifinals. Lowndes will remain home next week against Sparta, a team that defeated the Rebels 30-14 on Sept. 17 in Hayneville.

Hussey ran 35 yards with the interception for the game’s first score before Tyler Tyus hit Self with a 20-yard pass for a 13-0 lead late in the first quarter.

Self scored on a 5-yard run and Tyus added a 9-yard touchdown run for a 27-0 lead at the half to help the Rebels win their seventh consecutive game.

Tyus completed 12 of 21 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown while running for 55 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. 

Zig Cannon led the Lowndes defense with six tackles, followed by Self with five. 

Patrician Academy 44, Macon East Academy 7

CECIL -- Cecil Perry ran for a pair of touchdowns and caught another to lead the Saints to a resounding 44-7 win over Macon East Academy in the first round of the AISA Class AA state playoffs on Friday at Macon East.

Patrician (7-2) earned a rematch with region rival Autauga in the semifinals next week in Prattville. Autauga defeated Patrician 42-14 on Sept. 10.

Perry ran 35 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter before the Saints exploded for three touchdowns in the second quarter to turn the game into a rout by halftime. Augustus Lewis scored on a 1-yard run, Tate Boykin ran 93 yards for another score and Tyler Lewis threw to Perry for a 20-yard touchdown pass and a 28-0 lead at the half. 

Perry added a 64-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, followed by a 22-yard Boykin run and a 19-yard field goal by Tyler Lewis for a 44-0 lead in the fourth quarter.

Deonte Powell scored on a 7-yard run to help the Knights avoid the shutout.

Perry had 133 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 10 carries, while Boykin had 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns on four carries. Tyler Lewis completed 4 of 6 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.

Gabe Spencer rushed for 96 yards on 20 carries to lead the Knights (7-5), which were plagued by four turnovers. Powell completed 12 of 21 passes for 71 yards. 

Eight Man

Russell Christian 34, Evangel Christian 24

COTTONDALE -- Kam Darden caught a long touchdown pass and set up another score with a catch to lead Russell Christian Academy to a 34-24 win over Evangel Christian Academy in the Christian Football Association Eight-Man Championship at Tuscaloosa Christian on Friday night.

Darden caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Micah Taylor, Johnny Wilson returned an interception for a touchdown and Taylor ran 10 yards for another score to help Russell Christian to a 20-0 halftime lead over the Lions. 

Jeremiah Williams’ 11-yard touchdown reception put Evangel on the board in the third quarter, but Darden answered with an 83-yard reception to set up Taylor’s 2-yard touchdown run on the next play to put Russell Christian back in control with a 28-8 lead.

Evangel Christian scored in the final seconds to cut the deficit to 10 but an onside kick failed and Russell Christian ran out the clock in the battle between the two Alabama Independent School Association teams, who compete in AISA in every sport except varsity football.

Russell Christian improved to 10-0 with the win. Darden was named the most valuable player.

Evangel Christian concluded its second year in eight-man with a 6-3 record, losing twice to Russell Christian. 

AISA SCOREBOARD

CLASS A

Lowndes Academy 34, Pickens Academy 0

Sparta Academy 42, Coosa Valley Academy 14

Jackson Academy 42, Lakeside School 12

Crenshaw Christian 21, South Choctaw 18 

CLASS AA

Chambers Academy 42, Wilcox Academy 14

Escambia Academy 60, Edgewood Academy 7

Autauga Academy 47, Banks Academy 14

Patrician Academy 44, Macon East Academy 7

CLASS AAA

Pike Liberal Arts 55, Clarke Prep 0

Glenwood School 54, Morgan Academy 41

Tuscaloosa Academy 31, Valiant Cross 12

Lee-Scott Academy 21, Bessemer Academy 15

AISA PAIRINGS

Second Round

CLASS A 

Sparta Academy (9-1) at Lowndes Academy (9-3)

Crenshaw Christian (7-3) at Jackson Academy (9-1)

CLASS AA

Escambia Academy (9-1) at Chambers Academy (10-1)

Patrician Academy (8-2) at Autauga Academy (11-0)

CLASS AAA

Glenwood School (6-4) at Pike Liberal Arts (10-1)

Lee-Scott Academy (8-2) at Tuscaloosa Academy (6-4)