PREP RECAP (Week 6): Catholic pounds MA; Pike Road tames Park Crossing; Wetumpka beats arch rival; Lowndes dominates in win
COMBINED REPORTS
The Montgomery Catholic Knights cruised past the Montgomery Academy Eagles, 72-15, on Friday night in their first meeting since last year’s semifinal matchup in the 3A state playoffs.
In last year’s game, which ended in a 10-7 victory and a state finals berth for the Eagles, the Knights ran into rare offensive struggles and put just one touchdown on the board.
Catholic junior quarterback Caleb McCreary made sure that would not happen on Friday.
McCreary said Catholic didn’t prepare any differently for this year’s meeting but still remembers the sting of that loss.
He accounted for seven touchdowns in the win, completing 6 of 8 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 251 yards and five touchdowns on 10 carries.
“We just kept doing the same thing, and we remember how the loss felt, and that’s the only thing we kept from last year,” said McCreary. “We just remember how it felt, and we came out and played hard.”
The result was a resounding victory over their Capital City Conference rivals. Last year’s 42-0 Catholic win was the largest in the history of the series, but Friday night’s game broke all the records. It not only stands as the most points ever scored in the 78-year history of Catholic’s program, it also represents the most points ever allowed in the 52-year history of Montgomery Academy’s football program.
“We executed well for about 10 minutes and then the wheels came off, but that’s a credit to them and they play so fast,” said Montgomery Academy coach Robert Johnson. “Our mindset when we came in here was to be competitive, and it didn’t turn out that way, so we’ll get back to work, and get ready for next week.”
Montgomery Academy (3-4) cashed in a turnover to grab an 8-7 lead before Catholic rebounded to score three quick touchdowns for a 28-8 lead. A touchdown late in the first half made it 49-15 and the Knights scored on the first play of the third quarter to extend the lead.
The Knights look a lot like last year’s team, outscoring opponents 407-57 so far, but both Montgomery Academy and Catholic moved up to 4A while Andalusia dropped from 5A, creating a competitive 4A Region 2 that has Kirk Johnson’s attention.
“We’re not focused on last season, we’re focusing on this season with new teams, new region, new division, a new everything, so we’ve got to worry about what’s going on this year,” said the Catholic head coach. “We wanted to make a statement and we want to be the best versions of ourselves this year.”
Running back E.J. Babies, who has been hampered for much of the season with injuries, had 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns in nine carries.
The Knights (7-0) moved a step closer toward clinching a playoff berth, remaining tied atop the region standings with Andalusia at 4-0. Catholic will close out the regular season with three region games, facing Bullock County at home next Friday before traveling to Dale County on Oct. 14 and settling the region championship on Oct. 21 at Andalusia.
Montgomery Academy (3-4), meanwhile, also closes out the season with three region games that will determine whether the Eagles earn a postseason berth for the 10th consecutive year.
MA dropped to 2-2 in region play, falling to fifth place behind Booker T. Washington (3-1) and Slocomb (3-2). The Eagles play host to BTW next Friday at McLemore Field before traveling to Slocomb on Oct. 14 and Geneva on Oct. 21.
Pike Road 52, Park Crossing 8
PIKE ROAD -- Anthony Rogers rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns on eight carries to lead Pike Road to a region victory over Park Crossing in the first-ever meeting of the two programs.
Pike Road (4-2) won its fourth consecutive game in its first season as a 6A program and its sixth season overall. Park Crossing (0-6) remains winless in its ninth year as a football program.
Pike Road quarterback Kaleb Foster completed 5 of 6 passes for 26 yards and a touchdown while running for another touchdown. Foster’s touchdown pass came on a 4-yard completion to Brennan Tormey.
Anthony Thornton added a 3-yard touchdown run for the Patriots.
Defensively, Cody Markham had eight tackles, Trey Cavers had a pair of interceptions and Amarion Robinson had an interception.
The win allowed Pike Road to pull even with G.W. Carver atop the 6A Region 2 standings at 3-0. Wetumpka is in third at 3-1, followed by Lanier at 2-1 and Stanhope Elmore at 1-2. Park Crossing and Russell County are tied for sixth place at 0-4.
Pike Road can clinch a playoff spot next week at home against Russell County, then will close out the region race with games at Stanhope Elmore and G.W. Carver.
Park Crossing will play host to Davidson next Friday at Cramton Bowl.
Holtville 49, Jemison 16
HOLTVILLE - Quarterback Keiland Baker was responsible for three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing in the Bulldogs win on Homecoming night on Friday.
Shawn Brackett rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns and also led the team with 41 yards in receptions. Holtville finished with 322 yards in total offense.
The Bulldogs (3-3, 2-1 Class 5A, Region 3) continue region play next week at Marbury.
Wetumpka 21, Stanhope Elmore 16
MILLBROOK - Logan Weighall kicked two field goals and quarterback Nate Rogers ran for a score and passed for another to give Wetumpka a key win over arch-rival Stanhope Elmore on Friday at Foshee-Henderson Stadium.
Jackson Thomas and Davion Thomas scored TDs for the Mustangs. The Stanhope Elmore defense also recorded a safety.
Wetumpka, winners of four straight, improves to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Class 6A, Region 2. Stanhope Elmore falls to 1-5, 1-2.
The Indians play host to G.W. Carver next Friday while Stanhope Elmore travels to Sidney Lanier.
AISA ROUNDUP
Lowndes Academy 37, Clarke Prep 6
HAYNEVILLE -- Clayton Hussey threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as the Rebels won their fifth consecutive game with an impressive 37-6 rout of Clarke Prep on Friday night at Mac Champion Stadium.
Hussey completed 6 of 11 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns, passing 43 yards to Cooper Dansby for a 9-0 lead and answering the Gators’ only score with a pair of touchdown passes covering 30 yards to Scott Stinson and 34 yards to Luke Lovell.
Hussey scored the game’s final touchdown on a 74-yard run. He had 126 rushing yards on eight carries and contributed three tackles and an interception on defense.
Kasen Dismukes had 52 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries for the Rebels. Defensively, Dansby had 12 tackles.
Clarke Prep’s lone touchdown came on a 2-yard run by Trace Phillips, who finished with 101 yards on 20 carries.
Lowndes (5-1) will play host to Patrician next Thursday, while Clarke Prep (4-2), which had a four-game winning streak snapped in the loss, will travel to Birmingham next Friday to play Banks Academy in a AA Region 2 game.
Morgan Academy 38, Bessemer Academy 0
BESSEMER -- T.B. Clements completed 9 of 10 passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns as the Senators jumped on Bessemer quickly, scoring all of the game’s points in the first half on Friday night.
Rhyne Williams had a touchdown and 65 yards on five receptions, while returning an interception for another score.
John Allen Ingram rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, C.J. Crocker added a 22-yard touchdown reception from Clements and Allen Lightfoot had two receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Morgan (4-2) won for the third consecutive week, improving to 3-1 in AAA play with a home game next Friday against Autauga. Bessemer (1-5) dropped to 1-3 in AAA play with a home game next Friday against Lee-Scott.
Fort Dale Academy 44, Monroe Academy 6
GREENVILLE -- Garrett Simmons rushed for 164 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 15 carries as the Eagles snapped a four-game skid with a win over Monroe Academy on Friday.
Alan Alvarez had three touchdowns and 115 yards on four receptions, scoring the game’s first touchdown on a 47-yard pass from Everette Black, then adding a 30-yard field goal and a 42-yard touchdown reception from Ethan Alford to break open the game.
Alvarez added an interception return for a touchdown and a 30-6 halftime lead, then scored the first touchdown of the second half on a 20-yard reception from Alford.
Fort Dale (2-4) improved to 1-3 in AAA play and will travel to Montgomery next Friday to face Valiant Cross in a region game. Monroe (2-5) dropped its third consecutive game and fell to 1-3 in AAA play. The Volunteers travel to Glenwood next Friday.
Macon East Academy 48, Crenshaw Christian 29
LUVERNE -- Deonte Powell threw for three touchdowns and Gabe Spencer ran for two more as the Knights ran past Crenshaw Christian 48-29 on Thursday night.
The game was originally scheduled for Friday, but was moved up a day because of the threat of inclement weather from Hurricane Ian.
Powell completed 9 of 13 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. Sanders Manning had two of those receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown and had a second touchdown on a 97-yard interception return. Jacob Wilson had four catches for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Spencer had 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 12 carries.
Defensively, Dalton Nickles had 14 tackles and forced a fumble to lead the Knights. Thaddeus McKinney had 10 tackles, Hunter Timmerman had eight and Wilson had six.
Macon East (5-1) will play host to Edgewood in a Class AA Region 1 matchup next Thursday, while Crenshaw Christian (4-2) will travel to Harpersville to play Coosa Valley in a Class A Region 1 game next Friday.
Banks Academy 47, Edgewood Academy 19
ELMORE -- Josh Bonner rushed for 236 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries as the Jets flew past Edgewood 47-19 on Thursday night.
The game was originally scheduled for Friday, but was moved up a day because of the threat of inclement weather from Hurricane Ian.
Bonner scored on runs of 66, 78 and 51 yards to account for much of his yardage and give the Jets a 27-6 lead midway through the third quarter.
Banks attempted just three passes but quarterback Anthony Ruffin completed two of them, throwing 18 yards to Thomas Aldridge for a touchdown and 68 yards to Isaac Smith for a touchdown.
Austin Champion completed 11 of 33 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns, hitting Bradley Boone with a 25-yard pass late in the first half to make it 20-6 at the half, connecting with Boone midway through the third quarter on a 66-yard scoring pass and finding Gabe LeMaster for a 25-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter for the Wildcats’ final points.
LeMaster, who had a big game the previous week against Fort Dale, was held to 28 yards on 10 carries. Parker Shaw added 26 yards on six carries.
Defensively for the Wildcats, Wes Reeves had 10 tackles, followed by Boone with seven and Champion with six.
Banks (4-2) will return home for a Class AA Region 2 game with Clarke Prep next Friday. Edgewood (2-4) will travel to Cecil for a Class AA Region 1 battle with Macon East next Thursday.
Patrician Academy 47, South Choctaw Academy 21
BUTLER -- Cecil Perry rushed for 189 yards and two touchdowns on five carries, scoring on the Saints’ first play from scrimmage to set the tone in a 47-21 rout of South Choctaw Academy on Thursday.
Perry scored on runs of 47 and 87 yards, with the second touchdown giving Patrician a 41-0 lead in the second quarter.
Three turnovers helped the Saints to a 47-0 halftime lead. Augustus Lewis had an interception return to the South Choctaw 5-yard line to set up Carson Coody’s touchdown run on the next play. After touchdown runs of 13 yards by Coody and 10 yards by Lewis, Coody forced a fumble that Matthew Mize returned for a touchdown and a 34-0 lead. After Perry’s second touchdown, Clark Ezell forced a fumble that Jack Gibson returned for a touchdown and a 47-0 lead.
Patrician (6-0) will travel to Hayneville to play Lowndes Academy next Thursday. South Choctaw (2-4) will travel to Camden next Friday to play Wilcox Academy in a Class A Region 2 matchup.
AISA SCOREBOARD
Glenwood School 43, Valiant Cross Academy 13
Fort Dale Academy 44, Monroe Academy 6
Morgan Academy 38, Bessemer Academy 0
Lee-Scott Academy 42, Autauga Academy 0
Jackson Academy 46, Pickens Academy 0
St. Patrick 56, Snook Christian 18
Banks Academy 47, Edgewood Academy 19
Abbeville Christian 40, Sparta Academy 20
Patrician Academy 47, South Choctaw Academy 21
Wilcox Academy 63, Southern Academy 43
Escambia Academy 38, Hooper Academy 20
Macon East Academy 48, Crenshaw Christian 29
Coosa Valley Academy 14, Evangel Christian 12
Lowndes Academy 37, Clarke Prep School 6