THURSDAY PREPS: Julian uses late heroics to earn first region win; Macon-East, ACA win; Catholic flag tops Tallassee

Julian quarterback Bryson McGrew fights off the tackle attempt of Stanhope Elmore’s Kam Anderson in the Phoenix win on Friday at Cramton Bowl. (Tim Gayle)

By GRAHAM DUNN

Percy Julian scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute and then held on to the lead with a blocked field goal attempt on the game’s final play to pick up a 22-20 win over Stanhope Elmore in the Class 6A, Region 2 opener on Thursday at Cramton Bowl.

Phoenix quarterback Bryson McGrew hit Johnnie Darby with a 27-yard pass to take the two-point lead with 43 seconds left in the game. The extra point was blocked.

After a short kickoff, the Mustangs drove to the Phoenix 5-yard line with just nine seconds left with the big play coming on a 50-yard pass from Zac Holcombe to Jamari Coleman.

The Mustangs ran the clock down to just one second remaining to set up a 22-yard field goal but Colby Beyer’s kick was blocked.

The Mustangs had taken the lead in the fourth quarter on Authur McQueen’s 4-yard run with 8:45 left. He finished with 176 yards on 33 carries and two scores. Many of his carries in the second half came from the Wildcat formation.

In the third quarter, McGrew scored on a 32-yard run and then Julian added to its lead after a successful onside kicked and followed with a 44-yard rush for a score by Antwan Barnes. They led 16-7 at that point.

Stanhope pulled within three points on Dammarian Barnes’ 11-yard scamper with just over three minutes left in the third.

The Phoenix took the first lead of the game on a sack of Holcombe in the end zone in the first quarter. But the Mustangs would get an interception from Joidaden Carter-Stone to set up McQueen’s first TD of the game with 4:53 left in the first half.

McGrew passed for 113 yards on 11 of 22 attempts with an interception. He also had 55 yards on the ground.

Julian (2-1, 1-0) faces Russell County next Thursday at Cramton Bowl while the Mustangs (1-2, 0-1) return to the Bowl on Friday to face Park Crossing.

Alabama Christian 56, Northside Methodist 7

DOTHAN -- The Eagles exploded for 35 points in the second quarter to coast by Northside Methodist 56-7 in the region opener for both teams on Thursday night.

Christian Snipes threw five touchdown passes as the ACA scored the game’s first six touchdowns to take a 42-0 lead in the first half.

Snipes connected with tight end Jackson Burton on a 6-yard play for an 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter, then came back with a 72-yard pass to AC Walters for a 14-0 lead at the end of the quarter.

Snipes added throws of 60 and 71 yards to David Ortiz-Ramirez, along with another Snipes’ 18-yard touchdown pass to Bryant Swindle and a 30-yard fumble return by Jaydon McElrath for a 42-0 lead.

Northside Methodist finally got on the scoreboard with a long touchdown play in the final minute of the first half, but Ortiz-Ramirez promptly ran 80 yards for a touchdown on the next play from scrimmage for a 49-7 halftime lead.

TJ Merritt returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown for the only points of the second half.

Snipes completed 14 of 17 passes for 292 yards and five touchdowns in the rout.

Ortiz-Ramirez had seven carries for 117 yards and a touchdown and added four receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Burton had five catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, whil Swindle had three receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Mekhi Gardner had seven tackles and Micah Merritt added seven tackles and a sack.

ACA (2-1) improved to 1-0 in 3A Region 2 play and will travel to Trinity next week for a region game against the Wildcats.

Northside Methodist (0-3) dropped to 0-1 in 3A Region 2 play and will travel to Prattville Christian for a region game against the Panthers. 

Macon East 58, Evangel Christian 32 (8 man)


CECIL - Thad McKinney rushed for 178 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Sam Wallace had a key 8-yard touchdown run to lift the Knights to their second win in as many games Thursday at Knights Field.

Wallace completed 8 of 17 passes for 158 yards and three touchdown, adding three more rushing touchdowns with 75 yards on 14 carries.

Macon East (2-0) travels to Selma to face Meadowview Christian next week while Evangel (1-2) goes to Southern Prep Academy in Camp Hill.

FLAG FOOTBALL

Catholic 40, Tallassee 7

TALLASSEE -- Hayden Fitts rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown and threw for two more as the Knights picked up their first win of the 2024 season with a 40-7 win over the Tigers on Thursday.

Catholic (1-2) was shut out in its first two games against 7A foes Prattville and Central-Phenix City, but rebounded with six touchdowns against the first-year Tallassee program.

Haley Ishman had 68 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the win, while Frances Rogers and Rylee Wilcoxson also had touchdowns.

Catholic will play host to LAMP on Tuesday in its 1A-5A Region 4 opener.