ETHEL — The East Oktibbeha County High School football team rushed for 327 yards Friday night and blew past homestanding Ethel 46-14 in a Class 1A, Region 3 game.
With the victory, the Titans improved to 4-1 and 2-0 in region play.
“We played well on both sides of the ball,” East Oktibbeha coach Randy Brooks said. “We were able to play a lot of players and everybody really stepped up.”
For East Oktibbeha, James Brown rushed 11 times for 150 yards and four touchdowns. Kortland Petty ran seven times for 138 yards and two additional scores. Terence Rice also added a 36-yard rushing touchdown for the victors.
“The offensive attack was real balanced,” Brooks said. “Credit to the offensive line for blocking well. Winning the first two region games should give us a lot of momentum for the rest of the season.”
Lanathan Brown paced East Oktibbeha with 11 tackles. Rice also aided the defense with an interception.
East Oktibbeha will play host to West Lowndes in another region contest Friday night.
n Nanih Waiya 50, West Oktibbeha 14: At Nanih Waiya, Naniah Waiya scored four first-quarter touchdowns and ruined West Oktibbeha’s Class 1A, Region 3 opener.
With the defeat, the Timberwolves fell to 2-2 and 0-1 in region play.
West Oktibbeha scored its touchdowns in the second quarter. Tiberias Lampkin had a 3-yard touchdown run, while J.R. Love scored on a 5-yard run two possessions later.
Lampkin paced the defense with 14 tackles.
West Oktibbeha will play host to Weir in a region game Friday.
n East Webster 12, Walnut 7: At Walnut, East Webster rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit to post the non-region road victory Friday night.
The Wolverines (3-2) had only 190 yards total offense, but they rode a stellar defensive effort.
“Defensively, we played well,” East Webster coach Doug Wilson said. “Offensively, we made some plays in the second half. I am really proud of the effort. I am proud we played hard, stayed focused, and came away with the win.”
Tailback Codie McKee ran for 101 yards, including two touchdowns. McKee had a 61-yard scoring run in the third quarter and a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Thomas Brooks had 12 tackles for East Webster, while DeAngelo Liggins added nine stops. Brennan Sparks had two sacks. Jake Williams had a fumble recovery, while Jermarcus Ivy blocked a punt.
“It was a total team effort,” Wilson said. “We had big plays on offense, big plays on defense and some big plays in the kicking game.”
East Webster will play host to St. Andrew’s in another non-region tilt Friday night.
n Winona Christian 40, Oak Hill Academy 0: At Winona, The offensive struggles continued as the winless Raiders dropped a non-region decision at Winona Christian on Friday night.
Winona (5-0) led 14-0 at halftime before breaking things open with three third-quarter touchdowns.
Jason Hodges threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another. Hodges hit Miles Jackson on a 27-yard scoring strike and Brooks Lott on a 21-yard scoring strike. Hodges also had a 76-yard rushing score. Cameron Lepard ran for touchdowns, on runs of 27 and 36 yards, Aaron Gatlin also had a 30-yard touchdown rush.
Oak Hill will return to Class AA, District 2 play Friday night with a game at Canton Academy.
n Hamilton 28, Houston 26: At Houston, Hamilton blocked a field goal as time expired to ruin Houston’s Homecoming in a non-region game Friday night.
Jeremy Lindsey got a hand on a potential game-winning 30-yard try on the game’s final play to lift the Lions (4-1).
Houston (3-2) built a 10-0 lead before the Lions rallied.
Hamilton grabbed a 14-10 lead after one quarter thanks to an 8-yard touchdown run by Zarrat Sims and a 57-yard score by Sims. Deion Howard also had a big play for Hamilton, returning a kickoff 56 yards to set up Sims’ first score.
Sims and Howard each had rushing touchdowns in the game’s final quarter. A critical fumble recovery and the field goal block preserved the victory.
Hamilton will play host to Walnut in another non-region contest Friday night.
West Alabama
n Tanner 49, Aliceville 20: At Aliceville, Ala., Aliceville outgained Tanner by more than 100 yards, but seven turnovers undid the Yellow Jackets in their non-region loss Friday night.
Tanner used the short field to grab a 35-14 halftime lead. After Aliceville scored the lone touchdown in the third quarter, the guests put the contest away with two more scores in the fourth quarter.
For Aliceville (2-2), Marquise Colvin scored on a 2-yard run. Jeremy McMullen scored on a 12-yard rush, and quarterback Christopher Crowell hit Terry Mayhew on a 14-yard touchdown pass.
The Yellow Jackets finished with 16 first downs and 383 yards total offense. Crowell was 21 of 44 passes with two interceptions for 293 yards. Crowell also led the rushing attack with 14 carries for 51 yards. Demario Lanier had a team-best eight receptions for 137 yards, while Mayhew had five catches for 78 yards.
Marqueze Marshall led the defense with 12 tackles. Defensively, Aliceville allowed 275 total yards but only managed one takeaway.
Aliceville will visit Pickens County in another non-region contest Friday night.
n Tuscaloosa Academy 35, Pickens Academy 14: At Carrollton, Ala., Tuscaloosa Academy broke open a tight contest with a big second quarter to post the non-region victory Friday night.
For Pickens Academy (1-4), Josh Lewis had 16 rushes for 95 yards. Lewis opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run. Tuscaloosa Academy (4-0) answered with back-to-back rushing touchdowns from Brooks Adams.
Adams scored on a 1-yard run and a 2-yard run to close the half. The Knights ran for 202 yards, including 72 yards on 11 carries from Thomas.
A 56-yard fumble return touchdown by Torrrence Brown helped the Knights secure some breathing room.
For Pickens Academy, Joel Pratt scored on a 45-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Pickens Academy travels to Edgewood Academy Friday night.
n Brilliant 21, South Lamar 14: At Millport, Ala., Brilliant scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to ruin South Lamar’s Homecoming in a Class 1A, Region 5 contest Friday night.
For South Lamar (0-4, 0-3 region), Hank Parker had 14 rushes for 101 yards. Parker scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Teammate Jordan Smith had 92 yards receiving, 47 yards rushing, and a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Parker paced the South Lamar defense with 14 tackles.
Brilliant (2-2, 1-2) rallied in the final quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run from Sawyer Nelson and a 10-yard run from Adam Martin.
South Lamar travels to Winfield for a non-region game Friday night.
n Colbert Heighs 28, Sulligent 21: At Sulligent, Ala., A short-handed Sulligent squad dropped a Class 2A, Region 8 contest at home thanks to a late touchdown Friday night.
The Blue Devils (1-3, 1-2 region) played without three starters due to injury. Peter Swanigan led Sulligent with 23 rushes for 228 yards and a touchdown. Coco Metcalfe sparked the defense with a pair of sacks.
Sulligent will remain in region play Friday night with a road trip to Marion County.
n Pickens County 53, John Essex 14: At Demopolis, Ala., Devontae Simon threw for 374 yards and six touchdowns as Pickens County cruised to the road win in Class 1A, Region 4 action Friday night.
Simon was 18 of 29 for the Tornadoes (4-0, 3-0 region). Warren Betts caught touchdown passes of 55 and 37 yards. De’Marko Hall caught touchdown passes of 54, 77, and 26 yards. Hall also had a 47-yard punt return for another score.
Lajuan Doss had a 64-yard touchdown reception. D’Marcus Robinson also scored on a 6-yard run.
Hall ran for 159 yards and had 253 all-purpose yards.
Pickens County will play host to Aliceville on Friday night.
n Red Bay 35, Lamar County 20: At Red Bay, Ala., In a battle for first place in Class 2A, Region 8 play, homestanding Red Bay built a first-half lead and held on.
Lamar County (3-1, 2-1 region) will play host to American Christian in a non-region game Friday night.
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