ALICEVILLE, Ala. — While the Pickens County and Aliceville high school football teams raced up and down the field Friday night, the Tornadoes’ defense made the big plays when needed most.
The Tornadoes forced three turnovers and remained undefeated with a 35-14 victory against the Yellow Jackets at Memorial Stadium.
Both teams entered the game averaging more than 40 points per game. The teams lived up to that advance billing by combining for 34 first downs and 635 yards of offense.
Pickens County (5-0) made the proper halftime adjustments and pitched a second-half shutout to win going away.
For Pickens Academy, Devonte Simon passed for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Jermarcus Brown added 188 rushing yards and another score. Simon hit Raheem Curry for a 68-yard touchdown and Gunner Lemons for a 17-yard touchdown.
In the second half, Pickens County had scoring drives that went 77, 59, and 47 yards. Brown scored on a 20-yard run and was followed to the end zone by Jadarius Spencer (3-yard run) and William Stewart (2-yard run).
Simon was 9 of 15 for 158 yards with one interception.
Aliceville (3-2) received a pair of 3-yard scoring runs from Jeremy McMullen and Gerald Sterling. McMullen had 120 rushing yards on 15 carries. Marqueze Marshall paced the defense with 15 tackles and one sack.
Each team will return to region action Friday night. Aliceville will travel to Lamar County in Class 2A, Region 4, while Pickens County will play host to Parrish in Class 1A, Region 5.
n Pickens Academy 59, Jackson Academy 33: At Jackson, Ala., The Pirates took another step toward nailing down a playoff spot in Alabama Independent Schools Association Class 2A, Region 2 play.
The Pirates improved to 6-0 and 4-0 in region play with two region games remaining. A showdown awaits against Marengo Academy (4-2, 3-0) on Friday in Carrollton, Ala.
Against Jackson Academy (3-3, 2-2), Josh Lewis scored four touchdowns, while Joel Pratt added three scores. Lewis rushed for 141 yards on 23 carries. He scored three times and hit Sam Beachler for a 20-yard scoring play. Pratt ran 11 times for 176 yards, with two touchdowns. Pratt scored on runs of 47 and 68 yards. He also had a 70-yard interception return for a score.
Garrett Estes added 88 rushing yards for the Pirates, including a 2-yard touchdown run.
n Berry 50, Lamar County 42, OT: At Berry, Ala., The Bulldogs came up on the short end of a shootout against Class 3A foe Berry.
For Lamar County (3-2), Timothy Harton scored on touchdown runs of 32 and 47 yards. Harton also caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Dallas Cockerham. In addition to that passing score, Cockerham had a pair of 2-yard touchdown runs. Alex Wheeler also had a rushing touchdown.
In overtime, Berry (3-2) scored the game-winner on a 10-yard touchdown run by Clancy Brown. Brown rushed for 94 yards and was credited with 28 tackles.
Berry quarterback Maken Potter threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns. Tank Hollingsworth had 133 rushing yards, 103 receiving yards, and 140 return yards and scored four touchdowns.
Lamar County will return to region play next week when it travels to Aliceville in a Class 2A, Region 4 showdown.
n Fayette County 41, Sulligent 13: At Sulligent, Ala., The Blue Devils (1-4) dropped their third straight in a non-region setback.
For Sulligent, Juwan Metcalfe ran 11 times for 105 yards, including scoring runs of 14 and 12 yards.
Fayette County (4-1) received a 210-yard passing night from quarterback Marcellus Redmond. Remond’s top target was Tevin Madison, who had four catches for 153 yards. The pair hooked up on scoring plays of 32, 27, and 41 yards. Madison also added an 83-yard kickoff return for another score.
Sulligent will return to Class 2A, Region 4 play Friday night at Oakman.
n Central 39, South Lamar 10: At Millport, Ala., Central of Coosa County built a 27-3 halftime lead and spoiled Homecoming for the Stallions (0-5).
South Lamar received a 27-yard field goal from Holden Fields and a 1-yard touchdown run by Blake Mitchell. Mitchell had 20 rushes for 133 yards, while Fields had 15 rushes for 36 yards.
Cannan Fleming had 13 tackles and a blocked kick to lead South Lamar. Fields had a fumble recovery.
Austin Jones caught two touchdown passes and Endaegaw Whetstone ran for two scores for Central (2-3).
South Lamar will return to Class 1A, Region 5 play Friday night when it plays host to Hubbertville.
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