REFORM, Ala. — The Marion County High School football team proved Friday night it isn’t going to surrender the Alabama High School Activities Association Class 1A state championship crown without a fight.
Marion County ran for 476 yards in a 45-27 victory against previously undefeated Pickens County. The victory allowed Marion County to wrap up the Class 1A, Region 5 crown. Both teams have secured a playoff spot.
“They do what they do and you’ve got to be very disciplined to have a chance to contain them,” Pickens County coach Patrick Plott told the Tuscaloosa News. “We weren’t disciplined tonight.”
Marion County (8-0, 6-0) barely missed four 100-yard rushers. Sean Wallace ran 14 times for 146 yards with two touchdowns. Justin Sanderson ran 14 times for 133 yards with two touchdowns as well. DeShawn Riebesehl ran for 100 yards and Randy Swanigan added 97 yards.
For Pickens County (7-1, 5-1), Jermarcus Brown led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 119 yards. Brown sparked his club early with an 87-yard kick return for touchdown after Marion County had scored on the game’s first possession. Brown scored again on his team’s next possession with a 20-yard run and capped his three-score night with a 3-yard run in the game’s final half.
The Tornadoes built a 21-14 lead on a 90-yard drive. Devonte Simon capped that drive with a 44-yard touchdown to Raheem Curry. A Gunner Lemons pass interception set up that march.
Marion County recovered with three straight touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
Pickens County will play its final region game at Berry (6-2, 5-1) Friday night. The winner will play host to a first-round playoff game Nov. 9.
n Oakman 50, Aliceville 36: At Aliceville, Ala., the Yellow Jackets gave the Class 2A, Region 4 leader all it could handle before falling in a shootout at Memorial Stadium.
Aliceville (4-4, 4-2) has secured a playoff berth and will travel for an opening-round contest Nov. 9. The Yellow Jackets can secure the third seed in the region with a victory Friday in their final region game at Marion (0-8, 0-6).
Jeremy McMullen paced Aliceville with 20 rushes for 120 yards, including touchdown runs of 30, 5, and 2 yards. Oscar Sommerville added a 35-yard scoring run and had 76 yards. The other score was a 19-yard touchdown pass from Santiago Taylor to Joe Robinson.
Marqueze Marshall had a game-high 14 team tackles, while S.J. Washington had 10 stops.
Jase Trotter had four touchdowns for Oakman (7-1, 6-0).
n Lamar County 58, Frances Marion 28: At Marion, Ala., the Bulldogs kept the high-scoring offense going and matched last season’s victory total in their Class 2A, Region 4 game.
Lamar County (6-2, 5-1) has clinched a playoff berth. The Bulldogs finished fourth in the region last year but will do better this season. Lamar County can secure the No. 2 seed and a first-round home playoff game Nov. 9 with a victory Friday at Hale County (4-4, 4-2) in its region finale.
Against Frances Marion, quarterback Dallas Cockerham paced the Bulldogs with 120 passing yards and three scores. Cockerham rushed for touchdowns of 10 and 11 yards. He threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Devin Dias. Tim Harton added a 38-yard rushing score and a 58-yard kick return for another score.
Alex Wheeler, Kendall Smith, and Bryce Myles each added rushing touchdowns for Lamar County. The Bulldogs have topped 40 points in three straight region games and have won five straight region games after an early loss to Oakman.
n Hale County 13, Sulligent 7, OT: At Moundville, Ala., the Blue Devils saw their postseason hopes dashed with another hard-fought loss in Class 2A, Region 4.
Sulligent (2-6, 2-4) enters its final region game with R.C. Hatch in a two-way tie for fifth place and can’t catch any of the top four. Three of the Blue Devils’ four region losses have been by a touchdown or less.
For Hale County (4-4, 4-2), Grant Stevens scored game-winner on a 10-yard touchdown run in the first overtime. Sulligent had possession first in the extra frame but failed to score.
Sulligent enjoyed a 7-0 halftime lead after Jamar Plant scored on a 25-yard run in the second quarter. C.J. Byrd answered with a 55-yard touchdown run for Hale County in the third quarter.
n Berry 42, South Lamar 7: At Millport, Ala., the Stallions dropped their eighth straight in their Class 1A, Region 5 game.
For South Lamar (0-8, 0-6), Hershel Smith led the ground attack with 17 rushes for 89 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown run. Holden Fields added 53 rushing yards and 13 tackles on defense.
Tank Hollingsworth ran for 212 yards and four touchdowns to lead Berry (6-2, 5-1). Hollingsworth scored on runs of 17, 24, 55 and 65 yards. A.J. Johnson added 10 rushes for 66 yards, with a 52-yard touchdown run.
South Lamar will play it final region game Friday at Parrish (4-5, 2-4).
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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