REFORM, Ala. — The Pickens County High School football team took over first place in the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Class 1A, Region 5 race with a 41-28 victory against South Lamar on Friday night.
Pickens County (6-1, 4-0 region) clinched home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with its third-straight win. The Tornadoes can clinch a region championship by winning one of their final two region games.
Pickens County erased a 28-14 deficit by scoring the final 27 points. South Lamar led 21-7 at halftime. The Tornadoes had 317 yards but were hurt by three first-half turnovers.
South Lamar (6-2, 4-1) saw a five-game winning streak come to an end. The Stallions also will play at home in the opening round of the playoffs.
Al’Jaron Edwards threw three touchdowns for Pickens County. Scoring plays of 12 and 8 yards went to Elliott Petty, while Tadaren McIntosh caught a 30-yard touchdown. Jaquaren Washington scored on a 19-yard interception return and a 4-yard touchdown run. Aaron Billups scored on a 4-yard run.
For South Lamar, Jarrett Bryant scored on a 34-yard pass reception from Jack Dowdle and a 6-yard fumble return. Buster Griffin scored on a 7-yard run, while Dowdle also hit Gary Stripling for a 24-yard touchdown.
South Lamar will play host to Brilliant (2-6, 0-4), while Pickens County will play at Hubbertville (2-4, 2-2) in region play on Friday.
n Aliceville 18, Thorsby 0: At Aliceville,
Alabama, the Yellow Jackets clinched the AHSAA Class 2A, Region 4 championship.
For Aliceville (5-2, 5-0), Kavon McGraw accounted for three touchdowns. McGraw threw a 15-yard pass to Andrevious Johnson to start the scoring in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, McGraw scored on runs of 1 and 39 yards.
Aliceville rushed for 220 yards. McGraw had 139 yards on 16 tries. He also was 2-for-7 for 23 yards.
Morris Ball led the defense with nine tackles, while Avery Bishop and Elijah Plott had seven. Matthew Clark and Justice Craig had interceptions. Plott had two sacks.
Thorsby was held to 145 yards.
Aliceville will travel to Greene County (4-3) for a non-region game Friday night.
n Sulligent 45, Hatton 26: At Town Creek, Alabama, the Blue Devils moved closer to an AHSAA Class 2A, Region 8 championship with the road win.
Sulligent (6-1, 4-0) has clinched a first-round home playoff game and will play Lamar County on Oct. 27 for the region championship. Lamar County (5-2, 4-0) was open Friday night.
For Sulligent, C.J. McLemore ran for 254 yards and three touchdowns. McLemore scores on runs of 63, 26 and 35 yards. Delando Broyles also eclipsed 100 yards. He had a 66-yard touchdown run.
Jaron Scott scored on a 3-yard run, while Ethan Carruth scored on a 1-yard run. Austin Hollis kicked a 36-yard field goal.
Sulligent will play host to Red Bay for a region game Friday night. Lamar County (3-5, 3-2) will play Friday at Sheffield in region play.
n Gordo 34, American Christian 27: At Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Green Wave clinched a first-round playoff game at home by winning the AHSAA Class 3A, Region 4 game.
Gordo (6-2, 4-0) still needs a win to nail down the region championship.
Gordo led 20-17 at halftime and stretched the lead to 10 before hanging on for the victory. The Green Wave had 338 yards, including 297 rushing.
Essie Davis scored on touchdown runs of 67, 2, and 7 yards, while Aarion Steele scored on runs of 35 and 49 yards.
Gordo will play Friday at Montevallo (2-5, 0-4).
n Jackson Academy 20, Pickens Academy 12: At Jackson, Alabama, the Pirates remained winless in Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Class 2A, Region 2 play with a road loss.
For Pickens Academy (5-3, 0-3), John Bradley Seymer scored on a 3-yard run and Hamner Allen threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Lee Acker.
Seth Peeks ran 15 times for 60 yards, while Riley Harcrow ran 13 times for 57 yards. Harcrow had 17 tackles, while Seymer had 10 and Hugh Pate had eight.
Pickens Academy will play host to Clarke Prep (2-7, 0-3) in its final region game of the season Friday.
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