CARROLLTON, Ala. — The Pickens Academy football team celebrated its return to the Alabama Independent School Association football playoffs with a 34-21 opening-round Class A victory against Lakeside Academy.
Quarterback Josh Lewis rushed for 177 yards and four touchdowns. Lewis scored on runs of 1, 1, 52, and 24 yards. He was 7 of 11 for 106 yards for the Pirates (9-2).
Joel Pratt added 82 rushing yards on 16 carries, with a 2-yard touchdown run. He also had an interception.
Chase Britt and Phil Fikes each had six tackles apiece to lead Pickens Academy.
In the semifinal round, Pickens Academy will remain home and play host to Ashford Academy (8-3).
n Winfield 24, Lamar County 21: At Vernon, Ala., the Bulldogs saw a four-game win streak snapped in the final game of the regular season.
Lamar County is the second seed in Class 2A, Region 4 of the Alabama High School Activities Association. Lamar County (7-3) will play host to New Brockton (4-6) in a first-round playoff game Friday night.
Quarterback Dallas Cokerham rushed for two scores and threw for one more. He scored on runs of 2 and 8 yards, and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Devin Dias.
Xavier McCollum scored the game-winning touchdown for Winfield (4-6) with less than two minutes left in regulation. He had a game-high 158 yards on 31 carries, with touchdown runs of 1, 4, and 6 yards. Jessie Scarborough also scored on a 59-yard run.
n Aliceville 50, Greene County 0: At Eutaw, Ala., the Yellow Jackets tuned up for the Class 2A playoffs with an easy victory.
Aliceville (6-4) will travel to Elba (6-4) for a first-round playoff game Friday night. The Yellow Jackets finished as the third seed in Class 2A, Region 4.
Jeremy McMullen had touchdown runs of 22 and 14 yards for Aliceville. Christopher Croyle also had a 72-yard touchdown run, as the Yellow Jackets sprinted to a 44-0 halftime lead.
Darrion Manning and Oscar Sommerville each added rushing scores for Aliceville. Cody Davis had a 58-yard punt return for score, and Anfernee Mullins had a 43-yard fumble return for score.
Greene County (0-10) was held to 16 yards of total offense. Mullins had 11 tackles and two sacks, while Ladarius Jackson had two sacks.
n Sulligent 34, South Lamar 16: At Sulligent, Ala., the Blue Devils earned bragging rights with a second-straight victory against the Stallions in the final game of the season for both teams.
Jamar Plant paced Sulligent (3-7) with 106 rushing yards. Plant scored on runs of 38 and 28 yards. Ladadrick Coleman scored on an 18-yard run and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Rocky Sides (six catches, 163 yards). Juwan Metcalfe also had a 66-yard touchdown run for the victors.
South Lamar (0-10) received a 24-yard touchdown run from Herschel Smith and a 3-yard touchdown run from Keenan Fleming. Smith had 68 yards rushing.
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