Roundup: Eufaula falls to Vigor

MOBILE — Vigor overcame a sloppy start to keep its undefeated season intact with a 30-7 victory over Eufaula on Friday in the first round of the 5A playoffs.
Kendall Houston ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns and Keith Ray threw for two scores to lead the Wolves, who managed to win despite not converting any of their point-after attempts.

Eufaula quarterback Demonte Jett ran for 69 yards and a touchdown, but threw three interceptions and lost a fumble on an option play.

Eufaula jumped out to the lead in the first quarter. Four plays after Bill Hamrick intercepted a pass at the Vigor 40-yard-line, Jett ran the ball in for a 12-yard score.

But Jett fumbled the ball on his own 27-yard-line on the Tigers’ next possession. One play later, Houston ran 15 yards up the middle and dragged a few defenders in the end zone with him. A botched 2-point conversion left the score at 7-6.

The second quarter started with Vigor’s Bradley Craig picking off a pass to set the Wolves offense up at Eufaula’s 39-yard-line. Six plays later, Houston smashed into the end zone from the 1. Another failed 2-point conversion put the score at 12-6.

After Eufaula botched a fake punt, the Wolves embarked on a 54-yard drive that ended with Ray tossing a 1-yard play-action pass to fullback Jalston Fowler for the score.

Class 4A
UMS-Wright 49, Opp 14: Chris Dukes’ four touchdowns were more than enough, and the UMS-Wright defense made life miserable for Opp as the Bulldogs scored on its first three offensive possessions en route to a 49-14 win.

Dukes finished the night with 175 yards on 11 carries, and had several big kickoff returns—the longest an 82-yarder that set up his first touchdown.

Opp quarterback Gavin Free was 2 of 7 for 26 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

Class 3A
Luverne 33, Pike County 14: Luverne ruined the return of former coach Brad Waggoner, beating Waggoner’s Pike County Bulldogs behind Chad Free, who rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries.

Ryan McGhee returned a kickoff for a key Luverne score.

Josh Parker accounted for both Pike County scores, throwing a 7-yard pass to Tevin Andrews and rushing for a 1-yard score.
Defensively, Pike County was led by Eddie Carter with 15 tackles and Elijah Capel with 11.

T.R. Miller 42, Dale County 6: T.R. Miller struck through air and land to roll up 562 total yards and held Dale County to 114 yards.

Wil Riggs was 7 of 10 for 249 yards passing with three touchdowns, a pair to Bradley McCreary of 83 yards and 56 yards and a 34-yarder to Terez Lane to lead the Tigers. Kenneth Fountain added touchdown runs of 26 yards and 94 yards.

Cortez Banks added a 3-yard touchdown run, and Nick Dorso booted six PATs.

William Shiver put Dale County on the board with a 55-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter.

Class 2A
Millry 33, New Brockton 0: Dewayne Franks and Dakota Jones each scored two touchdowns as Millry defeated New Brockton in the first round of the 2A state playoffs Friday night.

Leroy 47, Elba 21: Leroy quarterback Clint Moseley finished 15-of-21 passing for 196 yards passing and connected with Stephen Scoggins for touchdowns of 38 yards and 27 yards to lead Leroy to the Bears’ 21st straight win Friday night with a 47-21 victory over Elba.

Michael Bracy rushed for 119 yards on six carries and scored on runs of 3, 62 and 10 yards, and Jarette Davis tallied a 24-yard TD run. Justin Besteda added an 11-yard touch down pass to Phillip Ervin.

Elba was paced by Michael Lindsey, who rushed for 106 yards on 21 carries and scored on runs of 5 yards and 16 yards. Lindsey was also 9-for-20 passing for 103 yards. Gunter McCullough added a 1-yard TD run.

Pickens County 27, Goshen 14: Deon Collier rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns and Mardrecas Hood had a 51-yard run to lead Pickens County.

Jaryd Gibson caught a 20-yard pass from Marcus Jackson in the first quarter for Goshen and Reginald Foster scored on a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Pickens County led only 14-7 going to the fourth quarter.

Class 1A
JU Blacksher 22, Ariton 21 (overtime): An Ariton extra point kick was blocked at the beginning of OT and JU Blacksher scored on its first play of the extra period and converted the extra point for the win.

Ariton forced the OT by scoring in the final minute of regulation on a Cole Harden to Jonathan Lampley pass and ensuing extra point by Tyler Deal to tie it at 15-15.

Craig Sanders scored on Ariton’s first play of the OT.

Ariton’s other score came on a Sanders rushing TD in the second quarter and Ty Tyler scored on a 2-point conversion.

Sweet Water 49, Geneva Co. 0: Johnny Lockett scored on runs of 9 and 46 yards and returned a kickoff 85 yards to lead Sweet Water in the opening round of the 1A state playoffs.

Lockett finished the night with 103 yards on 14 rushes. Chris Landrum had touchdown runs of 2, 1 and 3 yards. The other Sweet Water score came on a 13-yard pass from Butch Williams to Antonio Landrum.

AISA
South Choctaw 41, Ashford Academy 14: Clay Stewart and Justin Ingle scored Ashford Academy’s touchdowns. Anthony Girrassi and Preston Harris had an interception each, and Stewart had 10 solo tackles and three assists.

Also recording tackles for Ashford Academy were Cameron Best (7 solo, 2 assist), Kevin Gray (7 solo, 1 assist), Kevin Adams (9 solo, 2 assist) and Ingle (9 solo).

Pike Liberal 28, Marengo Academy 12: Jerel Foster ran for 231 yards and two touchdowns and Trey Walters ran for 80 yards and two touchdowns to win the first round playoff game.

Pike Liberal will host Tuscaloosa Academy next Friday.

Corey Goodson had 14 tackles, Nick McLaughlin 13 and Blake Thomas 10.
GHSAA
Cook County 49, Early County 14: Shawn Williams returned a kickoff 70 yards for a score, and Camery Flowers scored on a 71-yard run for Early County. Flowers had 84 yards rushing on the night.

Seminole County 34, Lanier County 7: The Indians clinched a state playoff berth with the region playoff victory on the road and will play at Wilcox County next week.

Johnnie Jones, a fullback, went over the 1,000-yard mark rushing in the game.

FHSAA
Marianna 34, Walton 21: Fidel Montgomery rushed for 160 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and caught a 25-yard touchdown from Dustin Larkin on Marianna’s last drive on a 4th-and-2 play with about two minutes left to make it 34-21.

RJ Bowers rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown and Bradley Battles rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown. MHS clinched a playoff spot with the win.