Houston County continues to get recognition from comeback win

Houston County’s stunning 35-point second-half comeback last Friday continues to be the talk of the state.

Both the Alabama Sports Writers Association and the Alabama High School Athletic Association featured the comeback as the lead in their weekly spotlight.

Also, several local media outlets, including the Dothan Eagle and WDHN, have named the Lions as the Team of the Week for the comeback victory.

The Lions, down 43-8 in the third quarter and 43-16 going into the fourth quarter, scored 36 points in the final quarter to beat the Bears 52-50 at L.F. Tillery Field in Columbia.

The game-winning score came on a 95-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-48 from the Houston County 5-yard line with less than two minutes to go.

The comeback, according to one former longtime high school football writer now with the AHSAA, is believed to be the greatest second-half comeback. The 36 points were the sixth most in a quarter in AHSAA history, according to the association Web site, but was the most points in a fourth quarter.

Lions’ quarterback Desmond Warren was named the ASWA offensive player of the week for efforts in directing the comeback. Warren completed 13-of-21 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns, including a 95-yarder with less than two minutes to go for the go-ahead score. He also rushed for 27 yards on four carries with one touchdown. Warren completed passes of 42, 29, 38, 64, 69 and 95 yards in the second half alone.

Edward Robinson caught five passes for 155 yards including TDs of 64 and 69 yards. He also rushed for 117 yards on nine carries with a 63-yard TD sprint and returned an interception 32 yards for another score.

Robinson’s efforts on both offense and defense have made him one of 10 finalists for the weekly Army Iron Man award, which honors the top two-way performances of the week.

Jazeric Peterson finished with five catches for 183 yards and the winning score.

More Houston County, Cottonwood: The 52 points scored by Houston County were the most for the Lions since posting 54 in 2006 against Samson. The 50 points scored by Cottonwood were the most since last year’s 52-point outing against Geneva County.

The 52 points allowed by Cottonwood were the most since allowing the same amount in a 2000 playoff loss to Straughn. The 50 allowed by Houston County were the most given up by the Lions since allowing 55 to Ashford in 2003.

The 102 combined points were the most in a game involving a Wiregrass team since Opp and Elba scored 109 in a 55-54 triple-overtime game in the season finale in 2006.

Three other players honored: The Wiregrass had three other players honored by the ASWA and AHSAA in their weekly spotlight.

The three were Slocomb’s Jermaine Williams, Houston Academy’s Seth McGowan and Straughn’s Ryne Taylor.

Williams, Slocomb’s speedy running back, rushed only 13 times but made them count for 228 yards and six touchdowns in a 41-22 win over Wicksburg. Williams scored on runs of 5, 24, 64, 7, 3 and 9 yards.

Taylor, Straughn’s quarterback, completed 13-of-26 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-30 victory over Cottage Hill Christian.

McGowan, Houston Academy’s running back / linebacker, earned 175 tough yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries and also had a team-high 10 tackles on defense in the Raiders’ 21-7 win over New Brockton.

McGowan, like Robinson, was named a finalist for the Army Iron Man Award.

Fans can vote for the weekly winner online at http://www.TheSportsFlash.com. The winner will be announced later in the week.

Off to 3-0 starts: Six teams in the Dothan Eagle coverage area are off to 3-0 starts to the season following wins last week.

The six are Charles Henderson, Straughn, Daleville, Elba, Houston Academy and Pike Liberal Arts.

Two other teams are 2-0 — Ashford Academy and Marianna.

Last week, five teams were knocked off the list of unbeatens — Eufaula, Dale County, Barbour County, New Brockton and Ariton.