Pike County High School’s football team has scored 271 points in five straight wins this season to sit atop Class 3A, Region 2 tied with Daleville at 3-0 in region play. That computes to a 3A-leading 54.2 points per game.
But now for the rest of the story. Coach Fred Holland’s Bulldogs (5-0) have not allowed a point in 2015 – the only team in the state to accomplish that feat at this stage of the season.
Last week, Pike County beat Barbour County 58-0 – scoring a touchdown on defense and on special teams – to build a 52-0 lead by intermission. Holland turned over the second half to reserves as the Bulldogs grabbed the AHSAA Week 6 Prep Spotlight with their fifth straight shutout.
Deshon Cowling set the pace in the first half with touchdown runs of 84 and 46 yards on his first two official carries. The senior had one run of 40 yards sandwiched in between called back for a penalty. He scored his final TD late in the second quarter on a 45-yard punt return.
Michael Rumph, a senior 5-foot-5 linebacker, also recovered a bad Jaguar’s snap in the end zone for the final first-half TD. Holland’s roster lists only three players over six feet.
Fans who want to see the Bulldogs’ swarming defense, can tune into the NFHS NetworkFriday night when Pike County, a member of the NFHS Network school broadcast program, will host Wicksburg in a game to be broadcast live over the NFHS Network.
The Bulldogs’ performance edged out two super efforts by West Point running back Kobe Smith and LaFayette quarterback Jatarvious Whitlow to earn the Spotlight top honor.
SMITH totaled 362 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries, including scores of 83 and 96 yards, in a 42-21 loss at Huntsville’s Milton Frank Stadium to J.O. Johnson. The senior also had a late 70-yard sprint to set up his final TD and accounted for all but 48 of the Warriors’ total yards in the setback.
WHITLOW quarterbacked his team to a 44-21 win over Woodland with an amazing performance that included five touchdowns three different ways. He had nine carries for 176 yards and two scores, completed 6-of-12 passes for 124 yards and another TD and also returned two punts -55 and 48 yards- for touchdowns to finish with 403 all-purpose yards.
   

MILESTONES
JORDAN BENTLEY, GUNTERSVILLE: Joined an elite group of prep running backs by going over 5,000 yards rushing for his career as unbeaten Guntersville (6-0) downed Etowah 21-20 in a key Class 5A, Region 7 win over Etowah. Bentley had 29 rush attempts for 134 yards and two touchdowns to push his career totals to 5,075 rushing yards and 90 TDs. He currently ranks third on the all-time AHSAA list for rushing touchdowns scored and is 31^st in career rushing yardage with the rest of the 2015 season remaining.
JACKSONVILLE’S CLARK LANDS 1,000^TH CAREER WIN: Volleyball Coach David Clark of Jacksonville watched his volleyball team defeat Jacksonville Christian at the Calhoun County tournament last weekend.  Clark’s friend and chief rival Jimmy Latta of Guntersville notched the 500^th match victory of his volleyball career with a Wildcats win against Alexandria last week.  Two players also reached person milestones – Madison Sides of Spring Garden and Whitney Hinton of UMS-Wright. Hinton recorded the 1,500^th career dig in a match versus Daphne last weekend, and Sides posted her 1,000^th career kill in a win over Gadsden City.
Whitney Hinton of UMS-Wright recorded career dig No. 1,500 during a match against Daphne in Saturday’s Battle for Old Shell Road Tournament.

Top football performances included:

PASSING

TYLER JOHNSTON, SPANISH FORT: The Toros senior was 18-of-23 for 312 passing yards and three touchdowns in Spanish Fort’s 56-35 win over Baldwin County. He also ran for two TDs.
HUNTER GRANT, WEST END: The senior finished with 405 combined yards and six touchdowns in the Patriots’ 48-12 win over Ider. Grant rushed 11 times for 125 yards and one touchdown and was 14-of-18 passing for 280 yards and five touchdowns. Dustin Goodwinmade three TD receptions.
JAY JONES, McADORY: Was 7-of-14 passing for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and rushed 21 times for 189 yards and three scores as the Yellow Jackets beat Bessemer City 41-35. He ran for 95 yards for one of the five TDs while totaling 363 yards on the night.
HOLDEN VERDIN, BAKER: Completed 14-of-19 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns as Baker beat Foley 21-14.
KADARIUS TONEY, BLOUNT: Helped the Leopards remain unbeaten with a 13-of-18 passing performance in a 42-14 win over Robertsdale. Toney finished with 257 yards passing and two TDs and added 102 yards and two more scored on five rush attempts to finish with 359 total yards.
KEKE PRUITT, THEODORE: Was 7-of-13 passing for 253 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score as the Bobcats beat Mary Montgomery 42-7.
ZACH CUPPS, GARDENDALE: Passed for 249 yards while passing for one TD and running for another as Gardendale beat Shades Valley 36-34
LOGAN GASKIN, SARDIS: The senior quarterback was 7-of-16 passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ 21-19 victory over White Plains.
MICHAEL LAMBERT, HOLLY POND: Completed 15 passes for 226 yards and four scores in a 49-24 loss to Winston County. Teammate Dylan Morton was on the receiving end of three TDs covering 16, 20, and 35 yards.
VICTOR GARTH, AUSTIN: Passed for 213 yards and rushed for 53 as Austin beat Florence 38-17. He had TD passes of 69 and 85 yards.
RAMSEY RIGBY, ELBA: Completed 13-of-19 passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns in Elba’s 58-7 win over Goshen.
JOSH DECKER, CEDAR BLUFF: Completed 12-of-17 pass attempts for 204 yards and rushed for a TD in the Tigers’ 62-6 win over Woodville.
JACOB FREE, BRANTLEY: Was 8-of-13 passing for 230 yards and five touchdowns as Brantley beat Florala 68-6.
TYREN DUPREE, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Completed 8-of-11 pass attempts for 200 yards and three touchdowns (3, 33, 55 yards) in the Warriors’ 48-17 victory at Hokes Bluff.
TANNER, ALLEN, UMS-WRIGHT: The Bulldogs quarterback was 8-of-9 passing for 202 yards and three TDs in a 48-0 win over Thomasville.
TAYLOR HAYES, PIEDMONT: Was 8-of-14 passing for 200 yards and threw four touchdowns (69, 9, 40, 13 yards) and rushed for 92 yards in the Bulldogs’ 49-0 victory at Pleasant Valley.
JACOBY McDANIEL, DOTHAN: Completed 15-of-19 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns and added 58 yards rushing on four carries with one touchdown in a 33-19 win over Carroll.
CHARLIE TROTMN, JR., TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN: Was 14-of-24 passing for 199 yards and three TDs as the Wildcats beat Ashford 35-0.
CAYDE ELLIOTT, COLD SPRINGS: Was 8-of-13 passing for 183 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles beat Addison 45-26. The quarterback also ran in a short score as the Panthers beat the Bulldogs for the first time since 1993.
T.J. LOWE, VALLEY: Was 7-of-11 passing for 141 yards in a 25-21 win over Chilton County. He passed for two TDs, but his biggest may have been a clutch fourth-down completion to the Tigers’ 4-yard line late in the fourth quarter to set up his game-winning touchdown run keeper on the next play.
J.T. WISE, SAMSON: Connected with Grant Simmons on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds left, helping Samson rally from 15-6 with two fourth-quarter scores in a 19-15 win over Houston Academy.

RUSHING

JERROD KEYES, OAK GROVE: The Tigers’ running back pounded out 336 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 28 carries in a 63-34 win over Holt. Keys scored on runs of 13, 47, 6, 5, 33, 4 and 20 yards.
ANDREW BROWN, WINSTON COUNTY: Rushed 24 times for 306 yards and two touchdowns) and also caught two touchdown passes in the Yellow Jackets 49-24 win over Holly Pond.
MALIK CUNNINGHAM, PARK CROSSING: Was 11-of-18 passing for 154 yards and three scores and rushed for 139 yards and a TD on 16 carries as the Thunderbirds downed Northview 41-34.
DESMON TURNER, FORT PAYNE: Piled up a single-game school record 286 yards on 32 carries and scored three touchdowns to go over 1,000 yards on the season (1,208 yards) as Fort Payne downed Lee-Huntsville 28-14. He threw a jump pass for eight yards and the Wildcats’ other TD.
OMAR BROWN, NORTH JACKSON:  Had 283 yards rushing and four touchdowns in a 56-6 win over J.B. Pennington. His TD runs 32, 66 1 and 2 yards.
KINGSTON DAVIS, PRATTVILLE: Had a career high 277 yards rushing on 38 carries, another career best, as the Lions beat Jeff Davis 38-20. He scored three rushing touchdowns.
CHRIS SHUFFORD, McKENZIE: Gained 255 yards rushing on 23 attempts with five touchdowns (11, 8, 15, 14 and 39 yards) to lead McKenzie past Red Level 41-8.
AUSTIN KINSEY, WASHINGTON COUNTY: The Bulldogs’ workhorse had 35 carries for 248 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Mobile Christian 30-21. He had 197 of those yards in the second half.
TYRE GRAY, BENJAMIN RUSSELL: The senior quarterback rushed for 240 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-7 win over Oxford. The performance pushed him over 1,000 yards on the year, and he now has scored 20 touchdowns for the Wildcats (6-1).
SAM MUELLER, PLAINVIEW: Rushed for 233 yards on 10 carries with three touchdowns in the Bears’ 35-24 win against Pisgah.
KADE SEAY, PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN: Ran for 214 yards and three touchdowns, added a 27-yard field goal and hit 5-of-5 extra-point kicks in a 38-20 win over Ariton.
BRADON CARVER, SAND ROCK: Rushed for 212 yards on 17 carries and an 11-yard touchdown and also grabbed a 22-yard touchdown pass and had five tackles (2 for loss) on defense in leading the Wildcats to a 28-14 win at Sylvania.
AARON CARTEE, PRICEVILLE: Totaled 24 rush attempts for 211 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-28 win over Oneonta for the unbeaten Bulldogs (7-0)…
IVORY STARR, CEDAR BLUFF: Ran for 208 yards and four touchdowns (4, 34, 1, 29 yards) on 13 carries in the Tigers’ 62-6 victory at Woodville.
DILAN KILPATRICK, FYFFE: Had 207 yards rushing on 13 carries with three touchdowns in Fyffe’s 56-14 win against Gaston.
DARIUS SMITH, SLOCOMB Rushed for 209 yards on 19 carries with four touchdowns in the Red Tops’ 45-18 win over Abbeville.
EVANS ALISON, RANDOLPH: Had 19 carries for 182 yards and three touchdowns (55, 37 and 5 yards) as Randolph beat Hatton 31-0.
JOSH JOHNSON, OPELIKA: The senior had 171 yards rushing and four touchdowns as the Bulldogs remained unbeaten with a 40-25 win over Opelika.
ALARIC WILLIAMS, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: The senior running back rushed 15 times for 170 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown run, and caught one pass for 65 yards in the Panthers’ 24-21 win over Albertville.
GABE OZIO, MADISON COUNTY: Rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns and returned a kick 78 yards for a four score in a 49-19 win over Fairview. He streaked 95 yards on one TD.
LEE HISBON, TANNER: Rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns and added a third score receiving as the Rattlers beat Tarrant 56-2.
MEMPHIS SISTRUNK, COTTONWOOD: Rushed for 167 yards and three touchdowns on runs of 60, 2 and 8 yards and also caught an 11-yard TD pass in the Bears’ 46-19 win over Houston County.

STACY WILLIAMS, ETOWAH:  Williams, a senior, rushed 26 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns in the Blue Devils’ 21-20 loss to Guntersville.
QUINTON DOWNEY, SPRING GARDEN: Ran for 157 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns (5, 5, 10 yards). He also rushed for a 2-point conversion in the Panthers’ 50-6 victory over Valley Head.
CLAY KELLEY, NEW BROCKTON: Rushed for 152 yards on nine carries with touchdown runs of 78 and 7 yards and recovered two fumbles on defense in the Gamecocks’ 55-0 win over Highland Home.
DEREK HILL, GAYLESVILLE: Ran for 149 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns (9 and 5 yards) in the Trojans’ 28-22 loss in overtime at Jacksonville Christian.
KENNON CASEY, G.W. LONG: The Rebels quarterback rushed for 144 yards on 10 carries with four touchdowns (31, 23, 39 and 18 yards) and also threw a 30-yard touchdown pass in G.W. Long’s 49-0 win over Geneva County.

PASS RECEIVING

VELUS JONES, SARALAND: The Southern Cal commitment caught eight passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns in Saraland’s 42-8 win over Citronelle.
ROBERT ADAMS, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN: Had 10 receptions for 136 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 34-0 win over Ashford. It was his third straight 125-yard plus receiving performance.
QUARTEZ HENDERSON, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Caught four passes for 140 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown, in the Warriors’ 48-17 win at Hokes Bluff.
AUSTIN HALLMARK, SARDIS: The senior receiver finished with four catches for 136 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown catch, in the Lions’ 21-19 victory over White Plains.
TOMMY SPIVEY, BRANTLEY: Grabbed three catches for 134 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat Florala 68-6. Spivey has had seven TD receptions in Brantley’s last two games.
DALLAS REED, COLLINSVILLE: Caught touchdown passes of 63 and 61 yards in the Panthers’ 34-10 win at Section.
FISHER WILLOUGHBY, COLD SPRINGS: Caught seven passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns and recovered two fumbles, including a 50-yard scoop-and-score, in a 45-26 homecoming victory over Addison. His TD receptions covered 42 and 33 yards. TeammateChristian Crandall chipped in 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns (14 and 53 yards) on 14 carries and took a screen pass 55 yards for another score.
DARRIAN STEELE, CARVER-MONTGOMERY: Caught four passes for 116 yards and three scores as the Wolverines beat Russell County 55-14.
BLAKE EDWARDS, ELBA: Caught five passes for 90 yards with two touchdowns and also had a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Tigers’ 58-7 win over Goshen.

 

DEFENSE

TONY NELSON, CARVER-MONTGOMERY: Returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown as Carver beat Russell County 55-14.
JOSHUA DRAPER, LEE-HUNTSVILLE: Recorded 17 tackles, including three stops behind the line, in a 28-14 loss to Fort Payne.
LOGAN HURLEY, GAYLESVILLE: Posted 14 tackles, including three for lost yardage, in the Trojans’ 28-22 loss in overtime at Jacksonville Christian.
WALTER PRITCHETT, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: The defensive lineman led a Red Devils defense that had eight sacks with four stops behind the line in a 41-14 win over Smith Station.
PATE SMITH, G.W. LONG: Earned nine tackles, including two sacks, and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the Rebels’ 49-0 win over Geneva County.
TRAE PRATER, FORT PAYNE:  Made an interception in the Wildcats’ end zone to foil one scoring threat to lead a Fort Payne defense in a 28-14 win over Lee-Huntsville. The secondary had three interceptions in the final period with Tyler Berry and Daurice Maddox picking off the other two.
ZACH GLENN, CULLMAN: Picked off a pass that led to a touchdown and had 11 tackles in a 20-7 region win at Athens. Teammate Justin Patterson added 10 tackles and two sacks.
DREW VANCE, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown in the Warriors’ 48-17 victory at Hokes Bluff.
DAKOTA LAMBERT, SPRING GARDEN: Returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown and scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the Panthers’ 50-6 victory over Valley Head. Teammate Chase Jennings also returned a pick 35 yards for another score for Spring Garden’s defense and added a 9-yard TD run.

SPECIAL TEAMS

COBY NEENAN, NORTHVIEW: Kicked 2-of-3 field goals, missing only on a 56-yarder that sailed wide left, while converting 4-of-4 on extra points and punting for a 44-yard average on three punts in the Cougars’ 41-34 loss to Park Crossing. He also looped two kickoffs that resulted in Park Crossing fumbles that the Cougars recovered.
KOBE BAGGETT, DOTHAN: Booted a punt 74 yards in Dothan’s 33-19 win over Carroll. The kick was Baggett’s only punt of the night.
CARDAVION MYERS, PIEDMONT: Scored two touchdowns on a 60-yard punt return and a 63-yard run in the Bulldogs’ 49-0 victory at Pleasant Valley.
B.J. SMALLS, HANCEVILLE: Returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown and added 86 rushing yards in a 49-35 loss at Winfield.