AHSAAFootball

Peak Performers | AHSAA Postseason Round 2

November 19, 2021

Take a look at the Alabama high school football standouts who turned in peak performances in round 2 of the AHSAA postseason.

MILESTONES

BRAYDEN KYLE, DECATUR HERITAGE: The senior finished the Eagles second round 76-60 victory over Ragland completing 11-of-18 passes for 271 yards and three touchdown passes while rushing 18 times for 358 yards and eight touchdowns. The 629 total yards in a single game broke the AHSAA all-time single-game record and his 11 TDs accounted for also set a new AHSAA single-game state record.

JEREMIAH COBB, MONTGOMERY-CATHOLIC: Totaled 192 yards on 19 rush attempts and score three touchdowns (two rushing and one receiving) as the Knights (12-0) blanked Bayside Academy 31-0 in the Class 3A state playoffs. The shutout was the seventh this season for Catholic, breaking the previous record set in each of the 1946 and 1947 seasons. Senior Javen Augustus led the defensive effort with 10 tackles, including three for losses.

JACK HAYES, PIEDMONT: Completed 10-of-20 pass attempts for 165 yards and three touchdowns (57, 36 and 18 yards) and rushed for 76 yards on 14 carries with a 3-yard score in the Bulldogs’ 31-0 Class 3A playoff win over Lauderdale County. Hayes now ranks fourth on the AHSAA all-time list for career touchdown passes (109) and fifth on the all-time list for career touchdowns accounted for (146).

L.T. SANDERS, GARDENALE: Had 29 carries for 298 yards rushing and three touchdowns as the Rockets beat Homewood 35-27 in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs. In the process, he became the school’s career all-time leading rusher. The 298 yards also set a single-game school record for Gardendale as well.

JUSTIN PEGUES, THOMPSON: Amassed 200 all-purposes yards with 18 carries for 127 yards and a score, two catches for 25 yards and two punt returns for 48 yards as the defending Class 7A state champion Warriors (11-1) beat Oak Mountain 45-7 for its 10^th consecutive playoff win to set up a Class 7A semifinal rematch with Hoover this week.

ZACH PYRON, PINSON VALLEY: The Indians’ quarterback combined for 135 yards and two touchdowns as the defending Class 6A state champion Indians (9-3) blanked Oxford 20-0 for their 7^th playoff win in row and their 20^th in 21 tries since 2017. He rushed for 82 yards and passed for 53. Pyron also quarterbacked Fyffe to the 2019 state title

RUSHING

KHAIFA KEITH, PARKER: Ran for 275 yards and five touchdowns and scored a sixth TD on a pass reception to lead the Thundering Herd to a 41-34 win over previously undefeated Alexandria in the 5A state playoffs.

WILL STOKES, MADISON ACADEMY: Ran for 252 yards and five touchdowns (21, 15, 6, 5 and 3 yards) on 26 carries in a 35-7 Class 4A win over Priceville.

EARL WOODS, HUEYTOWN: Totaled 19 carries for 217 rushing yards and a touchdown and was 5-of-13 passing for 130 yards and two touchdowns as the Gophers (11-1) beat McGill-Toolen Catholic 49-17 in the 6A playoffs.

COSNER HARRISON, SAINT JAMES: Rushed 30 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns in Trojans’ 45-33 loss to Jackson in the Class 4A playoffs. He also scored on a hook-and-lateral pass play taking the pitch and racing 59 yards for the final touchdown.

TYCHIUS “BOBO” CAVES, JACKSON: Had 10 carries for 211 yards and a TD and two receptions for 45 yards and a TD in the Aggies’ 45-33 Class 4A playoff win over St. James.

DAVAIOUN WILLIAMS, AUBURN: Had 14 rush attempts for 175 yards and three touchdowns (2,1 and 38 yards) as the Tigers beat Enterprise 56-21 to move into the Class 7A state playoff semifinals with the win.

EDWARD OSLEY, CLAY-CHALKVILLE: Ran 22 times for 175 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Cougars (12-0) to a 56-21 Class 6A playoff win over Briarwood Christian.

DEMARCUS LACEY, PLEASANT GROVE: Ran 17 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns AS THE Spartans (11-1) downed Leeds 35-0 in the Class 5A playoffs.

JAMARI THOMAS, OPELIKA: Ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries to lead the Bulldogs to a 28-14 Class 6A playoff win over Spanish Fort.

CHRISTIAN BURNETTE, FAITH ACADEMY: Finished with 155 yards rushing, 112 yards receiving and three TDs as the Rams beat Central-Clay County 40-33 in the Class 5A playoffs. Burnette’s 80-yard run with 3:01 remaining gave Faith the lead for good.

BRADEN MOORE, ONEONTA: Had 18 carries for 153 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins beat Gordo 36-26 to advance in the Class 4A state playoffs.

WILL WALDROP, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Ran 21 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans (11-1) beat Jackson-Olin 45-14 in the Class 6A state playoffs.

JASHAWN COOPER, MONTGOMERY ACADEMY: Had 29 carries for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the Eagles’ 21-17 Class 3A playoff win over Trinity Presbyterian.

KYLER MURKS, BROOKS: Scored on four touchdown runs covering 70 and 38 yards and two from a yard out) and also passed for two TDs (66 and 35 yards) as the unbeaten Lions (12-0) downed Randolph (10-2) in the 4A playoffs 42-21.

PASSING

DREW SEYMORE, DEMOPOLIS: Completed 16-of-31 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns in 48-26 Class 5A playoff loss to Andalusia.

TANNER BAILEY, GORDO: Was 18-of-29 passing for 250 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-26 Class 4A playoff setback to Oneonta.

ETHAN CRAWFORD, HILLCREST-TUSCALOOSA: Had 283 yards total offense in the Patriots’ 28-22 Class 6A playoff victory over Baldwin County. He was 11-of-17 passing for 148 yards and rushed 15 times for 135 yards.

MILLER HART, T.R. MILLER: Passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns to lead T.R. Miller past Opp 35-14 in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

SAWYER DEERMAN, AMERICAN CHRISTIAN: Was 9-of-14 passing for 233 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 58 yards and two more scores to lead the Patriots past Jacksonville 49-35 in the Class 4A playoffs.

GABE REYNOLDS, SARALAND: Was near perfect with a 15-of-16 passing performance for 221 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Spartans defeated Lee-Montgomery 35-6 to advance to the Class 6A quarterfinals.

CHAPEL POPE, SPRING GARDEN: Connected on 14-of-17 pass attempts for 202 yards and five touchdowns (2, 17, 27, 26 and 36 yards) and also ran for 66 yards on 21 carries in the Panthers’ 40-35 Class 2A playoff win over Aliceville.

JAVION BELLE-McCRARY, PICKENS COUNTY: Had a 9-of-15 passing effort for 159 yards and three touchdowns and added 82 yards rushing with two more TDs as the Tornadoes advanced in the 1A playoffs with a 38-16 win over Winterboro.

AIDAN QUINN, WINFIELD: Tossed touchdown passes of 68, 50 and 22 yards in a 56-27 Class 3A playoff victory over Ohatchee.

RECEIVING

TYLER CAMPBELL, JACKSON: Had two touchdown catches for 150 yards total as the Aggies beat Saint James 45-33 in the 4A playoffs.

CAM’RON WRIGHT, DEMOPOLIS: Snagged six pass receptions for 144 yards in the Tigers’ 48-26 Class 5S loss to Andalusia.

AUSTIN ESTES, PIEDMONT: Caught five passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns (57 and 36 yards) in the Bulldogs’ 31-0 Class 3A victory over Lauderdale County.

LAWSON NEEL, GORDO: Had five receptions for 109 receiving yards and one TD in a 36-26 Class 4A playoff loss to Oneonta.

R.J. HAMILTON, HOOVER: Caught nine passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in the Bucs’ 24-23 Class 7A playoff win over Hewitt-Trussville.

COOPER AUSTIN, SPRING GARDEN: Led the Panthers (12-0) with seven receptions for 100 yards and three touchdowns (2, 17 and 36 yards) and also rushed for a 10-yard touchdown as Spring Garden beat Aliceville 40-35 to advance to the Class 2A state playoff quarterfinals. Teammate Cam Welsh also had six catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns (27 and 26 yards).

OMARI KELLY, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Caught nine passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in A 24-23 Class 7A playoff loss to Hoover.

JERMAINE BREWER, ALICEVILLE: Accounted for four touchdowns – including a 65-yard pass, 10-yard run, and pass plays covering 22 and 8 yards for a total of four touchdowns in a 40-35 Class 2A playoff loss to Spring Garden.

DEFENSE

IVERSON HOOKS, PIKE ROAD: Returned an interception 100 yards for what appeared to be a game-clinching touchdown, but an illegal block inside the 10-yard line nullified the score. He then ran 19 yards for the TD on the next offensive play to seal the win – leading the unbeaten Patriots (11-0) to a 29-17 Class 5A win over defending Class 5A state champion St. Paul’s Episcopal. Pike Road’s quarterback/defensive back also rushed for 113 yards and two TDs on 27 carries. Teammate Khurtiss Perry also recorded a safety, a sack and five tackles.

ROBERT COURTNEY, UMS-WRIGHT: Returned a Greenville fumble 14 yards for a score with 3:17 left to help the Bulldogs hold on for a 14-12 win in the Class 5A second round. He also had 12 solo tackles and 3 assists.

LANDON SMART, PIEDMONT: Registered 16 tackles, including five behind the line of scrimmage, in the Bulldogs’ 31-0 Class 3A playoff victory over Lauderdale County.

KOBE HARPER, ONEONTA: Totaled 11 tackles and blocked two punts, recovering one for a touchdown, in Oneonta’s 36-26 Class 4A playoff win over Gordo.

BRYANT STORY, JR., LANETT: Returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown and teammate Tieka Williams added a 37-yard pick for a TD as the Panthers beat Luverne 33-0 in the 2A state playoffs.

OMARION FOSTER, PIEDMONT: Picked off a pair of passes in the Bulldogs’ 31-0 Class 3A playoff victory over Lauderdale County. He now has eight interceptions for the season.

WEBBER McCLINTON, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN: Totaled 11 tackles in a 21-17 Class 3A playoff loss to Montgomery Academy.

SPECIAL TEAMS

BRAD HARPER, AUBURN: Blocked an Enterprise punt, picked it up and ran 54 yards for a special-teams touchdown as the Tigers advanced to the 7A semifinals with a 56-21 win over Enterprise.

DREW COOK, WINFIELD: Recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown in the Pirates’ 56-27 Class 3A playoff win over Ohatchee.

Click here to check out pairings for the third round of the AHSAA postseason.

Photo: Hoover receiver R.J. Hamilton, Pinson Valley quarterback Zach Pyron, Decatur Heritage quarterback Brayden Kyle & Gardendale running back L.T. Sanders.

Stats provided by the Alabama High School Athletic Association.