Stevenson, AL – Forrest delivers game-winning field goal after Alexandria weathers North Jackson comeback. Anniston, Cherokee County advance. Unbeaten Oxford, Piedmont, Spring Garden cruise to second round.
Area scoreboard
THURSDAY, Nov. 7
Class 4A
St. Michael 63, Handley 40, FINAL
Class 3A
Fyffe 66, Ohatchee 30, FINAL
FRIDAY, Nov. 8
CLASS 6A
Oxford 42, Buckhorn 0, FINAL
Mountain Brook 45, Southside 7, FINAL
CLASS 5A
Central-Clay 49, Greenville 0, FINAL
Scottsboro 49, Jacksonville 13, FINAL
CLASS 4A
Cherokee County 48, Westminster Christian 13, FINAL
Madison Academy 28, Hokes Bluff 7, FINAL
Anniston 40, Randolph 12, FINAL
Alexandria 38, North Jackson 35, FINAL
CLASS 3A
Piedmont 46, Collinsville 28, FINAL
Sylvania 27, Weaver 9, FINAL
Trinity 65, Randolph County 42,, FINAL
CLASS 2A
Sulligent 56, Pleasant Valley 22, FINAL
CLASS 1A
Wadley 68, Valley Head 14, FINAL
Spring Garden 54, Victory Christian 21, FINAL
Appalachian 34, Donoho 10, FINAL
Second round
CLASS 6A
Hartselle at Oxford
CLASS 5A
Williamson at Central-Clay
CLASS 4A
Alexandria at Brooks
Central-Florence at Cherokee County
Good Hope at Anniston
CLASS 3A
Lauderdale County at Piedmont
CLASS 1A
Meek at Wadley
Berry at Spring Garden
Cleat Forrest has been Alexandria’s X-factor for a four years, and X marked his spot in the Valley Cubs’ first-round playoff game at North Jackson on Friday.
Playing with a high ankle sprain in his kicking leg, Forrest hit a 26-yard field goal with no time remaining, and Alexandria beat North Jackson 38-35.
The Valley Cubs (8-3) advanced to the second round and will play at Brooks on Nov. 15.
Alexandria, the fourth of four playoff qualifiers coming from Class 4A, Region 6, scored a rare upset over another region’s top seed. North Jackson was the 4A, Region 8 champion.
To get the victory, Alexandria built a 35-14 lead then weathered a North Jackson comeback that saw the Chiefs recover two onsides kicks in a row.
Forrest’s game-winning kick on an untimed down came after North Jackson was flagged for jumping over the snapper on the first attempt. That moved the ball half the distance, to the 8-yard line, and Forrest delivered the walk-off kick.
Alexandria built its lead thanks to quarterback Cole Wheeler, running back Elijah Hunter and wide receiver Quendavion McDowell. Wheeler hit on seven of 10 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns, Hunter rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns, and McDowell caught three passes for 108 yards.
Both of Wheeler’s touchdown passes went to McDowell, covering 40 and 35 yards. Wheeler also made two big completions on Alexandria’s game-winning drive, one to McDowell and another to M.J. Morris to get into field goal position.
The 17-yard completion to Morris on third down, after Alexandria had used its final timeout, spotted the Valley Cubs at the North Jackson 18, and Wheeler spiked the ball to stop the clock.
North Jackson called back-to-back timeouts to try to ice Forrest, but snapper Dean Boxley, holder Wheeler and Forrest delivered.
“It was clean,” Alexandria coach Todd Ginn said. “We blocked it well. There was no chance to block it.”
ANNISTON 40, RANDOLPH 12: Playing at Huntsville, Class 4A, Region 6 No. 3 seed Anniston beat Region 8 No. 2 seed Randolph to advance to the second round.
Anniston (6-5) will play host to Good Hope next week.
Anniston’s victory gave Region 6’s four playoff qualifiers three first-round victories. Cherokee County beat Westminster Christian, and Alexandria beat Region 8 champion North Jackson.
Hokes Bluff, Region 6’s No. 2 qualifier, lost to Madison Academy.
“I think we’ve got one of the best regions in the state,” Anniston coach Rico Jackson said. “I think we’ve played one of the best schedules in 4A. We’ve played a bunch of heavy hitters, and I feel like it’s prepared us for this point.
“Hopefully, we can keep this thing going, and the kids are believing.”
Anniston’s JaKorie Carr caught four passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns and returned a punt for a touchdown, and Jabari Williams rushed for 115 yards on 16 carries.
Kaleb Moore added a touchdown catch on a fourth-down play.
On defense, Kyree Lewis had an interception and six tackles, and Tariq Judkins added an interception and four tackles.
“Defense played well,” Jackson said. “We were able to run the ball, and I’m really proud of the boys. They were locked in.”
OXFORD 42, BUCKHORN 0: Mason Mims threw two touchdown passes, and Oxford (11-0) advanced to the second round,
The Yellow Jackets will play host to Hartselle on Nov. 15.
Mims threw a touchdown pass to Jaylin Taylor and another one to Josh Dupree. Taylor also returned an interception for a touchdown.
Caleb Wynn had touchdown runs of 41 and 47 yards, and D.K. Wilson added a touchdown run.
This will be updated as more details become available.
PIEDMONT 46, COLLINSVILLE 28: Cole Wilson connected on nine of 11 passes for 246 yards and four touchdowns, and Piedmont (11-0) advanced to the second round for the 18th consecutive season.
The Bulldogs will play host to Lauderdale County, which eliminated them in the second round in 2023.
Wilson hit on touchdown passes of 57, 52 and 49 yards to Ishmael Bethel and 17 yards to Rollie Pinto. Wilson also had a 3-yard touchdown run.
Bethel caught five passes for 176 yards. Pinto caught three passes for 63 yards and returned a kick 90 yards for a score.
Hayes Gunn had a team-high 61 yards rushing, and Brodie Homesley had a 2-yard touchdown run.
CHEROKEE COUNTY 48, WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN 13: Cherokee County (10-1), winner of 10 games in a row, advanced to the second round and will play to Central-Florence on Nov. 15.
Tae Diamond had touchdown runs of nine and 38 yards, and Keyshawn Woods added touchdown runs of three and 41 yards.
Adam Griffith completed touchdown passes of 35 yards to Ben Moseley and 70 yards to Ethan Glass,
Jayshaun Stroup added a 57-yard touchdown run.
SPRING GARDEN 54, VICTORY CHRISTIAN 21: The Panthers (11-0) rolled into the second round of the playoffs and will play host to Berry on Nov. 17.
Zane Edwards produced touchdown runs of 17 and five yards. Connor Bates added a 9-yard touchdown run, and Jonathan Baker returned a kickoff 74 yards for a touchdown.
Noah Barber connected on touchdown passes of 15 yards to Eli Ledbetter, 20 yards to John Welsh and 24 yards to Bates.
