BY WIL CREWS
SPORTSCREWS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
High school football season began last week as local teams started their journey through the 2022 schedule.
Some games marked the start of new beginnings; some continued the standard set from years prior; all signaled ambitions for the ultimate glory that is a state championship.
The following is a breakdown of how some area teams fared in week one of the 2022 fall high school football schedule. All stats were compiled first hand, by school sources or Maxpreps.com.
AHSAA
– AUBURN 17 | HOOVER 14
The powerhouse season-opening matchup between the Auburn (7A, Region 2) and Hoover (7A, Region 3) varsity high school football teams ended with the Tigers prevailing, 17-14, over the Buccaneers. Auburn High kicker Towns McGough kicked a 36-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining in the game, lifting the Tigers to the win at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl. The Tigers spoiled a debut for Hoover first-year head coach Wade Waldrop. The Buccaneers rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit to tie the game early in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers capitalized on two Hoover fumbles in the final period to secure the win. The Tigers accumulated 157 passing yards (73 on one play) and 113 rushing yards (240 total) on 53 plays, compared to Hoover’s 240 yards (158 rushing, 82 passing) on 60 snaps. The Tigers recorded four sacks, and running back DV Williams rushed 17 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Two quarterbacks played for Auburn. Senior Clyde Pittman started and finished 11-of-18 for 140 yards; Davis Harsin — son of Auburn University coach Bryan Harsin — was 2-of-5 for 17 yards. Auburn travels to face region opponent Enterprise High School (1-0, defeated Bay High School, 41-7, in Florida last week) this Friday, Aug. 26. Auburn defeated Enterprise, 42-28, in week 10 of the 2021 season, and 56-21, in the second round of the playoffs.
– SMITHS STATION 20 | LAGRANGE 49
The varsity Smiths Station football team was outscored 42-7 in the final three quarters of its Friday night contest against non-region opponent LaGrange. The Panthers held a 13-7 lead entering the second quarter but ultimately fell to the Grangers, 49-20. In total, Smiths Station outsnapped Lagrange, 61-42, but managed to earn six fewer first downs throughout the game’s entirety. Senior Smiths Station QB Jackson Greer opened the scoring with a 1-yard rushing touchdown before LaGrange took the lead, 7-6. Greer responded with a 10-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Robert Sandborn to give the Panthers the 13-7 lead. LaGrange scored 32 unanswered points to take control of the game. AJ Herring took in the final score for the Panthers with a 10-yard run late in the fourth quarter. The Panthers face a tall task if they want to bounce back in week two, as they welcome 2021 7A state runner-up and region foe, the Central Phenix City Red Devils (1-0, 7A, Region 2), to Smiths Station.
– BEAUREGARD 21 | SELMA 14
The Beauregard Hornets (5A, Region 2) completed a comeback over Selma (5A, Region 3) in a home game Friday, defeating the Saints 21-6 at Hornet Stadium. Senior standout Kyan Maloy returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, and senior running back Jaqualen Barnes rushed in a 35-yard touchdown to give Beauregard the lead for good with 3:22 remaining in the contest. The Hornets overcame a first-half fumble from senior quarterback AJ Wallace — which resulted in a score on the ensuing drive for the Saints — to shutout Selma in the second half and secure a 1-0 start to the season. Wallace was responsible for the first Beauregard touchdown via a 31-yard touchdown scramble. Second-year head coach Justin Jones will look for his team to improve to 2-0 as the Hornets welcome Central Hayneville (0-0, 1A, Region 4) to Hornet Stadium in a non-region matchup Friday, Aug. 26. The two teams last met in 2001, with Beauregard emerging victorious, 40-14.
– BEULAH 0 | ABBEVILLE 26
The varsity Beulah Bobcat football team (3A, Region 4) dropped its season opener, 26-0, to Abbeville (2A, Region 2), Friday, Aug. 19. The Bobcats totaled 84 rushing yards and 95 passing yards on 6-of-8 passing attempts. Starting quarterback Noah Higdon threw one interception, but finished second on the team in total tackles with five. Sophomore Demarion Foreman fumbled once, but led Beulah with 45 rushing yards and two receptions. Drew Duval registered one interception on defense to accompany Bronson Dubose’s team-high five tackles (one for loss). Beulah returns to the field in an away, non-region game versus Loachapoka (1-0, 1A, Region 4) Friday, Aug. 26.
– LANETT 27 | NOTASULGA 0
Lanett’s Jarrious Goodman accounted for four touchdowns as the Panthers (2A, Region 3) defeated Notasulga (1A, Region 4), 27-0, Saturday. The game was part of the first-ever Kickoff Classic held between Lanett, Notasulga, Loachapoka and LaFayette, but was moved from Lanett to Handley due to field conditions from weather. That didn’t stop the Panthers who, with the win, moved head coach Clifford Story into first place on the program’s all-time win list. Lanett had the stronger and older roster going into the contest, and flexed its advantages by way of two blocked punts. Nakia Bynum and Elijah Whitfield caught the two touchdown passes from Goodman. Lanett looks to move to 2-0 on the young season at home Friday, Aug. 26, against Valley (0-1, 5A, Region 4). Notasulga will look to bounce back at home Aug. 26 when it plays host to Autaugaville (1-0, 1A, Region 4).
– LOACHAPOKA 38 | LAFAYETTE 6
Loachapoka (1A, Region 4) scored on its first drive Friday and never trailed after that, defeating LaFayette (2A, Region 4), 38-6, in the second game of the first-ever Kickoff Classic.
LaFayette’s only score came at the end of the first quarter via a strip-score touchdown from defensive back Joshua Combs. After forcing a third-and-49, the Loachapoka defense forced a fumble out of LaFayette quarterback AJ Patrick to set up ‘Poka running back Jamaroun Satterwhite for his second touchdown of the day. Loachapoka then scored three touchdowns on its four drives in the second half, buoyed by a 24-yard touchdown grab from Auburn commit J.C. Hart. Loachapoka hosts Beulah (3A, Region 4) Friday, Aug. 26, in an attempt to move to 2-0. LaFayette looks to bounce back Aug. 26 in a road matchup against Bullock County (1-0, 4A, Region 2).
AISA
– LEE-SCOTT 33 | CHAMBERS ACADEMY 0
The Lee-Scott Academy Warriors (3A) totaled 308 yards while allowing just 122 Friday night as they defeated Chambers Academy (3A) on the road, 33-0. It was a landmark win for third-year head coach Buster Daniel, as the Warriors had failed to beat Chambers the past four seasons — including a 41-3 defeat in 2021. Quarterback Ryan Dearing completed 9-of-15 passes to three receivers for 74 yards, adding 26 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Andrew Hahn amassed 91 yards and a touchdown on four carries; George Meyers carried the ball five times for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Jake White led the team in receiving with 44 yards. Defensively, Miles Zachary led the team with six tackles; Sam Jackson had three tackles for loss; and the Warriors got in the back field for six tackles for loss in total. Lee-Scott travels to face Monroe Academy (0-1, 3A) Friday, Aug. 26.
– GLENWOOD 13 | ST. ANNE-PACELLI 28
Glenwood (3A) trailed 14-13 at halftime Friday night against Georgia opponent St. Anne-Pacelli (GIAA, 4A) but failed to register points in the second half, falling to the Vikings, 28-13. It was a tough opening test for first-year head coach Ryan Nelson, as this was Pacelli’s first game since moving from the Georgia High School Association to the Georgia Independent School Association. The Vikings ran just three pass plays across all of regulation as four different rushers scored touchdowns. Running backs JT Banks and Aaron Burton accounted for the scores on Glenwood’s behalf. The Gators lost the turnover battle, 2-0. Nelson will look to earn his first win Friday, Aug. 26, in a non-region road game versus Brookstone (0-0, GIAA, 3A) High School in Columbus, Georgia.