Glenwood dominates Lee-Scott to lock up top seed in playoffs
BY NOAH GRIFFITH
FOR THE OBSERVER
SMITHS STATION –– The Glenwood Gators are one win away from an undefeated season after a 41-14 win over Lee-Scott Academy on Friday night. This is the same position they were in this time last year, but the Gators are shooting for a better outcome this time around.
Last year, they went into their final game unbeaten after being the only team to conquer the Warriors in the regular season. But Glenwood couldn’t finish in 2023. It fell to eventual 2A champion Chambers Academy to end the regular season before falling to Lee-Scott in the AISA 3A state championship game for the second consecutive season.
In its first year in AHSAA 3A, however, Glenwood is motivated to go out with a bang.
“We have a team goal, right now, to have a perfect season,” said third-year head coach Ryan Nelson. “It would mean a lot [to go undefeated.] It’s something that we strive for as a program – every time you lace them up, you want to win.”
After clinching the 3A Region 4 regular-season title last week, the 27-point victory over Lee-Scott helped Glenwood notch the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, which means it will have home field advantage throughout the postseason. The win also improves Glenwood’s all-time record to 23-19 against Lee-Scott.
Even with the region title already locked up and Glenwood being on fall break the preceding week, Nelson was ecstatic with his team’s focus and drive ahead of the rivalry game. Glenwood improved to 8-0 with the win, while the Warriors fell to 4-4 with their fourth loss in a row.
Glenwood is a young team with a first-year starting quarterback, senior Levi Pinder, along with seven incoming transfers in their debut year at the school. Still, the squad has kept their foot on the gas pedal, earning its seventh consecutive 20-point win since beating Valley, 21-20, to begin the season.
“I credit our kids for understanding the rivalry and understanding what a big game this was. We just practiced well all week, and again, came out and played football at a very high level tonight,” Nelson said. “Just happy to be 8-0, happy to be undefeated in the region and most importantly, healthy going into a bye week.”
Glenwood dominated in all phases of the game, but the 41-point performance was no surprise. It was the fourth time this season the Gators have put up more than 40 points.
Leading the offensive attack, Pinder completed 18-of-22 passes for 238 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions along with a rushing TD, and senior running back Jermaine Brown ran 22 times for 94 yards. Senior receiver Kham Cooper caught two TD passes, junior Cal Lawrence caught nine passes for 95 yards and a TD, and seniors Mason McCraine and Makai Simpson (rushing) topped it off with a score a piece.
After recovering a muffed squib kick on the opening kickoff, Glenwood went 5-for-6 on scoring drives in the first half to craft a 35-7 lead at halftime. Pinder threw 16 and 64-yard TD passes to Cooper on the first two drives before Lee-Scott could answer to make it 14-7. Once the Warriors punched back with a TD run from senior QB Pelzer Reeves, Pinder answered with a 7-yard rushing TD to swipe momentum back.
Despite the explosive offensive performance, Nelson was particularly happy with the defense. They held the opponent to 14 points for the second week in a row after allowing 38 and 40 the two games prior.
Following Reeves’ 21-yard scamper into the end zone, the defense left the Warriors offense confounded at a lack of production. It wasn’t until 8:07 left in the fourth quarter that Lee-Scott rediscovered the end zone on a physical 2-yard TD run by backup QB Max Hammer. Glenwood forced three punts, two turnovers and only allowed on score in the first half, including an interception by junior Tanner Pickering off Reeves and a fumble recovery.
With such a commanding lead coming out of halftime, Glenwood led a six-minute scoring drive to begin the third quarter and then chewed the clock with the ground game for the remainder of the second half.
With the win, all that’s standing in Glenwood’s way of a 9-0 season is Sylacauga (4-4, 5A Region 4). Even facing a non-region opponent with the No. 1 seed locked up, the opportunity to finish strong in front of its home crowd means there is plenty at stake for the Gators.
“Last year, we were one game away from [going undefeated], and we got beat on the road in the last ball game,” Nelson recalled. “To finish, we’ve just got to come out and win the next one. So we’ll come out, prepare for Sylacauga and come out and play for our home fans.”
Beauregard falls to Central-Clay
BY DAVID YOHN
FOR THE OBSERVER
The Beauregard Hornets felt the sting of defeat in a region game for the first time, dropping a tough game to the third-ranked Volunteers from Central-Clay County. Beauregard falls to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the region.
While the Hornets hoped for a closer contest versus Central-Clay, the first quarter proved to be fairly even. Beauregard managed one first down on the initial possession of the game but decided to punt on fourth and one just past midfield. The Volunteers showed their quick-strike capability on the sixth play of their opening drive when senior running back Ladamion Boyd broke off a 58-yard run for the first score of the night. The PAT failed, but Central-Clay claimed a 6-0 lead with 7:02 remaining in the opening stanza.
Beauregard turned to its senior running back, Ka’jaden Holloway, and he picked up 15 total yards on two consecutive rushes. Their drive quickly stalled, however, and the Hornets punted for the second time in as many possessions. The punt pinned the Volunteers deep in their own territory, and the Central-Clay quarterback mishandled the shotgun snap on the second play of the drive. Jermyan Fitch recovered the fumble in the end zone, and moments later Beauregard claimed a 7-6 lead after a successful PAT.
Central-Clay then went on their longest drive of the night in terms of time of possession, moving the ball 57 yards on eight running plays that consumed four minutes and 10 seconds. Boyd and senior quarterback Deshaun Gibbons were a two-man show on the drive that resulted in the Volunteers moving ahead 12-7 late in the first quarter.
The second quarter started inauspiciously for Beauregard when the punt returner from Central-Clay caught the ball on the run near midfield and rambled down to the Hornets’ 9-yard line. The Volunteers scored quickly, extending their lead to 20-7.
The Hornets looked to control the clock on their ensuing possession, relying heavily on Holloway. After two quick first downs, Beauregard faced fourth down and three from its own 39-yard line. Holloway fought for four yards, and then quarterback Cub Jones connected with Fitch for a 25-yard gain. The Hornets’ drive would stall after an offensive pass interference call that pushed them back to the 21-yard line. Beauregard just missed a 37-yard field goal that would have cut the deficit.
Central-Clay looked to deflate Beauregard before halftime, and once again the Volunteers showed why they are one of the highest-ranked teams in Alabama, needing just six plays and 1:50 to go 80 yards, pushing their halftime lead to 26-7.
“We didn’t finish things,” said Beauregard Head Coach Justin Jones. “We didn’t finish drives. They made the plays when they had to. Hats off to them. I thought we ran the football well. Physically, we matched them at times.”
The Hornets, unfortunately, did not get the start they wanted in the third quarter. The Volunteers returned the second half kickoff 33 yards to the Beauregard 42-yard line. Six plays later, Central-Clay pushed its lead to 32-7. Things would only get worse as the Hornets could not move the chains on their next possession. The Volunteers again struck quickly, moving 64 yards in just five plays. With 6:38 remaining in the third quarter, Beauregard found itself in a deep hole, trailing 39-7.
The two teams exchanged punts before Beauregard’s offense drove 68 yards in 10 plays, chewing up 4:20 in the process. Jones found Aundray Vann twice on the drive, including the touchdown strike from 23 yards out. With 9:40 remaining, Beauregard cut the deficit to 39-15.
Central-Clay added another touchdown before Beauregard answered with a 64-yard scoring drive in nine plays. Running backs Jeffrey Holloway and Kentavious Foreman did all of the damage on the ground, and J. Holloway plowed into the end zone from two yards out to make the score 46-22.
“We’re still growing and learning,” Coach Jones said. “It wasn’t an effort thing. That’s what I’m most proud about. We’ve got to be better when we play these guys at how we execute. That’s why they call it ‘practice.’ We’ll show up Sunday at 2 o’clock. We’ll start over and get ready for Valley.”
With that first-round home playoff game on the line, the Hornets will have plenty to play for in their final region tilt — Beauregard can secure the number two seed and earn a home game in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs with a win over Valley this week. The Hornets dropped a close 21-14 game last year versus the Rams.
Valley, coming off a close loss to Holtville, will be fighting for the final playoff spot in the region. However, the Rams’ path is not easy. They must defeat Beauregard and still hope that Holtville falls to winless Marbury.
Southern Christian seals berth in 8-man playoffs
CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — The Patriots of Southern Christian defeated long time conference rival Ezekiel Academy at Moore Stadium in Opelika on Friday to secure a playoff berth in the Alabama Christian Sports Conference State playoffs.
The eight-man Patriot wrecking crew took the fight to the Knights of Montgomery from the very first kick. Aiden Hahn drilled a perfect squib kick at one of the Knights’ front line guys and hit him right in the chest. The pig skin bounced off him and into the hands of Lawton Curran.
Curran had his best game of the season, ending the night with two scores, nine tackles, five sacks and seven hurries. Also adding to the Patriots defensive prowess was the dynamic duo, Jedd and Jagger Scott, aka the twins. Jedd gravely deterred the Knights’ ability to move the football through the air, defending or deflecting seven ill-fated attempts from Ezekiel senior QB Shaun Taylor. Meanwhile, Jagger piled up 14 bone-jarring tackles for the evening.
“The twins had a great night,” said Patriots head coach Jason Scott. “Our quarterback Elijah Bailey is finally getting comfortable passing the ball since we added more blockers, which is vital, because Jedd is a real threat in open space. Jagger also ran really well tonight with 228 total yards.
“Gavin (Cooper) and Robbie (Phinney) did their part defensively on the ends, and the offensive line had very few mental breakdowns, which means Elijah had a really great game, almost 200 yards passing, no interceptions and no fumbles. He also ran for 132 yards, mostly on scrambles. Altogether a really great night for us.”
SCA varsity will next travel to the Lighthouse Warriors of Oneanta on Friday. This is the last regular season game and final conference matchup of the season.
Southern Christian, with this win over Ezekiel, has cleared the last hurdle to qualify for post season play in the ASCS State Championship Tournament and will most likely face East Central of Pinson, who defeated SCA by the slimmest of margins earlier this season, edging out a 42-41 victory.
With a 6-2 record, the Patriots of Southern Christian have also qualified for the NFHS Football National Tournament in Panama City, Florida, where they will face off with the top eight-man teams from across the southeastern U.S.
Southern Christian’s JV squad ended their season this week, falling to the Springwood Wildcats on 8-6. The young Pats would end 2024 with a phenomenal 6-2 season and a great future ahead of them behind the tutelage and leadership of head coach Shaun Sirmon.
Under the lights – Week 9
EAST ALABAMA —Auburn (8-0) clinched the region 2 championship with a 29-14 win over Carver, will host Dothan;
Beauregard (5-3) lost 22-46 Central-Clay County and finished second in its region; will play at Valley;
Benjamin Russell (4-4) beat Pelham 27-0, will travel to Chelsea;
Beulah (6-2) did not play, but clinched a playoff spot after LSA lost to Glenwood; will play at Randoph County this week;
Chambers Academy (7-1) thumped Banks 56-6, will play at Crenshaw Christian;
Glenwood (8-0) beat Lee-Scott Academy 41-14, are open this week;
LaFayette (4-4) beat Central Coosa 48-8, will host Horseshoe Bend;
Lanett (4-5) lost 52-56 to Horseshoe Bend, and can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Ranburne;
Lee-Scott Academy (4-4) lost 41-14 to Glenwood, will host BB Comer;
Loachapoka (4-4) beat Randburne 49-14, will host Pike Liberal Arts this week;
Notasulga (3-5) beat Billingsley 35-30, will host Autauga Academy Friday;
Russell County (6-1) lost 46-14 to Pike Road, will host Rehoboth;
Smiths Station (0-9) lost 0-48 to Dothan, will be at Enterprise this week;
Southern Prep (4-5) beat Meadowview Christian, will host Stewart County;
Springwood (7-2) beat Macon-East 85-54, will host N. River Christian and
Valley (3-5) lost in overtime 21-28 to Holtville.
