TUSCALOOSA – Performing on the state’s biggest football stage seemingly came natural to the Cherokee County Warriors and Piedmont Bulldogs last week. Both teams clinched their first football titles, and several outstanding efforts made that happen.

On Tuesday, the Alabama Sportswriters Association released its final Players of the Week for the 2009 season. Several Warrior and Bulldog players were among those honored.

Cherokee County quarterback Coty Blanchard threw for 187 yards and a touchdown pass, while rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-27 win over Jackson. Blanchard was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Gabriel Chambers was Blanchard’s top receiver. He caught six passes – one for a touchdown – for 74 yards for the Warriors (15-0) in the Class 3A title game. But his biggest catch was a 36-yarder that led to the Warriors’ winning touchdown.

In Piedmont’s 35-28 overtime victory against Cordova, quarterback Chase Childers rushed for 102 yards and threw for 56 with two touchdowns in the Bulldogs' (13-2) win. The senior was named the game’s MVP.

Bulldog tailback Christian Cantrell, who was injured the week before in a semifinal win over Leeds, rushed for 108 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Cordova.

Piedmont linebacker Luke Smith led the Bulldogs with 14 tackles, had a sack with a tackle for loss, but also recovered a fumble on the final play of the game to clinch the overtime win.

In other Super 6 title game top performances, Demopolis running back DaMarcus James earned the ASWA player of the week honor after he rushed for 293 yards on 42 carries with a touchdown. He also had 40 return yards in a 27-14 win over Russellville – winding up with 333 all-purpose yards.

His 42 carries set a record for the most rushing attempts in a game and the 293 yards broke the 5A rushing record of 194 yards by Homewood’s Steve Freeman in 2005.

Hoover defensive back Leon Carlton had seven tackles to go with one tackle for loss, two fumble recoveries – one returned for a 10-yard touchdown – and an interception returned 59 yards as the Buccaneers won their first Class 6A state title since 2005 with a 28-23 win over Prattville.

The best of the rest of the Super 6 include:

Ben Pettus, Demopolis: Threw just four passes and completed three, but two were for touchdowns.

Brent Calloway, Russellville: Rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Demopolis.

Chase Hall, Brantley: Had a hand in all four of his team’s touchdowns in a 28-13 win over Hackleburg. Hall had touchdown runs of 2 and 61 yards and threw for passes of 52 yards to Teven Daniels and 55 to Tory Upshaw.He finished with 215 yards in offense – 95 rushing and 120 passing.

Jason Leggitt, Hackleburg: Had nine solo tackles with four assists for 13 total in the Panthers loss to Brantley.

Ryan Smith, Cordova: Rushed for two touchdowns and 125 yards and 238 all-purpose yards in the Blue Devils 35-28 overtime loss to Piedmont.

Damion Bracy, Jackson: Had 169 yards rushing with three touchdowns in Jackson’s loss to Cherokee County.

Shuntavis Sims, Jackson: Had 10 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss in a loss to Cherokee County.

Landen Moore, Hoover: Had 13 tackles for the Bucs in their Class 6A title win with three tackles for loss.

Desmond Haley, Prattville: Rushed for 105 yards and added 12 more receiving in Prattville’s loss to Hoover.

Shaquille Roberson, Reeltown: Had 11 tackles, while forcing and recovering a fumble to snuff a fourth-quarter scoring chance in the Rebels’ 16-8 Class 2A win over Clay County.

Breeman Ackles, Clay County: Had 91 of his team’s 195 yards in total offense in a loss to Reeltown.