Cedar Bluff’s Anthony Taylor says his football coach, Jonathan McWhorter, is always emphasizing the importance of making the big play.

On Friday night against Gaylesville, Taylor got his chance to make one.

Taylor came up with a crucial interception with 2:58 remaining in the game as the Trojans were marching from the Tigers’ 14, helping Cedar Bluff (7-2) escape with a 14-6 win.

Speaking of big plays, Collinsville’s Robert Gray knows a little something about that too. The senior quarterback carried the ball 19 times for 277 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 2 of 6 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers (5-4) clinched their first playoff berth since 2001 with a 31-29 victory at Valley Head.

Gray scored on runs of 69, 7 and 75 yards and threw touchdown passes of 59 and 14 yards.

Both Taylor and Gray are among this week’s Alabama Sportswriters’ honorees for their performances in Week 9.

In other statewide performances, with the game tied at 14 against Tharptown, one second left in regulation, and the Wildcats holding the ball at Vina’s 36 with time for one shot in the end zone, Vina’s Adam Pharr stepped in front of a pass at his own 15 and returned the interception 85 yards for a touchdown that gave Vina a 20-14 win.

He also earned Alabama Sports Writers Association defensive/special teams player of the week honors over Akevious McCall of Holtville and Tony Ivory of Jackson.

McCall had 14 tackles and returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown in a 35-25 loss to Elmore County, while Ivory had two defensive touchdowns – an interception return for 50 yards and a blocked punt return off his own block for 30 yards – in Jackson’s 57-36 win over Thomasville.

There was solid competition for ASWA offensive player of the week honors, but junior running back Tim Barnett of Clarke County came away with the top spot. He rushed for 347 yards on 26 carries with three touchdowns (43, 6, 36) as Clarke County beat Hillcrest-Evergreen 38-21 to clinch a playoff berth.

Barnett edged out Murphy’s Matt Rowser and Mountain Brook’s Judd Golsan for top spot. Rowser had 408 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns to lead Murphy to a 48-45 victory over Davidson to earn the Class 6A, Region 1 title. He rushed 21 times for 160 yards, including TD runs of 32, 8, 2 and 4 yards, completed 23-of-38 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns – including the game winner with 11 seconds left on an 11-yard pass to Soloman Patton.

Golsan became Mountain Brook’s offense when running back J.D. Marsh was injured, and rushed for 202 yards with three touchdowns, and threw for 217 yards and two more touchdowns in a 49-34 win over Cullman.

A special mention goes to Cullman quarterback Tyler Caldwell who completed 41 passes – a state record, attempted 60 – second in state history – and threw for 346 yards and a touchdown against Mountain Brook. He had just one interception – on the last play of the game.

Some 53 players were nominated by ASWA members in Birmingham, Centre, Dothan, Florence, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Grove Hill, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Oneonta. An ASWA panel selected the finalists from all players nominated.

Other standout performances included:

OFFENSE

Joey Howe, Russellville: Completed 19 of 29 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns in 35-20 win against Athens.

Bryce Curtis, Florence: Threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns (45, 38, 62) as Florence beat Briarwood Christian 27-7.

Garrett Powell, Homewood: Was 24-of-37 passing for 290 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown in a 31-27 win over Gardendale.

Fabian Truss, Shades Valley: Came through with 288 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 33 carries in a 28-10 win over Pinson Valley.

Derrick Colvin, Jackson-Olin: Was 26-of-40 passing for 308 yards and four touchdowns in a 55-34 loss to Hueytown. Teammate Montaurius Smith caught 15 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns.

Deven Cheatham, Georgiana: Had six carries for 211 yards, including touchdowns of 40, 60 and 65 yards, in a 60-0 win over J.F. Shields.

Devyn Murphree, J.B. Pennington: Piled up 333 all-purpose yards, scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion and had 14 tackles - one for loss - and a fumble recovery as Pennington blasted Danville, 40-18. He finished with 213 yards rushing on 22 carries with two touchdowns and added a 63-yard punt return for a score and another 57 yards on kickoff returns.

Tre Cosby, Tanner: Rushed 33 times for 266 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-21 win over Hatton.

Damion Bracy, Jackson: Caught TD passes of 80 and 47 yards, rushed for 82 yards and an 18-yard TD and added two interceptions in a 57-36 victory over Thomasville.

Dylan Whitsett, Millry: The quarterback broke his own single-season passing record, throwing for 305 yards and four TDs in a 48-14 victory over Excel. He now has 2,207 passing yards this season.

A.T. Thomas, Coosa Christian: Thomas almost single handedly carried the Conquerors to their first AHSAA playoff berth in the Conquerors' 45-28 victory over Jacksonville Christian. Thomas torched the Thunder defense for 295 yards and six touchdowns on 24 carries.

Nathan McAlister, Russellville: Caught eight passes for 178 yards and a touchdown as Russellville beat Athens 35-20. McAlister also had a 70-yard interception return for a score.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Raiques Crump, Minor: Had 11 tackles, four for loss, and two sakes in a 17-6 loss to Tuscaloosa County.

Leland Baker, Erwin: Had 16 tackles, including three for loss, and forced a fumble in a 19-0 loss to Walker.

Cartez Pickett, Wenonah: Had seven tackles and two interceptions in a 20-14 win over Selma.

Chance Payne, Oneonta: Had 14 tackles with two for loss and two sacks in a 14-6 loss to St. Clair County on Thursday.

Zack Hammontree, North Jackson: The linebacker had13 tackles to back up Tana Patrick’s 15 in North Jackson’s 42-21 win over Fairview.

Josiah Gibson, Bob Jones: Returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to spark a 40-16 win over Sparkman for a win that gave the Patriots a 6A playoff berth.

Devondrick Richardson, Barbour County: Richardson scored on an 18-yard run and on an 89-yard kickoff returns for Barbour County's only scores and earned a sack with just over two minutes to go on fourth down, preserving a 12-7 win over the sixth-ranked Raiders. Richardson finished with 124 yards rushing on 13 carries on offense and had 12 tackles, highlighted by the key sack, on defense.

Gabe Newman, Abbeville Christian: Newman had 11 tackles, including nine solo, and rushed for 210 yards and a score with a two-point conversion in the Generals' 16-14 win over Dixie Academy.

David Davidson, New Brockton: Davidson recorded 14 tackles and three sacks, leading the Gamecock defense to its first shutout since 2005 in a 24-0 win over Samson.

Ryan Allis, Northview: Allis kicked a 19-yard field goal in overtime, giving Northview a 17-14 win over Dothan in the 31st annual city championship game. It was Allis' first career field goal; he also made two extra points and kicked two of his three kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks with his third kickoff to the 5.