Sand Rock senior receiver Brannon Burt and Gaylesville freshman defensive lineman Jon Compton received recognition from the Alabama Sportswriters Association for their efforts on the football field last Friday.

Burt hauled in the game-winning 47-yard touchdown catch with one second left on the clock to lift Sand Rock to a 23-21 victory at West End. Compton, from the nose guard, position, tallied 20 total tackles (7 solo, 13 assists) to lead the Trojan defense to a 49-0 shutout of Woodville. All seven of Compton’s solo efforts were for losses.

In other statewide happenings, two kickers had virtually the same performance on Friday night – steady play during the game and delivering under pressure on the game’s final play.

And because the two were virtually identical on the field, there was no need to be separated off it as both Hoover’s Larsen Real and Cullman’s Cooper Nyquist were named the ASWA co-Defense/Special Teams players of the week.

Real, a sophomore, hit a 33-yard field goal on the last play of the game to give the Bucs a 30-27 win over Camden County – the fourth-ranked team and defending champion in Georgia’s Class AAAAA. He also had field goals of 21 and 31 yards as well as three extra points as Hoover came back from a 27-14 third quarter deficit.

The senior Nyquist made three field goals, including a game-winning 47-yarder with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter in a 29-28 Class 5A Region 6 win at Pleasant Grove. His other field goals were from 27 and 30 yards, making him a perfect 4-for-4 on the season.

The other defensive/special teams finalist was Von Gibson of Beauregard, who forced and recovered a fumble to stop a potential scoring drive by Rehobeth in the fourth quarter, then blocked the potential game-winning field goal on the next drive in a 22-20 win. He also had an interception in the first half.

There was no debate for the ASWA offensive player of the week. Berry’s David Morrison tied an 11-year-old record with six touchdown receptions in a game and 12 passes for 238 yards in all in Berry’s 54-6 win over Akron. Morrison’s touchdown passes – all from sophomore quarterback Jacob Kennedy – tied the mark set by Brandon Greer of Westbrook Christian in 1998 against Donoho. Morrison’s TD receptions were 11, 26, 22, 12, 11 and 4 yards.

The two finalists were Jamal Woodyard of Fairhope and Devill Goldsmith of Calhoun. Woodyard had 384 yards rushing on 34 carries and five touchdowns in a 40-20 win over Foley, earning 240 yards by halftime and his TD runs were 1, 80, 1, 90, and 2 yards. Goldsmith completed 16-of-20 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for three scores in a 65-12 win over Central-Hayneville. The win snapped a nine-game losing streak for Calhoun, dating back to last season’s win over Central.

The players of the week were chosen by a panel of ASWA voters from 83 nominations submitted by members in Albertville, Anniston, Atmore, Birmingham, Centre, Cullman, Demopolis, Florence, Fort Payne, Gardendale, Gadsden, Graysville, Hartselle, Huntsville, Jasper, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika , Rainsville, and Tuscaloosa.

The best of the rest include:

OFFENSE

Demont Buice, Gaston: Buice rushed for 310 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries as second-ranked Gaston defeated Collinsville, 45-21. Buice scored touchdowns on runs of 3, 34, 37, 5 and 84 yards.

Ryan Smith, Cordova: Rushed 34 times for 284 yards (both career highs) and three touchdowns in the Blue Devils' 41-26 win over Gordo. He also completed one pass for four yards and added 37 return yards on two kickoffs for a total of 325 all-purpose yards.

Chris Branch, Mountain Brook: Was 19 of 28 passing for 304 yards and rushed for 57 yards in a win over Pelham that helped the Spartans bull their way into the Region 6 playoff picture.

Jaquail Rutledge, Bibb County: Had 292 all-purpose yards, five touchdowns and three 2-point conversions as the Choctaws shut out Livingston, 57-0. He rushed for 178 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries and returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for another score.

Drew Phillips, Boaz: Rushed 36 times for 248 yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yarder with 4.8 seconds left,f orced a fumble and intercepted a pass in a 31-19 win over Albertville.

Trett Hardman, Fairview: The quarterback was a perfect 10-for-10 passing for 289 yards and six touchdowns – all in the first half – in a 54-12 Class 4A Region 7 win at Priceville.

Jeremiah Tullidge, Tuscaloosa Academy: The quarterback was 30-of-51 for 514 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions in a 44-39 loss to East Memorial.

Jamal Golden, Wetumpka: The junior quarterback accounted for 355 yards and five touchdowns in a 36-6 win over Sidney Lanier. Golden completed 12-of-18 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 101 yards and two scores on 13 carries.

Akeem Appleton, Fort Payne: Appleton caught seven passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns and ran nine times for 45 yards and three more touchdowns in Fort Payne 34-32 victory over Arab.

Brannon Burt, Sand Rock: Burt hauled in the game-winning 47-yard touchdown catch with one second left on the clock to lift Sand Rock to a 23-21 victory at West End.

Kendarius Fritts, Linden: The junior running back has 265 yards and six touchdowns on 22 carries against rival A.L. Johnson.

Jacolby Moody, Austin: Caught nine passes for 143 yards, including a 7-yard reception with 1:17 remaining for the game winner in a 8-3 win over Grissom.

Will Lang, Hartselle: Was nearly perfect in a 49-13 win over East Limestone, going 14 of 15 passing for 243 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for two more scores.

Brandon Wells, Calera: Rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries and was 7 of 13 passing for 170 yards in a 42-21 win over Jemison.

Calvin Davison, Blount: The senior wide receiver, who played quarterback last season, caught three touchdown passes — all from Michael Ward — to lead Blount to a 34-14 victory over Bryant. Davison’s touchdown receptions covered 30, 50 and 80 yards. 

DEFENSE

Gregory Hill, Eufaula: Hill scored three touchdowns – two on returns – in a 28-14 win over Tallassee. Hill returned a punt 55 yards, hauled in a 60 yard scoring pass and returned a kickoff 99 yards for his final score.

Terez Lane, T.R. Miller: The senior intercepted a pass in the end zone with four seconds to play to preserve a 28-24 victory over Bayside Academy. He also returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown and added a 64-yard touchdown run.

Max White, Lee-Scott: Totaled 12 tackles and combined with Will Garner on a quarterback hurry that forced an incompletion on a 2-point conversion with 3:43 to go in a 20-19 win over Macon-East.

Kyle Conkle, Fort Payne: The senior defensive end finished with 12 tackles and four assists for 16 total stops in Fort Payne’s 34-32 win over Arab. He added one tackle for loss, one sack and one pressure.

Pierre Warren, Marbury: Had two interceptions, a 91-yard fumble return for a touchdown, a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 5-yard TD run. In a 35-21 loss to Dadeville.

Quinton Butler, Baldwin County: The sophomore defensive back accounted for three turnovers in a 7-0 win over Lee-Montgomery. Butler picked off two passes, but his biggest play was the recovery of the second half kickoff. When Lee hesitated to field the kick, Butler fell on the ball at the Generals’ 17. Four plays later, Baldwin County scored the only points of the game.

B.J. Weldon, St. James: The kicker made two field goals – the last a 42-yarder with 51 seconds left – to lift St. James to a 15-13 win over Elmore County.

Jon Compton, Gaylesville: The freshman nose guard tallied 20 total tackles (7 solo, 13 assists) to lead the Trojan defense to a 49-0 shutout of Woodville. All seven of Compton’s solo efforts were for losses.

Jackson Henderson, Oneonta: The senior linebacker had eight tackles, three for loss, recovered a fumble, and returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown in the Redskins' 45-13 win over Locust Fork.

Howard Petty, Elkmont: Had three interceptions in the Red Devils’ 32-6 win over West Limestone.

Colby Maddox, Winterboro: Had three interceptions as the Bulldogs shut out Talladega County Central 22-0.

Ray Ray Kimbril, Glencoe: Had two interceptions and a sack to go with 116 rushing yards on seven carries and scored on an 83-yard touchdown run in a 17-14 win over Tarrant.