It wouldn’t be a stretch to say Cedar Bluff senior quarterback Kyle Crane and Cherokee County senior quarterback Coty Blanchard are ready for the playoffs.

Last Thursday, the duo came up big for their respective teams. Against Randolph County, Crane completed 19 of 24 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns (4, 9, 10, 25), while rushing for 50 yards on 12 carries with three TDs (6, 1, 1) in a 48-14 win over Randolph County.

Blanchard also turned in a stellar outing Thursday. Against Class 5A Scottsboro, he completed 21-of-28 passes for 338 yards and four touchdowns (67, 4, 47, 7 yards).

Blanchard also rushed for 73 yards on nine carries including a 15-yard touchdown in the Class 4A, top-ranked Warriors’ 34-0 victory. The win sealed Cherokee County’s second straight 10-0 regular season.

Both Crane and Blanchard’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed. Both were among those athletes selected by the Alabama Sportswriters Association in its weekly football honors.

Crane and the Tigers (7-3) open the Class 1A state playoffs at home against Victory Christian (9-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. Blanchard and the Warriors are also at home against Haleyville (8-2) on Friday.

In other statewide happenings, shootouts are usually won by the football team with the most weapons.

In Russell County’s case on Friday night, that meant Deonta Holt – the ASWA offensive player of the week.

In a 65-50 last-man standing win over Eufaula, Holt accounted for 493 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns – rushing for 279 yards with four touchdowns (41, 6, 11, 67) on 27 carries and adding 214 yards in kick returns, including an 84-yarder to set up a touchdown. That doesn’t include the 98-yard return for score called back because of a penalty.

Calera’s Brandon Wells also garnered recognition by the ASWA panel. He rushed for 284 yards on 25 carries and five touchdowns (17, 1, 20, 14, 53) and threw for 136 on 15 of 23 passing in a 48-40 win over Chelsea.

The ASWA defensive/special teams player of the week is George Price of St. Jude. The senior did a lot of everything in a 42-14 win over Autaugaville – returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and picking off two passes. He also threw a 23-yard TD strike and rushed for a 71-yard touchdown.

The two finalists were Brock Kirby of Glencoe and Elba’s Michael Lindsey. Kirby had a hand in every one of his team’s points in a 17-14 win over Hokes Bluff. He kicked the game-winning 33-yard field goal and had six tackles to go with a pair of touchdown receptions and six total catches. Lindsey was in on 14 tackles and had an interception in the end zone that he returned 45 yards in a 42-6 win over Zion Chapel. He also had three punt returns for 92 yards – including a 70-yard scoring run – and had 59 yards rushing on two carries with a 24-yard TD.

Some 62 players were nominated by ASWA members from around the state, including Albertville, Birmingham, Centre, Dothan, Florence, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Hartselle, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Opelika and Tuscaloosa. The ASWA will continue to honor top performances throughout the playoffs through the AHSAA semifinals.

Other top performances included:

Cameron Smallwood, Millry: The multi-purpose back scored five touchdowns – runs of 12 and 36 yards and receptions of 52, 25 and 34 –in a 48-6 victory over John Essex.

Myles Nordgren, Etowah: Completed 13 of 25 passes for 391 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-34 loss at North Jackson.

Kyle Crane, Cedar Bluff: The senior quarterback completed 19 of 24 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns (4, 9, 10, 25), while rushing for 50 yards on 12 carries with three TDs (6, 1, 1) in a 48-14 win over Randolph County.

Coty Blanchard, Cherokee County: The senior quarterback completed 21-of-28 passes for 338 yards and four touchdowns (67, 4, 47, 7 yards). He also rushed for 73 yards on nine carries with a 15-yard touchdown in the top-ranked Warriors’ 34-0 win over Class 5A Scottsboro.

Jonathon Redd, Mobile Christian: From the QB position, he accounted for 405 yards of total offense, throwing for 335 yards and TD passes of 46 and 40 yards, in a 27-8 victory over Cottage Hill Christian.

Jeremy Williams, Faith Academy: The running back rushed 17 times for 273 yards and four touchdowns in Faith Academy’s 41-28 win over St. James. Williams scored on runs of 15, 30, 38 and 58 yards.

Chris Davis, Woodlawn: Had 23 carries for 178 yards and the game’s only touchdown in a win over Jackson-Olin, added 50 yards on 6 of 9 passing and had eight tackles and two interceptions on defense.

Quail Rutledge, Bibb County: Rutledge closed the Choctaws' regular season with 232 yards rushing and three touchdowns (64, 55, 2) on 25 carries in Bibb County's 32-26 win against Class 5A Chilton County.

Chris Ashford, Chambers: Had 34 carries for 336 yards and three scores in the Rebels' 56-55 overtime loss to Ashford Academy.

Nick Davis, Crossville: Completed 22-of-31 passes for a career-high 308 yards and three touchdowns in a 67-54 win over Douglas. Davis had TD passes of 2 yards to Ty Harbour, 47 yards to Chris Knight and 4 yards to Johnnie Osborn. Davis directed an offense that gained 36 first downs and 604 total yards.

In that same game, Douglas quarterback Kyle Buchanan, passed for a career-best 308 yards, going 16-of-31 for three touchdowns. He also ran for three two-point conversions and passed for three more two-point conversions. Buchanan had two interceptions on defense. Of the 308 yards, 232 were to Dustin Pippin, who had eight receptions and 57 and 55 yard TD receptions. He also blocked an extra-point attempt.

Jacob Kennedy, Berry: The sophomore quarterback had a total of 336 all-purpose yards and had a hand in 30 of Berry’s 36 points against Northside – rushing 25 times for 184 yards and four touchdowns, while scoring on two 2-point conversions. He also completed 3 of 8 passes for 57 yards and threw for a 2 point conversion, while adding a 67-yard kickoff return and a 28-yard punt return.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Corey Cahill, Guntersville: Returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown in a 35-7 win over Albertville, which gave the Wildcats the series lead for the first time in the oldest prep rivalry in the state. After 95 meetings, Guntersville leads the series 45-44-6. Cahill finished with two interceptions and six tackles. He also caught an 11-yard TD pass and scored on a 3-yard run.

Scott Chapman, Clements: Intercepted two passes and returned a fumble 23 yards for a score in a 16-8 win over East Lawrence.

Devan Powell, Murphy: The 5-foot-8, 156-pound senior had three of Murphy's seven sacks and two other tackles for loss in a 24-17 victory over McGill-Toolen.

Lee Thomas, Pleasant Grove: Blocked a field goal, had eight tackles and returned an interception 22 yards in a win over Pinson Valley.

Deion Belue, Deshler: The Alabama commitment returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score and also added 19-yard TD run in a 49-21 win against J.O. Johnson. Belue has returned a kickoff or punt for a touchdown in four straight games.

Adam McKenzie, Thompson: Had 10 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack against Northridge.

Jared Edge, SMCA: The two-way player recorded 12 tackles and two interceptions and also rushed for 101 yards and a score on 27 carries in a 35-14 loss to Dixie Academy.

Antonio King, Central-Phenix City: The kicker kicked two field goals (42, 25) and two extra points to provide the difference in a 20-12 win over Wetumpka.

Ladarius Ware, Eufaula: Earned two interceptions on defense, returning one for a 25-yard touchdown, and rushed for 88 yards, including a 52-yard TD run during the Tigers' wild 65-50 win over Russell County. Ware's two picks were among six by the Tigers in the game, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

Enrique Florence, Valley: Had 12 tackles and the game-winning 8-yard touchdown run with 1:24 to go in the Rams' 22-16 win over Smiths Station.

Cole Shannon, Hewitt-Trussville: Shannon had 12 tackles and caused a fumble against Benjamin Russell.