Cherokee County High School’s Coty Blanchard, Spring Garden’s Trey Littlefield and Cedar Bluff’s Kyle Crane and Zach Taylor all turned things up a notch in leading their respective teams to victory, and keeping their seasons alive.
All four players’ efforts were recognized by the Alabama Sportswriters Association for their outstanding performances in the opening round of the state playoffs.
Blanchard completed 13-of-18 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns – all to Desmond Brown – while rushing for 160 yards and two scores to lead the top-ranked Warriors to a 51-13 win over Haleyville.
Littlefield accumulated 195 yards on 33 carries and scored three touchdowns. He also had another touchdown on an 89-yard fumble return in the Panthers’ 52-34 victory at Coosa Christian.
Crane completed 15-of-23 passes for 276 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for 61 yards on 11 carries in the Tigers’ 33-26 win over Victory Christian.
Crane’s top target in that game was Zach Taylor, who finished with six catches for 174 yards and a 79-yard touchdown.
In other top playoff performances across the state, Muscle Shoals’ Brett Guzay helped the Trojans earn their first playoff win since 2000 on Friday night with three interceptions – including one for a 27-yard TD – in a 38-20 win over Fort Payne in Class 5A.
Guzay’s efforts also earned him the ASWA defensive/special teams player of the week honors for the first weekend of the playoffs. He beat out finalists Will Andre of Houston Academy and Willie Vinson of St. Jude for the honor.
Andre broke up a potential game-tying TD pass in the end zone with less than two minutes to go, preserving a 21-14 Raider win over Millry. He also drilled two field goals, including a career best 51-yarder on the final play of the first half, finished the game with seven tackles and the one pass break-up on defense. Vinson was credited with 18 tackles in a 36-34 win over Hale County and stopped what would have been the game-tying 2-point conversion with 3:30 to play.
The ASWA offensive player of the week is Goshen’s Reginald Foster, who scored five touchdowns and rushed for 317 yards in a 50-32 win over Fultondale in the Class 2A playoff opener. Foster beat out Blanchard and Bayside Academy’s Thomas Buchanan for the honor.
Buchanan helped the Admirals to the school’s first playoff win ever by rushing for 136 yards with two touchdowns and catching four passes for 154 yards in a 27-14 victory against Daleville.
The players of the week were chosen by a panel of ASWA voters from 53 nominations submitted by members in Auburn, Birmingham, Centre, Demopolis, Dothan, Florence, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Gardendale, Hartselle, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery and Oneonta.
The best performances of the week include:
OFFENSE
Jack Poundstone, Trinity: Began the day with a 102-degree fever, played through illness and passed for 252 yards and four touchdowns on 13-of-20 passes in a 42-6 win over Aliceville. The senior was 8-of-9 for 220 yards and four scores in the first quarter.
Daryl Norris, Fairhope: Threw for 224 yards and three touchdowns in Fairhope’s 42-32 win over Murphy. He completed his first 23 passes.
Kyle Crane, Cedar Bluff: Completed 15-of-23 passes for 276 yards and five touchdowns (20, 9, 8, 31 and 79 yards). He also rushed for 61 yards on 11 carries in the Tigers’ 33-26 win over Victory Christian.
Dylan Brazeal, Elkmont: Completed 13-of-17 passes for 268 yards with five TD passes – all in a 6:11 span of the second quarter – in a 56-7 win over Vinemont.
Noel Butler, St. Jude: Rushed for 292 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in a 36-34 win over Hale County.
Ardarius Stewart, Fultondale: The freshman had his first start at quarterback, after coming in late in the last regular season game, and ran for 231 yards and three touchdowns.
Eric Samuel, Straughn: Averaged better than 21 yards a carry, finishing with 256 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in a 35-19 win over Geneva.
Dustin Ellison, Monroe Academy: Was 8-of-14 for 277 yards and two touchdowns (90, 49) in a 42-7 win over Autauga Academy.
Lamonte Thompson, Florence: Rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns (1, 60, 3) on 16 carries as Florence won the first playoff game in school history with a 37-19 victory over Clay-Chalkville.
Jacob Mayfield, Westbrook Christian: Accounted for four total touchdowns as the Warriors blanked Ragland 26-0. The junior completed 12 of 18 passes for 151 yards with two scores and rushed for 93 yards with two more touchdowns.
Kendarius Fritts, Linden: Had 229 yards and five touchdowns on 17 carries against Wadley.
Damarcus James, Demopolis: Had 243 yards and two scores on 37 carries against Shelby County.
Kenny Ratliff, Lexington: Threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns in Bears’ 45-18 victory. Ratliff was 21 of 29 with no interceptions.
Trey Littlefield, Spring Garden: Littlefield accumulated 195 yards on 33 carries and scored three touchdowns (6, 9, 1 yards). He also had another touchdown on an 89-yard fumble return in the Panthers’ 52-34 victory at Coosa Christian.
Zach Taylor, Cedar Bluff: Taylor finished with six catches for 174 yards and a 79-yard touchdown in the Tigers’ 33-26 win over Victory Christian.
Paul Barber, Briarwood Christian: Was a near-perfect 11-of-13 passing for 280 yards and four TDs in a 39-14 win over Chilton County.
Danny Woodson, LeFlore: Caught six passes for 99 yards, scored on a 5-yard run and caught a lateral and raced 45 yards for a touchdown on a kickoff return to lead the Rattlers to a 36-17 victory over Beauregard.
Evan Sims, Fayette County:The junior quarterback completed 25 of 38 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns in the Tigers’ 32-27 victory over Oneonta.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
John David Swiger, Gulf Shores: Tallied 13 tackles, a sack and a game-sealing interception in the final minute in a 17-13 victory over Tallassee.
Colton Vaughan, Elba: Caused three fumbles and recorded seven tackles, helping the Tiger defense post a 31-0 shutout in a win over Excel.
Sam Ledbetter, Oak Grove: Had 11 tackles and two tackles for loss against Alexandria.
Justin Shade, Briarwood Christian: Had 16 tackles — eight unassisted — four tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in a win over Chilton County.
Demarcus Milliner, Stanhope Elmore: Had 269 all-purpose yards – 146 on returns, 84 receiving and 39 rushing – and both of the Mustangs' touchdowns in a 32-17 loss to Central-Phenix City.
Collins Moore, Bob Jones: His 81-yard punt return gave his team a 14-point lead late in the fourth quarter to key a 35-14 win over Hewitt-Trussville. He also had a 38-yard TD reception, and an interception in the end zone.
Denzel Bynum, North Jackson: His 84-yard kickoff return late in the third quarter erased a deficit and set off a 36-19 win over Brooks. He also scored on a 14-yard reverse and had an interception.
Deion Belue, Deshler: Returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown and added a 39-yard run in the first half as Deshler routed Fairview 56-23. It was the fifth consecutive game that Belue has returned either a kickoff or punt for a touchdown.
Kayln Sanders, Hubbard: Had 15 tackles as the Chiefs shut out Parrish 21-0 for the Chiefs’ seventh shutout of the season.
Klint McCafferty, Lexington: Had three interceptions in Lexington’s 45-18 win against Cleveland in the 2A playoffs.
Fred Carter, Gadsden City: Recorded 17 tackles with three sacks to help lead Gadsden City to a 38-18 win over Huntsville.
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