Spring Garden has long been known as a basketball school.

While the Panthers are still a force to be reckoned with in the gym, the football team is also making a name for itself these days.

After posting their best record in school history and earning only their third playoff berth, the Panthers continue to make history. They dumped Ragland last Friday 42-14 behind the running of junior tailback Trey Littlefield.

Littlefield rushed for 187 yards and four touchdowns (13, 10, 3 and 77 yards) on 21 carries to lift Spring Garden (9-2) to its first playoff win in school history.

Littlefield’s effort didn’t go unnoticed by the Alabama Sportswriters Association. He was among the players receiving recognition for the Week 11 Offensive Player of the Week honor.

Littlefield and the Panthers look to continue their historic season at Gaston (9-2) this Friday in the second round of the Class 1A state playoffs. Gaston defeated Spring Garden in Week 4 of the regular season 28-3.

For the second week in a row, Piedmont junior quarterback Chase Childers turned in a solid performance. And, for the second consecutive week, Childers was among the finalists for ASWA Offensive Player of the Week.

Childers completed 14-of-19 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns and added 143 yards on the ground to lead Piedmont past Sardis, 37-6.

Childers’ latest performance comes on the heels of a six-touchdown performance in Week 10 against Woodland.

In that game, Childers rushed for 193 yards and three scores (59, 30 and 15 yards). He also rushed for 88 yards on 12 carries and three more scores (12, 1 and 23 yards), and had an interception as Piedmont downed Woodland 42-33.

Childers and Piedmont (9-2) travel to Blountsville to face Susan Moore on Friday in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

In other statewide happenings, the defense came through for Fairfield on Friday night in a 28-21 Class 5A playoff win over Springville.

And the leader of that defense came away with ASWA Defensive/Special Teams Player of the Week honors as senior defensive tackle Isaiah Whitaker recorded eight tackles and 3.5 sacks, despite constant double-teams as the Tigers stopped high-flying Springville in a Class 5A playoff game, 28-21.

He beat out two other candidates in Houston Academy’s Travis Gardner and Appalachian’s Chris Calvert.

Calvert had three interceptions in a 21-7 Class 1A win over Collinsville, while Gardner punted three times for a 43-yard average against Flomaton, had nine tackles, seven solos, six pass break-ups and an interception in a 32-14 win.

On offense, the third time was the charm for Boaz junior tailback Drew Phillips as he earned ASWA Offensive Player honors after two previous finalist spots this season.

Phillips rushed for 222 yards on 28 attempts, was 4-for-6 passing for 93 yards with a 96-yard touchdown run and 42-yard interception return in a 34-13 win over Athens.

Minor’s Dezman Ivory was also another finalist. Ivory had 37 carries for 247 yards and a touchdown in a 20-14 win over Vestavia Hills. He also halted the last Vestavia drive of the night with an interception on his first defensive snap of the season.

Some 37 players from around the state were nominated by ASWA member papers in Birmingham, Centre, Dothan, Florence, Gadsden, Huntsville, Montgomery and Oneonta, with an ASWA panel selecting the finalists. The ASWA panel will select its players of the week during the playoffs and concluding with the AHSAA semifinals.

Other top performances included:

OFFENSE

Garrett Pinciotti, Bessemer Academy: The AISA veteran piled up 302 yards of total offense in a 25-12 victory over Lee-Scott, including a surprise 80-yard sprint for a touchdown. He had 187 yards on 9-of-18 passing and 11 carries for 115 yards and another touchdown.

Colby Harvey, Appalachian: Harvey had three catches for 145 yards and hauled in a 75-yard touchdown catch and scored again on a one-yard plunge.

Nolen Smith, Oneonta: The junior hauled in 11 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown in a win over Midfield.

Ryan Smith, Cordova: The junior completed all three of his passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Smith also added 149 return yards and finished out a strong all-around stat line with 56 rushing yards.

Demont Buice, Gaston: The junior running back rushed for 183 yards on just 12 carries and scored four touchdowns in a 63-21 win over Coosa Christian.

Bradley McCreary, T.R. Miller: The receiver had four receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-6 win over Dale County. McCreary's two touchdown receptions covered 83 and 56 yards.

Cody Lee, Edgewood: The running back rushed for 244 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in a 46-22 win over Clarke Prep. One of Lee's touchdowns covered 92 yards.

Keenen Porter, Hazlewood: Rushed for 273 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries, pacing Hazlewood to a 63-7 win over Lynn. Had touchdown runs of 3, 28, 30 and 34 yards.

Jerel Foster, Pike Liberal Arts: Foster rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Patriots earn a 28-12 win over Marengo Academy.

Andrew Dauphin, Houston Academy: Returned from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the last two games and had a career-performance, rushing for 243 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries in the Raiders’ 32-14 win over Flomaton in Class 2A play. Dauphin scored on runs of 49, 2, 16 and 91 yards with the 91-yarder breaking the game open early in the fourth quarter.

Scottie Burdeshaw and Jermaine Williams, Slocomb: The two rushed for 408 yards and six touchdowns, leading the Red Tops to a 46-14 win over Straughn in Class 3A. Burdeshaw rushed for 225 yards and three scores and Williams added 183 and also had three scores.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Cody Segers, Hewitt-Trussville: The junior 169-pounder is no offensive lineman, but he came up with the biggest block of the season for the Huskies. His deflection of Austin's potential game-winning field goal allowed the Region 7 champs to hold on to an 18-17 win.

Scott Davis, Lowndes Academy: The defender recorded five tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception and a safety in a 38-8 win over Pickens Academy. Teammate Christian Kilpatrick picked off three passes in the same game.

Corey Goodson, Pike Liberal Arts: Goodson recorded 14 tackles and had an interception, helping the Patriots down Marengo Academy 28-12.

Nick Jones, Rogers: Kicker hit a 44-yarder in the fourth quarter for the game’s only points as the Pirates beat Guntersville 3-0 in the class 4A playoffs.

Walker May, Briarwood Christian: Had 13 tackles, a blocked punt, his 15th sack of the season and caught the game-winning touchdown – his first catch as a varsity player – as the Lions beat Greenville 15-14.

Seth Black, Appalachian: The senior linebacker led the Eagle defense with 15 tackles.