AHSAA Heroes of the Week

Thanks to Scott Griffin and David Holtsford of the AHSAA for this article.

Two football coaches are sniffing at being the all-time winningest coach in AHSAA history. Danny Horn is in the penthouse in that category currently with 378 wins.  However, this season has been a struggle at 2-4 and has allowed the current closeness of Fyffe’s Paul Benefield who is just three behind at 375. The tight nature of the chase is magnified considering that both men have won multiple blue maps apiece (eight for Horn and 7 for Benefield) and are coaching at their alma maters. For Horn, his amazing run ends after this season with his impending retirement.

Meanwhile, Fyffe rolls along, not only winning, but dominating opponents so far in 2026. They have five shutouts already this season (all coming in the last six weeks) and give up less than four points-per-game. That includes last week’s 54-0 win over San Rock. Ironically, the state record for shut-outs in a season is 11 with Danny Horn’s 1996 Central-Clay County team. The offense is just as impressive, averaging 48.4 points-per-game.

These numbers certainly are Hero of the Week worthy in mentioning for Week Seven. Congrats to both Horn and Benefield for their amazing runs in the AHSAA and we will keep an eye out for a dramatic ending to 2026.  Here are other heroes from Week Seven.

Week Seven Heroes

Central – Phenix City defense: Held Smiths Station to 47 total yards with only one pass completion in the 63-0 loss for Smiths Station.

Brady Ruark and Ben Baker – Spring Garden: Two combined for 316 yards rushing on only 13 carries (24.3 per carry) as the Panthers take down Valley Head 40-6.

Jayshawn Stroup – Cherokee County:  Huge night for Stroup with 208 yards on only 8 attempts and two touchdowns as the Warriors win 49-14 over Sardis.

Jonah Sparks and Caleb Lancaster – Woodville: The Panthers RB totaled 208 yards on just 12 carries and almost half were touchdowns (5 total) in the 56-19 spanking of Cedar Bluff. Lancaster added 165 yards on 11 carries and three touchdowns as well.

Piedmont defense: Held Saks to negative total yardage with its second shutout of the season 42-0.

Zay Johnson - Ashford: Johnson did it all in Ashford’s 21-15 win over Straughn, accounting for all 21 points and 434 all-purpose yards. He had 319 yards and three touchdowns on the ground plus a two-point conversion and an extra point. Johnson also had 65 yards on four punt returns, three punts for a 30-yard average and kicked an onside kick that the Yellow Jackets recovered. Defensively, he had seven tackles.

John Robert Pittman – Providence Christian: Caught 13 passes for 129 yards plus 17 yards rushing in the Eagles 49-14 loss to top ranked Bayside Academy.

Judd Green - Kinston: Green rushed for 207 yards and five touchdowns on 17 carries and added two receptions for 48 yards in the Bulldogs’ 32-13 win over Samson. Green scored all five Bulldog touchdowns.

Lefebvre Watson - Randolph: Watson had nine carries for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a 48-0 victory over St. John Paul II on Thursday in Huntsville.

Graeme Williams - Whitesburg Christian: Williams hauled in three touchdown receptions as Whitesburg Christian beat Shoals Christian 66-0 on Friday at home.

Parker Turley - Buckhorn: Turley finished 25-for-30 passing with 457 yards and five touchdowns in Buckhorn’s 66-14 win over Grissom. He also ran the ball two times for 68 rushing yards in the win.

Brantley Phillips - West Morgan: Phillips finished 13-for-21 passing with 330 yards and four touchdowns in the Rebels’ 65-22 victory over Priceville.

Aidan Davis - Austin: Davis ran the ball 39 times for 236 yards and two touchdowns as Austin rallied for a 24-21 victory over Hartselle.

Brooks Brand – Spain Park: Recorded a pick-six of 24 yards and added another interception in the third quarter as the Jaguars shut-out Tuscaloosa County 67-0.

John Campbell – Briarwood Christian: Only three carries but major damage against John Carroll as Campbell totaled 84 yards and three touchdowns in the 48-0 win.

Briarwood defense: Coach Matthew Forestor’s D held John Carroll to 36 total yards in their shutout win.

Nedarius Davis - Parker: Ran back an interception 22 yards for a TD, scooped up a blocked punt for a score and had 10 tackles on defense as the Thundering Herd takes care of Jasper 63-19.

CJ Eldridge, Clay-Chalkville: Completed 12-of-15 passes for 254 yards and 4 TDs and ran 4 times for 79 yards and 2 more TDs as the Cougars take Pinson Valley 61-14.

Camaree Gooden - Gardendale: Had 5 total TDs, 2 receiving for 80 yards, 2 rushing for 21 yards and returning an interception for a TD in the win over Cullman,55-29.

Josh Harriell, Benjamin Russell: Ran 25 times for 241 yards and a TD in the 31-28 win over Pike Road.

Blaze Neely - Mortimer Jordan: Six total touchdowns for Neely with 13-of-24 passes for 248 yards (2 TDs) and 17 runs for 101 yards (4 TDs) in a 42-24 win over Minor.

Trent Seaborn - Thompson: Completed 19-of-24 passes for 351 yards and 3 TDs (90, 32 and 27 yards) in the 47-17 win over Hewitt-Trussville.

Jordan Shamble - Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa: Completed 11-of-13 passes for 278 yards and 5 touchdowns, adding 12 runs for 61 yards in the 49-28 victory over McAdory.

Duncan Tyson - Shelby County: Ran 26 times for 204 yards and 2 TDs in the 41-28 victory over Demopolis.

Tate Graham - Baker: Completed 29-of-41 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns as the Hornets upset Fairhope, 31-21.

Major Hudspeth - Gulf Shores: Went a perfect 12-for-12 for 160 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Dolphins’ 49-6 win over Elberta.

Thad Wilder - Williamson: Completed 21-of-27 passes for 402 yards and 4 touchdowns in a dominant 56-0 win over B.C. Rain.

Hakeem Winston - Mobile Christian: The senior caught 4 passes for 124 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 42-7 win over St. Luke’s.

BJ Garth – American Christian Academy: Rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in a 35-21 win over Madison Academy.

Dalton Greene – Berry: rushed for 240 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries and caught two passes for 20 yards in a 51-13 loss to Hubbertville.

Jacob Paddon – Fayette County: made 17 tackles (three for loss) and five assists in the 54-14 win over Winfield.

Bryson Peck – Gordo: Rushed 12 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-0 win over Cleveland.

Bennett Green – Northside: Rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries in a 49-21 win over Sipsey Valley.

Mark Norris – Tuscaloosa Academy: Threw four touchdown passes in a 69-0 win over Elwood.

Zyien Dupree – Gaston: Dupree had 317 rushing yards, four touchdowns as the Bulldogs take down Vincent 36-26.

Bryce Borntrager – Glencoe: Had eight catches for 188 yards and 3 scores in their 49-6 performance over Holly Pond.

Titus Jones – Westbrook Christian: Nine tackles, 3 for a loss and an interception as the Warriors stay unbeaten (7-0) with a 27-0 win over Presbyterian.

Richie Busby – Helena: Huskies get another tough win 21-14 over Chilton County as the head coach of Helena registers his 100th career coaching win.

J.J. Beason – Alexandria: Special performance with the upset of Anniston by having 53 yards rushing with four touchdowns and nine receptions for another 163 yards and a TD as Alexandria stays unbeaten 44-42 over Anniston.

Crew Martin – White Plains: Quarterback led Wildcats with 175 yards rushing on 23 carries in a 42-14 win over Childersburg. White Plains hasn’t won four in a row in 32 years since head coach Clint Smith was a senior QB.

Wellborn offense: Soggy, windy night didn’t stop the Panthers as they rushed for 428 yards on 54 carries to remain unbeaten at 8-0 with a 52-44 victory over Ohatchee and secure a spot in the Class 2A playoffs.

Leeds defense: Held Jacksonville to only 80 total yards in the 35-0 shutout. Leeds plays for Class 4A Region 6 title Friday night vs. Alexandria.

Chris Yeager – Mountain Brook: Captured his 200th career win with 175 coming with the Spartans since 2006 as Mountain Brook took care of Calera 21-7.