AHSAA Top Performances for August 27th-28th

Photo: Baker Lyles (2) reaches towards the endzone for Douglas. Lyles rushed for 179 yards and passed for 140 in the Eagles win. (Sand Mountain Reporter/Beth Chaffin)

Thanks to David Holtsford and Scott Griffin of the AHSAA

Week One Heroes of the Week in the AHSAA

 MONTGOMERY, Ala. (August 31, 2026)  

    There were more video game numbers accumulated on the gridiron around the state last week as the rustiness of an off season and getting into regular season games is underway. The following players and teams had heroic performances that made important differences in their game outcomes.

Leg Power

Preston Williams - G.W. Long: The Auburn commit rushed for 17 carries and 225 yards with four TDs including a 5-yard score in overtime to help the Rebels to a 34-27 win over Pike Liberal Arts. Williams’ other TDs covered 50, 50 and 45 yards.

Trevor Tillman - Cottonwood: Want efficiency?  How about five touchdowns in only nine touches in Cottonwood’s 42-7 win over Providence Christian. Tillman had 145 yards on just six carries and caught three passes for 25 yards. His TD runs were 19, 35, 38 and 42 yards and he caught a 24-yard touchdown pass. He also had three tackles and a pass deflection on defense.

Kentrell Tolbert - Oak Mountain: Fifteen carries and 248 yards with three touchdowns for KT as the Eagles fly over Buckhorn 38-14.

Zay Johnson - Ashford: ZJ had 162 yards and three touchdowns on runs of 45, 30 and 5 yards and he also had three tackles on defense in leading Ashford.

Judd Green - Kinston: Green paced Kinston with 16 carries for 154 yards rushing and 3 TDs and scored on runs of 52,67 and 5 yards. He also had 57 yards passing off 2-of-4 completions, as the Bulldogs are off to their first 2-0 start since 1984.

Keevaughn Johnson - Blount: Had 275 yards rushing (out of 307 total) and scored 3 TDs as the Leopards defeated B.C. Rain in triple overtime.

 Mark Norris - Tuscaloosa Academy: Threw four TDs and rushed for one (five total) in a 32-14 win over Hubbertville.

 Kylen Johnson - Plainview: Rushed for 163 yards on just six carries, with TD runs of 66 and 67 yards in a win over Boaz. Also had 8 receptions for 168 yards, including TDs of 33 and 88 yards.

Tyshawn Sellers - St. Paul’s: Sellers finished with 183 yards on just 15 carries in a win over Alma Bryant. He had 3 touchdowns including a 98-yarder.

Tre Taylor - Bibb County: Rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries in a 36-29 win over Gordo.

Makain Robertson - Gordo: Had 177 yards and a TD on 29 carries in a 36-29 loss to Bibb County.

Bennett Green - Northside: Rushed for 273 yards and two TDs with 22 carries in a 38-0 victory over Hale County.

Jaden Dixon - Cornerstone: Talented RB ran for 194 yards on 22 carries in the 56-0 win over Coosa Valley. 

Malachi Adams- Cornerstone:  Had 191 yards and five touchdowns in only 12 carries in the 56-0 win over Coosa Valley.

Hot QBs

Easton McKelvy - Elba: McKelvy threw for 218 yards on 9-of-12 passing with two touchdowns and rushed for 58 yards in 11 carries with a TD in the Tigers’ 40-10 win over Houston County.

Blaine Bowen - Winfield: Led his team to a 58-50 win over Oak Grove. Completed 23-of-31 passes for 376 yards and 7 touchdowns. Also rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown to finish with 515 yards and 8 total TDs.

Jake Rickman - Fayette County: completed 20 of 31 passes for 237 yards and four touchdowns in a 33-6 win over Lamar County.

Baker Lyles - Douglas: SEVEN touchdowns in the FIRST HALF as Douglas defeated Westminster Christian 47-14. Lyles had 169 yards and five TDs rushing (10 attempts), while completing 6 of 10 passes for 151 yards and two more scores. 

Zane Kilburn - Lexington: Passed for 355 yards and 5 touchdowns in Lexington’s 46-7 victory over Clements.

Brody Blevins - Westbrook Christian: Totaled six touchdowns in the 45-12 win over Ashville.

Two-Timing

 Jamarcus Jackson - Brookwood: Rushed for 236 yards and five touchdowns on 16 carries and completed 9 of 13 passes for 83 yards in a 38-13 win over West Blocton.

John Campbell - Briarwood: Returned the second-half kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, providing the key play in Briarwood’s 17-14 win over Homewood. Campbell also had a 47-yard TD run in the second quarter.

Gabe Dean - New Brockton: Dean recorded two interceptions and seven tackles, while also catching an 8-yard touchdown pass in the Gamecocks’ 36-16 win over Slocomb.

Easton Parker - Kinston: Parker was in on 18 tackles, one TFL and also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in a 47-28 win over Geneva County, helping the Bulldogs to their first 2-0 start since 1984.

Deviaun McCrary - Dale County: Had a TD with 77 yards rushing and 10 tackles on defense as DC knocked off Houston Academy 42-7.

Mason Edwards - Bayside Academy: In a win over two time defending 4A champ Jackson, Edwards caught 6 passes for 63 yards, had 6 tackles on defense and added a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Charlie Strozier – Holy Spirit: had five tackles and one reception for 49 yards in a 30-14 loss to J.F. Shields

Mason McCoy – Tuscaloosa had 240 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in a 46-13 win over Jacksonville Christian

Jordan McCary – Prattville Christian: Had 137 yards rushing on 11 attempts with two TDs and 96 yards passing and a TD as the Panthers win it late 35-34 over Montevallo.

Kellen Stewart – Charles Henderson:  Scores four touchdowns (three passing and one running) as Charles Henderson takes Hope Christian 38-13. 

Catching our Eye

Cayden Wallace - New Brockton: Wallace earned five receptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns (56 and 62 yards) in New Brockton’s 36-16 win over Slocomb.

Jackson Bowe - Pike Liberal Arts; Bowen had six catches for 102 yards in the Patriots’ 34-27 overtime loss to G.W. Long. He also had an interception return of 50 yards.

Ryion Austin - LeFlore: Caught 8 passes for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Rattlers defeated Davidson to start 2-0 for the first time since 2004

Stopping Folk

Barrett Upton - Enterprise: Upton recorded 14 total tackles and two tackles for loss and recovered a fumble in the Wildcats’ 58-12 win over Crestview (Fla.).

John Campbell - Briarwood: Returned the second-half kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, providing the key play in Briarwood’s 17-14 win over Homewood. Campbell also had a 47-yard TD run.

Khonor Latham, Hoover: Made one of the biggest plays of the game in a win over Opelika when he tackled the Opelika QB behind the line on a fourth-and-1 play from the Bucs’ 8. The Bucs held on to win 21-7.

Robert Reynolds - Dale County: Reynolds had two interceptions and 10 tackles in the 42-7 win over Houston Academy.

Jabarrius Garror - Vigor: Had 2.5 sacks, 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass breakup as the Wolves stifled Mary G. Montgomery’s offense in a 47-3 rout of the Vikings.

Jacob Paddon - Fayette County: had 13 tackles, three assists and two tackles for loss as Fayette County took down Lamar County 33-6.

Zy Davis - Tuscaloosa Academy:  Had two interceptions in the 32-14 win over Hubbertville.

Thundering Herd - Parker: Total dominant effort as the 5A #5 tea held James Clemens to 46 yards of offense and minus 46 in total rushing in the 34-7 win.

Special Teams

 Colby Weaver - UMS-Wright: The junior blocked a Mountain Brook field goal and returned it 85 yards for the key play in the Bulldogs’ 13-6 victory over the Spartans.

Jaxson Dixon - Foley: Led the Lions over Spanish Fort with an 84-yard rushing TD and a 65-yard punt return TD. Also had 2 receptions for 47 yards.

Jaden Stallworth - J.U. Blacksher: Scored touchdowns in four different ways as J.U. Blacksher cruised to a win over Millry.  Stallworth scored on a 46-yard run, a 42-yard catch, a 45-yard interception return and a 76-yard kickoff return (all in one half.)