Spotlight Performances from AHSAA Football Games September 17th-18th, 2026

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

Football has always been in the line of thinking as that of war.  It is a band of brothers.  You sweat, bleed, cry and laugh with your teammates and an irrevocable bond melts into place.  In some cases, it is literal as well as figurative.  Take the Miller boys for instance.  The Cedar Bluff brothers combined for 233 yards in their narrow 34-32 win over Valley Head.  Jamison rushed for 127 yards on 13 attempts while Jeremiah had three touchdowns in only 10 carries and finished with 106 yards.

     Then again, simply “family” can take precedent as well.  The Bennett boys of Boaz share a last name but not parents (except as siblings).  Confused?  Cousins Sage and Beau had fun against Lee in their 52-6 win on Friday.  QB Beau filled the stat sheet finishing 15 of 21 for 379 yards (school record) and five TDs (ties school record) while finding his cousin, Sage, for 10 of those completions.  Sage finished with 244 yards receiving (school record) and four touchdowns (ties school record).  Sage is currently fourth in the state in receiving yards at 561 (per MaxPreps).

   Here are some of the other heroic performances from Friday, September 18th:

Jaylon Baker – Cleburne County:  QB was 9 of 13 for 230 yards and four touchdowns in a 59-7 win over Ashville.

Lyric Ware – Cleburne County:  Beautiful gridiron music by Lyric with five catches for 144 yards and three TDs plus a 72-yard kickoff return touchdown in the 59-7 win over Ashville.

Cleburne County D: Held Ashville to 27 total yards in the dominating 59-7 performance.

Braylen Averett – Central-Phenix City:  Found out why Alabama has offered this WR after eight receptions and four TD performance for 245 yards in a 42-10 win over Auburn.

Bobby Coleman, Jr. – Central-Phenix City:  Cam’s little brother shines again with only seven incompletions (23 of 30) for 425 yards and five touchdowns in the dominating win over Auburn 42-10.

Mason McAteer – Collinsville:  This skilled QB keeps finding his name in the hero section and does it once again with four total touchdowns (3 rush/1 pass) and 220 yards in the air with 44 rushing as Collinsville takes down Sand Rock 42-0.

Ben Baker – Spring Garden:  Capturing attention on both sides as he led the Panthers with 229 yards on only 12 carries and four touchdowns while also providing two sacks.  Spring Garden won over Ragland 69-46. 

Brady Ruark – Spring Garden:  Ruark tried to match his teammate’s performance on both sides with 226 yards on only 14 carries with three TDs and garnering an interception on defense in the same victory over Ragland.

Cole Austin – Piedmont:  Does averaging 36 yards a completion garner hero status?  Of course.  Austin was 7 of 9 but 257 yards and over half the completions were TDs (four) as the Bulldogs bit Gaston 54-6.

Kaden Franklin – Woodville:  247 total yards and four touchdowns (three pass/1 rush) as the Panthers get past Gaylesville 48-0.

Quinton Robinson – Pike Road: Ten plus yards per carry (187 on 18 attempts) and five touchdowns as Pike Road wallops Stanhope Elmore 50-14.

Marterrious Sankey – Prattville:  The Lions continue their offensive explosions with a 237-yard night for Sankey and two touchdowns in the 63-30 win over Hewitt-Trussville.

Micah Merritt – Alabama Christian: Big-time game for MM with 23 carries and 211 yards, 2 TDs in the 31-14 win over Prattville Christian.

Jerrett Friendly – Montgomery Academy:  Friendly did not live up to his name as far as Saint James is concerned.  Jarrett had 168 yards receiving with two TDs plus a pick-six score on an interception in the 58-0 win over Saint James.

Will McKay – Prattville:  Talented tosser finished 15 of 21 for 240 yards and four touchdowns in the 33-point win over the Huskies.  McKay is fourth in the state with 1199 yards passing in 2026.

William Marks – Montgomery Academy:  Recorded six tackles with three going for losses, two pass break-ups and an interception in the shutout of Saint James 58-0.

Brody Blevins – Westbrook Christian:  Making weekly appearances in the hero book and does it again with five touchdowns (4 pass/1 rush) as Decatur Heritage falls victim 48-0.

Christian Morris – Southside:  Spectacular game for Morris with 357 yards passing and five total touchdowns (4 pass/1 rush) in the 41-19 win over Pinson Valley.

Murphy High School – Sherman Williams:  Former Bama RB gets his first head coaching win as Murphy snaps their 24-game losing streak with a 33-6 win over Elberta.

M.J. Gideon – James Clemens:  Now has 373 yards rushing in the last two weeks (173 on Friday) and eight touchdowns (three on Friday) in the win over Bob Jones 48-20. His 13 total TDs is 5th in the state (per MaxPreps).

Parker Turley – Buckhorn:  QB threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns to take down Hazel Green 48-22.

Kaleb Freeman – Hoover:  Completed 18 of 28 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns in the Bucs 59-13 win over Oak Mountain. 

Kentrell Tolbert – Hoover:  Bucs RB chipped in with 196 yards rushing and two TDs and averaged 11.5 yards per carry.  Tolbert is second in Alabama in rushing with 915 yards (per MaxPreps).

C.J. Eldridge – Clay-Chalkville:  Cougars open new stadium as this talented QB went 16 of 24 for 308 yards and three touchdowns and added 103 yards rushing as they beat Oxford 49-14. 

Charlie Andrews – Briarwood Christian:  Lions hearted defender finished with 12 tackles (three for losses) and four QB hurries as #1 Briarwood wins 49-14 over Madison Academy.

Jaden Rice – Bob Jones:  RB had 272 yards on a heavy load of 38 carries and three touchdowns as Bob Jones took down Buckhorn 31-21.

Sam Garrison – Oneonta:  Six more touchdowns to this talented QB’s 2026 totals (3 passing, 3 rushing) as Oneonta gets past Hokes Bluff 48-14.