Fates sealed
- Updated: October 22, 2016
Calhoun County roundup: Region title, playoff hopes decided in this final week of region play
Wellborn’s Javian Thomas (R) runs past Randolph County’s Damarcus Davis for a touchdown that gave the Panthers a 20-6 lead. On the cover, Randolph County’s Seth Hannah scores the first of two fourth-quarter touchdowns that helped bring the Tigers back. (Photos by Jeremy Wortham/Tiger Den Photography)
Calhoun County games
Alexandria 36, Crossville 14
Anniston 27, Oneonta 17
Ashville 35, White Plains 21
Cherokee County 35, Jacksonville 21
Gaylesville 50, Jacksonville Christian 24
Ohatchee 40, Glencoe 7
Randolph County 28, Wellborn 27 (OT)
Saks 34, Hokes Bluff 28
Wadley 61, Donoho 16
Weaver 44, Pleasant Valley 0
Playoff Opponents
(Games Nov. 4)
Jacksonville vs. Cordova
Ohatchee vs. Locust Fork
Oxford vs. Muscle Shoals
Piedmont vs. Holly Pond
Saks at Fayette County
Weaver at Fultondale
By East Alabama Sports Today
CENTRE – How many times do turnovers make the difference in a big game? They turned out to be a game-changer in Jacksonville’s bid to win its first region title since 1999 Friday.
The fifth-ranked Golden Eagles turned the ball over four times in their 35-21 loss to Cherokee County in what was the Class 4A Region 5 title game.
None were more critical than the fumble with 2:20 to play in a one-score game with Jacksonville driving. Not only did it negate a potential game-tying drive, Cherokee County converted the turnover into an insurance touchdown a few plays later.
Cherokee County quarterback Tyren Dupree scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Dupree rushed for 110 yards on 23 carries and threw for 143 more on 10-of-17 passing.
Taye Ackles was Jacksonville’s leading rusher with 122 yards. The Warriors held his backfield mate, Nico Richmond, to 24 yards rushing on 10 carries.
The Golden Eagles (8-1, 6-1) were trying to win their third region championship in school history. They will open the playoffs at home against Cordova.
This is Cherokee County’s first region title since 2009. The Warriors (8-2, 7-0) will open the playoffs at home against Winfield.
Cherokee County 35, Jacksonville 21
Jacksonville 7 7 0 7 — 21
Cherokee Co. 7 7 0 21 — 35
J – Tommy Carr 29 pass from Colton Clark (Preston Harvey kick), 5:21 1Q
C – Jacob Graves 31 run (James Sewell kick), 2:47 1Q
J – Nico Richmond 9 run (Preston Harvey kick), 7:09 2Q
C – Quartez Henderson 61 interception return (James Sewell kick), 0:36 2Q
C – Tyren Dupree 1 run (kick failed), 10:36 4Q
C – Tyren Dupree 5 run (Jacob Graves pass from Tyren Dupree), 7:02 4Q
J – Taye Ackles 20 run (Preston Harvey kick), 5:45 4Q
C – Tyren Dupree 35 run (James Sewell kick), 1:51 4Q
Team stats Jax Cher
First downs 15 15
Rushes-yds 38-150 33-170
Passing 6-19-3 10-17-1
Passing yds 86 143
Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0
Punts-avg 5-22.4 5-31.8
Penalties-yds 8-70 12-125
ALEXANDRIA 36, CROSSVILLE 14
CROSSVILLE – The Valley Cubs did what they had to do to keep their playoff hopes alive; they just didn’t get the help they needed.
First and foremost, they had to beat Crossville, which they did with four touchdowns of more than 50 yards – two by Keenan Woodruff — and 436 yards rushing.
Next, they needed Arab to beat Guntersville. And it looked like that might happen when the Knights got inside the 1 in the closing minutes, but fumbled a snap and ran two more plays without scoring and lost 14-9.
It’s only the second time they’ve missed the playoffs since 2003.
Keenan Woodruff ran for 158 yards on 10 carries, highlighted by first-half touchdown runs of 18, 53 and 51 yards. Nate McCollum had a 72-yard touchdown run and Quentin Bowie had a 57-yard touchdown run. McCollum finished with 92 yards and Bowie had 70.
Woodruff’s third touchdown came shortly after Josh Tucker’s second interception of the half. Bowie’s touchdown came on the first play of the second half.
The Valley Cubs (5-4, 4-3) threw only one pass, and Jacob Wells completed it for 24 yards to Fletcher Swindall, in his first game back after suffering a broken wrist earlier in the season.
Alexandria 36, Crossville 14
Alexandria 6 22 8 0 — 36
Crossville 0 0 7 7 — 14
A – Keenan Woodruff 18 run (pass failed), 1:57 1Q
A – Keenan Woodruff 53 run (pass failed), 8:49 2Q
A – Keenan Woodruff 51 run (Josh Tucker pass from Quentin Bowie), 7:19 2Q
A – Nate McCollum 72 run (Josh Tucker pass from Jacob Wells) 4:32 2Q
A – Quentin Bowie 57 run (Jacob Wells run), 11:47 3Q
C – Andrew Driskill 9 pass from Ganon Pointer (Fermin Rodriguez kick), 4:57 3Q
C – Cole Cotton 15 run (Fermin Rodriguez kick), 3:04 4Q
Team stats Alex Cros
First downs 12 13
Rushes-yds 46-436 21-95
Passing 1-1-0 14-26-3
Passing yds 24 140
Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0
Punts 1-32.0 1-44.0
Penalties-yds 4-35 3-20
RANDOLPH COUNTY 28, WELLBORN 27 (OT)
WEDOWEE – Wellborn took its hopes for a Class 3A Region 5 playoff spot down to the wire, but in the end Randolph County broke the Panthers’ heart with a touchdown and conversion with the hammer in overtime.
The Panthers (4-4, 2-4) appeared in good shape, opening a 14-0 halftime lead and extending it to 20-6 after three quarters. The Tigers (7-2, 4-2), reclassified into Class 3A this season and solidly the No. 3 team out of the region, tied it with two touchdowns less than a minute apart early in the fourth quarter.
Wellborn got the ball first in overtime and scored on a 7-yard run by Jordan Montgomery and extra point. It was up to the Panthers defense to hold, but Donta Davenport matched it with a 7-yard run and then ran in the two-point conversion to give the Tigers their sixth straight win.
It will be the first time the Panthers have missed the playoffs in coach Jeff Smith’s eight years with the program and marked the first time since 2005 Smith has missed the playoffs as a head coach.
Randolph County will open the playoffs at J.B. Pennington.
Randolph County 28, Wellborn 27
Wellborn 7 7 6 0 7 — 27
Randolph County 0 0 6 14 8 — 28
W – Ked Harris 25 run (Jordan Montgomery kick), 8:33 1Q
W – Austin McQueen 2 run (Jordan Montgomery kick), 0:10 2Q
R – Aaron Knight run (PAT failed), 3:08 3Q
W – Javian Thomas 35 run (PAT failed), 0:37 3Q
R – Seth Hannah 44 run (conversion failed), 10:56 4Q
R – Andrew Prestridge 34 pass (conversion good), 10:01 4Q
W – Jordan Montgomery 7 run (Montgomery kick), OT
R – Donta Davenport 7 run (Donta Davenport run), OT
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