E.A. Sports Today

Mr. 358

With victory at Elmore County, Central-Clay’s Horn edges ahead of UMS Wright’s Curtis to hold the lead as AHSAA’s all-time leader in career wins.

Cover photo: Central-Clay County coach Danny Horn at work during the Vols’ 29-7 victory at Elmore County on Friday. (David Holtsford/AHSAA)

This week’s area scoreboard

THURSDAY, Oct. 3
Talladega 28, Munford 14, FINAL
Donoho 33, Fayetteville 14, FINAL

FRIDAY, Oct. 4
Alexandria 28, Hokes Bluff 27, FINAL
Cherokee County 14, Anniston 0, FINAL
Central-Clay 29, Elmore County 7, FINAL
Tallassee 35, Cleburne County 7, FINAL
Coosa Christian 43, Cleveland 0, FINAL
Weaver 42, Glencoe 20, FINAL
Handley 38, Bullock County 21, FINAL
Jacksonville 44, Springville 14, FINAL
Jacksonville Christian 52, Clay County Christian 12, FINAL
Westbrook Christian 48, Ohatchee 27, FINAL
Oxford 27, Pell City 0, FINAL
Piedmont 61, Locust Fork 14, FINAL
Pleasant Valley 20, Cedar Bluff 19, FINAL
Horseshoe Bend 42, Ranburne 27, FINAL
Glenwood 68, Randolph County 40, FINAL
J.B. Pennington 42, Saks 14, FINAL
Southside 27, Mae Jemison 6, FINAL
Spring Garden 46, Appalachian 21, FINAL
Wadley 49, Woodland 14, FINAL
White Plains 24, Ashville 20, FINAL
Open: Lincoln, Wellborn.

By East Alabama Sports Today

ECLECTIC – Central-Clay County’s 29-7 victory Friday night and Citronelle’s 14-7 triumph over UMS-Wright made Central-Clay coach Danny Horn the winningest football coach in AHSAA state history.

UMS-Wright’s Terry Curtis started the season as the AHSAA’s winningest coach. Heading into this week’s games, he and Horn were deadlocked with 357 wins each. 

Horn’s record improved to 358-97 with tonight’s victory, and Curtis’ record with the loss is 357-102-0. 

Both became head coaches in 1989, and both are 36 years into their runs.

Close on the heels of both Hall-of-Fame coaches is Fyffe’s Paul Benefield. His Red Devils beat Sylvania 49-17 to move his career record to 355-58-0. 

His head-coaching career started in 1992.

Having three head coaches’ competing for this lofty goal at the same time is unparalleled in AHSAA football history. Curtis and Horn are the only two coaches in AHSAA history with eight state championships. Benefield has seven. 

All three have won their state crowns at the same school – albeit Horn with six state championships at Clay County and two since Clay County and rival Lineville merged to form Central-Clay in 2012.

Horn was not in a celebratory mood about his new place atop the AHSAA all-time wins list after the Vols beat Elmore County.

“If I don’t coach no better than I did last night,” he said, “it’s not going to last long.”

You must be logged in to post a comment Login