E.A. Sports Today

Prep football

Sparks stars as Pleasant Valley improves to 6-2. Alexandria extends winning streak to four games. Piedmont, Spring Garden remain unbeaten. Weaver wins second game in a row. Anniston, Cherokee County, Coosa Christian, Glencoe, Jacksonville, JCA, Westbrook Christian victorious.

Cover photo: J.J. Beason breaks a long run against Ashville on Friday at Alexandria. (Photo by Greg Warren/For East Alabama Sports Today)

This week’s area scores

FRIDAY, Oct. 11
Alexandria 48, Ashville 7, FINAL
Anniston 37, Etowah 8, FINAL
Central-Clay 40, Holtville 3, FINAL
Cherokee County 35, Hokes Bluff 21, FINAL
St. James 55, Cleburne County 35, FINAL
Coosa Christian 49, Cold Springs 8, FINAL
Glencoe 32, Saks 28, FINAL
Tallassee 31, Handley 22, FINAL
Jacksonville 63, Lincoln 17, FINAL
Jacksonville Christian 51, Cornerstone (Rainsville) 31, FINAL
Booker T. Washington 32, Munford 21, FINAL
Ohatchee 37, Wellborn 30, FINAL
Piedmont 41, J.B. Pennington 21, FINAL
Pleasant Valley 34, Gaston 6, FINAL
B.B. Comer 36, Randolph County 34, FINAL
Southside 36, Buckhorn 21, FINAL
Spring Garden 27, Gaylesville 12, FINAL
Bullock County 29, Talladega 7, FINAL
Wadley 29, Lee-Scott 28, FINAL
Weaver 45, Locust Fork 34, FINAL
Westbrook Christian 48, Innovation Academy 7, FINAL
Oneonta 24, White Plains 7, FINAL
Winterboro 27, Woodland 20, FINAL
Open
: Donoho, Oxford, Ranburne.

By East Alabama Sports Today

PLEASANT VALLEY — Jaden Sparks accounted for 215 yards in total offense and three touchdowns, and Pleasant Valley extended its winning streak with a 34-6 victory over visiting Gaston on Friday.

The Raiders improved to 6-2 overall, 3-1 in Class 2A, Region 7. They’re tied with North Sand Mountain for second place, behind undefeated Pisgah.

Pleasant Valley’s six wins mark the program’s most since the 2008 Raiders finished 6-5. The 1984 team finished 8-3 and holds the school record for most wins in a season.

“Proud of our kids and coaches for their hard work,” Pleasant Valley coach Jonathan Nix said. “They keep getting better each week.”

Sparks completed eight of 13 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, 38 and 10 yards to Hunter Sparks. Jaden Sparks’ 60 yards rushing included a 2-yard touchdown run.

Hunter Sparks caught six passes for 116 yards.

Braxton Salster rushed for a team-best 88 yards, and Kayden Vick’s 31 yards rushing included a 12-yard touchdown run.

Jaden Sparks also led the defense with 10 tackles, including five tackles for loss and one sack. Salster had eight tackles, one for loss, and a pass breakup.

Noah Johnson’s eight tackles included two for loss and an interception return for a touchdown.

Hayden Hardy added seven tackles, two for loss, and forced a fumble.

ALEXANDRIA 48, ASHVILLE 7: J.J. Beason rushed for a team-best 104 yards and a touchdown, and Elijah Hunter rushed for 96 yards and four touchdowns as Alexandria extended its winning streak to four games.

The Valley Cubs improved to 5-2 overall, 4-1 in Class 4A, Region 6. They’re in second place, one game back of undefeated Cherokee County.

Beason’s touchdown run covered eight yards. Hunter rushed for touchdowns of 48, seven, eight and 26 yards.

Ryan Brown added a 4-yard touchdown run, and Evan White caught a 3-yard conversion pass from Cole Wheeler. Trace Karnes rushed one yard for a touchdown.

Wheeler hit on eight of 11 passes for 98 yards. He also kicked three extra points for Cleat Forrest, who didn’t;t play because of an ankle injury.

Alexandria rushed for 339 of its 474 total yards.

PIEDMONT 41, J.B. PENNINGTON 21: Cole Wilson completed 13 of 19 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns, and Piedmont scored the game’s final 16 points on the way to improving to 7-0 overall, 5-0 in Class 3A, Region 6.

Rollie Pinto had eight catches for 189 yards, including touchdown receptions of 71 and 17 yards.

Ishmael Bethel caught five passes for 141 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown reception.

Hayes Gunn rushed for 78 yards, with touchdown runs of 15, 15 and five yards. He scored the game’s final two touchdowns, and Piedmont added 2-point conversions on a Wilson pass to Bethel and a Pinto pass to Wilson.

Brodie Homesley added 43 yards rushing on five carries. The Bulldogs finished with 191 rushing yards.

JACKSONVILLE 63, LINCOLN 17: Taylen Ellis rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown, and Zae English added 54 yards rushing as the Golden Eagles improved to 4-4, 2-3 in Class 5A, Region 6.

Jacksonville also got touchdown runs from Trent Jackson and Marquavious McNeal.

Jackson Bonner completed five of nine passes for 81 yards and a touchdown pass to Bryce Allen, and Jacksonville led 41-3 at halftime.

Lincoln fell to 0-7, 0-4.

WEAVER 45, LOCUST FORK 34: A week after bagging its first victory of the season, the Bearcats added another to improve to 2-5, 2-3 in Class 3A, Region 6.

Weaver finished with 431 total yards, including a 99-yard touchdown connection from quarterback Kaden Gooden to KeShawn Allen.

Gooden rushed for 188 yards and four touchdowns and hit on six of 10 passes for 198 yards. Allen finished with 136 receiving yards, and Junior Allen added 62.

Damerion Welch rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown.

“Our kids played their hearts out,” Weaver coach Ken Cofer said. “O-line and blocking backs played hard and came to play.”

A week after losing quarterback Dylan Embry for the season with a broken leg in a 61-14 loss at Piedmont, Locust Fork fell to 5-2, 3-2.

CHEROKEE COUNTY 35, HOKES BLUFF 21: Senior running back Tae Diamond ran for 152 yards on 18 carries and three scores, and sophomore quarterback Adam Griffith completed eight of nine passes for 155 yards and touchdown in leading the Warriors to a crucial victory in Class 4A Region 6.

The win keeps the Warriors (7-1, 5-0) atop the region standings. They host another rival, Alexandria (5-2, 4-1), in another key region clash next Friday.

Tristan Brown put the Warriors in front with his 25-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Ben Frampton’s extra point made it 7-0.

Frampton caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from Griffith in the second, and Diamond delivered a 4-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to give the Warriors a 21-0 edge.

The Eagles (5-2, 3-2) battled back. Bryce Whitaker scored on a 4-yard run before halftime to make it a 21-7 game. Blaine Barron pulled Hokes Bluff even closer in the third quarter with his 1-yard score, bringing the Eagles within a touchdown at 21-14.

Diamond accounted for both Warrior scores in the second half on runs of one and 51 yards late in the third and in the fourth quarters to help keep the Warriors ahead. Barron also scored on a 1-yard run for Hokes Bluff’s final touchdown in the fourth.

Whitaker led Hokes Bluff with 82 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. He also completed nine of 16 pass attempts for 64 yards for the Eagles.

Frampton finished with six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown for the Warriors.

ANNISTON 37, ETOWAH 8: Anniston broke a three-game losing streak while improving to 3-4 overall, 3-2 in Class 4A, Region 6.

The Bulldogs are tied with Hokes Bluff for third in the region, and Hokes Bluff has the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The victory Friday gave Anniston the head-to-head tiebreaker on Etowah (2-5, 2-3).

“I’m proud of the intensity the kids played with,” Anniston coach Rico Jackson said. “Big win, and the kids treated the game as a playoff game.

“Excited to keep momentum going, so a big week of practice is important. We are treating every week as a playoff game.”

WESTBROOK CHRISTIAN 48, INNOVATION ACADEMY 7: Sam Sollie hit on 15 of 18 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns, and Westbrook celebrated homecoming by extending its winning streak to three games and improving to 5-2 overall.

Brodie Johnson caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. Bo Kilgo and Beckham Hammondtree each caught a touchdown pass.

Jonathan Hersman led the Warriors’ defense with nine tackles, with two tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Landy Thrasher added seven tackles, one for loss.

Westbrook gained 403 total yards and held Innovation to 103 total yards, all on the ground.

COOSA CHRISTIAN 49, COLD SPRINGS 8: J.D. Justus completed nine of 10 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns, and Coosa Christian improved to 7-1 overall, 5-0 in Class 2A, Region 6.

J’Alan Terry rushed for a team-best 71 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 67-yard touchdown pass. Clete O’Bryant added 32 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Kylen Johnson returned three punts for 98 yards and a score, and L.J. Mostella caught a touchdown pass.

SPRING GARDEN 27, GAYLESVILLE 12: Connor Bates rushed for touchdowns of one and 51 yards for and caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Noah Barber as Spring Garden (8-0) improved to 5-0 in Class 1A, Region 8 and clinched the region title.

John Welsh rushed seven yards for a touchdown.

The Panthers close out region play next week against Ider at home.

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 51, CORNERStONE 31: Noah Lee completed 12 of 21 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 99 yards and three touchdowns.

Caleb Stallings added 18 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown and a fumble recovery.

Jesse Gannaway caught eight catches for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns and had an interception. Bryson Dowdey added four catches for 46 yards, and Preston Strawder had a fumble recovery.

JCA finished the regular season 7-2 and has two open dates before the Christian Schools Association playoffs.

GLENCOE 32, SAKS 28: Alex Hudson struck paydirt three different ways as the Yellow Jackets improved to 2-5 overall, 1-4 in Class 3A, Region 6.

Hudson rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown, caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He also had a pass breakup and two tackles on defense.

Aiden Johnson completed eight of 14 passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns, one each to Hudson, Carter Cook and Jake Boggs.

Jalen Hunter led the defense with six tackles, including a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery. Johnson, Jacob Chambless, Jonah St. John and Parker Gulledge had four tackles apiece. Johnson, Hayden Watson and Cooper Gomez had two tackles for loss apiece.

Saks fell too 2-6, 1-5.

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