This is an opinion piece.

The talk of Week 8 of the high school football season revolved around Coosa Christian’s 94-7 victory over Cedar Bluff. Not in a good way.

Conquerors coach Mark O’Bryant acknowledged following the game to the Gadsden Times that he ran up the score in response to Cherokee County superintendent Mike Welsh trying to “sabotage” his program.

The AHSAA ruled in September that Coosa would have to forfeit its four victories to that point for a violation of the transfer rule. The Central Board upheld that ruling on appeal in Montgomery this week.

Welsh, who is also president of the Board, had only this comment to AL.com following the meeting.

“I greatly appreciate the hundreds and hundreds of coaches and administrators we have throughout this state who are committed to following the rules and teaching the right life lessons though education-based athletics,” he said.

On a coach’s show prior to playing Cedar Bluff on YouTube and hosted by Average Joe’s Sports Talk, O’Bryant said his goal was to score 100 points in each of the team’s last four games. He thought at the time it was a factor in AHSAA tiebreakers. My guess is he has realized now that it is not.

I’ve talked and messaged with coach O’Bryant a couple of times this week but only off-the-record. Though the Conquerors appeal was denied this week, I don’t think that situation is over.

Time will tell.

I respect O’Bryant. A former Navy seal, he fought for our country. He’s always taken my phone calls and responded promptly.

But, no matter what his reasoning, 94-7 is just not acceptable for any school in my opinion, let alone a school that has “Christian” in its title and whose motto is “providing an environment where students grow spiritually, intellectually and athletically.”

Coosa is back on the field tonight at Appalachian. I don’t think you will see another 94-7 score. The Conquerors won this game 42-6 a year ago, and I would expect a score more in that range. The 94-7 score was a outlier for O’Bryant and company, who won games on the field by scores of 21-6, 49-0, 48-0 and 35-0 this year before the AHSAA ruled those games would be forfeited.

The Conquerors finish the regular season at home against Woodville (Oct. 27) and at Victory Christian (Nov. 3). Coosa – a 1A semifinalist last year – will likely still make the playoffs again if it wins the next two games.

This story isn’t over, but I think and hope scores like 94-7 are.

The White Plains ruling

The AHSAA Central Board’s decision earlier this week, allowing White Plains to return to championship play in football this season could be significant for the Wildcats.

The team was ruled ineligible for the 2023 postseason on Sept. 26 after it forfeited a Class 4A, Region 4 game against Anniston. According to the AHSAA, a team that intentionally forfeits a required game may become ineligible for championship competition for the remainder of the season.

The Central Board overturned that decision, reinstating White Plains for postseason eligibility while the forfeit to Anniston remains. The Wildcats last made the playoffs in 1994, marking the longest current drought in the AHSAA. However, they won their last two games against Talladega and Cleburne County and, a win over 1-6 Munford tonight, would likely put them in a position to end that drought.

The meaning of high school sports

Citronelle football coach Jason Rowell spoke at media days this summer and said the Wildcats’ motto was “Lock the gates,” meaning keep the students who grew up in Citronelle at Citronelle for their high school careers.

He said this week on Sports Talk 99.5 that is still the goal.

“We’ve provided a lot of schools with some good players over the last 10-15 years,” he said. “It’s time for those guys to come home and let high school sports be what it should be about, and that is playing for your community and playing for that name across your chest. The guys that play here are tough, blue-collar kids that give you everything they have. That is why you have a chance every Friday night because you know they are going to go out and play as hard as they can play.”

Tartt, Ward return to Davidson

Former Davidson stars Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt are scheduled to return to their alma mater tonight and be honored during the Warriors’ home game against Foley.

Ward and Tartt led Fred Riley’s Warriors to a 10-3 record in 2009 and both have gone on to standout NFL careers. Ward went to college at Northern Illinois, played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2014-2022 and is currently on the active roster for the Houston Texans, who are idle this week.

Despite not playing football until his senior year in high school, Tartt went on to play at Samford. He and Ward reunited in San Francisco from 2015-2021. The two played in the Super Bowl together against Kansas City in 2020. Tartt is currently a free agent.

Still looking to score

To say it’s been a tough year for Huffman football would definitely be an understatement.

The Vikings are 0-8 heading into tonight’s matchup with Rush Propst and Pell City and have yet to score a single point.

Huffman has been outscored 454-0 in eight games. The Vikings have won just three of their last 28 games dating back to 2021.

After traveling to Pell City, they finish the season at Class 6A No. 5 Parker.

Recruiting news

Baldwin County softball pitcher Madilyn Byrd has committed to Florida Atlantic.

Freshman Jackson running back Ezavier “EJ” Crowell received offers from Arizona and Ole Miss this week.

Gordo senior WR/DB Ethan Wilder committed to Memphis on Thursday.

Mae Jemison 2025 OLB/DE Grayshaun Swain offered by Missouri.

Parker 2025 DE Caleb Smith offered by Missouri.

Oxford 2025 QB Mason Mims offered by Louisville.

Thought for the Week

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

Ben Thomas is the high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]. He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.