A top defensive effort came out on top of the voting for the AHSAA flag football championships player of the week in a close race.

River Riley, a senior at Vestavia Hills, registered six tackles with a tackle for a loss in the 6A/7A title game on Dec. 6 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa. For her efforts, Riley was voted the player of the week with 28 percent of the 2,160 votes cast.

Central-Phenix City’s Natalyn Lumpkin finished second in the balloting with 26 percent of the total. Lumpkin caught five passes – three for touchdowns – and led the Red Devils’ defense with six tackles and an interception as Central topped Vestavia Hills 25-0 for the title. Lumpkin’s scores came on catches of 14, 8 and 61 yards.

Central quarterback Gerritt Griggs finished third in the voting after completing 7-of-10 passes for 74 yards and a pair of TDs. The University of Alabama softball commitment also ran 13 times for 70 yards and a score and had two tackles and an interception on defense.

In Week 16, more than 19,000 votes were cast for the Super 7 and girls flag football championship player of the week polls.