Helena used a tenacious ground game and effective passing attack to earn a 37-10 Class 6A, Region 3 victory over Chilton County.

Running backs Jordan Washington and Jeremy Spratling each scored a pair of touchdowns and quarterback Carson tossed a scoring pass to lead the offense.

Washington scored the first TD of the game, a bruising 64-yard run through the Chilton County defense, after kicker Autin Lewis started the scoring with a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter. Washington finished with 183 yards on 17 carries.

Spratling added 88 yards and 14 runs, scoring on a 2-ayrd run on the first play of the second quarter for a 17-3 Helena lead.

Acker was 4-of-9 passing for 142 with a touchdown to Hunter Hale, who had three catches for 102 yards for the Huskies (4-0, 2-0).

BIRMINGHAM

Briarwood Christian 28, Pelham 21

Briarwood Christian shut out Pelham in the second half and rallied for a 28-21 victory over Pelham.

Pelham led 21-18 at halftime, but Briarwood’s Josh Thompson threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Sawyer Click and Garrett Heinemann kicked a 37-yard field goal for the 10 second-half points.

BThompson completed 17-of-21 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns and added a 15-yard TD run. Click caught eight passes for 94 yard and a TD.

Briarwood (2-2 overall, 2-0 in Class 6A, Region 3) has won two in a row.

For Pelham, C.J. Tolbert caught five passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, as quarterback Clayton Mains finished 18-of-28 passing for 256 yards and three touchdowns.

Briarwood is open next week and plays Oak Mountain at home on Sept. 29. Pelham (1-2 overlal, 0-1) is at home against Helena next week.

Leeds 34, St. Clair County 0

An early blizzard of points was enough to help Class 5A ninth-ranked Leeds bury Region 6 foe St. Clair County on Friday night.

The Green Wave scored on its first possession, recovered the ensuing kickoff to set up another touchdown, then got a pick-6 on the Saints’ first possession, to lead 21-0 before 6 minutes had elapsed off the clock at Homer Smiles Field. That advantage was 34-0 by halftime, which is how the game ended.

Leeds (3-1, 2-0) got two touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Sam Lollar, who started in place of injured junior Conner Nelson. Lollar found Tay Gaiter for a 22-yard touchdown pass to cap his first possession as a varsity signal-caller. He finished with 87 yards and two scores.

“I thought (Lollar) did an unbelievable job,” Leeds head coach Jerry Hood said. “I’m proud as heck of him.”

Without Nelson’s running, much of the load fell to tailback ZJ Dale, who Hood called “the surprise of the year.” Hood rushed for the game’s second score, only three plays after Leeds recovered the kickoff that followed Gaiter’s touchdown catch. At halftime he had 119 yards, finishing with 122 for the game.

“He’s a solid running back,” Hood said. “Tough kid. Understands our offense and has enough wiggle to keep the chains moving. That’s what we like.”

That was more than enough for the Leeds defense, which limited St. Clair (1-2, 0-1) to 103 total yards for the game. They sacked Saints quarterback Landyn Smith twice and forced two St. Clair turnovers.

In short, according to defensive tackle Joseph Stone, “the Leeds defense everybody knows.”

“We do Leeds,” Stone said.

Smith, a freshman, finished with 89 yards through the air. He briefly left the game with an injury, but returned in the second half.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” St. Clair head coach Tyler Robinson said. “We’ve just got to continue to grow.”

Robinson’s Saints will return home next week to face Southside. Leeds has a bye Sept. 22, and will face Sylacauga for Homecoming on Sept. 29.

— Will Heath

Montevallo 42, Dallas County 8

Razareo Conwell ran for 168 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries to spark Montevallo to a rout at Plantersville for the Class 4A, Region 3 win. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound junior scored on runs of 1, 9, 69 and 13 yards.

The Bulldogs (3-0, 2-0) also got a pair of Braxton King touchdown passes, a 7-yarder to Christian Tolbert with a 2-point conversion toss to Deterrius Cutts and a 19-yard throw to Javon Rogers.

Tolbert caught three passes for 50 yards for the winners. King passed for 108 yards. Elfreeman Morton registered 10 tackles for Montevallo.

Montevallo fell behind 8-6 with 10:54 left in the first period after a long TD pass by the Hornets (0-3, 0-2) before scoring 36 unanswered points.

Montevallo plays its first home game of the season next week against West Blocton. Dallas County is at Holt.

Chelsea 21, Oak Mountain 13

Emerson Russell scored two touchdowns and ran for 148 yards in the Class 7A, Region 3 victory for Chelsea (2-2, 1-1).

The other score came when Anderson Brooks blocked a field goal and Kenny Wesley returned it 60 yards by for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

McAdory 48, Paul Bryant 0

Khomari Shepard ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and Micah Pleasant ran for two more as the Yellow Jackets won on the road at Cottondale in the Class 6A, Region 4 game. Pleasant finished with 69 yards rushing for McAdory.

Derrion Davis and Sean-Ryan Hudson had touchdowns on the ground in the win and Jacorey Whitted caught a TD pass from Jacob Clopton. Whitted caught two passes for 57 yards to lead the Jackets.

McAdory improved to 2-2 on the year, 1-1 in region play. Paul Bryant dropped to 1-3, 0-2.

MOBILE/COASTAL ALABAMA

Gulf Shores 17, UMS-Wright 0

The Gulf Shores defense made sure the Dolphins didn’t go 0-for-8 against UMS-Wright.

The Dolphins, ranked fourth in Class 5A, held UMS to 56 total yards in improving to 4-0 for the season.

Kolin Wilson rushed for 46 yards and a TD on 17 carries. N.C. State commit Ronnie Royal added 68 yards on 12 carries. He left the game late after taking a hard hit. However, Gulf Shores coach Mark Hudspeth said he was OK after the game.

Royal’s 78-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second half gave the Dolphins a little breathing room after they led just 3-0 at the half. Wilson’s late TD run put it on ice.

Jamichael Garrett led the defense with six tackles and a pair of sacks. Mac Anderson also had six tackles.

Gulf Shores, now 3-0 in 5A, Region 1 play, travels to LeFlore next week. UMS (2-2, 1-1) travels to play undefeated Vigor.

Elberta 31, LeFlore 13

Cole Ulrich had three interceptions, six tackles and 95 yards receiving as Elberta picked up Win No. 1 for the year.

He also had a receiving TD.

Brady Cole Harrison had rushing TDs of 17 and 43 yards for the Warriors and also had a passing TD.

Corbitt Williams had eight tackles for the defense.

Elberta (1-3, 1-2 5A, Region 1) is idle next week before hosting Northview, Fla., on Sept. 29. LeFlore (1-3, 0-3) host No. 4-ranked Gulf Shores.

Mobile Christian 55, Excel 0

Mobile Christian’s Damien Gatson threw three touchdown passes, Anthonio “P.J.” Brown ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns and Michael Moore caught TD pass and returned a punt for a touchdown in a 55-0 victory over Excel.

The victory keeps the Leopards (4-0 overall, 2-0 in Class 3A, Region 1) undefeated, and it’s also the team’s second shutout of the season.

Mobile Christian rolled up 510 yards of total offense – 237 through the air and 273 on the ground. Gatson finished 16-of-19 passing for 237 yards with TD passes of 20 yards to Gavin Weinshenker and 70 yards to Moore. Moore returned a punt 67 yards for the game’s first score.

Brown’s TD runs covered 14 and 43 yards, and Weinshenker scored on a 48-yard run. Sema’J Law also scored on a 1-yard run.

Excel (1-2, 1-1) managed just 110 yards on 40 plays.

Mobile Christian plays Monroe County at home next week, and Excel is at home against Flomaton.

Jackson 38, T.R. Miller 7

Jackson quarterback Landon Duckworth was 9-for-14 for 186 yards and two touchdowns as the fourth-ranked Class 4A Aggies downed No. 9 T.R. Miller in Brewton.

Freshman Ezavier Crowell ran for 153 yards on 15 carries and scored on runs of 40 and 26 yards. Nasir Powell had six receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns for the Aggies (3-0, 2-0 in Region 1).

T.R. Miller(2-2, 1-1) scored on a 51-yard pass from Nathan Commander to Brodie Anthony early in the second quarter.

St. Michael 41, Escambia County 26

Gunner Rivers threw three touchdown passes as St. Michael won at previously unbeaten Escambia County.

Rivers was 17-of-26 for 258 yards. He was intercepted once.

Brody Jones had eight receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns.

Noah Moss rushed for 231 yards and a pair of TDs on 32 carries.

The Cardinals (2-2, 1-1 in 4A, Region 1) will host Satsuma on Thursday. Escambia County (3-1, 1-1) will travel to Wilcox Central.

Flomaton 34, Cottage Hill 14

Jax Fillmore rushed for 258 yards and four touchdowns on 32 carries for the Hurricanes.

He also had two receptions for 38 yards and a score, finishing with 296 yards and five total touchdowns.

Brodie Phillips led the Flomaton defense with 13 tackles and a forced fumble. Harper Harrison had seven tackles.

Theodore 27, Baldwin County 24 (OT)

Cam Rigby scored on a two-yard run in overtime to lift Theodore to a dramatic win in Bay Minette.

The Tigers had settled for a field goal in their OT possession.

Braxton Clark scored three touchdowns and rushed for more than 200 yards for the Bobcats. Theodore trailed 14-7 at the half.

The Bobcats (3-1, 3-0 Class 6A, Region 1) host Spanish Fort next week. Baldwin County (0-3, 0-2) travels to Blount.

Citronelle 19, Alma Bryant 13 (OT)

Justin Adams accounted for three touchdowns, including a 7-yard scoring run in overtime, as visiting 5A Citronelle took a 19-13 win over host 7A Alma Bryant at Hurricane Eye Stadium on a muggy Friday night.

“This coaching staff does a great job,” Citronelle coach Jason Rowell said. “The motto for this week for us was to finish, and by God things didn’t go our way tonight and we didn’t have our best night on offense, but these kids finished. These kids are winners and they just needed somebody to believe in them.”

The Wildcats improved to 2-2 overall and will travel to Faith Academy on Friday, while the Hurricanes (1-2) will travel to No, 4-ranked Mary G. Montgomery on Thursday night.

“You cannot turnover the ball with this type of offense,” Bryant coach Bart Sessions said as his team lost 2-of-3 fumbles on the night. “I am super proud of our kids, but we have to keep working at it.”

Adams ran for 39 yards and 2 scores on 11 carries and was 11-of-16 passing for 120 yards and another TD and 1 interception. Keyshawn Williams added 58 yards on 8 totes and Rivers Johnson hauled in 6 receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, James Reid 3 catches for 60 yards and Landen Snow 5 for 31 to pace the visitors, who had 17 first downs, 109 rushing yards on 24 carries and 293 total yards.

Isaiah Dixon ran 12 times for 40 yards and was 1-for-2 passing for 22 yards, while Carlito Davis picked up 45 yards on 9 totes, Justice Carter 33 on 9 tries and Jordan James 3 kick returns for 91 yards to lead the home team, which had 16 first downs, 39 carries for 146 yards and 176 total yards.

Citronelle marched 80 yards in 8 plays with Adams tossing an 18-yard scoring pass to Johnson with 3:08 left in the first quarter. Jack Davis added the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

Bryant answered late in the second quarter when Mason Collier recovered a fumble on a high punt snap to set up a 31-yard drive that was capped with a 6-yard scoring run by Jamar Broughton and Curvin Noyd knotted the score at 7-apiece with the PAT.

The Wildcats marched 61 yards in the third quarter with Adams scoring on a 13-yard run, but Dwight Malone, who also had a sack, blocked the PAT to leave the score at 13-7.

The Hurricanes pieced together a 16 play, 96-yard drive that ate up 10:05 off the game clock and Brayden Roberts threw an 8-yard scoring pass to Jonovan Billups to even things up at 13-all, but Brayden Rivers blocked the PAT.

Elijah Owens returned the ensuing kickoff 44 yards to set up a 40-yard field goal attempt by Davis that was blocked by Jordan James. With 4 seconds left in regulation, Davis missed just wide left on a 33-yard field goal attempt from the left hash mark, sending the game into overtime.

— Robert Ladnier

HUNTSVILLE/TENNESSEE VALLEY

Westminster Christian 47, St. John Paul II 28

Westminster Christian knocked off a feisty St. John Paul II on the road at Earl Van Dyke Stadium, pulling away from a 33-28 fourth-quarter lead. Quarterback Brandon Musch ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries and completed 16-of-18 passes for 94 yards and a pair of scores in the win.

Westminster improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in Class 4A, Region 8 play.

St. John Paul II quarterback Luke Songy had a big night, rushing for 212 yards and four TDs and passing for 202 yards.

Henry Claunch gained 138 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown for the Wildcats.

St. John Paul II (0-4, 0-2) opened the game by recovering its onside kickoff and Songy put the Falcons on the scoreboard with a 52-yard burst up the middle for a TD.

Westminster tied the game 7-7 on Musch’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Houston Scott. After a Derrick Cumberlander interception, the Wildcats went up 14-7 on an 11-yard run by Musch.

The Falcons tied the game 14-14 on Songy’s 8-yard run with 3:31 left in the first quarter.

Westminster got a 27-14 halftime lead thanks to a 4-yard Musch-to-Kyle Everleth touchdown pass and a 5-yard run by Charlie Billings.

St. John Paul II cut the lead to 27-21 on a 10-play, 55-yard drive capped by Songy’s 4-yard run. The Falcons recovered another onside kick, but the Westminster defense stopped Songy on a fourth-and-8 run. Musch pushed the margin to 33-21 on a 47-yard scoring run with 19 seconds left in the third period.

Songy scored on a 13-yard run trimmed the margin to 33-28 with 9:34 remaining in the game, but Westminster put the game away with a 10-yard TD run by Claunch and a 20-yard Musch run after an SJP2 fumble.

Star of the game: Songy was the star in the loss with his four rushing touchdowns and 414 total yards.

Play of the game: Westminster led 27-21 with 5:52 left in the third quarter when St. John Paul II faced a fourth-and-8 from the Wildcats 33 when Zeke Carwile stopped Songy 2 yards short of a first down.

Stat sheet: Westminster – The Wildcats had 424 total yards with accounting for 239 – 145 on the ground. Claunch gained 138 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown. St. John Paul II – The Falcons rolled up 423 total yards. Songy was 16-for-26 through the air with one interception. Tyler Sottolano caught six passes for 45 yards and Robert Porter caught three for 42 yards.

By the numbers: 11,127 … Musch’s 239 total yards moved him into sixth place in total offense in the Alabama High School Athletic Association. He is also sixth in all-time touchdowns with 148. 3 … St. John Paul II recovered three onside kicks.

Coachspeak: “Hats off to coach [Chad] O’Meila and the job he does with those guys. Our guys had to fight and claw and push to make it happen and I’m just proud of them and excited to be 2-0 in the region. – Louis LeBlanc Westminster head coach

They said it: “It was a great win overall and the offensive line was opening up a lot of holes to make things happen. It was just a good game.” – Henry Claunch

“We knew those guys were going to come to play and they’ve got some really talented players. I thought offensively we executed well with the run game and the pass game. We were able to spread the ball around and get a lot of guys some touches and that’s what we want.” – Musch

What’s next: Westminster Christian will be at Randolph next week and St. John Paul II will host North Jackson on Sept. 29.

– Jimmy Lay

Boaz 35, Cleburne County 21

Boaz rallied from a 14-7 halftime deficit and earned a 35-21 win over Cleburne County on Friday night in Heflin in a non-region game.

Boaz (2-2) scored on the game’s opening drive, going 69 yards in 12 plays, as Tristan Childers scored on a 2-yard run with 8:31 to in the opening quarter. Jose Arreguin kicked the extra point.

Cleburne County responded with its first touchdown drive as quarterback Hunter Gore scored on a 4-yard run. Noah Morgan’s PAT tied the game at 7 with 4:25 to go in the first quarter.

The game remained tied until Cleburne County took the lead with 15 seconds remaining in the first half. Gore threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Cade Schubert for a 14-7 lead.

Boaz scored on its first possession of the second half, driving 88-yards on 11 plays, Tyler Pierce scored on a 2-yard quarterback sneak to make it 14-all with 6:57 to go in the third quarter.

After Boaz forced a three-and-out on the Tigers, Boaz scored on a 15-play, 71-yard drive. Childers scored on a 2-yard run with 57 seconds to go in the third quarter, and Arreguin kicked the PAT for a 21-14 lead.

Cleburne County answered with a quick drive with Carter Hughes scoring a 33-yard run. Morgan’s extra point tied the game at 21 with 10:46 remaining.

Boaz regained the lead for good on the first play of the ensuing possession as Pierce hit Jakai Hudgins for a 66-yard touchdown pass. Arreguin booted the point after to give Boaz a 28-21 lead with 10:35 left in the game.

Cleburne County drove to the Boaz 47 on its next drive before turning the ball over on downs.

Three plays later, Childers on a 42-yard run for a 35-21 leada.

Childers rushed for 91 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns. Pierce completed 17-of-26 passes for 240 yards.

Boaz returns home Friday for a region matchup with rival Guntersville. Cleburne County plays Munford at home next week.

— Ricky Smith

STATEWIDE

Montgomery Catholic 42, Slocomb 0

Senior quarterback Caleb McCreary surpassed 10,000 career yards by piling up 141 yards rushing and another 102 through the air in the Class 4A, Region 2 win at Slocomb.

McCreary completed 5-of-9 passes with two touchdowns and one interception. His 141 yards rushing – with one TD – came on just four attempts.

Josh Griffin had four carries for 73 yards and a touchdown and Jayden Phifer caught a pair of passes for 66 yards and a score.

Harrison Rogers had five tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and a fumble recovery as the third-ranked Knights improved to 4-0, 2-0. Kam Miller added seven tackles with three behind the line for Catholic.

The Red Tops fell to 1-2, 0-2 in Region 2 play.

Trinity 38, Alabama Christian 6

Senior Ross Sanders ran 19 times for 124 yards and a touchdown to lead the Wildcats to the Class 3A, Region 3 road win. Trinity led 14-0 at the half and 24-6 after three periods.

Walter McClinton completed 11-of-26 passes for 127 yards and a pair of TDs for Trinity (4-0, 2-0) with Webber McClinton catching both touchdown tosses – one from 50 yards and the other from 15. Thompson McNeese connected with Xavier Boswell on a 9-yard scoring pass for the winners.

Chase Parker scored on a 19-yard run on the way to 56 yards on six carries for the Wildcats.

Webber McClinton had two interceptions to go with nine tackles in the win. Luke Hall and Coleman Till had eight stops apiece.

Central-Phenix City 28, Opelika 18

In the 81st meeting between two schools that began playing each other in 1928, the Central High Red Devils defeated Opelika 28-18 take sole possession of first place in Class 7A, Region 2 at 3-0.

Opelika is 2-1 in the region.

With the score 14-10 in favor of Central with under three minutes to play, Red Devil quarterback Andrew Alford found Jacob Tenney on a quick throw to the left side. Tenney bowled over an Opelika defender for a 99-yard touchdown to give Central a 21-10 lead with 2:57 to play.

The security of the TD toss lasted exactly one play after the ensuing kickoff as Opelika quarterback Roman Gagliano countered with an 80-yard TD toss to Jordan Torbert with 2:43 left in the game. Gagliano then threw to Due Gagliano for the two-point play to cut Central’s lead to 21-18.

On the kickoff, Central set up in anticipation of an onsides kick from the Bulldogs, but Opelika kicked deep and the decision almost worked.

The kick appeared to be headed into the end zone, but hit and bounced at the 1-yard line. Alabama commit Red Morgan tried to field the bounce, but fumbled the ball. He then picked it up and raced 99 yards for a Red Devil touchdown to put Central ahead 28-18 with 2:25 left in the final quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Opelika fumbled and Central recovered the ball. The Red Devils then ate away the remaining time to win the contest and to remain at a perfect 4-0. Opelika fell to 2-2.

After Opelika took a 3-0 lead with a 25-yard field goal with 1:25 left in the first quarter, Central responded with a 49-yard touchdown toss from Alford to Daylyn Upshaw with 13.5 seconds left to lead 7-3.

Two possessions later, Central upped its lead to 14-3 with a 37-yard TD throw from Alford to Texas A&M commit Cam Coleman with 2:05 remaining in the first half.

Gagliano teamed up with Torbert on a 40-yard touchdown pass to the Central 1 with 34 seconds left in the first half. Calvin Hughley scored from 1 yard out. Gagliano was 24-of-30 for 262 yards.

Alford was 11-of-23 for 227 yards with three touchdown passes as well.

Central will be at home Thursday night to face JAG, formerly Jeff Davis. Opelika will be at home to take on Prattville next Friday.

— Mark Clark

This post will be updated.