Let the dogs out

Auburn, AL – MVP Crittenden rushes to 246 yards and 2 TDs, as Andalusia passes Cherokee County in the Class 4A championship match; Fyffe defeats B.B. Comer in the 2A game

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS 4A

Andalusia 28, Cherokee County 7.

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS 2A

Fyffe 40 B.B. Fyffe 40, B.B.

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASS 6A

Saraland 38, Mountain Brook 17.

By Shannon Fagan

Cherokee County is well-accustomed to the brutal running style of junior Jacob Cornejo. But on Friday afternoon, another player wore No. 9 showed how difficult he was to tackle.

Dorian Crittenden, a senior at Andalusia, rushed for 246 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries to lead the Bulldogs’ victory to 28-7 in the Class 4A state championship game at Jordan-Hare Stadium. This was the school’s first ever football championship since 1977. It also caps a 14-1 season.

Trent Taylor, Andalusia coach, said that this was something that had been 45 years in the making. This group is amazing. It’s our mental toughness that I believe is responsible. It’s amazing that these guys have done what they did throughout the year, and certainly the playoffs.

Taylor was a member of the Bulldogs’ Class 3A championship winning team in 1977. Friday’s victory came 45 years after that match.

Crittenden scored two touchdowns in the second quarter on runs of 1 yard at the end of third quarter and 2 yards with 6 minutes to go to win the game. Crittenden was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for his efforts.

“This is the most exciting game I have ever played. I don’t even know the words. He said, “I’m so happy.”

The Warriors (12-3) had the chance to make it a one score game before Crittenden’s second scoring.

Cherokee County took the ball to the Bulldogs 26, with Andalusia leading 21-7 in the fourth quarter. After back-toback Cade Hopper to-Alex Johnson completions of 23 and 19 yards, the Warriors were in scoring position.

Hopper tried to make a third pass on the drive but sophomore defender Xavier Marshall intercepted it to end the threat.

After the turnover, the Bulldogs ate more than four minutes of their final touchdown drive. Crittenden carried it six times during the drive. His touchdown gave his team three touchdowns.

Jacob Kelley, Warrior coach, said that “We were down two score so we had to sling it about a bit just to loosen up.” “Cade kind of pressed a bit there. He wanted that ball in the end zone and nobody did it more than he. Marshall was a great kid. We are proud of you!

them. They did a little better.

Taylor spoke out about Marshall’s interception, saying that Marshall’s inclusion in the coverage was “kind of a unique call from us, to be quite truthful.” We were just doing a Cover 3. He was responsible to maintain the flats. Sometimes, it’s not what your coach does but what the children do.”

With 1:53 left in the first quarter, Andalusia had a 7-0 lead. Jack Lathrop’s touchdown pass of 34 yards to Kaden Denson gave Andalusia a 7-0 lead. Lathrop completed 9 of 13 pass attempts for 107 yard and the score. Kaden Denson caught eight of the catches for 106 yards.

Early in the second quarter, the Bulldogs wanted to increase their lead. They marched down to Warrior 15, but a high snap during a first-down play resulted a 14-yard loss. Jeb Crane, Warrior junior defensive back, was injured on the play. He was taken off of the field for a stretch.

Kelley stated that they had reset his ankle on the field. He dislocated his ankle. Last year, we had a similar injury in practice. It’s stable, I know. They will do whatever they have to to get him back on track. He’s a hard kid, I can assure you. Last year, he was about two months old. This year, he’s been around 12 weeks. He’s ready to go for baseball season, I know that.

After Crane was injured, play resumed. The Bulldogs attempted a 45-yard field kick, but Cason Clarke failed to make it work.

To tie the game, the Warriors put together their sole scoring drive. Cornejo’s one-yard run capped the 80 yard march. Will Frampton’s additional point tied the game at 7-7

Andalusia took the lead again on the next drive. With 2:42 left in the first period, the Bulldogs held a 14-7 advantage thanks to four consecutive Crittenden runs for 60 yards. Zerrick Jones scored a touchdown run of 7 yards.

With 23 seconds remaining in the first half, the Warriors drove back to the Bulldogs 19 but were forced to settle for a Frampton 36-yard field goal attempt. The kick was missed, and the score remained at 14-7.

Andalusia had Andalusia’s second possession in the second half. The Warriors seemed to be able to take a breather. Haden Wheeler, a junior defensive back, appeared to have picked up a Lathrop pass towards the Bulldog 35. However, officials determined that the pass was not complete.

Before the end of the third quarter, the Bulldogs had put together a scoring drive. Crittenden ran a four-play drive that saw him total 32 yards, culminating in his 1-yard touchdown. Crittenden scored in the fourth to make it a final margin.

Hopper completed 6-of-13 passes for 101 yards by the Warriors. Cornejo collected

The season ended with 2,580 yards of total offense and 33 touchdowns.

“It’s been an excellent year. Kelley stated that she believes we have exceeded her expectations. “Many thanks to my seniors. It’s hard to say goodbye to these guys. It’s difficult to talk about.

“I told them in the early part of the summer that if you want to light a fire under the ground, be prepared to play against Trion (in their first game of the season). They got to work in the offseason program and were prepared for it.

It’s been a blessing from the beginning. They have been so much fun for me to coach. We can coach them hard and love them hard. It’s a large family. They are my family. I spend a lot time with them. They are a wonderful bunch of people, and I could not ask for a better place, or a better community than what I have.

Shannon Fagan is the Sports Director at WEIS Radio Centre. Marvin Gentry took the cover photo.

Class 4A Championship

Andalusia 28, Cherokee County 7.

A: Kaden denson 34 pass from Jack Lathrop, Byron Stewart kick, 1:53 1Q

C: Jacob Cornejo (Will Frampton), 1 run, 4:32 2Q

A: Derrick Jones 7 run (Byron Stewart kick), 2:42 2Q

A: Dorian Crittenden 1 run (Byron Stewart kick), 0:28 3Q

A: Dorian Crittenden 2 run (Byron Stewart kick), 6:55 4Q

Class 2A Championship

Fyffe 40 B.B. Fyffe 40, B.B.

AHSAA Reports

AUBURN — Brodie Haicks ran for 235 yards with five touchdowns, while Fyffe scored three touchdowns during the last three minutes of the quarter to win the game.

This was the Red Devils fourth state title in five years, and the sixth in nine years. All six titles were completed in 15-0 seasons. B.B. B.B.

Fyffe held a double-digit lead after a chaotic first half. The Red Devils quickly returned to basics and won the title.

Fyffe (15-0), who took the second-half kickoff, drove 63 yards in 11 time-sapping plays, 10 runs, and Hicks scored the fourth touchdown of the evening. The old record of (4) Michael Lindsey of Elba set in 2011 was broken by Fyffe (15-0). It was tied by Justus McDaniel of Mars Hill Bible, 2020. He was able to score on TD runs of 6, 1, 19, and 7 yards.

Paul Benefield, Fyffe coach, said that “we knew we were going have to run it between tackles.” Brodie is Brodie’s strength. … We only ran two of the three plays in half-time.

Hicks’ 45 carry in Fyffe’s 61 total plays set another Super 7 Class 2A record. In the 2015 finals, Dilon Kilpatrick of Fyffe set the previous record (31).

Hicks stated, “It’s difficult because you run up and down the middle every single time.” “You run into people’s faces. It’s not enjoyable. It’s up to you to make it fun.

B.B. B.B. Hicks ran 1-yards with 13 seconds left before halftime, turning an interception into a touchdown for the Red Devils. This allowed them to extend their narrow lead of 19-16 to 26-16.

Harris was the B.B. Harris led B.B. Richard Weed was able to catch a touchdown pass of 44 yards and add 14 tackles. Tristan Garrett also scored with an 8-yard run.

B.B. said, “I told my guys that nobody had you in this.” Adam Fossett, the Comer coach, said. “I don’t know if anyone had us beyond the second round. It’s their resiliency. “At the end of the day, I’ll take these guys home to tell them that we love them.”

B: Kamore Harris, 67 run (Devin Harvey ran), 11:22 1Q

F: Ryder Gipson 1 run (run failed), 3:16 1Q

F: Brodie Hicks 6 run (run failed), 1:43 1Q

F: Brodie Hicks 1 run (Yahir Balcazar kick), 0:53 1Q

B: Richard Weed 44 pass by Devin Harvey (James Carmicael Pass), 10:34 in 2Q

F: Brodie Hicks 1 run (Yahir Balcazar kick), 0:13 2Q

F: Brodie Hicks 19 run (Yahir Balcazar kick), 5:33 3Q

B: Tristan Garrett 8 run (run failed), 9:27 4Q

F: Brodie Hicks 7 run (Yahir Balcazar kick), 3:57 4Q

B: Kamore Harris 3 run (pass failed), 2:58 4Q