Sports

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Saturday, Dec. 15 AutoNation Cure Bowl Tulane vs. Louisiana (+3.5). A one-point win over Navy gave Tulane its sixth win of the season, and Willie Fritz has the Green Wave bowling for the first time since 2013. First-year head coach Billy Napier guided Louisiana to seven wins and an appearance in

Girls Class 7A 1. Hoover 2. Spain Park 3. Davidson 4. McGill-Toolen 5. Sparkman 6. Hewitt-Trussville 7. Grissom 8. Mountain Brook 9. Austin 10. Foley Class 6A 1. Hazel Green 2. Hartselle 3. McAdory 4. Blount 5. Huffman 6. Eufaula 7. Cullman 8. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 9. Park Crossing 10. Homewood Class 5A 1. Charles Henderson 2.

Photo: Gadsden City High School senior guard Dee Pearson scored his 1,000th career point during the Titans 81-64 win over Fort Payne on Dec. 3. Pearson finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists in the win over the Wildcats to became just the second GCHS boys players to produce a triple double along

Photo: Coosa Christian’s Evan Delp (13) drives between Faith Christian’s Dalton Rogers (left) and Jacob Cleckler (15) during the Conquerors’ 47-45 victory over in boys basketball last Monday (Dec. 10) in Gadsden. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Coosa Christian’s 47-45 victory over Faith Christian Academy came by the skin of its teeth last Monday (Dec.

Photo: Coosa Christian’s Kaylie Reeves (left) defends Faith Christian’s Sydnee Johnson during the Lady Conquerors 66-28 win in girls basketball last Monday (Dec. 10) in Gadsden. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Coosa Christian girls basketball team earned its third straight Class 1A, Area 12 victory with relative ease last Monday (Dec. 10) in Gadsden.

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent SEC Championship Recap The script for last Saturday’s SEC championship game between Alaba-ma and Georgia was actually written 11 months ago in the same stadium in Atlanta, Ga. In the national title game from last season, Georgia led Alabama 13-0 at halftime when Tua Tagovailoa replaced Jalen Hurts at quarterback and

By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor A trio of Southside High seniors will put their athletic talents on display in college this coming fall and spring. On Nov. 28, Grace McClellan signed with Louisiana State for soccer, Lauren Hunt (pictured above) with Jacksonville State for softball and Taylor Nails with Wallace State-Hanceville for cross country. McClellan, originally committed

Photo: Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill (pictured, back row, fourth from left) recently recognizes Lettermen of the USA’s Heroes Week in Huntsville with 20 wounded U.S. military veterans from across the country. Each veteran received an autographed college football. Lettermen of the USA presented autographed college footballs to more than 20 deserving wounded

Photo: Southside High’s Savannah Nunn (2) blocks the shot attempt of Glencoe’s Ashley Morgan as Macie Williams (54) defends during the Lady Panthers’ 55-52 victory in girls basketball last Tuesday (Dec. 4) at Southside. (Gary Wells) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The Southside High girls basketball team built just enough of a late cushion to hold off

Photo: Glencoe High’s Colton Stone (right) attempts a jump shot as Southside High’s Blake Habyan defends during the Panthers’ 51-37 win in boys basketball last Tuesday (Dec. 4). (Gary Wells)  By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Southside High boys head basketball coach Chad Holderfield attributed his team’s 51-37 victory over Glencoe last Tuesday (Dec. 4) to a second-half

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Iron Bowl Review Alabama utilized a monstrous second half to turn a 17-14 halftime lead into a 52-21 victory over Auburn in the Iron Bowl last week-end in Tuscaloosa. UA quarterback Tua Tagovailoa likely secured the Heisman Trophy with his performance as he completed 25-of-32 passes for 324 yards and five

Photo: Lettermen of the USA founder and 1983 Southside High School graduate Darryl Fuhrman (left), presents an autographed football to USMC Retired Corporal Terry O’Reilly on Nov. 10 in Huntsville. The Lettermen of the USA presented Retired USMC Corporal, Terry O’Reilly with an autographed University of Notre Dame football on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the

Photo: Gadsden City’s Calvin Williams (right) looks for an open teammate during the Titans’ 48-39 victory over Clay-Chalkville last Tuesday (Nov. 27). (Mike Goodson) By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent The Gadsden City girls basketball team placed four players in double figures on their way to a 52-39 win over visiting Clay-Chalkville last Tuesday (Nov. 27). Adrianna

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Jack Busch (71) and Will Clemons (7) zero in on Deshler quarterback Channing Marmann during the Eagles’ 20-14 loss in the Class 4A state football quarterfinals on Nov. 23. (Alex Chaney) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Three costly turnovers spoiled Class 4A No. 3 Hokes Bluff’s chances to reach the state semifinals in

Photo: Etowah High’s William Cox (34) provides blocking for Trent Davis (3) as Central Clay County’s Michael Garrett (2) pursues during the Blue Devils’35-13 loss in the Class 5A state football quarterfinals last Friday (Nov. 23) in Attalla. (Gary Wells) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor The stingy Etowah defense finally met its match last Friday (Nov. 23) in

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Alabama Week 12 Review For the first time all season, Alabama didn’t lead at halftime last Saturday (Nov. 17). It’s not totally surprising the Crimson Tide’s first half streak came to an end, but it’s astounding that The Citadel was the team that ended said streak. Alabama won the game, 50-17,

A pair of local players were recognized in the AHSAA Prep Football Spotlight for the second round of the state playoffs on Nov. 16. Etowah sophomore cornerback Ny Ny Davis (pictured above) blocked two punts – both of which led to touchdowns – as the Blue Devils remained undefeated with a 24-14 victory over Center

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Braydon Hill catches a pass during the Eagles’ 33-13 victory over North Jackson in the second round of the Class 4A state football playoffs last Friday (Nov. 16) in Stevenson. (Alex Chaney) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent From the opening kickoff, Class 4A No. 3 Hokes Bluff sent a loud, thunderous message to

Photo: Etowah High’s NyNy Davis (1) blocks a punt by Center Point’s Chris Sykes during the Blue Devils’ 24-14 victory in the second round of the Class 5A state football playoffs last Friday (Nov. 16) in Birmingham. (Al.com/Butch Dill) By Adam Crocker/Sports Correspondent A pair of touchdowns by the special teams sparked Etowah High to

Photo: Southside High’s Kenneth Bothwell (center) runs into a host of Jasper defenders during the Panthers’ 41-14 loss in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs last Friday (Nov. 16) in Jasper. (Jeff Johnsey/Daily Mountain Eagle) By James Phillips/Daily Mountain Eagle Jasper advanced to the Class 5A state quarterfinals with a 41-14 win

By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Alabama Week 11 Review The perfect season continues for the Crimson Tide, which relied on its defense for the second straight week in a 24-0 win over Mississippi State. Alabama has now shut out two straight SEC opponents, and both LSU and Mississippi State were ranked when they faced Alabama. Offensively,

Photo: Glencoe High School senior Lauren Cole recently signed a golf scholarship with Wallace State-Hanceville. Cole was a member of the Lady Yellow Jackets’ 2015 Class 3A state championship girls golf team. Pictured, sitting, from left: mom Kim, dad Jeremy, Lauren, sister Madison. Standing, from left: GHS girls golf coach Jason Pierce, Wallace State-Hanceville golf

Southside High senior Taylor Nails (pictured, sitting) signed a cross country scholarship with Wallace State-Hanceville on Monday (Nov. 12). In 46 meets dating back to 2013, Nails won seven races, including two Etowah County championships. He made the Class 6A All-State team in 2017 and the Class 5A All-State team this past season after a

Westbrook Christian junior Andrew Dutton (pictured at left) recently committed to play baseball at Birmingham Southern College. As a middle infielder for the Warriors, Dutton batted .404 with a .505 on base percentage, 11 doubles, 39 RBI and 14 steals this past season as Westbrook won the Class 2A, Area 12 championship and reached the

Westbrook Christian could not overcome an early double-digit deficit at Collinsville on Nov. 9, falling to the Panthers by a score of 35-21 in the first round of the Class 2A state football playoffs. The Warriors (7-4) found themselves trailing two plays into the game when a 61-yard Kaleb Jones-to-Mason McKinney touchdown pass made it

Several local football players were recognized for the AHSAA Prep Spotlight for the first round of the state playoffs on Nov. 9. Southside senior running back Kenneth Bothwell finished with 130 rushing yards and a touchdown on 30 attempts as the Panthers rallied past A.P. Brewer, 15-9. With Southside trailing 9-7 midway through the fourth

Photo: Westbrook Christian’s Mitchell Cook (right) and Jonah Morris finished second and third at the Class 1A/2A boys state cross country meet last Saturday (Nov 10) at Oakville Indian Mounds Park in Danville. By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Three area teams finished in the top 10 at the AHSAA state cross country meet last Saturday (Nov 10)

Photo: Southside High’s Blake Habyan (center) returns an interception during the Panthers’ 15-9 win over A.P. Brewer in the Class 5A state playoffs last Friday (Nov. 9). (Gary Wells) By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor Thanks to a standout defensive effort and a late scoring drive, Southside High won its first postseason game in four years with

Photo: Etowah High’s Brady Troup (left) hands off to Davion Robinson during the Blue Devils’ 33-0 win over Guntersville last Friday (Nov. 9) in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs. (Travis Greene) By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent Class 5A No. 1 Etowah remained perfect on the season as the Blue Devils rolled over

Photo: Hokes Bluff’s Braydon Hill catches a pass over Central-Florence’s Ethan Looney during the Eagles’ 38-14 win in the first round of the Class 4A state football playoffs on Nov. 9. (Alex Chaney) By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent Junior running back Darrian Meads (pictured above) and junior quarterback Ashton Gulledge led third-ranked Hokes Bluff to a