Aliceville downs rival Pickens County

ALICEVILLE, Ala., - Aliceville well remembers being shutout on the road at county rival Pickens County last season 13-0.

The Yellow Jackets avenged the loss in a big way Friday night chewing up 356 yards on the ground en route to a 38-14 win at Memorial Field.

"We just did what we do best," said Aliceville head coach Eddie Hill. "We are a power football team and just try to stay together and run the ball like we are supposed to do and make sure our young men have class in everything that they do."

Most of Aliceville's rushing attack was put on the shoulders of senior running back Marquis Mayhew. The six-foot, 190-pounder carried 26 times for 236 yards and a touchdown to help the Yellow Jackets improve to 4-1 on the year.

"He's a heck of a good back," Hill said of Mayhew. "He's averaging about 114 yards a game but he's just got to learn how to hold onto the ball. I think the line came together tonight and we played some good aggressive football."

Aliceville quarterback Javaris Dancy completed only 2-of-7 passing for 40 yards and an interception but added two rushing scores to help aid the cause.

260-pound eighth grade fullback Jeremy McMullen hauled in both of Dancy's passes for 40 yards out of the backfield.

Marquise Colvin also had a career night for the Yellow Jackets as well rushing for two touchdowns as well as intercepting two passes for a defense that held Pickens County to negative-25 yards rushing.

Pickens County struck first in the heated rivalry following an 11-yard punt by the Yellow Jackets on the first possession of the game. The Tornadoes took over at midfield and moved into scoring position following a 38-yard completion from Demarcus Hall to LaGlendale Hughes down to the 8-yard line.

Hughes punched it in on the next play to give Pickens County an early 6-0 lead.

But the Yellow Jackets bounced back to tie the score before the end of the opening quarter when Mack Burden picked off Hall and raced 48-yards for the defensive touchdown.

Aliceville's defense again stepped up as Colvin intercepted Hall on the first play of the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets took the lead four plays later when Mayhew ran in from 10-yards out.

Colvin's second interception on the next drive also led to an Aliceville touchdown. Dancy scored on a 2-yard quarterback sneak to put the Yellow Jackets ahead 18-6 at halftime.

Aliceville padded their lead on their first possession of the second half. The Yellow Jackets marched 56-yards on nine consecutive rushing plays to score when Colvin ran in from 6-yards out on a pitch left. Tremaine Jackson kicked the extra point to go up 25-6.

The Yellow Jackets attempted to put the nail in the coffin on their next drive but Pickens County had other intentions. Dancy tossed a ball deep down the right sideline but Hall leaped in front of the Aliceville receiver to make a one-handed snag. He secured the ball and reversed field going 93-yards for the touchdown.

Hughes plowed in for the two-point conversion giving the Tornadoes life at 25-14 with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter.

But Aliceville quickly responded on the ensuing drive going 62-yards in seven plays and crossed the goal line from 5-yards out when Dancy went untouched on a naked bootleg to the left on the final play of the third quarter.

The Yellow Jackets added their final score of the evening with just under eight minutes to play when Colvin raced in from 15-yards out.

Pickens County, who was playing without the services of standout quarterback Deion Curry among others, was limited to only 32 yards of offense and turned the ball over four times.

"We felt like there was some things in the passing game that we could get," said Pickens County head coach Scott Marchant. "But to their credit, Aliceville's defensive backs played well. They made plays on the ball and our receivers didn't become defenders when the ball was maybe not thrown perfectly. We've got a lot to work on but Aliceville gets the credit because they played awfully good."

Hughes finished the game with 17 yards on 10 carries and two catches for 49 yards to lead the Tornadoes in both categories.

Hall completed 1-of-4 passing for 38 yards and three interceptions while Devonte Simon hit on 2-of-7 passing for 19 yards.

Pickens County drops to 4-1 on the campaign and will look to bounce back next week on the road at Autaugaville while Aliceville stays home to host their other county rival Gordo.

Pickens County - 6 0 8 0 - 14

Aliceville - 6 12 13 7 - 38

First Quarter:

PCHS - LaGlendale Hughes 8-yard run (kick failed)

AHS- Mack Burden 48-yard interception return (kick failed)

Second Quarter:

AHS- Marquis Mayhew 10-yard run (pass failed)

AHS - Javaris Dancy 2-yard run (pass failed)

Third Quarter:

AHS- Marquise Colvin 6-yard run (Tremaine Jackson kick)

PCHS - Demarcus Hall 93-yard interception return (Simpson run)

AHS - Dancy 5-yard run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter:

AHS - Colvin 15-yard run (Jackson kick)

Team Stats:

PCHS AHS

First Downs: 4 22

Rushes: 26-(-25) 51-356

Passing: 57 40

Comp-Att-Int: 3-11-3 2-7-1

Return Yards: 57 44

Fumbles-Lost: 7-1 4-3

Penalties: 10-61.5 16-126.5

Individual Statistics:

Rushing: Pickens County - LaGlendale Hughes 10-17, LaJuan Doss 1-5, Glenn Tunnel 4-(-4), Team 1-(-7), Devonte Simon 3-(-8), Demarcus Hall 7-(-28); Aliceville - Marquis Mayhew 26-236, Marquise Colvin 7-35, Jeremy McMullen 5-33, Mack Burden 3-24, JaKari Gardner 3-12, Willie T. Phillips IV 2-8, Jarvis Dancy 5-8

Passing: Pickens County - Devonte Simon 2-7-19-0, Demarcus Hall 1-4-38-3; Aliceville - Jarvis Dancy 2-7-40-1

Receiving: Pickens County - LaGlendale Hughes 2-49, Warren Betts 1-8; Aliceville - Jeremy McMullen 2-40