Gordo claims county championship

REFORM, Ala., - Having already notched a 41-0 victory over Aliceville, Gordo needed only to knock off Pickens County on the road to earn a clean sweep to claim the county championship trophy.

The Green Wave did that and more in a dominating 54-0 performance Thursday night for their tenth consecutive victory.

"Three of our goals were county championship, region championship and now we are on the hunt for the third one which is a state championship," said Gordo head coach David McKinney. "(Pickens County) has a good squad and are very athletic and played hard early. We turned the ball over tonight more than we have all year in one game but our kids measured up and in the second half they kept playing. The defense is still playing good for us so I'm proud for them and proud for these seniors to go out winners against their arch-rivals."

The shutout was the fifth straight for Gordo (10-1) which has outscored their opponents 275-0 during that span dating back to Oct. 1. The Green Wave defense has only given up 76 points all year.

"Our defense hasn't been scored on since the Hale County game," McKinney said. "They've been playing good since about the third game of the season. Our coaches have done a great job with them and our players have done a great job executing what they are calling over there."

Gordo's defense limited the Tornadoes to 19 yards through the air and forced six turnovers and two safeties.

The Green Wave offense overcame three fumbles of its own but still managed 369 total yards on offense including 215 yards on the ground.

Greg Howard led the charge picking up an even 100 yards rushing on 19 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Howard also made 5-of-6 on extra point attempts, booted a 32-yard field goal and pinned two punts inside the 2-yard line.

Gordo quarterback Cameron Sanders completed 9-of-17 passing for 154 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

Sophomore sensation Demario Lanier had 94 total yards making four catches for 79 yards and a touchdown and also picking up 15 yards on a rushing attempt.

Gordo got things started on the opening possession of the game scoring when Sanders connected with Lanier on a 24-yard slant for a touchdown.

The Green Wave would not score again until the final five minutes of the second quarter off Pickens County turnovers. Keon Washington scooped up a fumble on the goal line and trotted 3-yards in for the touchdown.

Gordo's final score of the first half was set up by a Jodeci Jones interception at midfield. The Green Wave found their way into the end zone six plays later when Howard plowed in from 4-yards out to go up 21-0 at the half.

The Green Wave continued to capitalize on Pickens County miscues in the second half. A misfired shotgun snap into the end zone led to a safety for the next Gordo points.

Later in the quarter the Tornadoes fumbled again allowing Gordo to take over at their own 17-yard line. Howard bulldozed his way into the end zone again from there going up 30-0.

Howard's 32-yard field goal opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter and the rout was on. Alandis Smith scored on a 7-yard run while Jones added a 26-yard touchdown on a jet sweep for the next two Green Wave scores.

Gordo's defense forced another bad shotgun snap into the end zone for another safety and Washington ran the free kick back 45-yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game.

The Tornadoes (6-4) finished the night with 161 yards of offense but also had 122 penalty yards after being flagged 13 times.

De'Marko Hall had a solid night running the football ending the evening with 92 yards on 14 attempts.

Deion Curry hit on just 2-of10 passing for 19 yards and an interception with both passes going to Lajuan Doss.