Baker nips Vigor, St. Michael edges UMS-Wright; Washington County, Thomasville romp
Baker running back Jailen “Speedy” Wheeler turns the corner for the go-ahead touchdown against Vigor Thursday night. The No. 9-ranked Class 7A Hornets handed the No. 3-ranked Class 5A Wolves their first defeat of the season, 10-9. (John O’Dell/Call News)
By ARTHUR L. MACK
PRICHARD — Speedy Wheeler’s 47-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter proved to be the difference as No. 9-ranked Class 7A Baker edged No. 3-ranked Class 5A Vigor 10-9 Thursday night at Wolfpack Stadium.
Wheeler had 117 yards on 24 carries for the Hornets, who finished the regular season 8-2.
The Wolves (9-1), who got 112 yards on 19 carries from Carlos Benjamin, suffered their first loss of the season.
Both teams are in the first round of the state playoffs beginning next week.
Baker led 3-0 in the first quarter on Blayne Munson’s 41-yard field goal. Vigor took a 9-3 lead going into halftime on Jamaries Robinson’s 1-yard run and Malik Fremont’s 27-yard field goal.
St. Michael’s Brayden Smith dives for UMS-Wright quarterback Max Fowler in the first half Thursday night at Cooper Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Bulldogs 35-28. (Mike Kittrell/Call News)
St. Michael 35,
UMS-Wright 28
MOBILE — Sophomore quarterback Gunner Rivers threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns to lead the visiting Cardinals past the Bulldogs.
Denton Elliott returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and added a 13-yard scoring run for UMS-Wright (4-6), which needs to win at least three games in the Class 5A playoffs to avoid its first losing season since 2007. Perry Hand dashed 47 yards for a TD and caught a 16-yard scoring pass from Max Fowler.
Brody Jones caught two TD passes and Tucker Tomlinson hauled in another while Noah Moss ran for two scores for Class 4A St. Michael (9-1), which is also in the playoffs.
Both teams are in the first round of the playoffs beginning next week.
Joey Warner
Thomasville 56,
Clarke Co. 7
GROVE HILL — Diego Bryant ran for 184 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns and the No. 4-ranked Class 4A Tigers exploded for 36 second-quarter points to roll past the No. 7-ranked Class 2A Bulldogs.
Bryant scored on runs of 30 and 69 yards while Dallas Bryant had TD runs of 63 and 39 yards and added 120 yards on seven carries for Thomasville (10-0).
Clarke County (7-3) got its lone touchdown on Hayden Dotson’s 79-yard run.
Both teams are in the first round of the playoffs next week.
Scott Slayton
