MGM holds off Daphne, UMS-Wright rolls, Roberts hurls 7 TD passes, Mobile Christian suffers narrow loss
UMS-Wright’s Thomas Landers makes a catch against St. Paul’s Evan Summers Friday night at St. Paul’s. The Bulldogs won 31-0. (Mike Kittrell/Call News)
By ROBERT LADNIER
SEMMES — Mary G. Montgomery’s Ashton Darrington intercepted a two-point conversion pass in the end zone with 33 seconds remaining as the Vikings held off No. 6-ranked Daphne 20-19 Friday night.
The Trojans drove 83 yards in 17 plays to cut the lead to 20-19 on Kaden Brown’s 4-yard scoring run before Darrington’s interception.
“It took trusting the process,” MGM coach Alex Page said. “Every play is a new play and it came down to the final one. We executed and picked it off. Then we closed it off with the hands team, something we work on every day.”
Kam Smith rushed for 193 yards on 34 carries and touchdowns of 2, 13 and 3 yards and also recovered the Trojans’ onsides kick in the final minute.
Christian Segar was 16-of-23 passing for 188 yards and a touchdown and Tay Young scored on a 1-yard run for Daphne (6-2, 5-0)
The Vikings, who but for AHSAA penalties would be in first place in 6A Region 1, improved to 5-3 with their fourth straight win.
“We were having some problems kicking all game,” Trojans coach Kenny King said. “We had an opportunity to win the game but, unfortunately, it didn’t work out. I would have made that call 100 times.”
UMS-Wright 31,
St. Paul’s 0
Max Fowler accounted for three second-half touchdowns to lead the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs to a rout of the Saints to set up a showdown at No. 2 McGill-Toolen for the Class AA Region 1 title next week.
Fowler scored on runs of 8 and 3 yards and added a 29-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Landers in the fourth quarter.
“We are in a great spot and playing really well,” said UMS-Wright coach Sam Williams, whose team is 7-1 overall and 6-0 in Class AA Region 1. “I like we came out tonight and took care of business and look forward to another big game next week.”
Ilijah Scott’s 9-yard run opened the scoring for the Bulldogs midway through the first quarter. UMS-Wright led 10-0 at halftime.
— John Vella
Saraland 56,
Blount 14
Quarterback Jamison Roberts set a single-game school record with seven touchdown passes as the No. 4-ranked Spartans walloped the visiting Leopards
Roberts was an efficient 13-of-18 passing for 301 yards. Eddie Turner hauled in four catches for 115 yards and touchdowns of 46, 33 and 15 yards, Chris Cunningham added five receptions for 76 yards and TDs of 42 and 5 yards, while Larry Pettway grabbed three passes for 91 yards and scores of 63 and 10 yards for Saraland (7-1, 5-1 5A Region 1).
“We executed the passing game really well,” Spartans coach Jeff Kelly said. “The offensive line did a good job in protection and the receivers did a good job on their routes to get open. We played outstanding on defense and we played fast. It was an all-around solid effort.”
The Spartans visit Spanish Fort (6-2, 5-1) next Friday in a big region game that will likely settle the region runner-up. Saraland has won five straight over the Toros.
“It’s a big challenge for us to go on the road,” Kelly said. “They are always a big game for us.”
Ayiden Pugh added a 1-yard TD run for the Spartans, who led 28-0 in the first quarter and 49-0 at halftime.
— Robert Ladnier
Bayside 27,
Mobile Christian 20
