Area Sports
Another close Iron Bowl in Jordan-Hare boosts Bama, haunts Auburn
AUBURN — Although it has been the favorite in every Iron Bowl since 2007, wasn’t Alabama supposed to lose to Auburn Saturday night? Wasn’t the Crimson Tide supposed to be too soft? Have no running game? See its playoff hopes and Kalen DeBoer’s job buried under a mountain of Charmin at Toomer’s Corner?…
Read MoreVigor, Jackson win rematches to make Super 7; Leroy gets blitzed
By DARRON PATTERSON MOBILE — Sammy Dunn said he learned a lot from Vigor’s first game against Williamson and he used every bit of that knowledge in a thrilling 28-21 win over the No. 1-ranked and previously unbeaten Lions before a frenzied crowd at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the Class 5A semifinals Friday night. The next…
Read MoreSaraland punches out Benjamin Russell 38-21 to reach Super 7 for unprecedented fourth straight year
By JIMMY WIGFIELD SARALAND — Jamison Roberts went from haltingly banging the wrong key on a piano to a maestro orchestrating Saraland’s once-again unstoppable offense Friday night in about as much time as it would take him to hum a few bars of “Golden.” “I’m done hidin’, now I’m shinin’ ……
Read MoreBig rematches set: Vigor vs. Williamson, Jackson vs. St. Michael
By ARTHUR L. MACK PRICHARD — Vigor’s defense throttled No. 5 Central-Clay County’s running game while Sammy Dunn and Demetrius Johnson made crucial plays with their legs as the No. 2 Wolves earned a 14-0 win in the Class 5A quarterfinals at Wolfpack Stadium Friday night. Johnson rushed 17 times for 92 yards…
Read MorePike Road becomes Mr. Roberts’ neighborhood: Saraland QB Jamison Roberts and wideout Deshawn Spencer torch Patriots, 56-32
_________________________ The Spartans scored on nine of 10 possessions, with Roberts’ non-injurious interception in the first quarter marking the only time he seemed ordinary. Another completion was flagged because of an ineligible receiver downfield; presumably, Roberts could have completed passes to both if he had been given two balls. Saraland didn’t punt.…
Read MoreSteve Mask’s retirement is a sad day for a sport getting away from its roots
MOBILE — Steve Mask jokingly called his retirement announcement on Thursday a funeral service. Perhaps he said that so he’d laugh to keep from crying, which he’s been known to do. But Mask’s retirement could be another marker that the funeral — not for the Hall of Fame coach but for high…
Read MoreAlabama doesn’t measure up in the big moments against Oklahoma and now Tide must play with urgency
TUSCALOOSA — The Heisman moment and the championship moment were unfurled at the feet of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide offense Saturday evening. The No. 4-ranked team in the country was going to push the ball off the goal line without a running game and drive 94 yards in the last…
Read MoreSaraland rallies for 35-31 victory; Leroy whips Linden to set up McKenzie showdown
By ROBERT LADNIER SARALAND — Second-ranked Saraland scored on three of its first four possessions of the second half to rally for a 35-31 win over visiting No. 8-ranked Spain Park in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs at Spartan Stadium Friday night. Quarterback Jamison Roberts put the Spartans ahead for good on…
Read MoreMary Montgomery, Golson to ‘keep chopping wood’ after shocking 54-0 loss to Thompson
By JIMMY WIGFIELD ALABASTER — Mary G. Montgomery coach Zach Golson had just suffered his worst loss since changing the Vikings from everybody’s favorite homecoming opponent to a respected and even feared program but he preferred to look ahead, not behind. He paid tribute to a superlative senior class that went 37-10 — the…
Read MoreBefore a roaring crowd, Tide turns to a trickle inside against Purdue in top-10 battle
TUSCALOOSA — It felt like an NCAA tournament game, only in November. Luckily for Alabama, it wasn’t because if it had been, the Crimson Tide’s basketball season would be over. No. 2-ranked Purdue beat No. 8 Alabama 87-80 Thursday night before 13,474 fans who overloaded the eardrums in Coleman Coliseum.…
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