Area Sports

      TUSCALOOSA — The surgeon general has determined that smoking cigars is bad for your health but perhaps the surgeon general doesn’t know how taking a puff benefits the winner of the Alabama-Tennessee game. The pungent odor of cigar smoke began to waft through Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium early in the fourth…

  By ARTHUR L. MACK MOBILE — Todrick Withers’ 1-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted No. 2 Williamson to a 22-14 overtime win over visiting, No. 1 Vigor Friday night. In overtime, Notre Dame commit Ellis McGaskin’s 9-yard run set up Withers’ game-winning score, followed by a successful two-point conversion. On the Wolves’ possession, Sammy…

      By JIMMY WIGFIELD SEMMES — Few gave Baker a chance to upset Mary G. Montgomery Friday night and at least rattle the Vikings’ dominance of their region over the last three years. But if quarterback Tate Graham, receiver Khatori Marion and running back Jailen “Speedy” Wheeler keep the big plays coming, the…

      By ARTHUR L. MACK SARALAND — Jamison Roberts was 8-of-8 passing for 133 yards and five touchdowns in less than one half and No. 2-ranked Saraland gave coach Jeff Kelly his 200th career win as it routed Murphy 55-0 Thursday night at Spartan Stadium. Roberts threw two touchdown passes to Sye Byrd…

    By ARTHUR L. MACK Cottage Hill Christian Academy star linebacker Shadarius Toodle flipped his commitment from Georgia back to Auburn, he announced on social media Tuesday. The four-star Toodle (6-3, 235), who is ranked the No. 13 linebacker prospect in the U.S. by Rivals, originally committed to Auburn in July 2024, then flipped…

        SARALAND — In the preseason, coach Jeff Kelly observed the wishful thinking of those outside of Saraland who hoped the Spartans would finally tumble into the abyss after losing veteran stars K.J. Lacey, C.D. Gill, Santae McWilliams and Antonio Coleman, all of whom had passed, caught, run and ravaged their way…

  Staff Reports FAIRHOPE — Kam Smith ran for 183 yards on 26 carries and had a pair of big-play touchdowns to lead No. 3-ranked Mary G. Montgomery to a 28-21 win over Fairhope Friday night. Smith scored on a 69-yard run and a 70-yard pass on the third play from scrimmage. “I’m so thankful…

        By JIMMY WIGFIELD SARALAND — Four words have gradually become among the rarest to be uttered anywhere in Alabama, even the world: “Pass incomplete, Jamison Roberts.” Saraland’s public-address announcer used the phrase only five times Friday night as Roberts, who wears jersey No. 10, was nearly a perfect 10 on the…

  By JOHN VELLA MOBILE — Tyler Gardner rushed for 97 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown as LeFlore defeated Elberta 20-8 Thursday night to keep its playoff hopes alive with its first back-to-back victories since 2018. Gardner’s 7-yard run in the fourth quarter put the game away for the Rattlers (3-4, 3-2 5A…

    TUSCALOOSA — Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer sucked in a deep breath and exhaled an even deeper one as he walked off the field between his Alabama State Trooper escorts Saturday. The relief was evident on his face since nobody in the state — except maybe Auburn fans — wanted a repeat of last…