The Spanish Fort Toros went on the road for a Class 6A Region 1 battle and toppled the eighth-ranked Theodore Bobcats 8-3. A 14-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Aaden Shamburger to junior Nehemiah …
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The Spanish Fort Toros went on the road for a Class 6A Region 1 battle and toppled the eighth-ranked Theodore Bobcats 8-3. A 14-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Aaden Shamburger to junior Nehemiah Hixon in the final 1:30 of regulation served as the game-winning play.
Shamburger connected with sophomore classmate Justin Bonner on 8- and 22-yard completions to help Spanish Fort reach the red zone down the stretch. The Toros manufactured their game-winning drive while trailing 3-2 after the Spanish Fort defense forced an intentional grounding in the end zone to earn a safety in the first half.
The win served as the Toros’ first over a ranked opponent since a 42-7 victory over St. Paul’s on Aug. 27, 2021. Spanish Fort moved to 76-2 all-time when allowing fewer than 10 points and improved to 40-31 against state-ranked opponents.
The win served as the Toros’ first over a ranked opponent since a 42-7 victory over St. Paul’s on Aug. 27, 2021. Spanish Fort moved to 76-2 all-time when allowing fewer than 10 points and improved to 40-31 against state-ranked opponents.
Stat sheet
Defensively, senior classmates Cole McConathy and Sterling Dixon teamed up to provide double-digit tackles and 3.5 sacks apiece. Junior Newton Gardner (9 total tackles, 3 for loss, 1.5 sacks), and seniors Javontae Walton (8 total tackles) and Grey Freeman (7 total tackles, 2 for loss, 0.5 sacks) were not far behind. Senior Markell Kyer also added 1 interception, 1 pass breakup and 1 tackle.
McConathy, a Louisville commit, collected 12 total tackles between 5 solos and 7 assists including 5 tackles for loss and added 3.5 sacks for a total loss of 22 yards to go along with 5 quarterback hurries. Dixon, an Alabama commit, registered 6 solos and 4 assists for 10 total tackles including 4 for loss to complement his 3.5 sacks for a total loss of 17 yards on top of 2 quarterback hurries.
Bonner led the receiving corps with 130 yards on 6 catches and was complemented by seniors Gabe Myers (38 yards on 3 catches) and Chandler Wilson (28 yards on 3 catches). Shamburger finished with 232 yards on 16-of-29 passing to go along with 48 rushing yards on 7 carries with a long of 25.
Hixon compiled 62 rushing yards on 5 carries with a long of 42 and added 27 receiving yards on 3 catches with the game-winning touchdown. Junior Sawyer Wilson logged 25 rushing yards on 11 carries as well as caught a 9-yard pass.
Up next
The Toros’ 3-1 record puts them at second place in the region standings behind only the top-ranked Saraland Spartans, who handed Spanish Fort its lone region loss so far. The Toros will take their 3-2 overall record into next week’s non-region rivalry showdown with the Daphne Trojans (3-2, 2-1 in 7A-R1) on the road.
The Baldwin County Tigers cracked the win column thanks, in part, to a short-yardage rushing touchdown from junior Jamarion Marshall and a 41-yard touchdown pass from senior Preston Kiper to junior Tiaquentin Mims.
But it was junior Ty French who put the exclamation mark on the Tigers’ Class 6A Region 1 victory after he stole an interception and returned it 30 yards to the end zone with only 47 seconds left in regulation. Baldwin County’s pair of offensive scores gave the visitors a 14-13 lead at the time of the pick-six.
Kiper and Marshall both finished with triple-digit yardage as the quarterback threw for 103 yards on 9-of-16 passing and the running back racked up 119 rushing yards on 25 carries. Mims finished with 49 receiving yards on 3 catches and senior Damorien Andrews recorded 45 all-purpose yards between 32 rushing yards on 3 carries on top of a 13-yard reception.
The Tigers improved to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in region play heading into a non-region contest against the No. 4 MGM Vikings (5-0, 3-0 in 7A-R1) at home next Friday.
More school history was made after Gulf Shores rose to its highest ranking in the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s state poll.
The Dolphins had never recorded three shutouts in a single season, nor had they started a season 5-0. The 2023 team can add their names to the record books as the first to do both.
Senior Isaiah Hammac and sophomore Landon Everett helped lead Gulf Shores’ defensive effort with 7 tackles each where Everett added 2 tackles for loss. Fellow sophomore JaMichael Garrett also logged 2 tackles for loss as well as 1 sack and senior Braden Jackson registered an interception.
LeFlore racked up 110 yards of total offense, but 55 came on the Rattlers’ final drive of the Class 5A Region 1 contest.
Offensively, senior quarterback Alex Rippy recorded 101 yards on 6-of-8 passing with 2 touchdown passes to complement four rushing scorers. Freshman quarterback Jud Harris threw for 83 yards on 5-of-8 passing to go along with 43 rushing yards on 2 carries with a touchdown.
Senior Ronnie Royal led the way with 37 rushing yards on 11 carries with a touchdown to supplement 67 receiving yards on 4 catches. Junior Kolin Wilson was not far behind with one touchdown each on the ground and through the air as he finished with 41 rushing yards on 7 carries and 44 receiving yards on 2 catches.
Senior Kingston Lowe scored the other rushing touchdown as part of a 34-yard effort on 3 carries and Price Stephens caught the other touchdown pass, a 49-yard connection from Rippy.
The Dolphins improved to 4-0 in the region standings and have the Murphy Panthers (0-5, 0-4 in 6A-R1) on next week’s schedule in non-region action.
OTHER WEEK 5 FINALS
No. 9 Baker 33, Daphne 20
Up next: The Trojans (3-2, 2-1) are set to return to Jubilee Stadium next Friday for a non-region rivalry tilt with the Spanish Fort Toros.
No. 4 Jackson 35, No. 9 Bayside Academy 0
Up next: The Admirals (4-1, 2-1) have an open date for Week 6 ahead of a home battle against the T.R. Miller Tigers (3-2, 2-1) on Oct. 6.
No. 1 Saraland 66, Robertsdale 0
Up next: The Golden Bears (0-4, 0-4) are scheduled to host the Alma-Bryant Hurricanes (1-3, 0-2 in 7A-R1) in non-region action next Friday.
St. Michael 42, Satsuma 8 (Thursday, Sept. 21)
Up next: The Cardinals (3-2, 2-1) are set to end a five-game home stand with the McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets (2-2, 2-1 in 6A-R1) on the docket next Friday.
T.R. Miller 27, Orange Beach 14
Up next: The Makos (0-4, 0-3) will return home for a non-region contest against the No. 2 Mobile Christian Leopards (5-0, 3-0 in 3A-R1) next week.
