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Stanhope Elmore falls to PCA in tiebreak

SPORTS, Page 8. Wetumpka, AL 36092

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SATURDAY-SUNDAY • SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

THEWETUMPKAHERALD.COM

VOL. 11, NO. 33

‘Winston’s Law’ mom pleads guilty

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

A Wetumpka woman at the center of a notorious child abuse case made a “blind” guilty plea Wednesday to aggravated child abuse that could carry a maximum penalty of 20-years in prison. Now her sentencing will be held October 12 to determine whether the mother of the child that inspired

“Winston’s Law” will be behind bars until she is nearly 50. That is what a local DA and “Winston’s Law” sponsor wants. He said it was “unfortunate” the law which held a potential 99-years’ sentence on such charges could not be applied retroactively. The incident was reported around mid-September of 2015 as details emerged about the conditions of the

4-year-old son of Hallee Ann McLeod. The story is now widely known how he was found in Bay County, Florida as McLeod’s then partner, Scott T. Hicks, also of Wetumpka was reportedly dealing with legal issues at a courthouse in Panama City. Reports are that the child was found unresponsive after having been left under a blanket in the backseat of a vehicle in September for about an hour-and-a-half. See PLEA • Page 3

Car chase ends in fiery crash

Inmate dies in stabbing incident

By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has reported a cross-county highspeed chase that ended in an airborne fiery crash killing the 28-year-old female passenger of the vehicle, which was said to have been largely travelling over 90-miles per hour. The driver of the vehicle, Wesley Kyle Phelps, also 28, sustained extensive injuries and was ultimately taken to UAB Hospital for treatment, an ECSO official said. However the victim, Melissa New, of McCalla, was pronounced dead on the scene, he said. The driver was said to have admitted to paramedics he had used heroin and cocaine. The chase began just before 4 a.m. Wednesday, Sheriff Bill Franklin said See CHASE • Page 3

Today’s

Weather

88 71 High

William C Willi Carroll ll / Th The Herald H ld

Elmore County Highway Department employees now have new office and meeting spaces thanks to a $1.2 Highway Department Administrative Building that was officially opened on Thursday morning.

County unveils new highway building By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

Elmore County cut the ribbon on its newest addition, its $1.2 million Highway Department Administrative Building Thursday as part of a ceremony recognizing Elmore County Highway Department employees. The building is a component of “Blueprint 2020” the Elmore County Commission’s $38 Million total investment plan created by the County Commission to improve county roads, bridges and buildings. During the presentation, Elmore County Engineer Richie Beyer pointed out that the

SUNDAY: HIGH 92 LOW 72

See INMATE • Page 3

SUV collides into store front of local doughnut shop By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

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plan to build the new facility dated back to 2003 when he first came on board with the county. “That (2003) was when we started putting money aside to do this,” Beyer said, noting that the original cost to construct the facility went from $500,000 in 2003 to $1.2 million. Beyer added that $24.5 million of the $38 million in county improvements went specifically to road and bridge projects throughout the county, while $13.5 million went to upgrading county buildings. Since 2003, he said $125 million dollars has been utilized or secured for the purpose of improving and maintaining the county’s See BUILDINGS • Page 3

Another stabbing has occurred at the Elmore Correctional Facility after an “altercation” was said to have broken out between two inmates leaving one dead from multiple stab wounds, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. An AL DOC press report said the incident occurred in the Gladney afternoon during an “altercation” between Davieon Cotez Williams, 24, and Jonathan Gladney, 41. Williams was pronounced dead by a prison doctor nearly 30-minutes later at roughly 5 p.m., according to the report, which stated that officers took Williams his body to the infirmary. According to the report, Gladney

An SUV smashed into the store front of a local donut shop Tuesday afternoon sending glass and bricks flying as the vehicle lodged itself halfway in the store. There were no injuries with the shop closed at the time of the impact. It is unclear if the driver of the vehicle was injured in the incident, or why they ran into the building. The owner of the shopping center, Tom Overton, said he was notified by Wetumpka Fire Department around 1:30 p.m. He said he was told that the driver was a woman who was trying to get

to the adjacent nail salon at the time. Just on the other side of the wall, employees in the business to the right of Donuts D-Lite described what they heard and saw at the time of the crash. One of the women said it sounded just like a car crashing into a building. She heard the boom and the tires squealed, albeit “after the fact,” she added. A post on the Donuts D-Lite, LLC social media page showed the footage from what was said to be the security camera running in the store at the time of the impact. In the video a newer model red SUV can be seen swinging right and fast into the parking space but did not See COLLISION • Page 3

Corey Arwood / The Herald

A local doughnut shop had most of its store front wiped out by a SUV that drove into the building Monday.

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Page 2 • SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Area Calendar September 3

Camp Stew Sale at Cedarwood Community Church, Hwy 231 N. Wallsboro, Sept 1 and 2 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 3 from 7 a.m. to noon. Stew is $8 for large microwaveable container. All proceeds go to church building fund to help complete the inside of the church. For information please call Jo Parker at 514-0242; Laura Knight at 567-2457 or Pastor Roger Olsen at 567-0476.

September 3

Emerald Mountain Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a Labor Day Weekend BBQ Sale on September 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the EMVFD Fire Station at 1785 Old Ware Road in Wetumpka. Boston butts may be purchased for $30 and plates for $8. The plates will include BBQ pork or ½ chicken, potato salad, baked beans and bread. Cakes will also be available for purchase whole for $25 or $2 per slice. For information or tickets, please call 567-6077 or 567-0405.

September 11

Sunday is homecoming at River Road Baptist Church. We would like to invite everyone to come and join us in our homecoming celebration. Preaching is at 11:00 a.m. with lunch to follow. Everyone is always welcome to come and worship with us. We look forward to seeing you there.

September 13, October 11, November 15, January 10, February 4 and March 14

The Wetumpka Public Library, along with the Elmore County Museum, invites veterans and family members to sign up and participate in a free monthly reading discussion program on the experience of war, beginning September and ending in March. Discussions will be held in the Elmore County Museum from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: September 13th, October 11th , November 15th , January 10th , February 14th , and March 14th . All books and films will be provided for each participant in advance of each discussion. Recent veterans of the global war on terror are particularly encouraged to participate.

September 17

A Fall Migration Walk will be held at the Fort Toulouse/Fort Jackson National Historic Park located at 2521 W. Fort Toulouse Road in Wetumpka at 7 a.m. The event is a collaboration

between the park and Alabama Birding Trails and will consist of a bird walk, sign unveiling and a French Colonial historical reenactment.

September 19

The annual Taste of Eclectic is scheduled for September 19. The event will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. at the Elmore County High School Cafeteria. The cost of the event is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Funds go to support the Veteran’s Park in Eclectic.

September 20

Seeing Is Believing is the theme of the next Tuesdays with Kelly meeting when Kathie Buntin and her mother, Bennie Kennedy, from Dothan Alabama will discuss flower arranging for the church altar. The door prize will be a devotional booklet “Seasons of Hope and Encouragement” written by Cindy Childress. Music will be provided by Mary Wolfe. Drinks and dessert are compliments of the Rumbling Waters Arts Club so bring your sack lunch to this “lunch and learn” event at noon on the third Tuesday of each month at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery 408 South Main Street in Wetumpka, Alabama. Free and open to the public.

ONGOING EVENTS CHILD FIND: The Tallassee City School System is launching its annual campaign to assist children—birth to age 21—who have disabilities and may need special services. The campaign urges parents, service providers, and concerned citizens to contact Child Find, a program to locate, identify and evaluate children with disabilities or children who are believed to have disabilities. The Tallassee City School System wishes to notify you of the availability of special education services in our public schools. If you have questions regarding our programs, or if you wish to refer a student, please contact Lynell Carr at (334) 283-5675 or Child Find (Alabama Department of Education) at 1-800-548-2547.” ART EXHIBITION: There is a free exhibit of sixty-five works of art by the late Priscilla Crommelin featuring vibrant still life and floral paintings, portraits and landscapes at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery. SATURDAY NIGHT JAMBOREE: Every second and fourth Saturday of

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the month is the Highway 231 Saturday Night Jamboree at the Alabama League of the South Cultural Center Building at 12814 Highway 231 North in Wetumpka. There will be country, gospel, and rock and roll music in a good atmosphere. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be line dancing, no alcohol, no smoking and no charge. Donations accepted for upkeep of the building. Contact Ray Funderburk at R&R Music and things at 334-991-4682 or 224-850-9804 with questions. SANTUCK FLEA MARKET: First Saturday, March-December, dawn to 2 p.m in the area surrounding Santuck Baptist Church. An outdoor flea market with booths featuring arts, crafts, antiques, novelties, imports, food and more. Free admission to the public with free parking available. For info, call 334-567-7400. BLUEGRASS JAM: First Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka. All acoustic instruments welcome - guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass, singers. Beginner, intermediate, advanced and listeners. For info, call 334-578-9485. SIT AND SEW: First Saturday of each month, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka. All sewers and knitters welcome. Bring your own sewing machine or hand-sewing project. Assistance and encouragement to help you through your project. Ironing board and iron provided. Free. For info, call 334-578-9485 or visit www. arrac.org. POTTERY CLASS: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka For age 16 and older. $80 for four classes or $20 per week. Taught every Saturday by Rick Bowman. Bring your own tools or use art center tools. Center provides other supplies. For info, call 334-313-1646. CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP: Saturdays, 11 a.m. at the Alabama River Region Arts Center, Wetumpka. For ages 12 and older. $32 for four classes. Taught every Saturday by Cliff Wayne. For info, call 334-300-9394. MASTER GARDENERS LUNCH AND LEARN: Second Tuesday of each month, 12 to 1 p.m. at the Elmore County Extension Office, Wetumpka. Hosted by the Central Alabama Master Gardeners Association. Free and open to the public. Bring a sack lunch, drinks provided. For info, call 334-567-6301 or visit www.aces.edu/counties/Elmore/. NAACP MEETINGS: Elmore County Branch NAACP Executive Committee meeting every 3rd Tuesday 6:30pm at MLK Center 200 Lancaster St, Wetumpka Elmore County Branch NAACP regular monthly meeting every 4th Tuesday 6:30pm at MLK Center 200 Lancaster St, Wetumpka. HHS 50’s AND 60’s CLASS REUNION: Several members of Holtville High School Alumni are planning a reunion that will span two decades the 1950’s and 1960’s. This first-time reunion will be held on November 11, 2016 at the Holtville Gymnasium beginning at 1:00 in the afternoon. Each class that has a reunion planning committee is asked to contact their classmates to relay this information so that “HHS 50’s and 60’s Reunion” will be a great success. SENIOR ACTIVITIES: “Prime Time” activities at the Wetumpka Senior Center, held at the Fain Center, 120 Cotton Street for those 55 and older: Regularly Scheduled Activities Monday-Friday - Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Cost is $1.60 donation if possible. SilverSneakers Classic Exercise Class - M, W, F at 9:30 a.m. - total body toning and muscular strength SilverSneakers Circuit Exercise Class - Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. - cardio workout SilverSneakers Yoga Class - Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. - deep breathing, stretching, muscle relaxation Bridge Club - Wednesdays, Noon to 3 p.m. Audio Book Club- second and fourth Monday of every month at 1 p.m. - enjoy listening to a book on tape while knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. NEW REGULARLY SCHEDULED

ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND

Local gas station cash grabber caught in Goodwater By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer

A local case of convenience store thievery has come closer to a conclusion as the wanted man accused of knocking over a Wetumpka gas station for a “large sum” of cash is now in police custody, according to reports from a local crime stoppers organization. The crime itself appeared simple. From its details, two men walked into the store, one entered an untended “back room” and at some point picked up the “large sum” in question. The “suspect” walked out the back door and both suspects made off down the road in a purple or maroon colored car, according to investigators the report cites. Initially there were two men sought in connection with the unassuming heist. However, a release from Central Alabama Crime Stoppers indicated that one of the two males profiled in the incident at the 1600 block of Balm Road went to the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office to “clear his name,” after seeing himself in the reports, which had circulating since mid-August. In their latest update on Thursday, Crime Stoppers said Dwight Anthony Marbury Jr., 30, was listed as captured after being found in Goodwater on Wednesday. He was “wanted” on first-degree theft of property charges by the ECSO in relation to the August 11 incident, it said. According to the report a clerk became aware of the nonchalant robbery only after the two had gone and discovered the missing “large sum.”

ACTIVITIES DIY Classes - Every first and third Monday at 1 p.m. Do It Yourself Classes to learn to make things you can use around the house, including soap, lotions, crafts and decorations. Uno Wednesdays - 1 p.m. every Wednesday take part in a rousing game or two of Uno. Sock Sisters - 1 p.m. every Thursday come and make non-slip socks to give to nursing home residents. Volleyball - Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Join us for an intense game of volleyball, using a beach ball! Bridge - Wanted: Bridge players for afternoon Bridge Club. Meets Wednesday afternoons Noon to 3 p.m. NOTE: For info on any Prime Time event, call 334-567-1335. ECLECTIC: The Eclectic Senior Center is open every weekday until noon. For more info, call Deborah Rowe at 334-541-3581.

Tallassee Recreation Center Community Announcements

Funtastic Fort reservations for the pavilion or gazebo are made by calling the Recreation Department office at 283-4726. The fee for the pavilion is $40 for a two-hour period and the fee for the gazebo is $15 for a twohour period, fees must be paid prior to the reservation date. SSI INFO: Social Security will no longer be coming to Tallassee; their website is www.socialsecurity.gov or 800-7721213.

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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND

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SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016 • Page 3

Plea

continued from page 1

After being examined by medical personnel it was said that he had been severely physically abused with bruises throughout his body, and what was described as extreme bruising and swelling to his genitals. The child was also said to have had tested positive for a prescription grade chemical substance, and was left in the vehicle near what has been described as a bag full of handguns. He has since recovered and his father, Joey Crampton, along with local legislators and Houston established “Winston’s Law,” which changes the class of felony for aggravated abuse of a child under 6 from class C to A. Meaning the sentencing would range from to 10 to 99 years, versus the current 2 to 20 which McLeod plead to. Houston said it was not enough, “based on what this

poor child went through.” Hicks, who is close to 40-years-old, is still in custody and is undergoing trial on similar charges in Florida. “When they get finished with him in Florida, we have extradition paperwork ready to bring him back to us where he will be charged and processed,” said Houston. However, he said the “bottom line” was that Florida authorities had a “better case” on Hicks, and Elmore County had a “better case” on McLeod. He explained the “blind plea” and said it essentially meant that the defendant, McLeod, asked that the judge determine the sentencing without any recommendation from the DA. He said, on McLeod’s part the “hope” was that the judge would give her a lesser sentence.

However, he said on Oct. 12 his office would be requesting the maximum 20-years. Houston said Winston’s father, Crampton was present Wednesday and sat adjacent McLeod’s mother. Crampton has faced notoriety of his own with recent charges of third-degree domestic violence after reportedly choking his wife and throwing their infant son. However, Houston said Crampton’s charges in Montgomery County, would have no affect on their case against McLeod. McLeod also faced another charge Wednesday of chemical endangerment of a child, a class C felony. Houston said it was dismissed as result of her blind guilty plea, but had it been tried he said his office would have went for both charges.

Chase

continued from page 1

and he described what he called the 21-mile trek an ECSO deputy went on before having to pull the two from the fiery wreckage. Franklin said Phelps was fleeing from Alexander City police in what was later found to be a stolen 2014 black Ford Fusion with switched tags. The pursuit wound its way over Kowaliga Bridge, as Phelps preceded down State Route 63 and onto Old Georgia Road where he entered Wetumpka jurisdiction, Franklin said. Phelps passed the deputy at 92 miles per-hour where he was said to be waiting along the side of the road. A few miles later, he said, the chase continued onto SR-14, headed east toward Tallassee. Franklin said Phelps was driving on the wrong side of the road going into curves and over hills as the dep-

uty followed. Ultimately about 5-miles later on the highway Phelps would run off the right side of the roadway about a quarter mile above Linville Funeral Home, Franklin said. Phelps was said to have hit a culvert, which sent the vehicle careening through the air an into the tree line The car caught fire, Franklin said, and the deputy ultimately had to break into the vehicle through its windows to remove the driver and passenger. Franklin said state troopers helped at the scene. According to an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency press release, neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt. “That man is very fortunate to be alive,” Franklin said. Phelps, who is also from McCalla, was transported

Inmates

to UAB by helicopter, the release stated. Franklin said when Phelps had recovered he would be taken into custody with charges both in Elmore and Tallapoosa counties. Phelps, he said, had recently served a stint in Easterling Correctional Facility and had outstanding arrest warrants for parole violations. Franklin said he had talked with Phelps’ mother who told him that Phelps was in the same type of vehicle over the weekend at her house, but found it odd he parked in rear portion of their yard. Phelps’ mother also said her son recently told her he had once more began using methamphetamines, and “ice,” Franklin said.

RODNEY GRIFFITH continued from page 1

was suspected of stabbing Williams and was detained. The prison however will remain on lockdown while a DOC investigation is underway. The DOC document said Gladney was serving a life sentence from a manslaughter conviction in 2006, while Williams was in prison for 5 years on charges of second-degree rape.

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Corey Arwood / The Herald

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appear to slow down as it approached the store-front. After the vehicle crashed into the building, it can be seen reversing slightly as the front tire spins for lack of traction on the tile floor. Inside the store were heavy black tire marks. The owner of the company that was working to temporarily close up the gnarled store-front said it was common in his business. He said he specialized in insurance reconstruction and had been doing for 30 years. “I’ve seen little women drive through department stores, and I’ve seen little women drive through restaurants,” said Ray Washam, while workers around him called out other locations they knew of. “Houses,” one called out, to which Washam said, “Houses, that’s common.” And from the background once more, someone yelled out, “And doughnut places!”

Buildings roads. According to Beyer, the new structure is 8,600 square feet and includes office space, meeting space, training areas and a safe room for deadly storms. Several of the county commissioners were on hand to speak about the building. Commission Chair David Bowen said that the highway department in particular means a lot to the citizens of Elmore County and he commended employees for their hard work. Commissioner Joe Faulk applauded the department as well as being a high point for the community. “The brightest spot of

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JOBS available Advertising Sales Representative Alexander City & Wetumpka Offices As an Advertising sales representative you will be expected to develop new business and maintain an existing account base of clients for The Alexander City Outlook, The Wetumpka Herald, The Dadeville Record, The Tallassee Tribune, The Eclectic Observer, Lake Magazine, Lake Martin Living Magazine, Elmore County Living Magazine, Digital Sales and other special publications.

continued from page 1

county government is the highway department,” he said. “Elmore County gets more done for less than any county per capita statewide.” Commissioner Stephanie Daniels Smoke agreed with the other commissioners and noted that she never hears any complaints about the highway department in her district. She specifically commended Beyer for his frugality in handling county funds. According to information provided at the meeting by Beyer, the highway department currently has 56 department employees and three facilities management employees.

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Steve Baker, Publisher William Carroll, Managing Editor Opinions expressed in guest columns and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the management of The Wetumpka Herald

Page 4 • SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

OPINION TheWetumpkaHerald.com

“Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it.” --Thomas Jefferson ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND

The Herald strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and, above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

YOUR VIEW Want to share your opinion on a situation, topic, etc.? X WRITE:

Your View The Wetumpka Herald P.O. Box 99 Wetumpka, AL 36092

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Include your name, address and phone number. Only your name and city will be printed. We reserve the right to edit or to refuse to publish any submission. You may submit one letter per month, limited to 300 words or less.

Good signs ahead for city, county

ever let it be said that we don’t sprinkle a few positive commentaries here and there when it is warranted. Just this past week I saw significant signs of progress and growth both for the city of Wetumpka and Elmore County. I have been here in Wetumpka since late April. I started here at our Elmore County papers on May 2, but I actually moved into town about a week earlier. One of the first places I went when I started here was to the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce. Having not seen the building prior to its recent renovations, I was still amazed with what they had done with the structure. Four months later they have continued to improve the

WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

building, with new and modern furniture and the latest in innovations to prepare the building for a variety of uses. Just in those four months I have seen the transformation and it has been impressive. The downstairs area where they will be housing part of the incubator program was simply a blank room just a few months ago. Now it is a completely functioning office space complete with desks, partitions and equipment. The block of downtown Wetumpka that houses the Chamber complex is a model for

how downtown can be restored to improve economic viability for the area. In this growth we shouldn’t leave out the county. On Thursday I went to the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Elmore County Highway Department Administrative Building. To say it was a nice facility would be an understatement. Again the county created a state of the art facility that matches in quality its $1.2 million price tag. The building itself was very nice, with very professional office spaces, meeting rooms and other accoutrements befitting a first class facility. Again, I wasn’t here when these projects first got off the ground and therefore can’t say what it

was like before, but these projects are good signs of the forward momentum for the Elmore County community. I have lived and worked in counties where the government agencies utilize seriously dilapidated structures. I have seen chambers of commerce in buildings that honestly should have been demolished years ago. For Wetumpka and Elmore County, these two buildings are examples of what can and should be the standard in our community. Buildings like these portray a positive image of our community to those who might wish to relocate here. Therefore I commend the chamber and county on a job well done. Carroll is the managing editor of The Herald.

334-567-7811 • Fax 334-567-3284 email: news@thewetumpkaherald.com THE WETUMPKA HERALD (681-260) is published twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 548 Cherokee Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. Periodical postage paid at Wetumpka, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Wetumpka Herald, P.O. Box 99, Wetumpka, AL 360920099. ISSN # 1536-688X. We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all. •Obituaries - $.25 per word per paper. Additional $15 charge for a photo per paper. (Herald, Weekend, Observer, Tribune). •Weddings/Engagements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a 2-column photo. •Birth Announcements - $.25 per word per paper. $15 charge for a photo. SUBSCRIPTION RATES (includes Wednesday & Saturday) One Year in Elmore, Tallapoosa or Coosa County: $50 One Year Elsewhere: $75 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription at any time. To subscribe or if you miss your paper, call 256-234-4281. © 2016 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. ADMINISTRATION Steve Baker, publisher steve.baker@thewetumpkaherald.com William Carroll, managing editor william.carroll@thewetumpkaherald.com NEWS Corey Arwood, staff writer corey.arwood@thewetumpkaherald.com Carmen Rodgers, staff writer carmen.rodgers@thewetumpkaherald.com Cory Diaz, sports editor Cory.Diaz@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . . . . . Ext. 306 SALES Molly Brethauer, marketing consultant molly.brethaur@TheWetumpkaHerald.com. . . . . Ext. 305

Written communication is evolving right before our eyes

’m typing this. That’s not a surprise to anybody reading this column, I know. What may be surprising is that the act of typing, or writing by hand with pen on paper, or dictating to a computer that bangs out each of the letters in touchless fashion, each uses different parts of the brain. In fact, even if I were writing this with pen and paper, I’d be using different parts of my brain depending on whether I was printing my words or writing in cursive. If the end result is the same -- communicating with the written word -- then why should any of this matter? Because like most human experiences, it’s the journey, not the destination, that is most important. And as a species, we humans are quickly moving away from writing longhand as more and more of us use our fingers on keyboards or touch screens to communicate. And the next technological leap will be speaking directly to our computers. It’s very doubtful that our grandchildren will ever have to shake out a hand cramp from long periods of penmanship. The revolution of verbal commands is already underway for folks who have “helpers” like Siri or Alexa. Both live in our house. Siri is on our cell phones. She’s great at getting directions when I’m driving and not supposed to be looking at a screen. Alexa lives in our Amazon Echo, an amazing

KENNETH BOONE Chairman

voice-operated computer that looks like a black metal tube standing on end and does not have a way to input commands other than verbally. I guess that’s not absolutely true, since if I open the Echo app on my iPhone I can type and touch to control the computer. But the real genius of this system is that I can say something like, “Alexa, play the Rolling Stones ‘I Can’t Get No Satisfaction’ on Spotify” and suddenly the sounds of Mick and Company fill my kitchen. I can also say, “Alexa, what’s the weather outside?” or “Alexa, play ‘All things Considered,” and she tells me whether I need a sweater (not lately) or starts the NPR morning news show. No keyboard -- and certainly no pen and paper -- involved. It’s a long way from the shared written communication experiences of our forefathers. Although I don’t believe it, I’ve heard that the verbal command computer make make the current generation the last that even needs to write and type. For instance, how do you think you’ll tell a driverless car where you want to go? I seriously doubt the next generation -- the ones who won’t have to know how to parallel park or even drive -- will be required to type

to get a ride around town. That’s how technology works: we gain the new skills of working the new technology and the old skills fade away. How many people now know how hitch up a buggy and direct a team of horses? Heck, most folks today can’t even operate a manual transmission. There’s a new book out titled “The History and Uncertain Future of Handwriting,” by Anne Trubek, that explores all this. Trubek says it wasn’t too many years ago when a monk might go through 60 quills a day for three months just to create a copy of a single book. Now you can read almost any book on your phone, wherever you are. I spoke with Darryl Cooper, the Superintendent of the Alexander City School System. Cooper said that in Alabama, there’s a current state law that requires teaching cursive writing. Our students now get an introduction to cursive writing in the second grade, “real cursive instruction in the third grade” and by the end of the fourth grade, cursive writing is not in the course description any longer. “I’m 52 years old and I have not written anything in cursive except my signature since the sixth grade,” Cooper said, explaining that he sometimes prints notes but he types almost everything else. He called cursive writing a “form of art,” and I think he’s right. I’m sure it lights up the

artistic parts of the brain more than typing does. Trubek’s book says we’re in the process of saying goodbye to longhand writing. But in the process we’re losing something valuable. Studies show that taking notes by hand leads to more complete learning. I know that I retain much more from a lecture if I write my notes by hand than if I type them. If you saw any of my notes, you’d see arrows, underlined and bolded information, little drawings and diagrams that will never show up in my typed notes. Imagine the days -really not that long ago -- when knowledge was passed down verbally. Children were required to memorize and repeat long passages from poems. That’s a lost art that I’m sure made ancestors better public speakers than most of us are today. “We will lose something as we print and write in cursive less and less, but loss is inevitable,” Trubek writes. Maybe that’s part of human evolution. Certainly our children and grandchildren will be much more comfortable with digital communication than we are, and probably less comfortable reciting poems or speaking in public or writing a love letter longhand. But they can text using only their thumbs at the speed of light. Boone is chairman of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND

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SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016 • PAGE 7

Birding and living history on tap for forts By WILLIAM CARROLL Managing Editor

If you’ve ever had an interest in birding or in witnessing in a living history reenactment, you’ll have a chance to do both on September 17 when Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park hosts a Fall Migration Walk and a day full of historical reenactors from the French Colonial and War of 1812 period. The day will begin with the walk, which is also hosted by Alabama Birding Trails at 7 a.m. Joanne Ninesling, project manager for the Piedmont Plateau Birding Trail said that the forts site is one of 270 birding locations across the state that are recognized as official sites. Ninesling said that experienced birder Larry Gardella out of Montgomery will be leading the walk this time around. “He is very knowledgeable,” she said. “His life list is in the thousands of species of birds. Experienced birders like Larry are hard to find, they are almost as elusive as the birds themselves.” Ninesling said that the Alabama Birding Trail is a collaborative effort of the Alabama Tourism Department and the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development. “This program is a tourism initiative designed to bring people to the various communities,” she said noting that it has taken several years to identify the various birding trails throughout the state.

“It gives you a chance to get outside and to perhaps see a place you haven’t seen before,” Ninesling said. “Go walking, hear the songs of the birds.” Ninesling said the walk will take approximately one hour and she suggested birders bring their binoculars for the best possible view. “Early mornings and late afternoon is the best time to see them,” she said. “We are coming up on the migration period. During migration you have more opportunities to see birds you normally wouldn’t see.” Ninesling said migratory birds generally follow bodies of water making the location at the confluence of two rivers a spectacular location to view birds. After the birding event, Ninesling said participants should stick around and enjoy the day with reenactors affiliated with the park. “We wanted to tie our birding walk with the French colonial re-enactment,” she said. Park Director Ove Jensen said that the day will include not only French colonial reenactments but also those relating to Fort Jackson. “We are doing a special program that weekend,” Jensen said. “It will be larger than our normal program, but not quite as in depth as our Alabama Frontier Days.” Jensen said that the event would include a number of hands-on type activities and demonstrations. “It is being geared towards scout groups and we are trying to get as many groups to participate as we can,” he said noting that the forts would be ramping

up activities in preparation for Frontier Days later this year. “It is a good way to get back into the swing of things.” The living history event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The forts are located at 2521 W. Fort Toulouse Rd.

SPORTS

PAGE 8 • SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

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ELMORE COUNTY WEEKEND

Wetumpka Exchange hosts 33rd Bass Tournament By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

The 33rd annual Rumbling Waters Team Bass Tournament launches this morning from Gold Star Park in downtown Wetumpka. Two-man fishing teams will pull out on the Coosa River at 6 a.m. and have the option the fish the Coosa, Alabama and Tallapoosa Rivers for the chance to bring home the first-place pay out of $2,000 and to help several charitable causes. Entry fee is $100 per boat and registration begins at 3:30 a.m. for the tourney, sponsored by the Wetumpka Exchange Club. The Club donates money to the Youth of the Year Scholarship Fund, a fund set up for students in Elmore County, as well as the club’s national project, the Child Abuse Program, Anglers for Kids, who will help during the tournament and weigh-in. The Exchange Club also sponsors a Wetumpka Dixie Youth baseball team every year. “All of the money we make, it goes back into the city and the county,” tournament organizer Haywood Robbins said. “I’ve been with this tournament all 33 years. We have all our sponsors, if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to put this on. And the fishermen, too. They come out because they know they’re making a donation, but they love to fish, too. A lot of the fishermen come back every year.” Weigh-in will start at 2 p.m. at Gold Star Park and the Exchange Club will hold an auction for oil changes, motor oil, local restaurant gift certificates and will raffle off a big cooler. “Come down for the weigh-in. You’ll get a lot of

Cory Diaz / The Herald

The Haynes Lighting fishing team shows off its boat Thursday ahead of the 33rd annual Rumbling Waters Bass Tournament set for Saturday at 6 a.m. Haynes Lighting, who provides ambulance, helicopter, siren lighting and vinyl graphic services, is one of several local businesses involved in the Wetumpka Exchange Club’s annual fishing tournament.

good deals on oil changes, places to eat with the stuff we auction off,” Robbins said. “And you’ll get to see a

lot of fish caught out of these rivers, and all the fish go back into the river.”

SEHS searching for 1st win, falls to PCA in tiebreak By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Stanhope Elmore came up short at Prattville Christian Academy Thursday, but inched closer to where they need to be. “We are changing the mindset of the program,” first-year Mustang volleyball coach Virginia Barber said. “They have been used to being average. I am not used to being average. “With that being said, we have worked to believe in ourselves and believe in each other. Eliminating the ‘me’ ball and attitudes and making it a Stanhope Elmore program and it’s working.” Led by senior hitter Haniyah Harris and junior middle Jayla Thomas, the Mustangs (0-4)

took the opening game from the playoff stalwart team, but PCA adjusted to outscore them 40-17 over the next two sets to win, 2-1 (25-21, 10-15, 7-15). Thomas led the way for Stanhope offensively and defensively with five kills, four tips and six blocks, and Harris added five kills and three digs. Bell Bobo and Hannah Minney ignited the comeback for the Panthers, both recording nine kills apiece. Setter Payson Marsh controlled the attack for PCA with a game-high 16 assists, along with a pair of kills and three aces. Two days after being shutout, 3-0, in its Class 6A, Area 5 opener at Chilton County, the Mustangs showed a glimpse of what they could do, Barber

said. But her team fell back into their old habits after PCA turned things around. “We have been making a lot of changes leading up to this season, and in the first set, it clicked. They get it now,” Barber said. “I was so proud of them for fighting to get that set. Then the second set, it was like we went back to our old ways and PCA got a few good kills and we couldn’t seem to bounce back. We are making progress and will be a team to beat soon enough.” Senior setter Dauson Alexander had six assists for SEHS and sophomore libero Cory Diaz / The Herald McKayla Wilson had eight digs. Stanhope Elmore junior middle hitter Jayla Thomas (3) drops the ball in for a point The Mustangs host Jeff during the first set at Prattville Christian Academy Thursday. Davis Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Edgewood Academy senior middle hitter Kevi Hansen attacks a set earlier this season against Macon-East at EA.

Wetumpka sophomore Cory Anthony, shown here competing last season, paced the Indian cross country team at its season-opening meet at the University of Montevallo last weekend.

Cory Diaz / The Herald

File / The Wetumpka

Tribe boys capture 13th at Montevallo cross country meet By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Cory Anthony picked right back up where he left off last season, leading the Wetumpka cross country team to a 13th place finish at the Early Bird Twilight Classic at the University of Montevallo last weekend. Under the light, the sophomore logged a time of 17:22, good enough for 27th overall in the Boys 5K Gold race. Fellow sophomore Cayden Opperman ran an 18:39 for the Indians’ second-best time, 72nd overall, and freshmen Brennan Worrell and William Ray came in at 19:27 and 19:38, just inside the top 100 runners on the night. Freshman Isaac Stubbs clocked in at 20:05 and sophomore Aaron Foster crossed the finish at 20:55 to round out the scoring times

for the Wetumpka boys squad. For the WHS girls, eighth-graders Hanna Bunn and Lindsey Rogers came in beside each other, crossing the line 81st and 82nd overall with times of 24:35 and 24:37, respectively. Danielle Rogers wasn’t too far behind her teammates at 24:50. The junior came in three places behind Lindsey Rogers and logged the 66th best scoring mark. Eighth-grade pair Hailey Holbert and Evie Donghia recorded the last two times for the Tribe girls, running 26:40 and 27:30, respectively. The Wetumpka cross country team hits the trail again at the Stanhope Elmore Mustang Invitational at the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Lanark Pavillion in Millbrook Sept. 10.

Wildcats split games with Autauga, Macon-East By CORY DIAZ Sports Editor

Macon-East Academy continued to be a bugaboo Thursday for Edgewood Academy despite a monster game from its best player. The Knights earned their second win over the Wildcats this season, winning 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 15-25, 15-25) at home -- the only loses for EA on the year -- but Edgewood senior middle Kevi Hansen sustained her scary-good play. Hansen had 20 kills for her team, 17 better than the next closest player for the ‘Cats, against Macon-East. Including the 3-0 victory over rival Autauga Academy on Tuesday, the senior has tallied 35 kills, eight blocks and 40 digs in two matches this week. “Honestly, she’s making a case

for player of the year,” first-year EA volleyball coach Sellers Dubberley said. Senior middle Morgan Brown, junior and sophomore outside hitters Peyton Rodie and Avery Roberts all recorded three kills apiece versus the Knights. C.J. Weldon and Kenzie Johnston both had five digs each and Sara Grace Ellis added a team-high three blocks. Against Autauga, Roberts and Rodie provided more of a scoring threat outside of Hansen, with five and six kills, respectively. Senior setter Anna Barnes ripped seven aces, while senior middle Kaylee Glenn recorded four kills and a block for Edgewood. EA will host Lee-Scott Academy Tuesday at 5 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT SCOREBOARD WITH GAME COVERAGE INSIDE

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

Chelsea 35 .........................Wetumpka 28 Tallassee 21.......................... Handley 12 Leeds 48 ......................Elmore County 14 Childersburg 30 ........................... Holtville 16

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Park Crossing 19 ........Stanhope Elmore 0 Benjamin Russell 42 ............... Pelham 21 Munford 35 ..........................Dadeville 24 Reeltown 42 ........................ Woodland 6

Lanett 38...................Horseshoe Bend 17 Freedom 40 .................... Lyman Ward 20

SPORTS EXTRA September 3-4, 2016

High school football from The Alexander City Outlook, The Wetumpka Herald & The Tallassee Tribune

Elmore County junior cornerback Ladarius Jenkins chases down Leeds’ Tyler Rose during Friday’s region opener at Leeds.

ALABAMA’S BIGGEST WEEKLY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL EDITION

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

Childersburg 30, Holtville 16

Holtville drops another tough game to Childersburg By William Carroll The Wetumpka Herald

Three plays made the different between winning and losing Friday night for the Holtville Bulldogs but that doesn’t make it any easier for the players or Head Football Coach Hunter Adams, whose team lost to Childersburg 30-16. “We spotted them 16 points,” Hunter told his team after the game. “We have just got to get better, we have to make every rep count.” Things started well for the Bulldogs, on the opening kickoff a fumble by the Tigers was recovered by junior Brady Richardson, setting up the Bulldogs at the Tigers 31 yard line. The Bulldogs brief drive stalled but junior placekicker Colton Autrey booted Holtville in front with a 37 yard effort to make it 3-0. On the ensuing kickoff, Adams decided to pull a little

trickery and called an onside kick. The plan went awry when Childersburg picked up the ball and covered 50 yards for a touchdown to make it 8-3. On the next drive, the Bulldogs started at their own 25 and sustained a short drive until an interception thrown by sophomore quarterback Drew Nobles was returned for 52 yards and a quick 16-3 Childersburg lead midway through the first quarter. The next several drives were a grind for both teams as neither could gain a significant advantage on either the scoreboard or in field position. Late in the second quarter Holtville was had a solid punt return off of a short Tigers punt and took over deep in Childersburg territory at the 21 yard line. The Bulldogs were able to push the ball as deep as the Tigers four yard line, but a holding penalty forced Autrey to kick his second See HOLTVILLE • Page 3

William Carroll/ The Wetumpka Herald

Above: Junior place kicker Colton Autrey (14) was a bright spot for the Holtville Bulldogs Friday night, accounting for 10 of the Bulldogs 16 points. Below: Sophomore quarterback Drew Nobles (2) battles through the Childersburg defense. Nobles was responsible for one touchdown, but also threw two interceptions including one which was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter.

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Holtville field goal of the game, this time a 32 yard effort to bring the score to 16-6. Childersburg sustained a drive deep into Bulldog territory but eventually stalled and the teams went into the break with the Tigers leading 16-6. In the second half, Holtville started with possession but could only move the ball to their own 44 yard line before they were forced to punt. The Tigers then took over at their own 10 and hit a big play when senior quarterback KC Calhoun found senior receiver Noah Garret for a 30 yard completion. The Tigers drove into Holtville territory, but coughed the ball up and gave Holtville decent field position at the Bulldogs own 37 yard line. At that point Nobles orchestrated a drive. Calling his own number on runs of 13, 14 and 15 yards he pushed the Bulldogs deep into Tigers territory at the 12 yard line. Three plays later the Bulldogs

continued from page 2

drove down to the Tigers two and half yard line and on fourth and a bout a foot Nobles earned the final two plus yards for the touchdown, cutting the Tigers lead to 16-13. Childersburg would not be outdone, Calhoun, who would prove to be a thorn in the side of the Bulldogs all night orchestrated a time consuming drive with his feet and through the air. Beginning at their own 28 yard line the Tigers methodically drove the length of the field, finishing off with a nine yard touchdown run that put them up for good at 22-13. Holtville then drove from their own 38 yard line to the Tigers 17, helped in part by a big completion from Nobles to sophomore Tristan Watson on fourth down. A penalty and a sack though moved the Bulldogs back to the 26 yard line and Autrey was again asked to produce points, which he did, with a 43 yard

field goal that cut the Tigers lead to 22-16. Calhoun though was not finished for the Tigers, and on the ensuing possession he took matter into his own hands sprinting 54 yards for the Tiger touchdown and the dagger that ended Holtville’s hope of a stunning comeback giving Childersburg a 30-16 advantage. That advantage would hold up for the final three minute and change and Tiger left Holtville with their first victory of the season. In speaking about his team’s effort, Adams said that he was proud of his team but that he felt the coaches shouldered some of the blame for the team’s performance. “We have got to do a better job as coaches, I don’t know if you want to call it crisis management/crunch time situations where you don’t get too high or too low,” he said. “We have to coach them up where we

have them prepared not to make those types of mistakes.” Adams said that on the onside kick his team had what they were looking for alignment wise but that they just couldn’t execute and allowed a big play in the process. Adams was pleased though with the effort of his junior place kicker who scored 10 of the Bulldogs 16 points on the night. “Colton Autrey is doing three sports right now, travel AYSO soccer, he runs cross country... and he kicks for us,” he said. “I am so proud of what he has done. He is a weapon for us, we feel like when we get within 50 yards of the uprights we can put three on the board.” The road for Holtville doesn’t get any easier as the Bulldogs travel to Munford to face the Lions in another region game.

William Carroll/ The Wetumpka Herald

Left: Childersburg senior signal caller KC Calhoun was a thorn in the side of the Bulldogs all night, both with his feet and in the air. The senior was responsible for several big plays on the night, including a 54 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that put the game on ice 30-16. Calhoun struggled some in the first half to get the Tigers offense rolling as both of their first half touchdowns came on non-offensive plays. In the second half however he led the Tigers on several sustained drives that ate up precious minutes and created scores for the Tiger offense. Holtville sophomore quarterback Drew Nobles was also responsible for a touchdown run, but also threw two interceptions, one of which turned the tide of the game early leading to a 16-3 Childersburg lead.

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

Dadeville 24 Munford 35

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Dadeville’s Margarius Buchanan cuts back behind blocking in the Tigers game with Munford.

Dadeville falls to Munford despite first half success in homecoming game By CATHY HIGGINS Sports Editor

What started out as a night of homecoming dreams for Dadeville Friday night ended with heartache as the Tigers lost to Munford by a score of 35-24. It really was a tale of two halves with Tigers starting quarterback Margarius Buchanan paving the way for Dadeville to have cause for celebration. After all, he scored all three of Dadeville’s touchdowns

rushed 127 yards, with 107 of those in the first half. He also successfully passed the ball a total of 41 yards Friday. Dadeville set the stage for a great home game when Buchanan rushed the ball for a touchdown from the 5-yard line to during the Tigers’ second down with 6:15 left in the first quarter. With this Dadeville was the first to put points on the board, bringing the score to 6-0 almost halfway through the first quarter. But Munford soon showed they came to play as Lions wide receiver LaRaie Ball

caught a 36-yard pass at the goal line sent from quarterback Avery Harris for a touchdown with 5:13 left in the first. This tied the game at 6-6. But with Munford’s good kick for the extra point, the Lions edged past the Tigers with a score of 7-6. Dadeville came back in the second quarter. In the Tigers’ first down at Munford’s 19-yard line Buchanan rushed for a touchdown with 9:46 left in the quarter. With this Dadeville came back on top with the score at 12-7. The Tigers increased that lead before the

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half was over. With 1:18 left in the second quarter, Buchanan rushed the ball 45 yards for his third touchdown of the night. With that he brought the score to 18-7 for the remainder of the half. Dadeville’s homecoming dreams began to shatter as the second half got underway. Once the Tigers turned over possession, Munford moved the ball down the field and set themselves up to be the first to score in the third quarter. In a second down from the See TIGERS • Page 5

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

The Tigers’ Branterro Banks, above left, brings down Munford’s Tacorrie Russell. Dadeville senior Samantha Williams, above right, gets a hug from her father Ed after being named homecoming queen prior to the game. Below, Devin Johnson tries to break a tackle of Munford’s Jimmy Stone.

Tigers

continued from page 4

6-yard line Harris rushed for a touchdown, bringing the score to 18-14 in favor of Dadeville with 7:27 left in the third. It wasn’t long before the Lions leaped over Dadeville. With the Tigers facing fourth down and 13 yards to go from their own 24-yard line, Munford running back Carson Smith intercepted the ball at the 43-yard line and returned it for a touchdown with 5:46 left in the third quarter. The TD put Munford up 12-18 after the PAT. As the fourth quarter got under

way, it looked like Dadeville might rally. In the second play of the quarter, Buchanan passed the ball to wide receiver Devin Johnson at the Tigers’ own 3-yard line. Johnson then rambled an amazing 97 yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to 24-21 in favor of Dadeville with 11:42 left in the game. Munford reclaimed the lead when Lions defensive end Tacorrie Russell rushed the ball for a touchdown from the 24-yard line. This brought the score to 27-24 in favor of Munford with 5:09 left in the game. That

jumped to 28-24 with Munford’s kick for the extra point. With rain coming down and Dadeville failing to hold on to the ball, Munford took advantage of only increasing their lead. With under two minutes left in the came, Russell rushed the ball nine yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to 34-24 with 1:52 left in the game. With the extra kick, this brought the final score to 35-24 in favor of Munford. The loss brings Dadeville’s season record to 1-2.

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2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Horseshoe Bend 17 Lanett 38

Generals fall to Lanett in game marred by postgame altercation By JOSH VITALE Opelika-Auburn News

It wasn’t too difficult to understand why a postgame fight broke out at MorganWashburn Stadium late Friday night. As Lanett tried to run out the last minute of what then would have been a 15-point win, visiting Horseshoe Bend called its final two timeouts after firstand second- down plays. Frustrated with the tactic, Lanett coach Clifford Story told his coaches to have son and quarterback Trey Story throw a deep ball to Anquaevious Pollard. When they completed that for a 49-yard touchdown, the Panthers called a trick play and pitched the ball to kicker Rovilan Castro and attempted to go for two. And when the conversion failed, Lanett called an onside kick. “We’re trying to get the game over, and they wanted to keep calling timeouts. So let’s just score again then,” coach Story said after the Panthers’ eventual 38-17 win over Horseshoe Bend. “All of it just escalated from there.” While the game was still going on, coaches from both sides could be seen gesturing and jawing at each other and trading barbs across the field. And when the two teams met at midfield for the postgame handshake, Story said Horseshoe Bend coach Jason Franklin refused to shake his hand and “cursed me out.” Franklin, Story said, then went to one of Lanett’s assistant coaches, who coached Franklin

at Goshen High School, and cursed him out and “put his hands on his chest.” Asked to offer his account of what happened, Franklin declined to comment. “I’m just happy no one got hurt,” Story said after the scuffle, which only lasted about 30 seconds before both teams were separated. “It could have been ugly. That’s just not the kind of thing we do here at Lanett.” Even before the postgame fireworks, it was far from a pretty victory for the home team. Lanett dug itself a hole early, when a botched handoff between Trey Story and ball carrier Terrion Truitt on their own 2-yard line led to a lost fumble on the Panthers’ first play and a Drew Hill touchdown run on the Generals’ next. Lanett matched Horseshoe Bend’s early touchdown with a Melvaunta Robinson 12-yard run late in the first before both offenses got hot in the second. The two teams traded a pair of scores each: The Generals got a 22-yard field goal from kicker Jamison Taylor and a 51-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cade Worthy to Leevontae Robinson; and the Panthers countered with rushing touchdowns of 12 and 3 yards from Ja’won Howell and Story, respectively. But Lanett took that 20-17 lead into halftime almost in spite of its quarterback. Story finished the first half just 3 of 10 for 66 yards, and both of his interceptions came deep inside Horseshoe Bend territory, foiling what had been promising drives.

Kenny Moss / Opelika-Auburn News

Horseshoe Bend’s Leevontae Robinson (13) and Matthew Wilson (55) celebrate after a touchdown in the first half. The Generals lost to Lanett 38 - 17.

“(Trey) hasn’t played that way in two or three years,” coach Story said. “He was just trying to do too much.” After halftime, Story replaced one son with the other, sending Kristian Story into the game for Lanett’s first drive and watching the freshman execute a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Pollard. Howell (11 carries, 88 yards) scored his second touchdown of the night on a 14-yard scamper in the fourth quarter, and

the Panthers defense did the rest. Horseshoe Bend recorded as many first downs as Worthy threw interceptions (one) in its first four second-half drives, and the last — after Lanett’s fourth turnover, a fumble on the exchange between Trey Story and Zion Lynch — ended when Panthers junior Baraskious Dowdell sacked Worthy for a 10-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 7. Hill, who rushed for 273 yards on 16 carries in the

Generals’ rout of Donoho last week, managed just minus-2 yards on a team-high 20 carries “That’s the sloppiest game we played in eight years,” coach Story said. “We’ll move past it. It’s not going to linger on and continue. “I’ll text coach (Franklin), I’ll call him and tell him, on my end, that I apologize. But, like I said, I’m going to let him know that I felt like he was wrong. And if he thinks what I did was wrong, that’s just part of the game.”

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SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Chelsea 35, Wetumpka 28

Contributed Photo/ For The Wetumpka Herald

Wetumpka senior cornerback Jamarcus Townsend (26) leaps up to break up a pass from Chelsea wide receiver Jay Vickers (3) during Friday’s Class 6A, Region 3 opener at Chelsea.

Indians fall short in comeback to Chelsea By Cory Diaz The Wetumpka Herald

Too little, too late. Wetumpka nearly erased a 20-point halftime deficit at Chelsea, but came up short as the Hornets hung on for the 35-28 victory. “We didn’t make a lot of adjustments, Chelsea’s got an excellent football team,” Indians head football coach Tim Perry said. “Too many miscues on our part. (At halftime) we challenged our guys to just go out and make plays, do what you’re supposed to do, trust in the gameplan and each other. And they did. “They made plays, we moved the ball on offense. The defense came out and stopped them. It was just too little, too late. Had we had played another quarter or five minutes, it might would’ve been different. But you got to do it within the four quarters.” After a “lethargic” first half, the Indians (2-1, 0-1) trailed 27-7 at the break. Sophomore quarterback Jadarious Martin found junior running back Kavosiey Smoke for a 22-yard touchdown strike in the first quarter.

For Chelsea, senior signal caller Matthew Marquet led the way with two first-half passing scores and ended the night with 207 yards and three touchdowns. Martin broke off a 78-yard scoring run to open the third to pull Wetumpka within 27-14, but Marquet answered capping a drive with seven-yard touchdown run. The Indians roared back with a fury in the final period. Young notched his second touchdown on the night with a 57-yard burst and sophomore wide out E.J. Rogers hauled a scoring pass from 33 yards out with 9:11 remaining. After the defense stood tall, WHS advanced to the 22-yard line withe less than a minute to play, but fell short. Martin finished with 278 of total offense, while Smoke added 104. Junior quarterback DeAndre Ezell went 7-for-11 for 83 yards. “Things we could build on, we had a big deficit at halftime and we could’ve thrown in the towel. Hopefully, we’re learning that you’re never out of the game if you believe you’re not out of it.”

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Benjamin Russell 42 Pelham 21

David Granger / The Outlook

The Wildcats Necolby Maxwell, right, helped lead BRHS to its first win on the season rushing for 132 yards and four touchdowns. Above, Coach Danny Horn watches his team in Pelham Friday night.

Kenneth Boone / The Outlook

Quarterbacks and Maxwell lead offense to road win in Pelham By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer

PELHAM - The Benjamin Russell quarterbacks provided the flash, but senior running back Necolby Maxwell did the real work as the Wildcats rebounded from a season-opening loss to Clay County and got off to a winning start in 6A, Region 3 play with a 42-21 win over Pelham here Friday night at Ned Bearden Stadium. Starting Benjamin Russell quarterback Timmy Lawson scored on the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage and jump started the Wildcats to a 21-0 first-quarter lead they would never surrender. Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Landon Cotney had a perfect night throwing the football, completing all four of his pass attempts, including a 21-yard touchdown toss to Tyler Watts to run the score

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to 28-0 with 1:42 left in the first half. And Maxwell simply went about his business, toting the rock 25 times on the night for 132 yards and Benjamin Russell’s remaining four touchdowns on scores of 3, 3, 1 and 19 yards. “We’re still not there yet,” said Wildcats head coach Danny Horn. “We’ve still got a long way to go. We made too many mistakes and had too many penalties. We’ve just got to try to get better every day. “We haven’t got a lot of depth, so we’re trying to find some guys who can play. We played some young guys, but it wasn’t on purpose. We’re just trying to get better.” Lawson’s run to begin the game had the Wildcat side excited. It got even more so four plays later when Lawson intercepted Pelham quarterback Elisha Hudson’s pass and the Wildcats took

over at the Pelham 30. On his fourth consecutive run from scrimmage on the drive, Maxwell went in from the 3 and, with Dylaan Moncus’ kick, Benjamin Russell led 14-0 with 9:05 still left in the first quarter. After forcing a Pelham punt, the Wildcats took over at their own 32-yard line. Plagued all night by penalties, the Wildcats overcame two on an 11-play march highlighted by a 34-yard throw from Cotney to William Grant to the Panthers’ 14. Five plays later, Maxwell again found pay dirt from the 3 and the Wildcats were up 21. Pelham finally got on the board, marching 69 yards and scoring on a 30-yard pass from Hudson to Tyler Wages with 7:49 in the half. Following the Cotney-to-Watts TD, Pelham didn’t score again until Derrick Bush took Moncus’ second-half kickoff

95 yards for a touchdown. The kick failed. Benjamin Russell stretched its lead again on a 15-play 91-yard drive that featured a powerful run by junior Tikeathon Harvey. Pelham tacked on its final touchdown with 6:45 left when, on fourth-and-2, Nicolas Blackburn scampered up the middle on a 36-yard burst. The first try for two failed, but BRHS was called for pass interference and the try was successful on Wages’ end-around on the second attempt. The Wildcats closed the scoring on a 19-yard Maxwell run with 1:54 left. Benjamin Russell (1-1) entertains Chelsea in its home-opener at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex next Friday night. Pelham (0-3) travels to Helena for another region contest. Both games are Class 6A, Region 3 contests.

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SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Lyman Ward 20 Freedom 40

Rangers open season with loss to Cowboys

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

LMWA quarterback Garrett Davis lead the Rangers against Freedom School from Huntsville with 150 yards rushing and was 4 of 7 for 60 yards passing.

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

Leeds 48, Elmore County 14

Terry Sanders/ For The Wetumpka Herald

Elmore County sophomore H-back Donovan Jones (13) carries the ball against Leeds Friday night at Homer-Stiles Field.

Leeds pummels Panthers in region opener By Corey Arwood The Wetumpka Herald

The Panther’s win streak was ended Friday night in an away game against Leeds High School’s Green Wave, and ECHS head coach says it’s back to the basics for the team as they face another away game next week. Going into the game both The Panthers and the Green Wave were undefeated. “We just got a lot of improvement to do, got a lot to work on Monday (to) get this thing straightened out,” said Coach Norman Dean. “…Got to improve from top to bottom, blocking, tackling, holding on to the ball, everything.” From ECHS stats the first quarter was the worst for The Panthers as Leeds managed a 21-point lead. Fumbles cost the team this game, with one in the first quarter resulting in a Leeds touchdown and another in the second quarter ending in the

same. But finally at 10:01 in the second quarter ECHS managed some points from quarterback William Venable’s pass to Tyric Belyeu and a 57-yard touchdown, followed by a good extra point attempt. According to online scorekeepers’ notes from both teams’ the second half went about like the first for ECHS at least, with only one touchdown made in each. The Green Wave’s advance was dramatically reduced in the second half from 35 points in the first to only 13 in the second. Going into halftime LHS held a 28-point lead on the Panthers. Coming out of the half Leeds did not seem to hold back, quickly recovering an ECHS fumble and moving inside ECHS 20-yard line only 3-minutes into the quarter. Shortly after the Green Machine would extend it’s lead further still with a touchdown and extra point driving their score 42-7. That was it for the third quar-

ter, according to the notes, regrettably the fourth was less forgiving and four minutes in LHS managed yet another touchdown with a failed two-point conversion 48-7. But with 8 minutes remaining in the game, The Panthers fought back to close the gap on the now inevitable outcome. After returning the ball from their own 40-yard line, they managed to make their way inside LHS territory and drive on to their 2-yard line. From there, ECHS number 3, Ladarius Jenkins rushed in for a touchdown. And with a good point at three minutes left in the fourth quarter that would ultimately wrap up the game. Stats-wise, ECHS had 14 first downs, with 136 total yards averaging nearly 3 per play. They managed only 83 rushing yards however to LHS’ 169. Total passing yards per game for The Panthers was 137 however, with Leeds at only 93. With 12 pass attempts, ECHS had

more completed passes than LHS by one and nearly 5 yards more per pass. But for fumbles ECHS had a total of three for the game to Leeds’ zero, with four turnovers. Leeds however lost 75 yards to eight penalties but managed five total sacks at gain of 25 yards with no such advance made by ECHS. All in all ECHS had one passing touchdown, and one rushing. Receiver, Tyric Belyeu completed 126 yards from five runs, securing the first touchdown of the game’s first half. Up next The Panthers play at Roanoke against The Handley Tigers who reportedly lost Friday’s game to Tallassee 21-12. “We’ve got to improve, we’ve got to go back to basics, we’ve got to block and tackle, we’ve got to worry about ourselves more than who we’re playing for the rest of the season we’ve got to focus on us and us get better,” Dean said.

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Reeltown 42 Woodland 6

Mitch Sneed / The Outlook

Reeltown quarterback Jamon Matthews, left, turns the corner for a long first-quarter run of the Rebels win at Woodland Friday night. Above, Mitchell Flurry bulls his way ahead for 20-yard pickup for the Rebels. The Rebels moved to 1-2 on the season with the win over the Woodland Bobcats.

Rebels get first win of Johnson era as Reeltown tramples Woodland BY MITCH SNEED Editor

WOODLAND – The Reeltown Rebels ended two weeks of frustration, taking advantage of mistakes and finally getting its offense on track in a 42-6 win here Friday night. It was the first win of the Matt Johnson era at Reeltown, and the Rebels did it using a formula that has been their trademark for decades – ground and pound offense and swarming defense that often had 11 white helmets battering Bobcat ball carriers. “You know, that is exactly what we needed,” Johnson said. “We’ve had two pretty rough weeks. To get a win and get our confidence up will go a long way.” On a night that was wet and sloppy, Johnson said the Rebels “just got back

to doing what we do and what Reeltown has always done.” Freshman running back Trakevon Hughley ran for 105 yards on 15 carries and scored tree touchdowns to pace the Rebels. The game was out of hand in the first half as Hughley ran for touchdowns of 16 and 10 yards in the first quarter and quarterback Jamon Matthews hit freshman wideout Eric Shaw for touchdowns of 23 and 9 yards in the second quarter. The Rebels had built a 28-0 lead at the half and cruised to a win as a steady rain slowed both teams in the second half. Hughley added a 25-yard scoring run in the third quarter and a John Derrick Hammonds kick gave the Rebels a 35-0 cushion after their first possession of the second half. Woodland’s lone score came midway through the third quarter after a bad

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snap on a punt set the Bobcats up at the Reeltown 19. On the first play, Steven Robertson rambled around left end for a touchdown with 5:05 left in the third period. Reeltown went to its bench the rest of the way and six different players ran the ball. Cameron Faison added the Rebels final score, scoring on a 1-yard run with 5:16 to play and another PAT by Hammonds gave Reeltown a 36-point lead at 42-6. Reeltown ran the ball 41 times for 276 yards and three four rushing touchdowns. Matthews and the Rebels were 5-of-9 passing for 62 yards and the two scores to Shaw. The defense was also impressive. With the help of several mistakes by the Bobcats, the Rebels held Woodland in check virtually all night. Woodland finished the night with minus-2 yards

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total offense. Johnson said he saw signs all week that this week could be different. “This week’s practices were the most physical we’ve had and I felt like that despite the last two week’s they had a different feel about them,” Johnson said. “That’s why I was excited to get to Friday night this week. We’ve had some injuries and tonight the weather kept us from doing some of the things we wanted to do. But we adjusted and I’m proud of the way the guys fought and stayed after it.” There were still some issues for the Rebels, including four fumbles and two interceptions and 85 yards in penalties. “There are still some things we have to clean up,” Johnson said. “But to get a win on the road after the last two weeks, we will take it ago right back to work to get better.”

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Football Statewide scores,

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF! Follow all the local high school football teams in Elmore County.

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Alma Bryant 21, Robertsdale 18 Cedar Bluff 22, Sylvania 15 Jemison 48, Billingsley 26 Madison Co. 49, Hatton 12 Winston Co. 30, Susan Moore 29

Baker 41, Theodore 34 Bob Jones 28, James Clemens 20 Central-Phenix City 42, Auburn 14 Enterprise 50, Prattville 14 Hewitt-Trussville 28, Gadsden City 14 Hoover 19, Mountain Brook 3 Huffman 21, Oak Mountain 11 Huntsville 67, Grissom 14 Jeff Davis 32, Smiths Station 14 Mary G. Montgomery 17, Fairhope 14 McGill-Toolen 43, Murphy 0 Spain Park 28, Vestavia Hills 14 Sparkman 29, Buckhorn 22 Thompson 10, Tuscaloosa Co. 3

Albertville 44, Cullman 21 Austin 37, Decatur 35 B.C. Rain 26, LeFlore 8 Benjamin Russell 42, Pelham 21 Bessemer City 43, Selma 0 Blount 41, Baldwin Co. 10 Carver-Birmingham 28, Center Point 26 Chelsea 35, Wetumpka 28 Clay-Chalkville 36, Walker 14 Daphne 17, Saraland 14 Dothan 15, Russell Co. 14 Gardendale 36, Pell City 0 Hartselle 41, Athens 7 Hazel Green 56, Columbia 6 Helena 23, Chilton Co. 13 Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 49, Northridge 17 Hueytown 63, John Carroll Catholic 14 Minor 45, Pinson Valley 13 Muscle Shoals 24, Florence 7 Oxford 44, Brewer 19 Park Crossing 19, Stanhope Elmore 0 Parker 28, Homewood 25 Paul Bryant 33, Brookwood 14 Ramsay 42, Shades Valley 6 Southside-Gadsden 34, Fort Payne 31 Spanish Fort 38, Gulf Shores 10

Arab 20, Alexandria 14 Briarwood Chr. 42, Moody 6 Brooks 64, Ardmore 14 Calera 25, Dallas Co. 22 Carroll 34, Charles Henderson 14 Central-Clay Co. 35, Valley 0 Cleburne Co. 34, Talladega 28 Corner 36, Fairview 6 Demopolis 44, Central-Tuscaloosa 0 Etowah 35, Douglas 7 Eufaula 56, B.T. Washington 18 Fairfield 21, Pleasant Grove 3 Guntersville 41, Boaz 0 Hayden 14, West Point 6 Jackson 48, Faith Acad. 20 Lawrence Co. 39, St. John Paul II Catholic 7 Mae Jemison-Huntsville 39, East Limestone 17 Mortimer Jordan 40, Springville 0 Rehobeth 28, Headland 13 Russellville 38, Lee-Huntsville 35 Scottsboro 63, Crossville 21 Shelby Co. 49, St. Clair Co. 32 St. Paul’s 49, Wilcox Central 8 Sumter Central 37, Marbury 13 Sylacauga 42, Lincoln 21 Vigor 20, Citronelle 17 Wenonah 40, Woodlawn 14

Alabama Chr. 21, Bullock Co. 0 Andalusia 50, Monroe Co. 6 Ashville 15, Anniston 6 Bibb Co. 33, Greensboro 16 Central-Florence 27, Deshler 21 Cherokee Co. 30, Hokes Bluff 7 Childersburg 30, Holtville 16 Cordova 20, Winfield 14 Dale Co. 28, Trinity Presbyterian 17 Fayette Co. 20, Good Hope 0

Haleyville 42, Hamilton 0 Jacksonville 63, Saks 24 Leeds 48, Elmore Co. 14 Madison Acad. 42, Sardis 7 Munford 35, Dadeville 24 North Jackson 40, DAR 18 Northside 42, Hale Co. 14 Oak Grove 50, Holt 21 Oneonta 21, White Plains 14 Randolph 41, Westminster Chr. 7 Rogers 45, Danville 0 St. James 35, Montgomery Catholic 7 Tallassee 21, Handley 12 Thomasville 26, W.S. Neal 20 UMS-Wright 54, Escambia Co. 0 West Blocton 28, Sipsey Valley 21 West Limestone 42, Priceville 7

Bayside Acad. 14, Clarke Co. 6 Colbert Co. 45, East Lawrence 6 Colbert Heights 22, Clements 9 Daleville 41, Wicksburg 33 Fultondale 59, Hanceville 8 Geneva 49, Houston Acad. 7 Geraldine 38, Pisgah 12 Greene Co. 20, Carbon Hill 0 Hillcrest-Evergreen 19, Flomaton 13 J.B. Pennington 34, Holly Pond 32 Lauderdale Co. 39, West Morgan 13 Lexington 45, Elkmont 3 Locust Fork 35, Vinemont 20 Mobile Chr. 37, Excel 14 Montevallo 14, American Chr. 7 Montgomery Acad. 28, Beulah 6 New Hope 44, Brindlee Mountain 14 North Sand Mountain 10, Plainview 7 Oakman 48, Midfield 18 Ohatchee 34, Randolph Co. 6 Opp 55, Straughn 32 Piedmont 33, Glencoe 0 Pike Co. 27, B.B. Comer 0 Providence Chr. 20, Slocomb 15 Southside-Selma 20, Prattville Chr. 15 T.R. Miller 55, Cottage Hill Chr. 27 Walter Wellborn 42, Pleasant Valley 7

Aliceville 48, Keith 8 Ariton 24, Cottonwood 12 Chickasaw 32, Choctaw Co. 8 Cleveland 28, Falkville 7 Cold Springs 21, Tarrant 14 Collinsville 27, Ider 6 Elba 28, New Brockton 14 Fayetteville 40, Ranburne 26 Fyffe 46, Asbury 7 G.W. Long 55, Geneva Co. 12 Gaston 36, Section 8 Goshen 46, Calhoun 8 LaFayette 62, Vincent 6 Lamar Co. 51, Phil Campbell 20 Lanett 38, Horseshoe Bend 17 Leroy 55, Washington Co. 32 Luverne 49, St. Luke’s 34 Red Bay 30, Mars Hill Bible 8 Reeltown 42, Woodland 6 Samson 34, Abbeville 6 Sand Rock 45, Westbrook Chr. 21 Sheffield 28, Sulligent 25 Southern Choctaw 40, J.U. Blacksher 13 Tanner 41, West End 16 Thorsby 23, Francis Marion 8 Verbena 42, R.C. Hatch 40 Zion Chapel 41, Central-Hayneville 26

Addison 60, Southeastern 13 Berry 71, Brilliant 22 Brantley 62, Kinston 6 Cherokee 48, Phillips 16 Coosa Chr. 7, Valley Head 6 Donoho 28, Victory Chr. 27 Georgiana 56, Florala 0 Highland Home 57, Ellwood Chr. 12 Houston Co. 34, Red Level 20 Hubbertville 24, South Lamar 14 Isabella 48, Winterboro 12 Jacksonville Chr. 28, Woodville 21 Linden 61, Fruitdale 0 Loachapoka 82, Autaugaville 38 Lynn 13, Meek 6

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Park Crossing 19, Stanhope Elmore 0

Cory Diaz/ The Wetumpka Herald

Park Crossing’s Cam Bright (3), Carson Tate (44) and Jeremiah Lowery (43) take down Stanhope Elmore senior quarterback Tripper Warlick (12) down for a sack during Friday’s Class 6A, Region 2 game at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.

T-birds float to region win over SEHS off turnovers By Cory Diaz The Wetumpka Herald

Three, first-half scoreless red zone possessions -- two halted by fumbles -- proved too costly as Park Crossing shutout Stanhope Elmore, 19-0, Friday at Cramton Bowl. The Mustangs (0-2, 0-1) gained more offense, 215 to 183 yards for the first two quarters, but a pair of fumbles by senior quarterback Tripper Warlick, one at the goalline allowed the No. 9 Thunderbirds (2-1, 1-0) to float to the Class 6A, Region 2 win. “In the first half, we moved it,” first-year SEHS head football coach Mike Dean said. “Then it’s the red zone; you can’t turn the ball over. And then you do it in the red zone and it’s worse.” While Stanhope had four turn-

overs on the game, Park Crossing could only muster two field goals from senior place kicker Jake Lane off of the takeaways. “We were very lackadaisical. Turnovers killed us, but its the defense’s job to stop them,” Dean said. “At times, we held the to field goals, but to me it goes back to the whole week. “It was a lack of focus. I’ve been around winning, and you should be able to see it in their eyes by Wednesday if they’re focused. And I didn’t see it. I know it’s going to take time, but I’m not a patient person.” On the game’s opening drive, SEHS senior tight end and University of Florida commit Zech Byrd caught a pass and lost the football after turning upfield. Byrd finished the night with three catches for 36 yards. Two possessions later, Park

Crossing got on the board on a big play. Receiver Josh Knight took a bubble screen from senior signal caller Malik Cunningham 61 yards behind two key blocks from Edgewood Academy transfer senior wide out Jackson Tate to the end zone for the game’s lone touchdown. “That was their No. 1 play out of that formation. We played it completely wrong,” Dean said. The Mustangs ticked off 65 yards on 13 plays on their next drive, but on the 14th, on third-and-goal at the goalline, Warlick had the ball stripped and PCHS recovered in the end zone. After a 39-yard field goal from Lane, Stanhope again marched down the field behind seniors K.T. Marting and Kareem Jackson, but the drive stalled at the 12 after an intentional ground call and a sack on Warlick.

Both teams traded punts and the T-birds took a 10-0 advantage into halftime. “I’m disappointed in our defensive front, we didn’t play well. I changed our front and it helped us, changed it to a four-man front, but we’re not communicating,” Dean said. “It’s laziness, it’s leadership, it’s knowing what we’re doing. “We’ve got to mature. Maybe last week was a false sense of security. We got a little too big-headed, we got too overconfident with the Prattville game. Maybe this will wake us up a little bit. It’ll have to because we’re going to work. Jobs are now on the line.” Dean reported after the game that senior cornerback Quincy Turner, who was injured in a head-to-head collision on a punt return in the fourth quarter, was fine.

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

Tallassee 21, Handley 12

Carmen Rodgers/ The Wetumpka Herald

Tallassee Tigers sophomore Markevious Mathews (5) breaks into the open against Handley Friday night. The Tigers were relentless on both sides of the ball netting another victory 2112 to bring their season record to 3-0 on the young season.

Tallassee defense stands tall against Handley By Tim Horton For the Tallassee Tribune

In Tallassee Friday night the Handley High School Tigers came calling in the area opening game for both teams. The Battle of the Tigers saw Tallassee take the ball first at their own 32 yard line.From there, the Tigers went on a nine play drive using four minutes off the clock ending with junior quarterback Casey Baynes hitting fellow junior Josh Burton across the middle at the two and Burton did the rest as he forced his way into the end zone. Nick Talley kicked the point after straight and true and the Tallassee Tigers led 7-0. Handley then took the ball and drove down the field behind senior running back Spanky Watts, who accounted for 30 yards in the drive,

which ended with a one yard plunge by their other senior back Josh Hatcher. Talley broke through the middle on the point after to block it and the score stood at 7-6 Tallassee. The purple and gold answered Handley’s score immediately, as good teams must do. Tallassee took the ball and masterfully marched down the field 74 yards mixing pass and run all the way. Sophomore Eryn Cochran-Gill followed the blocking of Caleb Stewart up the middle for the final 3 yards of the drive. The point after was blocked by Handley and the score now stood at 13-6 Tallassee. Handley couldn’t move the ball their next possession as the Tallassee defense began to flex its muscle. Tallassee forced Handley to punt and saw the ball sail over their punter’s head. The punter and quarterback Jeffrey Fetner ran back and fell on

the ball at the Handley 9 yard line. Two plays later quarterback Casey Baynes threw his second touchdown pass of the night to Markevious Mathews. The Tigers went for two as Baynes threw a pass behind the line to the right. Jacob Burton caught the ball and threw back across the field to Casey Baynes who was running down the left sideline wide open. The two point conversion brought the score to 21-6 Tallassee and would end the first half scoring. Handley would score in the third quarter as quarterback Fetner went deep to hit his wide receiver Christion Allen for a 52 yard TD strike. The point after was no good leaving the score 21-12 Tallassee. The rest of the game saw no scoring but superb defensive play from the Tigers as they held Handley at bay time and time again. Handley managed to reach a 1st and goal at the Tallassee

three late in the fourth quarter but the determined purple and gold kept them out of the end zone. Handley decided to kick the field goal to edge close but Jake Baker closed the door on the 3-point threat as he forced his way through to block the kick. Tallassee then took over and ran the clock out solidifying the Tigers win 21-12 as they push their record to 3-0 (1-0 area). Coach Battles and his troops were again excited after the game. Coach Battles said that they didn’t start practicing for Handley on Monday. They started preparing for them back in January. They knew Handley would be one of the best teams in the area. Tallassee travels to Childersburg next Friday night in another area game.

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

Carmen Rodgers/ The Wetumpka Herald

Above left: Junior quarterback Casey Baynes has directed an offense that has been balanced the last three weeks. Above right: Senior Keno Morris shows his excitement during a big play in Friday night’s contest. Below: The Tallassee defense held the line for significant portions of the game holding Handley’s offense to only 12 points on the night and ensuring another Tiger victory.

2016 SPORTS EXTRA

SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2016

ACMS 0 Oxford 38 7th grade ACMS 6 Oxford 38 8th grade

Alexander City Middle School falls to Oxford Middle School Thursday By CATHY HIGGINS Outlook Sports Editor

After hosting Oxford Middle School Thursday night, Alexander City Middle School football finishes its second home game of the regular season in the red. The seventh grade Wildcats lost 38-0 while ACMS eighth-graders lost 38-6. The Wildcats opened the season at home last week by hosting Auburn Junior High. ACMS eighth grade lost that game 44-16 while the seventh grade lost 28-14. Thursday’s results bring the Wildcats’ season record to 0-2 for both teams. Debuting as head football coach for ACMS this year is Shundell Russaw, who moves to the position after working on the Benjamin Russell High School coaching staff for seven years. “My focus is just to try to implement the same program as at the high school,” he said. Despite the Wildcats’ record, Russaw is optimistic about the team. “We’re getting better every game,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of growth in them. Each day we come out and get better.” ACMS has three more consecutive home games against Opelika, Stanhope and Tuskegee Institute Middle School. “Every Thursday we’ve got a home game, except our last one,” Russaw said. The Wildcats’ final game of the season is at 5 p.m., Oct. 11, at Chelsea. This Thursday ACMS will host Opelika Middle School at 5 p.m. at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex. Cliff Williams / The Outlook Tickets are $6 each for general-admission seats. ACMS seventh grader Carson Riddle (13) waits for a snap with running back Demarcus McNeil against Oxford Thurdsay night. “It all goes back to the kids,” Russaw said.