Drop Kick Extra Point Brings Back Fond Memories For Keith Special Teams Coach

 

                When veteran high school football coach Lee Holladay retired from coaching, well, he didn't really retire at all. He went back home to Orrville where he joined Coach Harry Crum's staff at Keith High School.

                The Bears beat Marengo Friday night 42-6 to close out an 8-2 regular season as Keith heads into the state playoffs. 

                 The game was highlighted by a blast from the past when Keith senior linebacker/place-kicker Bobby Barnes booted a drop-kick extra point to give the Bears a 28-6 lead. Holladay said it was the first time he'd seen a drop kick since 1961 when his own player, Billy Wayne Clark, booted a drop-kick field goal for Louisville High School.

                Barnes' rare drop kick grabs this week's AHSAA Spotlight as Week 10 closed out the regular football season.

"We were talking about drop kicks a few months back and Coach Crum said he remembered seeing Doug Flutie kick a drop-kick field goal in an NFL game," Holladay said. "Bobby said he wanted to try it, so we worked on it a little in practice. When he first tried it he kicked the ball into the center's back and hit our guards and tackles. He got better and got some through the uprights in practice, so we decided to let him give it a try. It shocked us all when he made it. He was excited though. The entire team was excited.

                "Football is supposed to be fun. This put a lot of fun into our practices and a lot of fun into our last game."

                 Barnes' unusual feat edged out an outstanding passing performance by Phillips quarterback Rodney Camp in a 62-50 win over Brilliant. Camp completed 29-of-45 passes for 460 yards and seven touchdowns. He also rushed for a TD and threw four two-point conversion passes as he had a hand in 56 of his team's 62 points.  On defense he intercepted a pass and also recovered a fumble.

                 Phillips  wide receiver Tyler Crumpton had 10 catches for 219 yards and three TDs. The Bears of Coach Gary McCarley trailed 42-24 at the half but outscored Brilliant 38-8 in the second half.

                Other highlights reported include:

 

Jake Smith and Jacob Kennedy, Berry: Kennedy was 14-of-23 passing for 323 yards and four touchdowns in a 60-8 win over Gayleville, giving him 4,224 career passing yards to break a 21 year-old  record. Smith, Kennedy's main target, had six catches for 224 yards and three touchdowns.

 
Deion Moore, Houston County: Accounted for 329 yards and four touchdowns in a 46-25 win over Dale County. Moore threw for 251 yards and two scores in a 20-of-31 performance and rushed for 78 yards on 15 carries with two TDs.

Jon Cole Chesser, Pleasant Home: Scored on runs of 86 and 39 yards, caught a 71-yard touchdown pass and had a 73-yard kickoff return for a score in the Eagles' 48-28 win over Cottage Hill.

Luke Jennings, Fort Payne: The junior running back/wide receiver carried 15 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats downed Elkmont 27-7. With Fort Payne leading 13-0, Jennings ran 42 yards to the Elkmont 2 to set up his first TD, which he scored on the next play. He later added a 46-yard TD.

Mark Laney, West Point:  The place-kicker provided 13 points in a 37-36 upset win over Fairview. Laney connected on field goals of 23, 48 and 50 yards as well as hitting all four extra point attempts. Laney suffered a torn ACL during August practice but has kicked all season.

Clay Wood, Crossville: The senior wide receiver caught 10 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown in a 35-20 loss to archrival Geraldine. His TD reception covered 50 yards.

Jacob Davis, Sylvania: The senior running back/wide receiver caught four passes for 84 yards and scored on a 40-yard punt return and 4-yard run in a 21-7 win over Sylvania. The punt return for a TD was his fourth of the season and his ninth kick return for a TD over the last two years.

Tyler Martin, Boaz: Rushed 34 times for 289 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-7 win over previously unbeaten Sardis. Martin scored on a school-record 97-yard run with 8:14 left in the first quarter and added a 65-yard TD run.

 

Taylor Ernst, Madison Academy: Had two interceptions in a 21-20 win over West Limestone. His first pick at the Wildcats' 27-yard line set up the game-winning touchdown and he picked off another to preserve the victory.

 
Dorryl Swanigan, Marion County: The sophomore running back had 15 carries for 214 yards with three touchdowns (6, 51, 51 yards) as the Raiders (9-1) knocked off previously unbeaten Red Bay (9-1) 42-33. Swanigan also caught one pass for 53 yards to give him 267 total yards on the night. Teammate Ben Johnson also recorded 16 tackles on defense.

Mathew Belue, Red Bay: The junior running back piled up 244 yards on 26 carries with a 68-yard touchdown in Red Bay's 42-33 loss to Marion County.

Siran Neal, Abbeville: Caught touchdown passes of 42, 4 and 44 and also had a 61-yard interception return for a score in the Yellow Jackets' 60-30 win over Headland.

Jacob Thomas, Clay-Chalkville: Was 14-of-23 passing for 227 yards and five touchdowns to go with 16 carries for 140 rushing yards in a 38-35 win over Spain Park.

Nick Mullens, Spain Park: Was 22-of-30 passing for 315 yards and three TDs in the 38-25 loss to Clay-Chalkville.

Austin Johnson, Elba: Was a perfect 5-for-5 passing for 226 yards and three touchdowns and added a 3-yard TD run in the Tigers' 69-15 win over Cottonwood.
 
Zach Walker, G.W. Long: Rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns and had two receptions for 61 yards with one TD in the Rebels' 48-28 win over Samson.
 
Lake Genard, Wicksburg: Genard contributed in all phases, catching eight passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, making six tackles and an interception on defense and punting three times (45, 46, 47 yards) for a 46-yard average in a 41-25 loss to Geneva.
 
Gabe Richards, Wicksburg: Made 17 tackles, including two quarterback sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another fumble in a 41-25 loss to Geneva.
 
Tavares McIntrye, Geneva: Had 10 tackles plus a 79-yard interception return in the Panthers' 41-25 win over Wicksburg.

Trevor Brooks, John Carroll: Had five receptions for 211 yards and one TD plus 13 tackles on defense in a 35-27 loss to Thompson.

Carlos Davis, Huffman: Rushed for 147 yards with TD runs of 70 and 51 yards, had five catches for 129 yards and an 81-yard score, added a 37-yard interception and averaged 37 yards on three kickoff returns in a 49-42 loss to Bessemer City.

Jordan Howard, Gardendale: Picked up 264 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 28 carries in a 42-10 win over Mortimer Jordan.

Edward Aldag, Mountain Brook: Was 20-for-28 passing and threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-14 win over Buckhorn.

Blake Byrd, Corner: Was 9-of-17 passing for 231 yards and three touchdowns to go with eight carries for 61 yard rushing to lead the Jackets past Sumiton Christian 39-21.

Connor Short, Hoover: Was 21-for-28 for 269 yards and two touchdowns as Hoover spoiled Bob Jones' bid for a perfect 10-0 regular season.

ArDarius Stewart, Fultondale: Rushed for 237 yards on 20 carries with four TDs in a 41-15 win over Cedar Bluff.

Carr Tigner, Hewitt-Trussville: Had 23 carries for 207 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-30 win over Pelham.

Eli Beall, Pelham: Rushed for 274 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries in the 42-30 loss to Hewitt-Trussville.