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2011 Prep Spotlight Week 2
| Yancey's
250th Career Victory Headlines AHSAA Prep Football Spotlight MONTGOMERY - Briarwood Christian's 39-14 win over Moody Friday night wasn't any real surprise. Winning games is something the Lions faithful have certainly grown accustomed to. The victory, Coach Fred Yancey's 250th win in his legendary prep career, did come as a surprise to his own team. But that, too, shouldn't have been any real surprise either. Yancey said a week before the win that any wins he has personally doesn't belong to him. "It's about the players, the assistant coaches," he said. "I have been blessed to have great kids and great coaches throughout my coaching career." No. 250 thrusts Yancey and his Class 5A powerhouse team in the AHSAA Spotlight for Week 2 of the 2011 prep football season. In his 22nd year as Briarwood's head coach, Yancey has a 209-63 record at the Shelby County private school. Twelve of his teams have won 10 or more games. His 1998 and 1999 teams won Class 3A state titles and the 2003 squad won the 5A state crown. The Lions have also finished second twice - 2007 and 2010. Noted for his outstanding defenses and outstanding quarterbacks, his former player Barrett Trotter is the starting quarterback this season for defending BCS National Champion Auburn. His teams at Briarwood have scored 7,287 points in 273 games - an average of 27 ppg. His defenses have only 14.1 ppg. His teams have also compiled a 92-12 area/region record during that span including 30 region wins in a row in the 1990s and 61-7 in the decade just completed. Quarterback Ben Craft, who said the team was unaware of the significance of last weekend's victory prior to the game, threw for 101 yards and three touchdowns in just one quarter of play as the Lions rolled to a 39-0 halftime lead. Matthew Furuto scored three times with a 25-yard TD pass reception, threw a 30-yard TD pass and ran 8 yards for another score. "The Lord has blessed me," said Yancey, who now ranks fourth in the state among active prep coaches with a 251-83-1 record. Forty-two wins came outside the state in Tennessee and Georgia. "Hopefully, we will be able to notch several more wins before my coaching career is over." Yancey's coaching milestone edged out a trio of super pass receiving performances and a clutch quarterbacking effort for this week's AHSAA Spotlight top honor. Etowah wide receiver Darrin Peterson caught three passes for 195 yards, including touchdowns of 93 and 99 yards, as the Blue Devils upset Fort Payne 21-14. Peterson also returned a punt 34 yards in the second half to set up the winning TD. Justin Pride, Butler: Had eight receptions for 249 yards and four touchdowns (46, 79, 50 and 29 yards) and also scored on a 95-yard kickoff return in a 49-34 loss to DAR. Greensboro receiver JeVontey Smith hauled in 10 catches for 221 yards and three touchdowns and returned a kickoff 80 yards for another score to lead the Raiders past Montevallo 38-13. Junior quarterback Jason Smith helped McGill-Toolen overcome a 28-0 halftime deficit with 239 yards passing and 154 yards rushing in the 35-45 win over Fairhope. He was 16-of-33 passing for four touchdowns (38, 23, 4 and 76 yards) and rushed for a 1 yard TD among his 23 carries. Other top prep highlights reported were: Jacob Davis, Sylvania: The Aggies wide receiver scored on a 58-yard run, caught a 48-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 58 yards for a touchdown as the Rams downed Section 49-14. The punt return was his sixth kick return for TD over the last 12 games dating back to last season. He finished with four carries for 85 yards and two receptions for 72. Brody Meeks, Lynn: The sophomore quarterback was 19-of-32 passing for 340 yards and six touchdowns in a 47-40 win over Berry. He had TD passes covering 41, 7, 17, 18, 76 and 34 yards and also scored himself on a 9-yard run as the Bears came back from ma 40-27 deficit to win. Ladavian Williams, Ashford: Piled up 253 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, leading the Yellow Jackets to a 38-0 win over Bullock County. Williams rushed for 173 yards and scores of 10 and 30 yards and added an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also had an interception on defense in the game.
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Spence McCracken won a record 21 Area/Region Championships at Montgomery Academy, Lee Montgomery and Opelika during his coaching career.
