SPORTS LEDGER Read Free Online at www.TheSportsLedger.com The PAGE 6 November 2022
Fyffe Wins State Title
By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger
AUBURN - Winning a state championship, in any sport, is a huge accomplishment. To achieve the feat with a perfect record is even more impressive and to repeat the process in multiple years is monumental. The 2022 Fyffe football season was indeed monumental. The Red Devils finished the year with a perfect 15-0 record for the sixth time in nine seasons. Fyffe also clinched the program’s sixth state football championship since 2014 with a 40-28 victory over B.B. Comer in the 2022 AHSAA Class 2A State Title Game, which as played at Jordan Hare Stadium in Auburn. “It keeps getting better,” said Fyffe Head Coach Paul Benefield. “This group, I didn’t see it coming. We play nine kids both ways. You expect those injuries will eventually catch up to you – like Logan.” Benefield was referring to sophomore running back Logan Anderson, who ran for nearly 2,000 yards before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the Red Devils semifinal victory over Pisgah. Anderson, who was watching from the sideline, was missed in the lineup. However, his Fyffe teammates were spectacular on their own. Brodie Hicks set a Class 2A State Championship game record with five touchdowns in the victory over B.B. Comer. Hicks carried the football 45 times for 235 yards, and he was named the championship game’s MVP. “It’s tough because you run up the middle every time,” Hicks said. “You run into people’s faces. It’s definitely not fun. You’ve got to suck it up and do it.” Those words were true as Fyffe had to learn to “suck it up” quickly. The Red Devils fell behind early, as B.B. Comber found the end zone in only two plays. The Tigers added a two-point conversion to go up 8-0. Fyffe’s opening possession stalled quickly, and B.B. Comer had a chance to make it a two score lead on the next drive. However, the Tigers could not haul in what might have been a touchdown catch. That was the first of several mistakes, miscues and turnovers for B.B. Comer and one that Fyffe took advantage of. Ryder Gipson capped off the Red Devils second possession with a 1-yard touchdown run to cut B.B. Comer’s lead to 8-6. Fyffe missed the two-point conversion attempt. Hicks followed up Gipson’s scoring, with his record setting performance of five straight touchdowns. The Class 2A MVP scored on a six-yard run and a one- yard run to pull Fyffe ahead 19-8 at the end of the opening quarter. B.B. Comer kept the game close, as the Tiger’s hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to cut Fyffe’s lead to 19-16. Hicks added his third touchdown just before halftime to give the Red Devils a 26-16 advantage at the break. Fyffe slowed down the pace in the third quarter. The Red Devils opening possession of the second half lasted 6:22 and covered 63 yards. Hicks capped off the 11-play drive with his fourth touchdown. His 19-yard scamper put Fyffe on top 33-16. B.B. Comer scored twice in the final quarter. However, Hicks was not done as he added his fifth touchdown of the night with 3:57 remaining. His seven-yard run helped seal the Red Devils 40-28 Class 2A State Championship. “We knew we were going to have to run it between the tackles,” said Benefield. “That’s Brodie’s strong point. … We just mainly ran two of three plays in the second half.” Benefield finished the season in third place in AHSAA history with 336 career wins. B.B. Comer’s Kamore Harris paced the Tigers with 180 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Teammate Tristian Garrett rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s State Baseball and Softball Championships have found a permanent home – at least for the next five years. AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs has announced that an agreement has been reached with the City of Oxford and Jacksonville State University to host the AHSAA State Baseball Championships and State Softball Championships at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park and Jacksonville State University’s Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium through 2027. The AHSAA State Softball Championships moved to Choccolocco Park in the spring of 2021 and returned in 2022. The AHSAA State Baseball Championships were moved last spring to Choccolocco Park’s signature baseball field for game one of each of the best 2-of-3 championship series for each classification. The final two games, if needed, were played at JSU last spring due to schedule conflict at Montgomery’s Riverwalk Stadium. The softball championships consist of eight-team double elimination tournaments in each of the AHSAA’s seven classes. Both sites drew rave reviews from AHSAA member schools and fans that attended the 2021 and 2022 softball championships and the 2022 baseball championships. “We are excited to have our state championships in both sports locked in for the next five years and hopefully for many years to come,” said Briggs. “Our experience with softball at Choccolocco Park and baseball last spring at Choccolocco Park and JSU was incredible. We had packed crowds for most of our games. Both sites provided real championship experiences and life-long memories for our teams, schools and communities that traveled to attend.” Oxford Mayor Alton Craft and Oxford Parks and Recreation Director Don Hudson are both excited about the new agreement. “We are grateful to host the state softball finals at Choccolocco Park and to co-host the AHSAA state baseball finals with Jacksonville State University,” said Craft. “The city of Oxford is proud to partner with the Alabama High School Athletic Association for these premier championships, and we are looking forward to creating memorable experiences for our participants and guests.” Hudson adds, “We are very proud to host the 2023 state softball tournament and co-host the 2023 state baseball tournament. We are very pleased we have such a great working relationship with the AHSAA. We are honored to host such a prestigious event.” JSU President Don Killingsworth said, “Jacksonville State is excited about continuing our longstanding relationship with the AHSAA in hosting the baseball state championships for the next five years. We look forward to partnering with the city of Oxford in hosting this tremendous event.” Greg Seitz, JSU Athletic Director has been working with AHSAA championships for many years. “Jacksonville State couldn’t be more excited to secure the AHSAA Baseball Finals at Jim Case Stadium for the next five years,” he said. “We felt that the event in 2022 was a tremendous success and are proud to be a part of that going forward. Our partnership with hosting AHSAA events goes back many years, and we look forward to crowning state champions on our campus and hosting those student-athletes and their fans for many years to come.” The new contract, which begins May 15-20, 2023, will solidify the two spring sports championships on fields that have hosted a number of state and national events. Choccolocco Park has a signature field for softball and baseball, and JSU’s Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium is one of the South’s premier collegiate baseball stadiums. Trent Dilfer Named UAB Head Coach The University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) football program has named Trent Dilfer as the team's new head coach. He is a former NFL and Super Bowl Champion, spending fourteen years in the National Football League. AHSAA Signs 5-Year Agreement Keeping Baseball And Softball Finals at Oxford & JSU Submitted Photo JSU's Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Class 2A MVP Brodie Hicks
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Fyffe's Ryder Gipson (#11)
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Fyffe's Tucker Wilks (#70) attempts to recover a B.B. Comer fumble
Photo Courtesy of Ann Nelson Photography
Cornerstone Christian Senior MacKenzie Ely recently signed a volleyball scholarship with Snead State Community College in Boaz. MacKenize was supported in the decision by her teammates, her parents Cristy and Chris Ely, her sister Chloe Ely, Cornerstone Christian Coach Teri Jo Edwards, and Snead State Coach Cristie Brothers. Volleyball Scholarship
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