Daily Double, 9-30

— posted by Mike Cummings

Happy Thursday to everyone in Internet land — only one more day until Friday and the sixth week of the prep football season. In the meantime, check out some prep sports headlines from today’s broadsheets.

Daily sportswriter Cody Whitlock went behind the scenes in an interesting look at high school football playbooks. Check out the story here.

Daily assistant sports editor Michael Wetzel went one-on-one with Hatton’s Steadman Rutherford in this week’s 10 questions. Check it out here.

Cody also weighs in with his weekly notebook. He’s spot on about Decatur and West Limestone. It’s going to be interesting to see how those two teams finish out the season with a chance at greatness. Read the full notebook here.

Then there’s my story about Decatur’s thrilling comeback win over Austin in volleyball. It was one of the wildest, longest matches I’ve ever watched. Read about it here.

Here’s a feature by TimesDaily sportswriter Bryan App on Shoals Christian, which shares a region with R.A. Hubbard and Addison. Link

Finally, Alabama expects to get a commitment today from Minor’s Christion Jones, one of the state’s top prospects. Read about it here.

Today’s YouTube video comes to us from Ohio’s East Liverpool High, where a quarterback named “Marky” scored a highlight reel touchdown earlier this season. Enjoy, and then check out the school’s goofy athletics Web site.

Oops, sounds like there was a flag on the play. Can you get flagged for humiliating your opponents with awesomeness?

Daily Double 9-29

– posted by Cody Whitlock

Is it Friday yet?

Check out Mike Cummings’ pretty awesome story about Hartselle’s “Will” power here.

Read here to see how area volleyball teams fared Tuesday.

Despite a loss to 6A Decatur, Hartselle jumped to No. 1 in the latest Class 5A rankings. You can scan those polls by clicking the Rankings tab above.

OK, let’s get to why you logged on.

Poor guy.

Upcoming: Football rankings

– posted by Cody Whitlock

Check back tomorrow morning for the latest high school football rankings. The top five teams in Class 5A all lost last week, so expect a shake-up near the top of the poll.

Daily Double, 9-28

— posted by Mike Cummings

Click here to check out my feature on Austin High senior pitcher Justin Camp, who is one tryout away from making the 18U Team USA next spring.

Here’s a preview story on this week’s game between Buckhorn and Hazel Green, both of which play in Class 6A, Region 8 with Decatur.

And it’s Alabama-Florida week, so today’s YouTube video comes from the 2009 SEC championship game. Enjoy.

Football, food and friends

— posted by Mike Cummings

Here’s a sneak peek at what I’m working on for tomorrow. It’s a feature story about “The Three Wills” of Hartselle High’s football team. Individually, the three are known as quarterback Will Lang, receiver Will Tiffin and center/defensive end Will Swann. But they might as well be considered one unit.

Just take a look at their weekly routine.

These days, the three Wills have perfected the art of hanging out. After practice on Mondays, the three often eat at El Portal, a Mexican restaurant here on U.S. 31. On Tuesdays, it’s Roosters in Priceville. After church services on Wednesday, the three enjoy a meal with the team on Thursday.

And on Friday nights after football games — well, it’s best to let them explain.

“We go to the Huddle House pretty much every Friday night and basically see how much we can eat,” said Lang, who usually picks up the tab despite winning the informal eating contest.

Whew. I’m kind of relieved I’m too old to play prep football. I don’t think I could keep up with the required eating.

For more, check out tomorrow’s edition of The Decatur Daily.

Daily Double 9-27

– posted by Cody Whitlock

It’s Monday. Only four more days until high school football. Here’s today’s Daily Double.

Click here to read about Danville High’s volleyball team winning its “Dig Pink” tournament.

Four area football teams remain unbeaten entering the season’s sixth week. RCR wants your feedback …

Today’s video comes courtesy of Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey’s biggest fan. You might know him better as the Decatur Daily’s Alabama beat writer.

Daily Double, 9-26

— posted by Mike Cummings

It’s a lazy Sunday afternoon around the Tennessee Valley, so what better to do than read over some local headlines and watch a YouTube video?

Here’s a link to my Sunday Prep Playback column. That Athens-Austin game really was an instant classic.

On al.com, there’s the latest on the Eric Bledsoe situation. Here’s a link.

Today’s video is a cautionary tale. For all the fans out there who are frustrated with their teams this weekend, just be glad you don’t have this guy on your team.

Daily Double, 9-25

– posted by Cody Whitlock

A quick DD before kickoff in Fayetteville, where Daily Bama Blogger Michael Casagrande reports that pro golfer and inspiration to many mullet-wearing Southerners John Daly is in the house. 

See how Decatur topped rival Hartselle and stayed unbeaten here and click here to read Mike Cummings’ excellent description of how Athens needed a last-second TD to beat Austin.

West Morgan runs all over East Lawrence, and Decatur Heritage lights up the scoreboard in the program’s first win. More high school football coverage here and here.

Not a good night for the top five ranked teams in Class 5A, including Hartselle. See how ranked teams fared here.

This Daily Double wouldn’t be complete without more John Daly.

Kneejerk reactions: Athens-Austin

A few quick reactions the morning after Athens 45, Austin 41 …

1. What a game.
   It’s early, but this is already a candidate for Game of the Year honors. Austin scored the go-ahead — and seemingly the winning — touchdown with about 39 seconds left in regulation, only for Athens to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a touchdown of its own with 4 seconds left. Besides that, the game featured seven lead changes, a few non-offensive touchdowns and nearly 700 yards of offense.
2. The game didn’t mean anything, but then again, it really did.
   I was standing right in front of the Athens cheerleaders when the Golden Eagles scored the winning touchdown. My ears are still ringing. And it wasn’t just the cheerleaders getting into it. The entire home crowd stuck it out to the end and went nuts after the final buzzer. The same could be said for the Austin contingent, which filled up the visiting bleachers and also went nuts when its team went ahead in the final minute.
3. Both quarterbacks were clutch.
   Austin’s Chris Sparkman was 6-for-10 for 62 yards and a touchdown on his final drive, which was capped by a go-ahead touchdown pass to Josh Walker. The freshman quarterback seemed to come of age during that drive, and his sophomore receiver was also impressive.
   On the other sideline, senior Stephen Rivers showed why he’s an LSU commitment. Despite having just so-so stats heading into his final drive, Rivers went 3-for-3 for 80 yards and the winning score on the final possession.

Friday night scores

Addison 35, Meek 0
Ardmore 28, Clements 27
Athens 45, Austin 41
Columbia 39, Brewer 27
Danville 69, Priceville 42
Decatur 20, Hartselle 14
Decatur Heritage 48, Waterloo 26
Hatton 21, Lawrence Co. 0
Madison County 21, East Limestone 20
North Jackson 62, R.A. Hubbard 15

Tanner 40, West End 0
Westminster Christian 49, Falkville 0
West Limestone 35, Elkmont 34
West Morgan 24, East Lawrence 16