Priceville hosting top team

When Priceville High hosts Class 4A No. 1 North Jackson on Friday night at 7, it marks the first time a top-ranked team has visited Bulldogs Stadium.

Undefeated North Jackson (3-0) has held the top spot since Sept. 12, while Priceville is 1-2 for the season, 1-1 in the region.

“They’ve got good athletes, and they’re well-coached,” second-year Priceville head coach Donald Weeks said. “They’ve got the tradition of being a good a football team, and I think they’re a pretty legitimate No. 1 at this point.”

North Jackson is averaging 48.3 points a game, and more than 324 yards per game rushing. Ron Gary leads the team with 467 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Chiefs have 18 rushing touchdowns this season. Their opponents have one.

North Jackson’s defense also has been strong, giving up 13.7 points per game.

Priceville dropped a 35-0 decision at North Jackson last year, but home-field advantage is on the side of the Bulldogs this season, and Weeks said his players are looking forward to the challenge.

“I think everybody takes pride in their home field,” Weeks said. “It gives you a few more people there fan-wise and that should help out some. Our kids believe in what we do and they’ve worked hard. We understand we’ve got to play a good solid football game with no mistakes and that’s what we’re hoping for.”

Touchdown Club game day breakfast: Former Austin High football coach Tom Calvin will speak at the Touchdown Club’s game day breakfast Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. at Cracker Barrel on the Beltline.

An Athens High and University of Alabama graduate, Calvin coached 33 years at Baldwin County, Sylacauga and Austin (1978-89) with a 204-129-11 career record, earning three state coach of the year awards.

Austin coach David Norwood also will present player of the week awards to Black Bear players.

The Touchdown Club breakfast is open to the public.

Randolph Cross Country Classic: Several area teams competed in the Randolph Cross Country Classic on Tuesday.

The Lawrence County boys placed second to Randolph in the 1A-4A boys division, while Athens Bible was third, Hatton sixth, Decatur Heritage ninth, Clements 11th, Speake 16th and East Lawrence 18th.

Lawrence County’s Collins Montgomery was sixth individually, while Josh Crumpton was 12th and C.J. Woodham 14th. Athens Bible’s Andy Davidson was seventh, and Zeke Nichols was 11th.

In 5A-6A boys, Brewer was third, and the Patriots landed three runners in the top 15: Nathan Hamilton (eighth), Josh David (13th) and Travis Holloman (14th).

In girls 1A-4A, Lawrence County was second to Rogers, behind the 1-2 punch of first-place Victoria Draper and second-place Ari Stephenson. Lyndsie Warren was 11th, and Kerri Lynn Letson was 12th.

Athens Bible was sixth as Chelsea Burgess finished 13th individually. East Lawrence was eighth behind Megan Kelley’s 14th-place finish.

AHSADCA establishes scholarships: The Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association has announced that it will award 10 college scholarships next
summer to selected 2008 graduates.

Recipients of the $500 scholarships will be awarded at the 2008 Championship Awards Banquet during All-Star Sports Week in July in Huntsville.

Applicants must be children of an active AHSADCA member and a 2008 graduating senior. Deadline for applications is May 1, 2008.

The selection will be made by a committee representing the Alabama High School Athletic Association and the AHSADCA, according to an announcement by Steve Bailey, director of the association.

“We are initiating this program to provide another service from our Association to our member coaches and athletic directors,” Bailey said. “We know a lot of them that work hard every day and we want to show our appreciation and to help them out.”

Around the state

Class 5A No. 1 tough spot: The No. 1 spot in Class 5A has been a slippery spot this season. In just three weeks, two No.1 teams in Class 5A have fallen.

St. Paul’s began the season as the top-ranked team in the Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings, but was dethroned in week two after losing to Williamson 40-7.

Replacing St. Paul’s last week was J.O. Johnson, which was quickly knocked off by Decatur 30-20.

Top-ranked Prattville rolls: The Prattville Lions, ASWA Class 6A No. 1 and ranked seventh in the Student Sports Fab 50 national rankings, dominated Jeff Davis of Montgomery 62-0 last week, winning its 18th straight game. Coach Bill Clark’s team has a big test Friday traveling to play at unbeaten Wetumpka (3-0).

Predicting the preps

Daily Sports Writer Brooke Milam predicts how area teams will fare in this week’s games:

Friday’s games

Decatur 21, Athens 17

Austin 28, Sparkman 24

Brewer 21, West Point 14

Addison 38, Cherokee 10

Colbert Co. 35, Clements 27

Ardmore 18, Columbia 16

Vinemont 20, Danville 8

East Limestone 34, East Lawrence 14

Falkville 20, Cold Springs 7

Hartselle 24, Mus. Shoals 10

Hazlewood 28, Brilliant 7

Haleyville 21, Law. Co. 14

N. Jackson 32, Priceville 14

R.A. Hubbard 21, Speake 14

Tanner 28, Phil Campbell 12

Waterloo 21, Mount Hope 16

Elkmont 24, W. Limestone 22

West Morgan 21, Red Bay 20

Winston Co. 21, Hatton 16

Last week: 16-6 (.730)

Season record: 31-20 (.610)