Edgewood Academy opens season against defending champions

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Edgewood Academy football team faces a tough test in its season opener.

The Wildcats open up the season at home on Friday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. When they take the field, they’ll face the defending AISA AA state champions in Autauga Academy.

The Generals will look like a brand new team, however. Coach Bobby Carr left the program in the offseason, and Trey Dunbar has taken over as head coach.

The Generals lost a lot of talent to graduation last year, and they lost even more to kids transferring out of the program after Carr left.

So while the talent is still there, there are plenty of

Edgewood Academy: QB Austin Champion passed for 2,215 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. … DL Bryson Boone recorded 66 tackles and 9.5 sacks last season. …

WR/DB Gabe LeMaster had 16 catches for 264 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Autauga Academy: RB Landen Henry rushed for 285 yards and 1 touchdown last year. … WR Noah Ray had 7 catches for 117 yards and 4 touchdowns. … DE Nigel Rugby had 3 sacks last season.

Four Downs

Autauga Academy is the defending AISA AA state champions.

Autauga Academy beat Edgewood Academy, 48-9, last season.

Autauga Academy leads Edgewood, 27-12, all-time in the series.

Edgewood Academy’s last win in the series came in 2013.

NEXT UP: Edgewood Academy at Chambers Academy; Autauga Academy at Bessemer Academy.

(1-0)

Elmore County

AT AUTAUGAVILLE (1-0)

The Players

Elmore County: QB Payton Stephenson totaled 282 yards and four touchdowns. … WR Jabari Murphy had six catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns. … RB CJ Wilkes had 109 rushing yards and one touchdown.

FOUR DOWNS

Elmore County beat Marbury, 35-17, last week; Autaugaville beat R.C. Hatch, 24-18.

Elmore County beat Autagaville, 28-0, the last time they met in 1979.

Elmore County leads Autaugaville, 8-2, all-time in the series.

Elmore County’s 17 points allowed last week is the lowest they have allowed since 2020.

NEXT UP: Elmore County hosts Sylacauga; Autaugaville at Notasulga.

HOLTVILLE (1-0) AT ALMA BRYANT (0-0)

THE PLAYERS

Holtville: RB Shawn Brackett has rushed for 100 yards and 5 touchdowns. … QB Tanner Potts has passed for 145 yards and 0 touchdowns. … WR Erik Adkins has 85 receiving yards and one touchdown.

FOUR DOWNS

Holtville beat Fultondale, 558, last week; Alma Bryant did not play.

Holtville and Alma Bryant have never played each other before.

Alma Bryant went 2-8 last season.

Holtville’s 55 points last week is the most the Bulldogs have scored since 2018.

NEXT UP: Holtville at Shelby County; Alma Bryant hosts Daphne.

STANHOPE ELMORE (0-1) AT EUFAULA (0-0)

The Players

Stanhope Elmore: QB Jacob Bryant has passed for 305 yards and two touchdowns. … WR Jackson Thomas has 12 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns. … RB Davion Thomas has 119 rushing yards on 16 carries.

Four Downs

Stanhope Elmore lost to Shades Valley, 20-13, last week; Eufaula did not play.

Stanhope Elmore beat Eufaula, 24-20, last season.

Stanhope Elmore leads Eufaula, 8-7, all-time in the series.

Despite losing last season, Eufaula has won three of the last four in the series.

NEXT UP: Stanhope Elmore hosts Russell County; Eufaula at Headland.

TALLASSEE (1-0) AT BOOKER T. WASHINGTON (0-1) THE PLAYERS

Tallassee: QB Tyler Ellis has scored three touchdowns this season. … QB/ATH Cade Everson leads the team in rushing and has two touchdowns. …

DB James Bender scored a 98yard defensive touchdown last week.

FOUR DOWNS

Tallassee beat Reeltown, 3713, last week; BookerT.Washington lost to Trinity, 34-16.

Tallassee beat Booker T. Washington, 42-6, the last time they met in 2013.

Tallassee leads Booker T. Washington, 9-3, all-time in the series.

Booker T. Washington’s last win in the series came in 2007.

NEXT UP: Tallassee hosts Central Clay County; B.T. Washington hosts Montgomery Catholic.

WETUMPKA (1-0) AT BAKER (0-1)

THE PLAYERS

Wetumpka: RB Mike Dillard has rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns. … LB Justin Crumbaugh has recorded 16 tackles, one INT and one fumble recovery. … QB Nate Rogers has totaled 53 yards and one touchdown.

FOUR DOWNS

Wetumpka beat Jeff Davis, 27-10, last week; Baker lost to Theodore, 32-3.

Wetumpka and Baker have never played each other.

Baker has scored only six total points in its last two games dating back to last season.

Wetumpka’s defense allowed no points and forced five turnovers last week.

NEXT UP: Wetumpka at Pike Road; Baker at Davidson.

Local Sports Calendar

THURSDAY, AUG. 25

High School Volleyball Montgomery Academy at Elmore County Stanhope Elmore at Elmore County Marbury at Tallassee Holtville at Thorsby Edgewood Academy at Lee-Scott Trinity at Wetumpka

FRIDAY, AUG. 26

High School Football

Elmore

High

SATURDAY, AUG. 27 unknowns about the Generals entering the opening matchup.

“I know they lost a couple of kids but they’ve picked up a couple of kids,” head coach Chad Michael said. “They picked up a really good defensive lineman and a really good receiver. They have some good kids returning. Noah Ray is their quarterback