Herald Fans’ Choice Player of the Week: Austin Champion

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Editor

The votes are in, and this week’s Herald Fans’ Choice Player of the Week is Edgewood Academy quarterback Austin Champion.

Champion won in a landslide, beating out Tallassee’s Josh Griffin and Holtville’s Keiland Baker.

During Week 8, Champion played a stellar football game for the second week in a row as he led Edgewood Academy to its biggest win of the season. In the 35-34 region win over Macon East, Champion finished 14 of 24 passing for 272 yards and one touchdown. He also added 23 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He scored the game-winning 16-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left in the game.

How realistic or unrealistic is a bowl game?

While Auburn

improved greatly in several areas on Saturday in Oxford, it ultimately resulted in another disappointing weekend as the Tigers fell to No. 7 Ole Miss 48-34. The Tigers came into the game averaging 92 yards rushing against SEC competition, but exploded for 301 yards rushing against a Rebel defense only allowing an average of 118 yards. So much has also been made about Auburn’s total lack of productivity in the second half dating back to the end of last season. Robby Ashford led the offense up and down the field amassing 236 total yards and 17 points in the final 30 minutes. Auburn actually outscored Ole Miss 34-27 after the first quarter. Unfortunately, the black bear/land shark mutant hybrid beast took advantage of two early Tiger turnovers and jumped out to a 21-0 lead minutes into the second quarter. As well as the offense played, Jeff Schmedding’s defense gave up an unthinkable 448 yards on the ground. The Auburn defense has now given up 740 yards rushing in just the last two games. Excuse me while I vomit. Unless somebody on the AU staff figures out a way to put something resembling a defense on the field, there’s no hope for the rest of the season no matter what happens with the offense.

On Friday, Champion was at it again, leading Edgewood Academy to a 20-7 victory over Hooper.

Champion and his team have now won two in a row for the first time all season, and are a win away from going over the .500 mark on the year.

Next up for the Wildcats is a Thursday night game against Lakeside on the road.

Trust me, I realize all too well Auburn is now 3-4 on the year and a bowl game is increasingly unlikely. However, it is certainly not out of the realm of possibility and, judging by Saturday, the Tigers still have some fight left in them. So, what’s the rest of the season look like and what’s realistic? Auburn needs three wins and they have a much-needed bye this week. 10/29 vs. Arkansas (4-3; 1-3) is very winnable. The Razorbacks have a pretty potent offense when quarterback KJ Jefferson is healthy.

Bowl Game

Continued from A7

They average 240 rushing yards a game which is really scary considering Auburn’s current struggles. The encouraging part is the Razorback defense which is ranked No. 120 in the country. There is clearly an opportunity for the Tiger offense to have success. The game is also in Jordan-Hare. 11/5 at Miss State (5-2; 2-2) is winnable. The Bulldogs barely even attempt to run the ball. The Air Raid offense can be

Married

Continued from A7 together and finally got married.

She’s not a big sports person. She will sit there and watch, but that’s mostly because I watch them all the time and am always out covering them.

But with her not being a sports fan, I highly doubt she ever heard of the rule regarding fall weddings. If she did, she didn’t care.

I honestly don’t care either. Don’t take my satire as being serious. I would much rather get married a nightmare to defend (as Auburn witnessed last season), but pass defense is actually Auburn’s strong suit in 2022 giving up less than 190 yards a game. 11/12 vs. Texas A&M (3-3; 1-2) is winnable. The Aggies are one of the few teams in the SEC that have struggled as mightily as Auburn on offense. They also boast the second-worst (next to Auburn) rushing defense in the SEC. Simply put, they are not a good football team. 11/19 vs. Western Kentucky (4-3; 2-1) is the most winnable. The Hilltoppers from Conference USA have an impressive offense racking up nearly 500 yards a game. They really are a pretty good team, but Auburn wins this game in a normal year by 30. 11/26 at Alabama (6-1; 3-1) is a long shot at best. Great Tiger teams struggle in Bryant-Denny. Bad Tiger teams usually get blown out. I truly believe Auburn has four winnable games left on the schedule, but I also know they could lose every single one of them as well. It might not mean a lot in the grand scheme of things, but I would love to see the Tigers close strong for guys like Derick Hall, Tank Bigsby and Colby Wooden.

Tuesday, November 1, 2022 from 8:00 am – 10:00 am

Precinct 11- Tallaweka Baptist Church Precinct 21- God’s Congregational Church Precinct 29- Wetumpka Civic Center

Precinct 31- Friendship Community Center

Precinct 41- Asbury Kent Community Center

Tuesday, November 1, 2022 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Precinct 51- Kowaliga Fire Department

Precinct 52- Redhill Community Center

Precinct 61- Eclectic Methodist Church Precinct 71- Seman Community Center

Precinct 81- Santuck Community Center

Precinct 101- Wallsboro Community Center

Precinct 111- Weoka Community Center

Tuesday, November 1, 2022 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Precinct 121- New Home Baptist Church-Titus Precinct 131- Titus Community Center Precinct 141- New Hope Baptist Church Precinct 151- Cain’s Chapel Life Center Precinct 161- Deatsville Fire Department

Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 8:00 am – 10:00 am

Precinct 171- Crenshaw Park Precinct 181- New Home Baptist Church- Wetumpka Precinct 201- Coosada Town Hall Precinct 220- Tri-City Baptist Church Precinct 221- Church of the Nazarene Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Precinct 222- Victory Baptist School Precinct 231- Millbrook Civic Center Precinct 261- Martin Luther King Rec Center Precinct 311- Rushenville Baptist Church Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Precinct 321- Blue Ridge Baptist Church Precinct 331- Mulder Memorial Methodist Church Precinct 341- Rock Springs than watch a college football game.

The weirdest thing to me, however, will be the fact that I missed Friday night’s football games.

I started covering high school football when I was a junior in college in 2015, and I haven’t missed a football game since. I honestly took a good bit of pride in the fact that I’ve covered every single weekend that I’ve had a high school football game scheduled.

I don’t count playoff weeks when all of our teams have been eliminated, only weeks when we have had games scheduled.

Teams

Continued from A7

I did, however, miss two college football games in my one year of working the Mississippi State beat. I had to miss a trip to Lexington, Kentucky, and a home game due to being in two weddings in 2020.

I’ll miss two weeks of games this season. The games I’m most disappointed about missing are Hooper Academy at Edgewood Academy, Holtville at Elmore County, and Sidney Lanier at Wetumpka.

Those three games either mean the most or they are just good rivalry games that I think would be fun to cover.

At the end of the day,

Four Downs

downs. … LB Conner Hackett has recorded 87 tackles and 14 tackles for loss.

Elmore County: QB Payton Stephenson has completed 87 of 150 passes for 1,280 yards and 14 touchdowns; he’s rushed for 551 yards, 7 TDs. … RB CJ Wilkes has rushed 136 times for 878 yards and 7 touchdowns. … WR Garrett Allen has 31 catches for 492 yards and 6 TDs.

FOUR DOWNS

Holtville lost to Demopolis, 60-14, last week; Elmore County beat Valley, 17-13.

Elmore County leads Holtville, 42-26-5, all-time in the series.

Holtville has won the last three matchups, including a 36-14 win last season.

NEXT UP: Holtville hosts Tallassee; Elmore County at Jemison.

STANHOPE ELMORE (2-6, 2-3) AT PARK CROSSING (0-8, 0-5)

The Players

Stanhope Elmore: Karnovious Cunningham recovered a fumble and scored from 70-yards out … WR Tevin Landrum scored from 15-yards out off a pitch from Jackson Thomas. … The Mustang defensive unit made two stops in the red zone against Pike Road, limiting their opponent to 13 total points which is a season-low for an offense against Stanhope Elmore.

though, I’m not too upset about missing. I’ll never complain about two weeks off, and this should be the best day of my life up to this point.

I finally get to marry the love of my life, and I’ll be surrounded by all the friends and family that I want there.

So I’m going to forget about football for two weekends and focus on myself and Gillian and enjoy our wedding and honeymoon.

But really, who am I kidding? I’m sure I still snuck a few looks at the Alabama vs. Tennessee matchup this past Saturday.

Stanhope Elmore beat Pike Road, 14-13, last week; Park Crossing lost to Russell County, 48-22.

Stanhope has a 2-3 record in AHSAA Class 6A, Region 2; Park Crossing has a 0-5 region record.

Park Crossing has won three straight games against Stanhope, including a 35-32 win in the playoffs in 2019.

Both teams have already been eliminated from the playoffs.

NEXT UP: Stanhope Elmore at Minor.

SIDNEY LANIER (5-3, 3-2)

AT WETUMPKA (6-2, 3-2)

The Players

Wetumpka: RB Mike Dillard added another rushing touchdown to his season total in the Indians last game. … DB Tristan Bennett recorded an interception for a touchdown in his last game. …P/K Logan Weighall recorded a season-high eight punts against Carver.

FOUR DOWNS

Lanier lost to Carver, 23-20, last week; Wetumpka did not play last week.

Lanier has a 3-2 record in AHSAA Class 6A, Region 2; Wetumpka has a 3-2 region record.

Wetumpka was held to a season-low 13 points in its last game.

Lanier leads the all-time series against Wetumpka, 16-5, but they have not played since 2011.

NEXT UP: Wetumpka at Central Clay County.

Job Opportunities

with big daddy Pluto, which is a sure sign of power struggles. These might be related to a surprise that you encounter with a friend or in dealing with a member of a group. Don’t get sidetracked with mind games. Make a plan and stick to it. Tonight: Be friendly. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Today you might encounter some kind of upset or a surprise when dealing with parents, bosses, teachers, VIPs or the police. Whatever it is, it could provoke a power struggle. Hey, you don’t need this. Therefore, practice patience, because patience is the antidote to anger.

Tonight: You are noticed.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Controversial subjects (like politics, religion or racial issues) might trigger arguments today. Travel plans might be delayed or canceled; ditto for school schedules. Perhaps this is the reason you nd yourself at odds with a friend or a member of a group. Don’t try to prove anything. Look for a solution. Tonight: Learn.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

This is a dicey day to deal with parents, bosses, teachers, VIPs and the police, because you might have a clash of personalities or a power struggle. Generally, this means you lose. Whatever happens, never underestimate the power of courtesy. (Check banking and shared property.) Tonight: Check details.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) about this, because these feelings are temporary. However, power struggles about money, the ownership of something or about a possession that you already own might arise today. Stay mellow. Tonight: Solitude. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today the Sun is in your sign at odds

Arguments about politics, religion or racial issues might be tough to avoid today, especially because you have opinions about these issues. You are motivated to make the world a better place. (“Sign here, please.”) Don’t let this ruin relations with a close friend or partner today. Stay chill. Tonight: Cooperate.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Interruptions to your work are likely today. For some of you, this could be a surprise that is related to your health, or even something related to a pet. Pet owners should keep their eyes open. Meanwhile, power struggles about shared property, insurance issues or something to do with loans or mortgages might occur. Be careful. Tonight: Get organized.

WE CAN HELP.

Job Opening

The City of Tallassee is accepting applications for a part time position as a driver for the Senior Center with the City of Tallassee. Hours are 8am-1pm. Duties include picking up/dropping off Seniors and delivering meals for the meals on wheels program. Applications will be accepted at City Hall, 3 Freeman Avenue, Tallassee, Alabama through Friday, October 28, 2022. The City of Tallassee is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify.

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