Jackson County Pre-Season Jamboree Roundup
By Cinthia Rico
This week marks the start of the 2023 high school football season in Jackson County.
As a final rehearsal before kickoff, several local teams, including North Jackson, North Sand Mountain, Woodville, Section and Scottsboro, took part in jamborees last Thursday and Friday.
Sylvania 24, North Jackson 0
The North Jackson Chiefs are coming off a 2-8 overall record in 2022, including a 2-5 mark in Class 4A, Region 8 action.
Last Friday night, the Chiefs went head-to-head with the preseason No.8 ranked Sylvania (10-4) in the first two quarters, then took on North Sand Mountain in the second half at R.D. Hicks Stadium in Stevenson.
While North Jackson played the Rams tough throughout the four quarters, the Rams depth eventually wore the Chiefs down.
The Rams opened the game with a strong offensive push, capped by running back Aiden Parham scoring their first touchdown at the 6:43 mark and Conner Andrade added a good PAT.
Sylvania recovered a Chief fumble on the snap, and Travis Owens capitalized on the mistake, rushing for a second TD with 1:45 left in the first quarter.
Despite North Jackson’s advancement, Sylvania’s defense proved difficult for the Chiefs to navigate their way past.
Rams’ Andrade ended the scoring with a field goal from 35 yards out, bringing the score to 24-0.
North Jackson 35, North Sand Mountain 13
Warmed up and ready to go, North Jackson rebounded in its second scrimmage of the night against North Sand Mountain.
Diego Holt Travis got things moving for the Chiefs rushing 65 yards for a touchdown as North Jackson ran past North Sand Mountain 35-13 during Friday’s preseason game.
With a successful two-point conversion following Holt TD, the Chief took an early 8-0 lead. A few plays later, Nick Price Jr. added a 25-yard touchdown, and a good PAT made it 15-0 midway through the first quarter.
Capitalizing on their momentum, Cardarius Ringer broke free on a 211-yard scoring run.
With second left in the frame, North Sand Mountain Colten Haggard cut the score with a 4-yard touchdown and closed the first quarter at 22-6.
Luke Turner opened the second quarter scoring rushing 15-yards for North Jackson’s fourth touchdown of the game. The Chiefs added a good PAT making it 29-6.
The Bison answered with a second North Sand Mountain touchdown run. Joshua Farmer’s point-after kick made it 29-13.
North Jackson’s Gavin Little closed the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run for a 35-13 final.
The Chiefs open the 2023 season on the road against Scottsboro on Friday, Sept. 1 at Pat Trammell Stadium.
North Sand Mountain’s Landon Keller (9) breaks away from Sylvania’s Shaun Gimm (10) and looks for an opening during last Friday’s jamboree at R.E. Hicks Stadium in Stevenson.
Sylvania 28, North Sand Mountain 7
In their preseason match on Friday, North Sand Mountain fell 28-7 against Sylvania at R.D. Hicks Stadium in Stevenson.
The Rams gained ground early when Turner found Zack Anderson for a first-quarter touchdown pass at the 11:08 mark. A few plays later, Shaun Gimm followed up with a 20-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Rams’ lead.
Anderson made an interception of a Bison ball, and Turner made the most of the recovery by throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Logan Wilks to end the first quarter with a 21-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Bison saw a glimmer of hope for a potential comeback as Colten Haggard rushed up the right for a touchdown at the 7:31 mark. 28-7 was the final score after a North Sand Mountain point-after.
The Bison look to improve their 2022 season record of 4-7, and a first-round playoff appearance as they travel to Valley Head on Friday for its season opener at Tiger Stadium.
Woodville’s Sam Peek (right) and Trey Stone (left) connected for two touchdown passes during last Friday night’s jamboree game against Talladega County Central.
Woodville 21, Talladega County Central 8
Last Friday night at Alumni Field in Talladega, the Woodville Panthers and Talladega County Central faced off, with the Panthers coming out on top 26-16 in a preseason jamboree.
At the end of the varsity starters’ half of play, Woodville managed to hold off the Tigers while taking advantage of their errors to establish a 21-8 lead.
The chemistry between senior quarterback Sam Peek and Trey Stone proved to be a formidable combination, showcasing their experience and skill on the field.
Peek scored on the ground and connected on two touchdown throws with newcomer Stone, the senior duo helped lift Woodville past Talladega County Central.
Woodville opens its regular season at home against Whitesburg Christian on Friday at Frazier Field.
Cedar Bluff 35, Section 14
Section fell to Cedar Bluff 35-14 in the three-quarter varsity portion of the jamboree at Bruce Field last Friday night.
Senior Lion quarterback Josh Varner completed 5-of-12 throws for 126 yards and a touchdown, including a long score to Kodee Vaught, who grabbed three catches for 117 yards.
Varner also ran for 91 yards and a touchdown on seven runs while Jackson LeRoy, who started in a different position, gained 23 yards on three carries.
Jacob Stringer had one reception for four yards, while Brayden Matthews had 12 yards on five carries and three catches for five yards.
Hunter Jenkins led Cedar Bluff to win with four touchdown runs, including a 59 and 36 yard scoring run, and Hunter Stallings connected with Byrann Kinsey for a touchdown pass of 19 yards.
Oscar Pantor’s 43-yard touchdown run gave the Lions a 7-0 victory over the varsity/junior high mixed portion of Friday night’s matchup.
The Section Lions open the season on the road against Decatur Heritage on Aug. 25 at Rebels Stadium.
Cherokee County 14, Scottsboro 9
Scottsboro and Cherokee County met last Thursday night at Warrior Stadium, with the Warriors edging the Wildcats 14-9.
Both sides displayed their abilities and tenacity in the tightly contested match.
Cherokee County’s Jacob Cornejo opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown run after breaking free, and Ben Frampton added a successful PAT.
The Wildcats answered with a 75-yard gain on 14 plays for a Jake Jones 1-yard run midway through the second quarter.
The Warriors secured the victory with a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, sealing their narrow win over the Wildcats.
With less than three minutes remaining, Tae Diamond added a 2-yard TD, and Frampton’s point-after kick made it 14-6.
In the dying seconds of the game, the Wildcats tried to rally. Despite their best efforts, they came up short as time ran out.
Cole Raeuchle’s 36-yard field goal with seconds remaining capped Scottsboro’s 56-yard gain and brought the final score to 14-9.
Today at Wildcat Stadium, Fort Payne and Scottsboro square off in the first game of the regular season as they compete for the TopCat title.
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