High School Sports

Well, folks, it's over. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, Week 1 of high school football season has come to a conclusion. Actually, the first week of the regular season included all the prep work done all summer.

This week, region play begins, and that means even more intensity as playoff positions will be on the line. I'll be especially interested in seeing how Class 4A, Region 4, shapes up. It's gonna be one tough region.

• BIG BOYS NEED LOVE TOO: In football, it's no secret who all the shine typically goes to. On offense, the props are doled out to the skill position players, a list comprising quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. On defense, it's pretty much anybody who makes a big sack, interception or tackle for a loss. Seldom do offensive linemen get enough credit from outsiders.

But that doesn't mean their labors go unnoticed by their teammates. The first words out of Alexandria quarterback Ethan Vinyard and Oxford running back Zeb Wright were praise for their respective offensive lines.

"Our offensive line did a great job of putting a hat on a hat," said Wright, who rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. "It was easy; all I did was run behind the big guys."

"That offensive line is my best friend," said Vinyard. "I have to be nice to them. If I'm not nice to them, they'll liable to let one of those big guys in on me."

• NEW SHERIFFS IN TOWN: The three newest additions to the Calhoun County high school football coaching fraternity all walked from beneath the lights with wins Friday night.

Ohatchee's Chad Cochran guided the Indians to a tough 14-12 win against Pleasant Valley. White Plains' Heath Harmon reached the half-century mark in the Wildcats' 51-6 win at Donoho and John Grass guided Oxford to a win.

• A LITTLE CROSS COUNTRY: Oxford's boys' cross country captured first place in a field of 11 at the Alabama Christian Academy Trail Run in Tuscaloosa this weekend. Nathan Thrasher broke the old course record of 16:15 with a time of 14:47.94 to take first place. Teammates Dontavious Wright (16:17.03) and Jacoby Dove (16:25) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Yellow Jackets' girls claimed second place. Five runners — Cori Green, Zoey Chambley, Abigail Garcia, Diana Villalobos and Ryan Green — placed in the top 12.

Oxford participates in the Oak Mountain Invitational today.

• BATTER UP! : Registration for JSU's 7th annual High School Baseball Fall League is under way. The camp will be divided into two sessions, with Session One playing on Tuesdays and Session Two on Sundays. Teams will consist of 12 players at most. The Tuesday session will include four teams, playing games at 4:30 and 7 p.m. The Sunday session will have six teams, with games being played at 1, 3:30 and 6 p.m.

Each session will begin with a pro-style tryout camp and evaluation. For more info, call the JSU baseball office at (256) 782-8141.