On a night where Hillcrest payed tribute to a classmate who passed, Cameron Prince, its offense came out looking like a different group in the second half to secure a win in honor of their friend and bid to the AHSAA Semi-Finals.
The Handley Tigers (12-1) out of Roanoke, Alabama defeated the Gordo Greenwave (13-2) 35-20 to win the AHSAA Class 4A State Championship. The Tigers defeated both tuscaloosa-area schools, American Christian Academy and Gordo, in consecutive weeks to win the championship in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Junior quarterback and safety Javion Belle led the Pickens County Tornadoes (10-3) past the Hubbertville Lions (9-3) 40-24 in the round three of the AHSAA Class 1A playoffs. Belle seized the momentum for good for the Tornadoes by cashing in a 35-yard pick-six to close the half and send Pickens County into the locker room with a 20-12 halftime lead.
With their 31-21 victory over the McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets (7-3, 5-2) Friday night, the Hillcrest Patriots (9-2, 5-1) have secured a second-round matchup at No. 1 Opelika in the second round.