The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Sept. 23, 2015

11 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 30, 2004

“Monroe County Tigers top Hillcrest Jaguars: Every high school sports story in south Alabama over the past week and a half has had a reference to Hurricane Ivan and the havoc it played with game cancellations and re-scheduling. Hillcrest’s 18-14 loss at Monroe County High Friday night in Monroeville was no different.

“Yes, the game was played on its proper night and at the regularly scheduled time at 7 p.m. However, very little else resembled a regular football Friday night. There may have been 300 total spectators in the stands at a game that usually draws 2,000 to 3,000.”

Outstanding Hillcrest players in that game included Maurice Bradley, Chris Hines, Clarence Jackson, Jerry Jackson and Brent Smith. Arlton Hudson was Hillcrest’s head coach.

Outstanding Monroe players in that game included Taylor Anderson, Watson Black, Terrell Richardson and Omar Scott.

“Generals roll over Warriors: Generals usually prefer a ground attack. However, the Generals from Abbeville Christian opted to soften up the Sparta Academy defense with a quick striking aerial attack before turning aloose the ground troops. The result was a 52-14 shellacking of SA last Friday in Evergreen.

“Sparta’s touchdowns came on runs of five and 15 yards by Chase Brown. Tony Raines scored a two-point conversion run after the first of Brown’s touchdowns.”

Other standout Sparta players in that game included Will Ivey and David McGinity.

26 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 28, 1989

“Jaguars claw Bulldogs 27-7 for fifth victory: The Hillcrest Jaguars improved their record to 5-0 last Friday night with a convincing 27-7 win over fourth-ranked 4A powerhouse UMS-Wright Bulldogs of Mobile.

“The Jaguars were led by Derrick Richardson with 91 yards on 21 carries, and John Gulley with eight carries for 81 yards. The Jaguars were led defensively once again by Russell Meeks with eight solos and three assists.”

Other outstanding Hillcrest players in that game included Marvin Cunningham, Fred Fountain, John Johnson, George Moncrease, Keith Richardson, Terrance Rudolph and Tyrone Sigler.

“Ashford hands Sparta first loss: Ashford Academy upset previously unbeaten Sparta Academy 14-8 in Ashford Friday night in a game of evenly matched teams as the statistics will show.

“Quarterback Tim Salter scored Sparta’s only touchdown on an eight-yard run and then passed to Steven Gall for the extra two. Salter was good on 12 of 32 pass attempts for 101 yards and had one interception.

“Coach Chuck Ledbetter’s Warriors will try to get back on the winning track when they host Crenshaw Christian Academy of Luverne Friday night.”

Other outstanding Sparta players in the Ashford game included Jason Baker, Craig Blackburn and Jeff Brundage.

41 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 26, 1974

“The Lyeffion Yellow Jackets upset previously undefeated McKenzie High by 13 to 0 at the Lyeffion Stadium last Friday night.

“Veteran Coach Wendell Hart praised his entire defensive unit for a fine effort that blanked the Tigers. He said the kicking game was excellent with Joey Garrett booming the ball and the downfield men covering well. Garrett also kicked one extra point.

“Quarterback Raymond Brown scored both touchdowns behind good blocking, going in from the five and 10 yard lines.”

“Aggies notch thriller over Tigers 8 to 7: After losing two consecutive games, the Evergreen High Aggies broke their losing streak by winning a thrilling victory over the Monroeville Tigers, 8-7, Friday night.

“The Aggies… drove 64 yards and scored on an eight-yard run by Albert Stallworth. The two-point conversion came on a pass from Mike Faulkner to Darris Champion.”

Other standout Evergreen players in that game included Marvin Williams, Pat Dawson and Willie Ingram. Standout Monroe County High Scholl players in that game included Willie Lett and Johnny Bartlett.

“A big, powerful Macon Academy team used the ‘Bomb’ effectively to slip past Sparta Academy’s Warriors 35-20 in Tuskegee last Friday night.”

Outstanding Sparta players in that game included Joe Andrews, Eddie Hooks, Bobby Johnson, Ronnie Pugh, Walker Scott and Sam Skipper. Richard Brown was Sparta’s head coach.

56 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 24, 1959

“Bulldogs Jet Past Aggies In Opener: The City of Evergreen turned out en mass to witness the first football game on the ‘Aggie’ schedule. The weather was cool, in fact, just right for the game. The home team ran onto the field amid the shouts and yells of encouragement from the Evergreen side of the stands. The Evergreen High School band, resplendent in their colorful uniforms, played before the game and during half-time, much to the delight of the crowd.

“The crowd that attended is reputed to have been one of the largest in several years. Quarterback Club members did an admirable job at the gates as the cars streamed into the parking lot without incident.

“The Bulldogs used a punt return play to take a 20 to 6 heartbreaker from the Evergreen Aggies. The Aggies scored their only TD following the half-time break when James Reeves plunged two yards. The touchdown play was set up by a 40-yard pass. Billie Bateman threw to Leon Stinson who reached high above a defending Bulldog to bring the ball down on the Andy 10-yard line.

“There were several new faces in the Aggie starting line-up: Billy Bateman, Leon Stinson, Phillip Brown, H.W. Ward and Edwin Harper were all new starters. Paul Hardin, James Reeves, Jimmy Eddins, Billy Melton, Ceylon Strong and Wayne Stinson returned from last year’s squad.”

“1959 Football Schedule, Conecuh County Training School” – Sept. 24, at Andalusia; Oct. 3, v. Southern Normal; Oct. 8, at Atmore; Oct. 17, v. B.T. Washington; Oct. 22, at Camden; Oct. 31, v. Union High; Nov. 7, v. Harper High (HC); Nov. 12, Open; Nov. 17, at Beatrice.

“Aggies Tackle Tigers Here Friday Nite At 8: The Evergreen ‘Aggies,’ sharpened to a fine edge, will take on Monroeville Friday night at 8:00 at Brooks Stadium.

“Many of the kinks that hindered EHS in their first game have been ironed out. The team is ready for revenge, and the old rivalry between the Aggies and Monroeville will come to the fore at kickoff time.

“The Aggies will have the same line-up as they had when they played the Andalusia Bulldogs. Edwin Harper who was slightly injured in the game with Andy, will be back in the starting line-up.”

71 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 28, 1944

“Castleberry Soldier on Football Team: Pvt. Luther McDonald of Castleberry, stationed at Chatham Field, Georgia as a B-24 bomber mechanic and gunner is a member of the Chatham Field football team. This team is composed of former college and high school players from all over the United States, and has several all-Americans on this year’s squad. Coach and backfield ace is Lt. William (Tarzan) White, All-American, who played for Alabama.

“This team has a stiff schedule, having won a game from Newberry College Sept. 17 by a good score. They will play such teams as the Marines, University of Arkansas, Texas Christian and many others.

“McDonald is a starter on the line-up and is playing a bang-up game as right tackle. He played on the 37, 38 and 39 teams from Castleberry high school and on one of the last teams at Castleberry.”