By PAUL BEAUDRY

For The ASWA

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that football is a game of strategy – the right place at the right time. And as always, execution helps too.

Both played a major role when Wicksburg and G.W. Long met Friday night – the result was Long’s Garrett Davis being chosen as the Alabama Sports Writers Association Defensive/Special Teams Player of the Week.

The two teams, fighting for a playoff spot in Class 2A, Region 3, were tied at 6-6 in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter when Wicksburg had to punt. The Rebels receiver called for a fair-catch at the Wicksburg 40, which allowed Long coach Scott Horne to consider a free kick for a game-winning field goal.

Davis teed the ball up at the Wicksburg 40, toed it and hit the 50-yard field goal for a 9-6 win. The field goal also completed a Rebel comeback as Zach Walker scored two minutes earlier to tie the score at 6-all.

The other two finalists were Jonathan Rose of Leeds and Justin Madison of Berry. Rose had two special team touchdowns to go with a receiving TD in a 62-7 win over Central-Coosa, scoring on a 60-yard punt return and a 90-yard kickoff return. Madison had 16 solo tackles with four assists in a 46-8 win over South Lamar, adding five tackles for loss, two caused fumbles, a sack and a fumble recovery.

The ASWA Offensive Player of the Week is Ryan McBrayer of Plainview. The junior running back carried 18 times for 280 yards – 192 in the second half – in a 34-27 win over Class 3A, Region 7 foe Sardis. McBrayer had a 60-yard TD in the first quarter, a 65-yarder that broke a 20-all tie with 9:48 left and the 18-yard game winner with 3:58 left to play.

The two finalists on offense were Sam Vermilyea of Monroe Academy and Albertville’s Tyree Roberts. Vermilyea had 215 yards on 16 carries with five touchdowns as the AISA’s fourth-ranked team knocked off No. 1 Fort Dale, 40-14. Roberts had four touchdowns (11, 5, 5, 10 yards) with the last coming in overtime on 31 carries for 206 yards, and also had the game-winning two-point conversion as the Aggies beat Madison County, 36-35.

Some 82 players were considered this week, nominated by ASWA members in Albertville, Andalusia, Anniston, Birmingham, Centre, Decatur, Demopolis, Dothan, Florala, Florence, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Gardendale, Graysville, Grove Hill, Hartselle, Mobile, Montgomery, Oneonta, Opelika, and Scottsboro.

Other top performances included:

OFFENSE

Jerrelle Bailey, Pike County: Accounted for 312 yards in offense ( 116 rushing, 196 passing) and five touchdowns, including a 2-yard run in overtime and adding the two-point conversion in the Bulldogs’ 36-28 win over Opp.

Tommy Bothwell, Ashville: Had 274 all-purpose yards, including five catches for 157 yards through the air, and two touchdowns in a win over J.B. Pennington.

Beniquez Brown, Florence: Rushed for 159 yards and two scores (51, 47) as Falcons picked up their first region win against Sparkman 28-7.

Brandon Burks, Daleville: Rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns and added a 90-yard touchdown reception), leading suspension-depleted Daleville to a 35-7 win over Geneva.

Nathan Coker, Collinsville: Threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, including a 32-yarder for the win with one minute remaining, as the Panthers picked up a 30-27 victory at Cedar Bluff.

Cornelius Coates, Coffeeville: Ran for 197 yards, with TD runs of 34, 11 and 57 yards, in a 34-22 victory over St. Luke’s.

Christian Collis, Beauregard: Had five catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns in the Hornets’ 47-15 win over Munford.

C.J. Duncan, St. James: Finished with 348 yards of offense – 20 passing, 128 rushing – and five touchdowns in a 43-40 overtime loss to Headland.

Trey Fetner, Woodland: Accounted for 328 of the Bobcats’ 360 total in a 27-21 road loss to Class 2A No. 7 Lineville.

Jamal Golden, Wetumpka: Accounted for 257 yards of offense – 188 in the first quarter – and five touchdowns in a 41-24 win over Carver-Montgomery.

Mike Haynes, New Brockton: Accounted for all four Gamecock touchdowns, rushing for 200 yards and three scores and catching a 32-yard TD pass, while also leading the team on defense with 10 tackles, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry in a 28-13 win over Zion Chapel.

Thomas Horton, Cleveland: Caught 10 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns (18, 41) in the Panthers’ 42-41 victory over West End.

Elijah Jenkins, Parker: Was 18-of-29 passing for 313 yards with three TDs and 90 yards on 11 carries with two more touchdowns in a loss to Hueytown.

Deuntae Johnson, North Jackson: Ran for 110 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries as Class 4A No. 3 North Jackson defeated Cherokee County 48-19.

Derrick King, Andalusia: Rushed for 125 yards and caught two TD passes for 161 yards in a 20-14 win over Hillcrest-Evergreen.

Michael Lindsey, Elba: Accounted for 255 yards (193 rushing; 62 yards on three catches) for five touchdowns by rushing, receiving and an interception in 2 ½ quarters, leading the top-ranked Tigers in a 68-19 win over Highland Home.

Marlon Page, Notasulga: Ran 21 times for 214 yards and also recorded seven tackles and a safety on defense in a 49-13 win over Talladega County Central.

Devonte Parker, Washington County: Rushed 19 times for 207 yards and 3 TDs – on runs of 14, 2 and 12 yards – in a 34-21 victory over Bayside Academy.

Troymaine Pope, Anniston: Rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs won their fifth in a row with a 56-0 win over Locust Fork.

Anthony Robinson, Linden: Had 381 all-purpose yards in a win over McIntosh, completing 10-of-12 passes for 244 yards and four touchdowns while rushing the ball twice for 61 yards and two touchdowns. He also took his only punt return 76 yards to set up another score.

Dalton Wadley, Etowah: Completed 14-of-18 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns in the Blue Devils’ 35-7 win over Scottsboro.

Danny Woodson Jr., LeFlore: Caught eight passes for 133 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown, threw a 2-yard TD pass and scored a 2-point conversion in a 39-19 victory over Alma Bryant.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

Clay Finkelstein, Trinity: Blocked a punt to set up the Wildcats’ first touchdown and had five tackles in a 37-15 win over Catholic-Montgomery.

Isaiah Fowler, Hartselle: Scored two defensive touchdowns on a 45-yard interception return and 32-yard fumble return in 55-7 win over West Point.

Dajun Godwin, Providence Christian: Delivered 16 tackles, including one for a loss, helping the Eagles in a hard-fought 21-14 win over Barbour County.

Brett Guzay, Muscle Shoals: Had two interceptions in the second half to set up the go-ahead and game-clinching touchdowns as Muscle Shoals beat Athens 21-7.

Ham Holberg, Cottage Hill Chr.: Made a 27-yard field goal in overtime, lifting the Warriors to a 31-28 viotory over Flomaton.

Toby King, Lowndes Academy: Had nine tackles and a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 56-6 win over Abbeville Christian.

Justin Lasagna, Hewitt-Trussville: Hit a 35-yard field goal with six seconds left for a 17-14 win over Huffman.

Antonio Marsh, Blount: Returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown and spearheaded a defense that allowed only 13 yards of total offense in a 46-0 victory over Mary Montgomery.

Bobby McCain, Oxford: Pulled off a rare trifecta, returning a punt, an interception and added a rushing touchdown in the Yellow Jackets’ 41-28 win at home against Pell City.

Levi Morgan, Gaylesville: Had nine tackles and two interceptions in the Trojans’ 21-7 win over Spring Garden.

Josh Price, Cottonwood: Earned 17 tackles, including a quarterback sack, in the Bears’ 35-9 win over Houston Academy.

Noah Willis, Piedmont: Scooped up a punt on the bounce and returned it 60 yards down the sideline for a score with 2:33 to play, breaking a 33-all tie to propel the No. 3 Bulldogs to a 40-33 victory on the road against Weaver.