PREP FOOTBALL: Vinemont’s Dye, 3 other locals land on AHSAA’s radar

Published 9:13 pm Monday, September 15, 2014

John Michael Dye was only tackled on half of his 12 carries last Friday night at home against Hanceville.

As for the other six?

Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown.

The tailback turned in the best local performance of the fall to date, ripping off 262 rushing yards and six scores in three quarters of Vinemont’s long-awaited 45-20 victory over its county and region rival. Those eye-opening stats not only helped end Hanceville’s four-year reign in the series but landed Dye in the “other top performances” part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s latest Prep Spotlight release.

Other than a 4-yarder late in the first half, Dye’s scoring scampers weren’t short. He sprinted 60 yards to the end zone on the game’s first play from scrimmage and tacked on TDs of 20, 42, 50 and 62 yards. For those without a calculator, that’s a smidge less than 40 yards a tote on touchdowns alone.

By halftime, Dye already had 195 yards and five scores on just nine carries. Vinemont finished with 454 yards on only 36 offensive snaps, all runs.

Addison’s Levi Hammack, West Point’s Kobe Smith and Cullman’s Brontae Harris were also noticed by the AHSAA for their Week 4 outings.

Hammack recovered a pair of fumbles, including one for a touchdown, and added two tackles for loss in the Bulldogs’ 42-7 road thrashing of No. 8 Falkville.

Smith sparked the visiting Warriors’ 31-6 shellacking of Ardmore by returning the second-half kickoff 80 yards for six points and catching a 58-yard scoring pass. The return TD followed a 93-yarder the week before against Columbia.

Harris returned the Bearcats’ first kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to tie Florence in the first minute of a 28-14 loss to the No. 6 Falcons. The senior was also 6 of 8 for 75 passing yards after taking over late for injured starter, Ross Crocker, in a Class 6A, Region 8 clash broadcasted statewide on Thursday-night TV.

Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson grabbed the AHSAA’s Prep Spotlight for Week 4 by becoming the state’s all-time prep wins leader. The Rebels’ 14-3 victory was Anderson’s 310th of his career. He surpassed Waldon Tucker, who touted a 309-126-3 mark following stops at Fayette County, Gordo and Demopolis Academy.

Anderson, now 310-126-0, edged Opelika linebacker Roy Yancey, Daphne’s defense, and a pair of lengthy runs in a close game between St. James and Montgomery-Catholic for the AHSAA’s weekly honor.

Yancey let loose for 21 tackles — four for loss, including two sacks — and two fumble recoveries in 2 1/2 quarters of Opelika’s 53-0 shutout of Pell City.

The Daphne defense produced five touchdowns — three interception returns and two scoop-and-scores — in a 62-21 runaway over Robertsdale.

Thomas Stokes tied a state record with a 99-yard touchdown for Montgomery Catholic. St. James got the last laugh, though, as Jaylen McCoy’s 92-yard TD run with 21.3 seconds left proved to be the game-winner in a 21-14 thriller.