Cullman's Hunter Brannon holds up his Team Alabama threads during a jersey presentation last week. The three-star Crimson Tide commit helped Alabama's all-stars beat Mississippi Saturday in Montgomery. 

MONTGOMERY — With Hunter Brannon’s help, Alabama beat Mississippi 25-14 in the 30th Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic on Saturday.

The Cullman High senior and three-star Crimson Tide commit started for Alabama at the Cramton Bowl and made his presence known while cycling in at center throughout the afternoon.

“I had a blast this week,” Brannon said in a text message. “I got to miss a week of school and play the game I love while being fed awesome food. The whole experience was top notch. The coaches, players and staff.”

Henry Ruggs returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, the first of several special teams plays that aided Alabama’s winning effort.

“There was a huge hole for me to run through on that play,” said Ruggs, a highly recruited receiver from Robert E. Lee who’s uncommitted for college. “What did I see? Green. A lot of green.”

Ruggs led all players with 120 all-purpose yards.

Alabama’s Jake Lane kicked three field goals to tie an All-Star record. Alabama also scored on a safety after Mississippi botched a snap on a punting opportunity. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa’s Brian Robinson, another Tide commit, put the game out of reach with a 13-yard touchdown run.

“It just shows the kicking game is very important, even in a game like this,” said Alabama coach Terry Curtis of UMS-Wright. “And when we needed to pound it there at the end, I thought Brian Robinson really ran the ball hard.”

In an era where dual-threat quarterback and big-play receivers often steal the show — especially in an All-Star showcase situation — it was no-frills special teams execution that pushed Alabama over the top.

“I’m old school, we practiced kicking every day,” Curtis said. “That was important. We kicked every day, all four phases. The kickoff return by Henry, that was big. Then they pooched it the rest of the time, but that’s OK, too.”

Mississippi Most Valuable Player Kylin Hill, of Columbus, led all rushers with 91 yards. Alabama MVP Thomas Johnston, of Spanish Fort, had a game-high 16 tackles, which was one shy of the all-star game record set by Philadelphia (Miss.) High’s C.J. Johnson in 2010.

Alabama’s win avenged Mississippi’s 28-21 victory in Hattiesburg last year, the first over Alabama since 2007. Alabama now leads the series 22-8.