Chris Ashford beats up on an academy that’s named after him, earns a trophy or something
Chambers Academy running back Chris Ashford came up about a yard short of completing a 2-point conversion in overtime and making sure the Rebels’ season — and his high school career — didn’t end last Friday.
Maybe it’s because he was a little worn out from the 336 other yards he had run for over the course of the prior 48 minutes.
Ashford ran 34 times for 336 yards and three scores in Chambers’ 56-55 overtime loss to Ashford Academy on Friday, a loss that knocked the Rebels out of the playoffs, but a performance that earned the senior a mention on the statewide “best of the rest” list for offensive player of the week, released by the Alabama Sports Writers Association today.
The senior ran for 1602 yards and 17 touchdowns this year, including 620 yards and six touchdowns over the past two weeks.
Russell County’s Deonta Holt won the offensive honors, accounting for 493 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in the Warriors’ 65-50 loss to Eufaula on Friday.
A pair of area players also cracked the “best of the rest” list in the defense/special teams category.
Central kicker Antonio King provided the winning margin in the Red Devils’ 20-12 win over Wetumpka on Friday, kicking field goals from 25 and 42 yards and nailing both extra points.
Valley safety/return man/wide receiver/headhunter/sometimes quarterback/emergency punter Enrique Florence also cracked the list for recording 12 tackles and scoring the game-winning 8-yard touchdown run with 1:24 to go in a 22-16 win over Smiths Station on Friday.
St. Jude’s George Price won the defense/special team honors, returning the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown, picking off two passes, throwing a 23-yard TD strike and rushing for a 71-yard touchdown in a 42-14 win over Autaugaville.
