Russ Spence
Commercial Pressure Wash Expert
MOBILE - On a night for breaking records, Alabama had its way. Prattville quarterback Larry Smith, the state's Mr. Football who has signed with Vanderbilt, led the way to a thorough 51-14 victory for the host squad in the 20th annual Alabama-Mississippi High School All-Star Classic.
The Ladd-Peebles Stadium crowd looked on Saturday as records began falling in the third quarter and continued to topple into the fourth as Alabama dominated in winning for the second straight year.
Alabama holds a 14-6 lead in the series, which game officials are trying to move to December.
Smith said he entertained thoughts of a romp throughout the week.
"We all kind of sensed that,'' he said. "We had that feeling. Our goal was to get the record for points. I told them I'd be disappointed if we didn't score 40 points.''
Offensive lineman Caleb Thomas of Decatur said he was equally as confident.
"I felt it,'' he said, "because we were like family.''
Smith was offensive Most Valuable Player after completing 12-of-26 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Rolando McClain of Decatur was defensive MVP. He had one solo tackle and three assists.
Among the records Alabama set were for points, points in a quarter, points in a half, total points and total offense.
Mississippi won 38-9 in 1995 to provide the previous largest winning margin and most points scored.
Alabama's 20 third-quarter points topped the 17 Mississippi scored in one quarter in '95.
Alabama's 27 second-half points were the most in one half, surpassing the 24 Mississippi scored in '95 and Alabama scored in a 33-14 win in 2001.
Alabama's 486 yards in total offense bettered the record 363 set in '01.
While Alabama may have been supremely confident of winning, the blowout that unfolded was nonetheless surprising.
"We expected a little bit of competition,'' said defensive lineman Karlos Jones of Athens, who had a fumble recovery.
Alabama took a 7-0 lead on its first possession when Smith threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Auburn's Ralph Spry and St. James' Graham Sutter added the extra point.
Alabama moved ahead 14-0 with a 93-yard, six-play drive capped when Oxford's Charles McClain caught a deflected 25-yard touchdown pass from Smith.
Mississippi made it 14-7 with 5:04 left in the first quarter on a 35-yard pass from Austin Davis to Ronnie Tubbs. Eric Richards added the kick.
Alabama then got a 40-yard field goal by Sutter to make it 17-7 with 1:07 left until intermission, then surged ahead 37-7 entering the fourth quarter.
Alabama got a safety on a high punt snap, a 3-yard run by UMS-Wright's Terrell Edwards followed by a two-point pass from Smith to Spain Park's Justin Diliberto, a 42-yard field goal by Sutter and a 16-yard TD pass from Cedar Bluff quarterback Jamie Hampton to Eufaula's Jerrel Jernigan.
Hampton scored on a 5-yard run in the fourth and had an interception returned for a Mississippi TD. Jernigan added a 45-yard TD run.
"It was a lot of fun,'' Jones said. "But I was very surprised. I thought it was going to be a rough game.''
The Ladd-Peebles Stadium crowd looked on Saturday as records began falling in the third quarter and continued to topple into the fourth as Alabama dominated in winning for the second straight year.
Alabama holds a 14-6 lead in the series, which game officials are trying to move to December.
Smith said he entertained thoughts of a romp throughout the week.
"We all kind of sensed that,'' he said. "We had that feeling. Our goal was to get the record for points. I told them I'd be disappointed if we didn't score 40 points.''
Offensive lineman Caleb Thomas of Decatur said he was equally as confident.
"I felt it,'' he said, "because we were like family.''
Smith was offensive Most Valuable Player after completing 12-of-26 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Rolando McClain of Decatur was defensive MVP. He had one solo tackle and three assists.
Among the records Alabama set were for points, points in a quarter, points in a half, total points and total offense.
Mississippi won 38-9 in 1995 to provide the previous largest winning margin and most points scored.
Alabama's 20 third-quarter points topped the 17 Mississippi scored in one quarter in '95.
Alabama's 27 second-half points were the most in one half, surpassing the 24 Mississippi scored in '95 and Alabama scored in a 33-14 win in 2001.
Alabama's 486 yards in total offense bettered the record 363 set in '01.
While Alabama may have been supremely confident of winning, the blowout that unfolded was nonetheless surprising.
"We expected a little bit of competition,'' said defensive lineman Karlos Jones of Athens, who had a fumble recovery.
Alabama took a 7-0 lead on its first possession when Smith threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Auburn's Ralph Spry and St. James' Graham Sutter added the extra point.
Alabama moved ahead 14-0 with a 93-yard, six-play drive capped when Oxford's Charles McClain caught a deflected 25-yard touchdown pass from Smith.
Mississippi made it 14-7 with 5:04 left in the first quarter on a 35-yard pass from Austin Davis to Ronnie Tubbs. Eric Richards added the kick.
Alabama then got a 40-yard field goal by Sutter to make it 17-7 with 1:07 left until intermission, then surged ahead 37-7 entering the fourth quarter.
Alabama got a safety on a high punt snap, a 3-yard run by UMS-Wright's Terrell Edwards followed by a two-point pass from Smith to Spain Park's Justin Diliberto, a 42-yard field goal by Sutter and a 16-yard TD pass from Cedar Bluff quarterback Jamie Hampton to Eufaula's Jerrel Jernigan.
Hampton scored on a 5-yard run in the fourth and had an interception returned for a Mississippi TD. Jernigan added a 45-yard TD run.
"It was a lot of fun,'' Jones said. "But I was very surprised. I thought it was going to be a rough game.''