The Trussville Tribune
Page 14
Hewitt-Trussville RB decommits from Auburn, reveals new top 5 By Erik Harris, sports editor
TRUSSVILLE — Hewitt -Trussville running back Armoni Goodwin has experienced a change in heart.
after many sleepless nights and a lot of praying, I have decided to decommit from Auburn University and open up my recruitment process. I was overwhelmed and think that I rushed into commit-
right decision.” Goodwin, a 4-star prospect according to Rivals. com, had been committed to Auburn since May 2019. The Hewitt-Trussville senior says there are five schools
Hewitt-Trussville running back Armoni Goodwin accepts a handoff during a home game this season. Photo by Ron Burkett
The big-play senior took to Twitter on Monday night to announce his decommitment from Auburn. He says the Tigers are still an option as he opens his recruitment back up. “First off, I want to start off by thanking coach Malzahn, coach Cadillac and Auburn University for recruiting me and believing in me,” posted Goodwin. “But
ting, without thinking that this is biggest decision of my life right now. Auburn University is still in my Top 3. I just want to explore my options, during this short amount of time, to make sure that I make the best decision for the rest of my life. Please respect my decision because this has not been easy for me. My trust is in God, therefore I know I will be making the
he will focus on moving forward, including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU and Florida State. He led the Huskies with 1,424 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns on 152 carries (9.4 yard average) this season. He also had seven games with at least 100 yards rushing, as the Huskies finished up at 9-3 with a berth in the Class 7A quarterfinals.
December 2 - 8, 2020
Iron Bowl No. 1 Alabama rolls past No. 22 Auburn 42-13
By The Associated Press
TUSCLAOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Once the Iron Bowl kicked off, Nick Saban was just another passionate, heavily invested fan who was powerless to help his team win. His team still won — big. Mac Jones passed for 302 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, highlighted by two long ones to DeVonta Smith, and No. 1 Alabama rolled over rival No. 22 Auburn 42-13 on Saturday without Saban. The Crimson Tide (80, No. 1 playoff rankings) continued a dominating march through a schedule of all-Southeastern Conference games even minus its six-time national champion coach on the sideline. Saban tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and watched the game feed from home, witnessing the usual array of big plays with offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian running the show. Saban said his staff “did a marvelous job.” “Sark did a nice job of managing things, and I sat here and felt a little helpless," he said in a postgame zoom from his home. "I could see things and yell at things and listen to (wife) Miss Terry yell downstairs. It’s a little different. It still feels good to win.”
The result was much of the same against the Tigers (5-3), who suffered the second-most lopsided loss of Gus Malzahn's coaching tenure. The only bigger margin was Alabama's 52-21 win in the 2018 Iron Bowl. “They’re a very, very talented team,” Malzahn said. “We knew that. Still we came in here with the mindset that we wanted to win the game. To beat a team like that on the road, you’ve got to make plays. We didn’t do that. We didn’t play our best. It’s obvious.” Alabama started a string of three straight touchdowns with Jones's 66-yard touchdown to Smith, who was streaking by himself downfield after Auburn defenders bit on a double move. He later added a 58-yard catch and run on a quick slant, sprinting away from the Tigers. Smith had seven catches for 171 yards. Najee Smith ran for 96 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown, and John Metchie III caught a pair of scoring passes. “Not having Coach Saban is difficult and obviously he did a great job preparing all of us for a situation like this," Jones said. "It was clear we were prepared for this situation." Bo Nix passed for 227 yards and ran for a late touchdown for the Tigers,
Sharpe carves up Spartans to grab Tribune Player of the Week honors By Erik Harris, sports editor PINSON — The opportunity to throw the ball just wasn’t there last Friday night in the fourth-round of the Class 6 playoffs. With constant rain showering the playing surface at Willie Adams stadium in Pinson, the third-ranked Indians turned to their running game to advance past No. 2 Mountain Brook, 27-10. In fact, Pinson Valley quarterback Zach Pyron attempted a season-low two passes with no completions in the soggy semifinal bout. No passing, no receiving, no problem. Junior running back Michael Sharpe Jr. provided the hot hand in a crowded backfield to capture his first Tribune Player of the Week award. He provided some serious pop for the Region 6 champions, averaging 20 yards per tote on his way to 160 big ones and two touchdowns. Sharpe scored the first and last offensive touchdowns of the game, flashing 93 yards up the middle in the opening frame and later popping off a 39-yard effort late in the fourth. The junior is sure to get more touches this Friday night when Pinson Valley plays for its third state crown in four years against No. 7 Spanish Fort.
but also threw two interceptions. “It feels pretty terrible,” Nix said. “It’s not very fun. It just hurts because of everything that I’ve put into it, everything that I’ve done to get to this moment and just come up a lot short. It’s an awful feeling, to be honest with you.” Saban, meanwhile, couldn't talk to his team starting 90 minutes before kickoff though he still led the preparation during the week. He spoke to the media in his home's “recruiting room,” filled with Alabama memorabilia, including an elephant head on the wall and a pool table with a crimson playing surface. “That was really hard, especially the fact that I feel great," the 69-year-old said. THE TAKEAWAY Auburn: Managed a solid 347 total yards but had some missed opportunities. The Tigers had to settle for three long field goal attempts by Anders Carlson, who made kicks of 45 and 47 yards. Star receiver Seth Williams, who's from nearby Cottondale, dropped a sure touchdown, too. Alabama: Continued its strong defensive play of late, having given up 33 points in its last 18 quarters dating back to halftime of the Georgia game. Got revenge for a 48-45 loss last season.
of the week Presented by
Pinson Valley junior Michael Sharpe Jr. runs the ball against Mountain Brook last Friday night in Willie Adams Stadium. Photo by Vickie Unlap
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