August

‘One more’ rivalry win for Panthers

When Jemisons’ football team went into the locker room for halftime on Aug. 30 trailing rival Chilton County High School 21-6, the Panthers knew exactly what they needed to do.

They needed only to take an approach based on their mantra: “One more.”

Instead of the stakes, playing in front of a raucous Panther Stadium crowd in the first game of the season for both teams, the JHS players focused on making one more defensive stop or scoring one more touchdown.

It worked, as Jemison rallied for a 34-28 win when senior Keyshawn Jemison ran in nine yards for a touchdown in the second overtime.

A fellow senior, offensive/defensive lineman Brandon Stokes, said the team never doubted it could come back and win.

“We knew all week that if we could get into the fourth quarter, we could take it,” Stokes said. “To go out like that as a senior, with a double overtime win over Clanton, you can’t beat that.”

September

Mustangs reach milestone win

Isabella’s volleyball program won its 400th match under coach Glen Graham on Sept. 12.

The milestone was reached with a 2-0 (25-7, 25-19) victory over Billingsley.

The Mustangs defeated Shelby County, 2-0 (25-19, 25-20) earlier in the tri-match.

Graham said the occasion was made even more special by several former players attending the matches, including Jessica Maciel and Miranda Magnus, who helped call lines.

“You think about other players who have helped you get you there and other coaches,” Graham said. “It’s always neat seeing the tradition.”

Mustangs win fourth straight county volleyball tournament

The Isabella Varsity volleyball team won its fourth consecutive county tournament title on Sept. 28, knocking off the Jemison Panthers two sets to one.

Despite dropping the first set of the championship match, 25-13, in the best-of-three series, the Mustangs battled back to win back-to-back sets, 25-18 and 15-11.

“We didn’t play our best, but we found a way again,” IHS coach Glen Graham said. “We dug ourselves a big hole against Jemison.

“It’s exciting for the kids and the coaches. It’s hard enough to win one, but to win that many straight is an accomplishment because everybody is shooting for you.”

Isabella’s Landy Griffith was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. The all-tournament team also included Maplesville’s Alexus Nix, Chilton County’s Kacy Sanders, Isabella’s Unique Robinson and Sarah Graham, Thorsby’s Sabrina Ellison and Jemison’s Denten Ellison.

October

Verbena snaps 12-game losing streak

Verbena snapped a 12-game losing streak on Oct. 25 with a 20-19 win over Winterboro, which also entered the game winless on the season.

“We needed that so bad,” VHS coach Mike Harris said moments before being doused with cold liquid. “I’ve been waiting for that for two years. It’s just unreal.”

The Red Devils (1-8 overall, 1-6 region) had to come from behind for the win, as it appeared early that it would be the visiting Bulldogs (0-9, 0-7) who would earn their first victory of the season.

Winterboro scored on its first three possessions. Though they were piling up the points, the Bulldogs converted on only one of their point-after attempts, a fact that would come back to haunt them.