The Maplesville defense has recorded six shutouts this season—seven if you consider the two points Shades Mountain scored on Sept. 16 were really against the MHS offense—and perhaps no player has been as crucial to that performance as Cameron Andrews.

Andrews, a junior middle linebacker, recorded 15 tackles in last week’s 35-0 win over Geneva County in the second round of the state playoffs and is The Clanton Advertiser’s Football Player of the Week.

Andrews was one of many new defensive starters at the beginning of the season, but he had an advantage over some teammates because he gained experience by starting on the offensive line toward the end of the 2010 season.

“He got a lot of playing time,” MHS coach Brent Hubbert said about Andrews, who also saw plenty of action at linebacker.

Playing in the middle, Andrews is responsible for receiving the defensive call from coaches on the sideline, then relaying the message to teammates and making sure everyone one is on the same page and lined up correctly.

He’s done that job well enough to lead a unit that has yet to allow a point in two playoffs games, and just two touchdowns in the past four games.

“They’ve done a good job,” Hubbert said. “A lot of younger guys have stepped in and taken over.”

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Previous winners

•Week 1: Javae Swindle, Jemison

•Week 2: Damian Mitchell, Maplesville

•Week 3: DeRodgus Campbell, Isabella

•Week 4: Jimmie Lanier, Billingsley

•Week 5: Braden McRae, Thorsby

•Week 6: Michael Seaton, Chilton Co.

•Week 7: Matt Morgan, Thorsby

•Week 8: Richard Hilliard, Chilton Co.

•Week 9: Tyler Smith, Isabella

•Week 10: Madison Bolton, Jemison

•Week 11: Carl Mitchell, Chilton Christian