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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Maplesville High School secured home-field advantage in the first round of the AHSAA Class 1A state playoffs with a 49-0 triumph over Verbena High School on Oct. 27. The battle of the Red Devils saw Maplesville post two touchdowns in three of the four quarters and post 451 total yards of offense.

Touchdown runs of 44 and four yards by Nehemiah McCary and Jay Lagrone, respectively, in the first quarter made it 14-0 after the opening frame. McCary added a nine-yard touchdown run in the second to make it 21-0 at the intermission.

McCary ran for 118 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns.

“We played a great game in all three phases,” Maplesville head coach Brad Abbott said. “It has been a process for us … It is good to see the players seeing the positive things that are happening, the momentum building and them seeing they have not reached their ceiling yet and they can continue to get better each week with seeing results on Friday night.”

Quarterback Bradlee Padgett found Johnathon Wilson for a 45-yard touchdown connection to open the scoring in the second half. Wilson led Maplesville with four catches for 114 yards and one touchdown. Padgett was nearly perfect, going 7-for-8 passing for 158 yards and a touchdown.

Pearce Yeargan caught a touchdown from Aidan Abbott and ran for a 27-yard touchdown in the second half. Bryson Pickle had an 18-yard touchdown for Maplesville in the second half as well, making it four different running backs with a score in the game.

Maplesville (6-3) travels to John Carroll Catholic High School on Nov. 3 for its final game before the state playoffs.

“We are still focused on our last game of the season,” Abbott said. “It is going to be on television, and it is exciting for our kids to have another chance to do that. John Carroll does some things different from what we have seen this year from our other opponents.”

Verbena (1-8) looks to end their 2023 season with a win over A.L. Johnson High School on the same day to wrap up their 2023 season.