By TIM GAYLE
In a conference full of
talented tailbacks, Alden Stroud stood out. Not
just because of his statistics, which include 1,830
rushing yards and 2,747 all-purpose yards this past
season. The Alabama Christian Academy senior brings so
much more to the game than simple statistics. “He
just has an indomitable spirit,” ACA coach Nate Sanford
said. “He brings it every single day in practice.
Against Andalusia (in the 4A quarterfinals), he played
scout team running back in practice to help us get ready
to play Andalusia. There’s not a lot of 2,000-yard
rushers that would do that in Week 13. He has such a
competitive spirit, he does not know how to do anything
else but fight tooth and nail.”
Coaches agreed, making
Stroud the Montgomery Independent’s Capital City
Conference Player of the Year. In addition to helping
the Eagles to a school-record 10 wins and the
quarterfinals of the 4A playoffs, Stroud contributed 16
tackles on defense early in the year, rushed for 1,830
yards and 17 touchdowns on 239 carries, added 304
receiving yards on 27 catches, ran back 16 kickoffs for
516 yards and a pair of touchdowns and returned 16 punts
for 97 yards. He even took a turn at punting
while Reece Solar was sidelined with a broken jaw.
“We didn’t ask him to play
cornerback after Week One or Two, but he started there
as a sophomore and as a junior,” Sanford said. “He’s
electric returning kicks, but he’s got to be carrying
the ball. Against Ashford, Reece (the Eagles’
quarterback) goes down with a broken jaw and then we had
a drive where Alden carried it eight consecutive times
to start the second half. He just rammed it down their
throat just by sheer will. Ashford is plenty talented
but Alden just said I’m taking this game over and we’re
walking out of here with a ‘W.’”
While Stroud had the versatility to
make the team as an athlete, he was one of four great
backs to play in the conference, along with Tony
Amerson of Saint James, Keefe White of Montgomery
Academy and Tyler Price of Catholic.
Catholic coach Aubrey Blackwell was
chosen as the Capital City Conference Coach of the
Year after leading the Knights to their first area or
region title since 1989. Catholic’s 10-2 record was
the second best in school history (behind the 1989
team) and the best in program history for a third-year
coach. Blackwell’s 22-11 record in his first three
years at the school is second behind Ralph Furlong’s
24 wins in 1946-48 and better than a long list of
talented Catholic coaches that include Ed Jones, Cliff
Little, Jack Hankins Sr., Jeff Clark and Charlie
Jones.
Stroud was one of three players who
received a vote at some position from all five Capital
City Conference coaches, along with Solar and Trinity
receiver Luke Hufham.
Saint James led the way with eight
first-team picks, followed by Alabama Christian with
six, Catholic with five, Trinity with four and
Montgomery Academy with three.
Votes for All-CCC Teams made by
coaches:
WR – Kamryn Jackson, 5-8, 140, Sr.,
Catholic
WR – Luke Hufham, 6-5, 191, Sr.,
Trinity Presbyterian
TE – Cade Crow, 6-4, 242, Sr., Saint
James
OL – Hampton Bopp, 6-2, 187, Sr.,
Trinity Presbyterian
OL — William Graves, 6-5, 270, Sr.,
Saint James
OL — Will Cousins, 6-2, 270, Sr.,
Montgomery Academy
OL — David Coulter, 6-2, 235, Sr.,
Alabama Christian
C – Houston Hamilton, 5-11, 251, Sr.,
Saint James
TB – Tony Amerson, 5-10, 212, Jr.,
Saint James
TB – Keefe White, 6-0, 200, Sr.,
Montgomery Academy
QB – Reece Solar, 6-2, 205, Jr.,
Alabama Christian
Athlete- Alden Stroud, 5-9, 165, Sr.,
Alabama Christian
Placekicker – Coleman Harrison, 6-0,
205, So., Alabama Christian
DL – Steven Sadie, 6-0, 182, Sr., Saint
James
DL – C.J. Person, 6-2, 300, Jr.,
Catholic
DL – Charlie Ryan, 6-4, 250, Sr.,
Catholic
DL – Ty Taveras, 6-1, 230, Sr., Alabama
Christian
LB – Steven Yergensen, 6-0, 210, Sr.,
Saint James
LB – Parker Dennis, 6-1, 217, Sr.,
Catholic
LB – John Wilson Jarrett, 6-0, 205,
Sr., Alabama Christian
LB – Caleb Kreitz, 6-1, 212, Sr.,
Trinity Presbyterian
DB – T.R. Robertson, 6-2, 178, Sr.,
Saint James
DB – Colin Duncan, 5-11, 170, So.,
Saint James
DB – Nate Meacham, 5-11, 155, Jr.,
Montgomery Academy
DB – Greg Ellis, 6-0, 200, Sr.,
Catholic
Punter – McKay Taylor, 5-9, 155, Sr.,
Trinity Presbyterian
Honorable Mention
B.J. Barker, DB, Sr., Catholic;
Reed Black, OL, Sr., Alabama Christian; Trace Bright,
QB, So., Trinity Presbyterian; Blake Bryant, DB, So.,
Alabama Christian; Garrett Cottingham, DL, Sr., Alabama
Christian; Luke Craig, OL, Sr., Catholic; Jackson Davis,
S, Sr., Trinity Presbyterian; Reggie Dixon, DL, Jr.,
Montgomery Academy; Jackson Duke, OL, Jr., Alabama
Christian; Grayson Evans, WR, Sr., Alabama Christian;
Cole Faucheux, DL, Jr., Catholic; Hunter Ferrall, QB,
Sr., Catholic; William Hooper, LB, Sr., Catholic; Trey
Lindsey, QB, Jr., Montgomery Academy; CJ Owens, OL, So.,
Catholic; CJ Paymon, LB, So., Montgomery Academy; Tyler
Price, TB, Sr., Catholic; Cole Schlemmer, LB, Sr.,
Alabama Christian; Shaw Woodson, DB, Jr., Saint James;
Mason Young, LB, Sr., Montgomery Academy.
Player of the Year – Alden Stroud,
Alabama Christian
Coach of the Year – Aubrey Blackwell,
Catholic
FOOTBALL
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