Scottsboro receiving-yards record broken twice

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

Malik Talley broke a Scottsboro record that had stood since 1979 and joined his father on Scottsboro's single-game receiving list a couple of weeks ago when he grabbed seven passes for 149 yards against Sparkman.

The record of 129 yards had been held by Jim Cannon. Talley's dad, Page, had been No. 2 on the list with 127 yards but now is fourth.

It may be a sign of change for coach Patrick Nix's Wildcats because Talley held the record for just one week. Resetting the all-time single-game mark last week was Dylan McQueen with a six-catch, 177-yard game against Brewer.

The Wildcats (2-1, 1-0) play at Albertville (3-0, 1-0) in a Class 6A Region 7 game tonight.

Nix is a former offensive coordinator for Miami and Georgia Tech who played at Auburn from 1992-95, when he threw for 4,957 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Tigers' Morris returns

Zach Morris will make his 2014 debut tonight when the Duke University commitment and the Ringgold Tigers travel to Adairsville for a key Region 6-AAA opener. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Morris had knee surgery to improve blood flow after an old injury was slow to heal.

Coach Robert Akins said Morris will play sparingly tonight for the Tigers (2-0) but likely will be in different roles as the season progresses.

"Getting Zach back is a big lift for us," he said. "He's still getting in playing shape, but just having him available gives us more depth on the defensive line. We're excited to have him back, and eventually we plan to get him on the offensive side of the ball some."

The athletic Morris might be in line for a few plays at tight end and maybe not just as a blocker.

"We can utilize him in a lot of places, like at fullback, H-back or tight end," Akins said. "He thinks he has good hands, but that remains to be seen."

A Tiano first

Senior quarterback Nick Tiano turned in a varsity first in Baylor's victory over Montgomery Bell Academy, collecting 121 yards on 19 carries.

"It is by far his best rushing performance," coach Phil Massey said of the Mississippi State commitment. "We did what we felt like we needed to do to win the game. He was balanced -- 19 rushing and 23 passing attempts. A lot of his carries came on reading the defense."

Woods has surgery

Quarterback Nicholas Woods, injured in East Hamilton's first game of the year, underwent surgery this week to repair a torn ACL.

"He was rocked at the initial diagnosis on the sideline because he wanted to go back in the game," Hurricanes coach Ted Gatewood said, "but he's an even-keel guy. That's what makes him good at what he does. Overall, he handled it very well."

A sophomore, Woods will turn his attention to rehabbing the knee and recuperating with hopes of getting on the baseball field in the spring.

Debut at linebacker

Grundy County's Logan Meeks stepped up in his team's 36-35 overtime win over Sequatchie County. He had a good night offensively but just as good a night defensively, and it was from a new position.

The senior ran for 101 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff 85 yards for another TD, but his biggest score came in overtime, a reception on a two-point conversion that sealed the win. On a pivotal play late in the game, a fourth-and-16, he ran for a first down on a fake punt that kept the Yellow Jackets in the game.

Moving from safety, he played lineacker for the first time in his career. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Meeks had double-digit tackles with four for lost yardage and a sack.

"He played like he'd been playing there the last three years," Grundy coach Nick Bryant said. "He had an outstanding second half on defense."

Surprise for Roden

Austin Roden, the East Ridge assistant coach who continues to work between cancer treatments, was surprised before last week's game against Central with a "Phillip Fulmer Legacy" shadow box personalized by the former Tennessee coach and presented by Alan Pressley and El Meson's Raul Ruiz. The box includes photos of Fulmer, including one with his former youth coach in Winchester, Wayne Nucholls.

El Meson also gave Roden, an avid Volunteers fan, a $100 gift card.

Hamilton County commissioners Warren Mackey and Tim Boyd and school board member David Testerman helped set up the presentation, and the Central and East Ridge head coaches were part of it. A 2012 Hall of Fame Tennessee football was another gift.

Allen gets first

John Allen, who resigned as Central's coach after its final game last year, wound up taking over at Powell High near Knoxville and got his first win there last week. The Panthers opened with an 80-point loss to state-ranked Fulton and followed with a 34-point loss to CAK, also state-ranked, before beating Knoxville Karns 38-28 in their first district outing.

Before his time at Central, Allen coached at Bradley Central, Silverdale Baptist and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe.

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