Mountain Brook's Golsan Shows Versatility
Jud Golsan is a player who has learned how to improvise.
He improvised for 419 yards rushing and passing Friday night as Mountain Brook downed Cullman 49-34.
Golsan rushed for 202 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 217 and two more TDs in the win to grab this week’s AHSAA Prep Spotlight.
The Spartans (8-1) lost leading rusher J.D. Marsh to an ankle injury in the first quarter and inserted Golsan, who had been thrust into that kind of pressure cooker before.
Last season as a junior, the Mountain Brook High School wide receiver was pressed into action at quarterback when the starter went down with a broken leg in the opening game of the regular season.
When the QB, Morgan Ogilvie, returned five weeks later, Golsan went back to his duties as a wide receiver. He was so talented at catching passes that coaches selected him as a wideout for the Alabama All-Star football team which plays Mississippi in December.
This season, however, Golsan moved back to quarterback and has led the Spartans to an 8-1 record and runner-up finish in Class 6A, Region 6. The backfield has been balanced all season with Golsan and Marsh. Friday night, Golsan had to wear two hats – none of them his specialty of catching passes.
"We just had to scramble and come up with a game plan for him," Spartans coach Chris Yeager told The Birmingham News. "We put the game in Jud's hands and said win it or lose it for us, and he made the plays."
Golsan had five plays that covered at least 50 yards. Two came on touchdown runs of 54 and 53 yards, another was a 50-yard touchdown pass, and the other two set up two short scoring runs.
It took all that and more for the Spartans to fend off Cullman’s terrific passing attack led by Bearcats quarterback Tyler Caldwell. Caldwell attempted 60 passes in the game, eight shy of the state record, and completed a state-record 41 for 346 yards and a touchdown.
Other highlights reported to the AHSAA from last weekend games:
DNDRICK RICHARDSON, BARBOUR COUNTY: Richardson scored on an 18-yard run and on an 89-yard kickoff returns for Barbour County's only scores and earned a sack with just over two minutes to go on fourth down at the Jags 10-yard line as Barbour County won its first-ever region football title with a 12-7 win over Houston Academy. Richardson finished with 124 yards rushing on 13 carries on offense and had 12 tackles, highlighted by the key sack, on defense.
DEION CURRY, PICKENS COUNTY: Completed 16-of-26 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns as the Tornadoes downed Fultondale, 27-12. He connected with Mardrecus Hood for two scores covering 27 and 46 yards.
DEON COLLIER, PICKENS COUNTY: Recorded 16 tackles in Pickens County’s 27-12 win over Fultondale.
TRE COSBY, TANNER: Rushed for 266 yards on 33 carries and scored three touchdowns on attempts of 2, 6 and 6 yards in Tanner's 47-21 win over Hatton.
ADAM McCARLEY, PHILLIPS: McCarley rushed 17 times for 167 yards and scored three two-point conversions in the Bears’ 56-20 win over Waterloo to clinch a 1A state playoff berth. He also completed 15-of-23 pass attempts for 245 yards and three TDs, intercepted 3 passes on defense and broke up two more pass attempts.
LEONARD STEPHENS, HUEYTOWN: Ran for 182 yards and three touchdowns as the Gophers beat Jackson-Olin 55-34.
TIM SIMON, CORDOVA: Simon scored four touchdowns and accounted for 293 yards of total offense in just three quarters to lead Cordova past West Blocton 48-20. He returned a botched field goal try 95 yards for a touchdown and also caught a TD pass of 65 yards from Ryan Smith.
GARRETT POWELL, HOMEWOOD: Ran for one touchdown and passed for three more – the final toss coming with 1:11 remaining as the Patriots nipped Gardendale 31-27. He finished 24-of-37 passing for 290 yards.
DERRICK COLVIN, JACKSON-OLIN: Was 26-of-40 passing for 308 yards and four touchdowns as the Mustangs fell to Hueytown, 55-34. Receiver Montaurius Smith had 15 receptions for 193 yards and three of the J-O TDs.
MICAH KEITH, SHADES MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN: Recorded a school-record 23 tackles in the Eagles’ 56-7 loss to Isabella.
JUDAH FULLER, JESS LANIER: The Tigers quarterback ran 10 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns and completed 10-of-21 passes for 176 yards, including a 40-yard TD connection to Brandon Heavens, as Lanier beat Paul Bryant 36-7. Fuller also kicked a 29-yard field goal.
DEVYN MURPHREE, J.B. PENNINGTON: In a must-win situation for the Tigers to get to the playoffs, Murphree piled up 333 all-purpose yards, scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion and had 14 tackles in a 40-18 win over Danville. He had one stop for a loss and a fumble recovery and finished with 213 yards rushing on 22 carries with two touchdowns and added a 63-yard punt return for a score and another 57 yards on kickoff returns.
TREY PARSONS, SUSAN MOORE: The senior wide receiver had seven receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 38-6 win over Crossville.
CHANCE PAYNE, ONEONTA: The senior linebacker collected 14 tackles, including two sacks and two more for loss, but the Redskins fell 14-6 to St. Clair County.
DAVID DAVIDSON, NEW BROCKTON: Recorded 14 tackles and three sacks, leading the Gamecock defense to its first shutout since 2005 in a 24-0 win over Samson.
RYAN ALLIS, NORTHVIEW: Ryan Allis kicked a 19-yard field goal in overtime, giving Northview a 17-14 win over Dothan in the 31st annual city championship game. It was Allis' first career field goal and only the second time in the series that a game ended on a kick. Allis also made two extra points and kicked two of his three kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks with his third kickoff to the 5-yard line.
JERMAINE WILLIAMS, SLOCOMB: Williams returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown midway in the third quarter to break a tie and give the Red Tops a 21-14 win over Dale County. Williams added 44 yards rushing in a limited role because of an ankle injury while teammate Scottie Burdeshaw had 178 yards rushing and a touchdown.
PIERRE WARREN, MARBURY: Keyed a 20-17 win over Montgomery Academy with 179 yards rushing and two touchdowns and one passing TD.
OURTNEY MOSS, ALABAMA CHRISTIAN: Ran for 210 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Eagles beat Bullock County, 40-14.
DEVEN CHEATHAM, GEORGIANA: Ran six times for 211 yards with TD runs of 40, 60 and 65 yards in the Panthers’ 60-0 win over J.F. Shields.