Alabama takes fourth in a row in all-star game
Published 11:25 pm Saturday, December 10, 2011
Daphne High School running back T.J. Yeldon rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and caught three passes for 37 yards to lead Alabama to a 31-12 win in the 25th Alabama-Mississippi High School All-Star Game at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl Saturday.
The Auburn commitment won MVP honors and helped Alabama to its fourth consecutive All-Star victory.
Mississippi last won the game in 2007. Alabama improved to 18-7 in the series that was played at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium from 1988-2010.
Mississippi State commitment Devon Bell of Warren Central kicked a 20-yard field goal following a blocked Alabama punt inside the 10-yard line and punted three times.
Mississippi State commitment Adarius Barnes of Port Gibson had three tackles and an interception for Mississippi.
Vicksburg’s A.J. Stamps played, but didn’t record any statistics.
Alabama quarterback Jonathan Wallace — a Southern Miss commit — shared snaps with Florida State commitment Jameis Winston behind center. Wallace was 3-for-3 passing for 65 yards. Winston was 17-for-24 for 121 yards and two interceptions, while rushing for 36 yards and a touchdown.
A strong Montgomery crowd watched as Alabama, coached by Decatur High School’s Jere Adcock, jumped out to a 24-3 lead by halftime. Alabama ran 40 plays to Mississippi’s 15 – and gained 237 yards to Mississippi’s 15.
Mississippi clawed back to within 12 at 24-12 in the second half when Greg Sims of Brookhaven caught a punt on first bounce and sped 51 yards for a TD midway through the third quarter and A.J. Jefferson tackled an Alabama runner in the end zone for a safety midway through the fourth period.
Yeldon, who scored on runs of 2 and 9 yards in the first half, sealed the win with 1:37 remaining when he shook loose for a 37-yard TD run. Matt Pensa of Austin booted a 28-yard field goal for Alabama.
Sims, who had two tackles and also returned one kickoff 33 yards, was chosen the Mississippi MVP.
Alabama’s game domination included 21 first downs to Mississippi’s three, 69 offensive plays for 334 yards to just 36 plays and 60 total yards for Mississippi.
The hosts have now won four in a row and six of the last seven.