In seven previous meetings with Pike County, the best Goshen could manage was a 13-13 tie in 1956.

The eighth meeting was different – especially for Eagles’ sophomore running back Marcus Jackson.

Jackson had 314 total yards in a 51-26 Eagles victory over Pike County and earned Alabama Sports Writers Association offensive player of the week honors.

Jackson compiled 230 yards rushing on 17 carries with touchdown runs of 9, 15, 44, 40 and 43 yards, had one catch for 16 yards, kicked five extra points and, for good measure, added 10 tackles and an interception with a 68-yard return on defense.

Jackson edged out two other solid finalists in Montevallo’s Kevin Callender and Slocomb’s Jermaine “Juicy” Williams.

Callender, the winner in Week One, accounted for 433 yards – 213 passing (completing 6-of-10 attempts) and 220 rushing – with three touchdowns on either side of the ball in a 42-21 win over West Blocton.

Williams had 342 yards rushing on 26 carries with four touchdowns, helping Slocomb run all over a normally stingy Houston Academy defense in a 42-17 win over the fourth-ranked Raiders. Williams scored on runs of 58, 25, 40 and 27 yards and had a 54-yard run to the 1.

The ASWA defensive/special teams player of the week was Mountain Brook’s Marshall Burgin.

The safety recovered a fumble and forced a fumble — both leading to touchdowns – and had an interception in a 17-14 win over Vestavia Hills.

The other two finalists were a Dutch treat in the form of Deshler’s Chris Holland and Prattville’s Anthony Holland. Chris Holland recovered two fumbles and forced another fumble as Class 4A, No. 2 Deshler held on for a 7-2 win against Class 3A, No. 5 Colbert County.

His second fumble recovery came in the closing minutes and stopped Colbert County’s final drive.

Some 61 players were nominated in this week’s list from ASWA members in Birmingham, Centre, Dothan, Gadsden, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Oneonta, Russellville, Troy, and Wetumpka, with the top players chosen by an ASWA panel.