Skip to content

Remember When — Red Devils’ Michael Alford runs wild against Lake Co.

Remember When — Red Devils’ Michael Alford runs wild against Lake Co.
Remember when takes a look back at the local stories from the files of The Messenger that took place 1, 5, 10, 20 and 30 years ago.
30 Years Ago
Oct. 30 — Saying his team “had arthritis from patting itself on the back” after accepting a bid to the 12th annual Civitan Bowl, Union City head coach Randy Barnes watched his team give a subpar effort in a 28-6 loss to Dyersburg. Mistake-prone with two interceptions, four fumbles and touchdown called back via penalty, the Tornadoes got their only touchdown on a one-yard run by Lane Wright. Both Obion Central and South Fulton also came out on the short end of the stick, the Rebels haunted by seven turnovers in a 28-0 loss to Trenton that kept them one win short of the necessary six to qualify for a bowl game. SF got a TD run by Patrick Hobbs and a two-point conversion pass from Neal Covington to Jeff Polk, but lost to Gibson County 13-8.
20 Years Ago
Oct. 28 — South Fulton swept the Messenger’s Player of the Week honors with sophomore quarterback Jeremy McFarland and noseguard/linebacker Donald Parr honored. McFarland accumulated 215 yards between his passing and running, throwing for two scores and running for a third in the Devils’ 18-2 triumph over Massac Co. (Ill.). Parr had 11 tackles in all, two pass breakups and a forced fumble when MC was threatening to score.
Oct. 30 — Penny Wade and Charity Brown helped the Lake Road girls break a losing streak of more than two years in a 23-17 triumph over Fulton County in the middle school basketball opener for both schools. Marlayna Newsom and Letha Watts also had points at critical times for the Lady Generals. Elsewhere in the junior high ranks, Pam Castleman had 11 points to help Ridgemont edge Union City 28-25 before Keith Johnson tallied 20, James Jones was good for 12 and Coby Watts chipped in with 10 markers in the Tornadoes’ 65-36 triumph over the Mustangs.
10 Years Ago
Oct. 28 — A pair of standout individual performances on the gridiron met with opposite results for Obion County teams. South Fulton’s Michael Alford posted one of the most prolific rushing efforts in school history when he ran for 317 yards and six touchdowns in the Red Devils’ 44-12 trouncing of Lake County. The diminutive 5-6, 140-pound Alford received honorable mention for his efforts statewide by the Associated Press. Wes Moore’s 377 passing yards and three touchdowns were wasted, however, as Obion Central suffered a 24-22 upset loss to Humboldt. Tarez Bacon caught 10 passes in place of the injured Cory Robertson for the Rebels, who had their four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 7-2.
5 Years Ago
Oct. 29— Union City locked up a playoff spot in Class 1A with a 49-6 drubbing of one-win West Carroll. Pat Polk and Kendrick Price scored two touchdowns apiece for the Golden Tornadoes, who improved to 6-3 with one regular season game remaining. Head coach Jimmy Fishel lauded the play of several players, including Will Arnold, Hunter Cash, Ronnie Fair, Luke Sanderson, Rance Barnes, Darrin Dickerson and Brandon Easley in the lopsided triumph.
Oct. 29 — The team of Terry Wiseman, Matt Russell, Randy Kincade and Jerry Long combined to shoot 17-under par and win the Abe Jolley Memorial Golf Tournament at Poplar Meadows Country Club. One shot back and in second place was a foursome that included Bedford Dunavant, Herman Jenkins, Bruce Moss and Phillip White.
1 Year Ago
Oct. 25 — Obion Central rose three places to No. 3 in the latest Class 4A Associated Press prep football poll. The 8-1 Rebels, who would later in the week postpone their Thursday game until Friday due to rain, used a 56-6 blowout of overmatched Haywood to rebound from their only loss of the season — a 50-36 setback vs. Covington — to trail only No. 1 Greeneville and unbeaten Lexington.
Oct. 26 — Both the girls’ and boys’ cross country teams from Obion Central and Union City’s Daniel Williamson earned trips to the state meet in Nashville with stellar performances in the regional. The Lady Rebels and Williamson were both crowned 7A-AA champions, while the OC boys placed second as a group. Members of the Central girls’ squad that claimed seven of the Top 11 places in the regional meet were Nichole Whitson, Brenna Wilkins, Rachel Jones, Whittney Dodd, Kris Storey, Brittney Dodd and Peyton Daniel. Making up the OCCHS boys’ squad was Jackson Smith, Ian Miller, Drake Campbell, Coleman Dunn, Austin Riley, Alex Ferrell and Dakota Eaves. Published in The Messenger 10.25.12