The Tuscaloosa News is back with our Athlete of the Week contest, highlight the top local high school athletes from Oct. 17-23.
Readers can decide which athlete from the Tuscaloosa area had the most impressive performance each week. Last week, Bibb County football's Tre Taylor won the boys poll with 89.7% of the vote for his 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries in a 35-7 win over West Blocton.
Nominees for athlete of the week come from our top performers list the week before. Coaches and team stat keepers can send in stats to nominate players for top performer lists to sports@tuscaloosanews.com by 11 p.m. Friday.
See the nominees and vote below for The Tuscaloosa News Boys Athlete of the Week from Oct. 17-23. Voting will last until noon Thursday, Oct. 29.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sports top performers led by Winfield senior Blaine Bowen with six touchdowns
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Alabama high school football playoff race shifts after Week 9 games
The Tuscaloosa News Boys Athlete of the Week nominees
- Fayette County football's Mason Whitfield rushed for 288 yards and two touchdowns with 25 carries in a 42-21 win over East Lawrence.
- Pickens Academy football's Hudson Pennington rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown off 13 carries, completed 3-of-9 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns, returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown and recorded five tackles in a 42-27 win over Donoho.
- Sipsey Valley football's Trent Cole caught eight passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns and recorded two interceptions on defense in a 65-30 win over Jemison.
- Tuscaloosa Academy football's Mark Norris threw five touchdown passes and rushed for another in a 42-13 win over Hope Christian Academy.
- Winfield football's Blaine Bowen completed 14-of-19 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 227 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries in his final high school performance, a 64-42 season-finale win over Oakman.