Arab Dominates Albertville 35-14 in Class 5A Region 8 Opener

ALBERTVILLE, AL – Arab put together a complete performance Friday night at Vernor Wells Stadium, riding quarterback Nick Stephens and a punishing ground game to a 35-14 win over rival Albertville. The victory pushed the Knights to 3-0 on the season, opened Class 5A, Region 8 play with a win, and extended their winning streak in the series to seven straight.

Stephens Sets the Tone

Stephens was the story from start to finish, accounting for four touchdowns. He scored three on the ground and threw for another, finishing 5-of-9 passing for 91 yards while adding 81 yards on 11 carries. His dual-threat pressure kept the Albertville defense guessing all night, stretching the field with his arm and grinding out first downs with his legs.

Ingram Powers the Ground Attack

While Stephens grabbed headlines, running back Mason Ingram carried the workload. Ingram churned out 160 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, wearing down the Aggie front and controlling the clock. His steady production gave Arab a physical edge and let the offense keep the ball out of Albertville’s hands for long stretches.

Willis Provides the Spark Through the Air

Arab’s passing game leaned on big plays rather than volume. Tucker Willis made both of his catches count, hauling in two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. His deep connection with Stephens added a vertical threat that balanced the Knights’ run-heavy approach and helped stretch the lead.

Albertville Battles Back

Albertville, which entered the night at 2-1, kept fighting and reached the end zone twice. The Aggies showed flashes of the form that built their early-season record, but they struggled to slow Arab’s balanced attack and could not string together enough sustained drives to close the gap. The 0-1 start in region play puts added pressure on the weeks ahead.

What’s Next

Arab (3-0, 1-0) returns to Brindlee Mountain next week to host Lee-Huntsville, looking to keep its perfect record intact and build momentum in Region 8. Albertville (2-1, 0-1) turns its attention to Boaz as it aims to bounce back and steady its season after the region-opening loss.