AHSAA News | Elba’s Alvin Henderson sets AHSAA career rushing record with 40-24 comeback win over Florala

ELBA – Senior Running Back Alvin Henderson became the AHSAA’s all-time leading rusher with 199 yards on 27 carries on Friday night as the Tigers (8-2) defeated Florala (7-3) 40-24 in a key Class 1A, Region 2 game.
He scored four touchdowns in the win – increasing his season totals to 2,625 yards on 207 carries and 46 touchdowns – which is tops this season, according to the nation MaxPreps. His career rushing totals are now 9,935 yards and 178 rushing touchdowns. He could become the first 10,000-yard runner in state history in the first round of the playoffs – which would put him in an elite group nationally as only the eighth high school running back to reach that milestone in his career .
Friday night’s performance surpassed Alexandria’s previous record (9,839 yards). Mac Campbell in a career that lasted from 1993 to 1997.
Campbell was very supportive of Henderson’s pursuit of his record, which stood the test of time for 27 years. He traveled from his home in Huntsville on Friday evening to witness Henderson’s milestone achievement. Campbell, who was a high school teammate on the Florala head coach’s Alexandria Class 4A state championship team in 1997 Kyle Davispersonally congratulated Henderson during a special on-field ceremony following the game. AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon was also present and congratulated Henderson as a team and head coach Marc Sieving watched during the ceremony and post-game celebration.
Elba clinched second place in the Class 1A state playoffs with the win and will be at home in the first round of the AHSAA state football playoffs when they begin in two weeks.
Florala kept Henderson at bay until he finally broke through with a 34-yard TD run late in the first period. He broke the record with a five-yard run on a third-and-4 play for a key first down as Elba rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to record its eighth win of the season.
Henderson, who is committed to Auburn University, came into Elba’s Senior Night game Friday night needing just over 104 yards to break Campbell’s all-time AHSAA rushing record. Florala’s defense did an excellent job slowing him down in the first half. The Tigers found their rhythm towards the end of the first half and Henderson took control in the second half after blocking strongly up front.
Elba’s star running back, who has committed to Auburn University, led the nation with 68 touchdowns scored last season and set the AHSAA single-season rushing record with 3,523 yards on 225 carries – an average of 15. 7 yards per carry – and also set a state mark with 61 rushing touchdowns. This year he is averaging a career-high 262.5 yards rushing per game. Over his high school career, he averaged 13.4 yards per carry on 744 carries. He passed for 178 touchdowns and scored 188 total touchdowns, including pass receptions, punts and kickoff returns. His tandem yards total, which includes kick returns, passing and receiving yards, is 10,481 yards in 52 games.
Also Friday night, Russell County’s Bryson Riggins Passed for 543 yards and nine touchdowns – both season highs in the AHSAA – and led Russell County to a 77-40 victory over Rehobeth in Class 6A, Region 2. The win secured the No. 2 seed in Class 6A, Region 2 for Russell County (7-2).