The Monroe Journal's Josh Dewberry most closely predicted Iron Bowl score

UA defenders close in on an Auburn ball carrier.

Of the nearly 80 football fans who submitted Iron Bowl predictions to The Courant last week, Monroe Journal staff writer Josh Dewberry most accurately predicted the outcome of Saturday’s Alabama-Auburn game.

Josh, who grew up in the Lenox community but now lives in Excel, predicted that Alabama would win, 56-13, and Alabama ended up winning the game, 55-44. Josh came real close to Alabama’s point total, but was a little short on the Auburn side. Either way you look at it though, no one else came so close to correctly picking the final outcome.

Alabama and Auburn’s combined 99 total points broke the record for most total points in an Iron Bowl.

Local grant writer Cara Stallman, who most accurately predicted the outcome of last year’s Iron Bowl, came closest this year to predicting the total number of points scored in the Iron Bowl. She predicted a 45-38 Alabama win, that is, 83 total points.

Evergreen native and former Tuskegee University quarterback Justin Nared and former Hillcrest Jaguar Jeff Hallford came next. Justin predicted a 38-35 Alabama win, and Jeff predicted a 38-35 Auburn win.

Josh Dewberry and local assistant coach Derek Korbe both predicted 69 total points in the Iron Bowl. As mentioned, Josh predicted a 56-13 Alabama win, and Derek predicted a 48-21 Alabama win.

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Our annual ESPN College Football Pick ‘Em contest came to an end on Saturday with the end of college football’s regular season, and Glennis Curry claimed this year’s title as “best picker” among local football fans.

Glennis finished No. 1 in the final standings, collecting 537 total points during the 14-week contest, which was 29 more points than second-place finisher Mike Dailey. Glennis correctly picked the outcomes of 99.8 percent of all games this season. Dailey came in second at 96.6 percent.

Sharon Peacock finished third, and Ricky Taylor came in fourth. Steve Stacey finished fifth, and Mark Peacock filled the No. 6 spot. Ricky Powell came in seventh, and Jeremy Matheny finished eighth. Arthur Ingram III finished at No. 9, and Joan Stretz came in tenth.

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Someone asked me earlier this week for an update on former Andalusia High School and University of Alabama football standout Nico Johnson. Many of you will remember Nico from his playing days at Andalusia and his visits to Evergreen to face the Hillcrest Jaguars. Nico also has more than a few relatives in Conecuh County.

Nico, who plays linebacker, played for the Kansas City Chiefs last season, but in August he was released during final preseason roster cuts. He was put on the Chiefs’ practice squad after that and signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 17.

This coming Sunday the Bengals will play the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The game kicks off at noon and will be televised on CBS. Cincinnati is a 3-1/2 point favorite. If you want to keep your eye out for Nico, he wears jersey No. 52.