McKenzie’s Emmanuel Johnson made his presence known during the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic on Saturday.

Johnson hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Athens quarterback Stephen Rivers with 1:11 left in regulation and the Alabama All-Stars down 14-12. Rivers then hit LeFlore wideout Danny Woodson for the two-point conversion to tie the game.

Alabama beat Mississippi 24-17 in double overtime when Homewood running back Ameer Abdullah scored on a 10-yard touchdown run.

The game was played at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Johnson is committed to Southern Miss University. Johnson was listed as an athlete on the Alabama roster, but joined an Alabama receiving corps that included Alabama commitments Woodson and Marvin Shinn (Vigor) and Auburn commit Sammie Coates (Leroy).

Johnson projects as a defensive back in college, but did a bit of everything for Class 1A McKenzie during its region title run this season.

He was the first player from the school selected to participate in the annual All-Star game, which matches the top high school football players from both Alabama and Mississippi in their senior seasons.

Other players from Butler County who have been selected to play in the game include, from Greenville, Kenneth Carter (2009), Jamontay Pilson (2008), Kelcius Savage (2005), Tekino George (1997), Jesse March (1995), Michael Feagin (1995), Edward Rudolph Jr. (1994), Terry McDonald (1994), Ozell Powell (1992), Rod Ellison (1992), Curtis Peterson (1988); from Georgiana, Ezell Powell (1996) and Lindsey Gandy (1990).

Ezell Powell currently coaches at McKenzie as a defensive coordinator.