[ad_1]
Good news, Alabama fans.
Crimson Tide Pledges Ga’Quincy McKinstry already feels at home at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The state’s top prospect for 2021 caught a 52-yard touchdown by quarterback Zach Pyron with 9.15am left, propelling Pinson Valley to a 23-13 victory over Spanish Fort here on Friday night.
The victory gave the Indians their third Class 6A State Championship in the past four years and put a bow to McKinstry’s high school career. He signed up in Alabama earlier this fall and is expected to sign with The Tide on December 16.
“We’ve had some ups and downs this year, but we’ve been through it all as a family and kept fighting,” said Pinson Valley first-year coach Sam Shade. “I told the guys a long time ago that if they stick together and believe they can do whatever they want. They proved it once more tonight.
RELATED: Rewind Friday’s Championship Matches
After Pinson Valley (12-2) took a 10-0 lead in a dominant first quarter, Spanish Fort rallied on a pair of short runs from Brendon Byrd TD to advance 13-10 early in the fourth. quarter. The Toros had limited the Indians to 174 yards on three quarters and harassed Pyron everywhere.
However, it only took one game for Pinson Valley and McKinstry to reverse the game.
On a first and a 15 on the Indian 48, Pyron backed off and delivered a rope to McKinstry. He slipped a tackle and ran across the field for the touchdown with 9:15 left in the game. Pinson led 17-13.
Spanish Fort’s advance was definitely lost.
“I saw the way they played me the whole game,” McKinstry said. “I told the coach to lead this specific game. I just knew it was time for me to score. I knew I could score this game.
It was McKinstry’s first touchdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“It won’t be my last,” he said. “Roll Tide.”
McKinstry, who is expected to play the defensive back in Alabama, finished with 5 receptions for 89 yards and was named MVP. He also had back-to-back first-down receptions ahead of TD to help spark the Pinson Valley offense. The Indians fought offensively after their first two records of the match.
They added an insurance touchdown late in the game when Pyron hit Jaquel Fells Jr. with a 12-yard TD with 2:44 left in the game for a 23-13 lead. With an attack from the Spanish Fort which was also in difficulty, that was more than enough.
It was the first state title for Shade, who also played his college college football on that field for Alabama. Pinson Valley won the 2017 and 2018 crowns under former coach Patrick Nix.
Spanish Fort (11-4) was denied for the second year in a row in the final game. The Toros lost 14-13 to Oxford a year ago. They are now 4 out of 6 in state title games.
“I’m really proud of our guys who have fought all year and weathered all the adversity through the pandemic and a couple of hurricanes,” said Fort Ben Blackmon coach of Spain. “Our children had to fight. We had to cross our region twice (sweeping 2 games each against Blount and Saraland). There were a lot of positives. We are fortunate to have great children and a great community. This game didn’t end the way we wanted it to but I’m proud of how hard these guys have fought all year.
Game Star: All the attention was on McKinstry, and he succeeded. In addition to his receiving totals, he locked Spanish Fort wide receiver Mario Montgomery. McKinstry was only targeted 3 times in the game. He gave up on completion.
The game of the game: Pyron to McKinstry. The Indians scored 10 points on their first two possessions of the game but had not scored. They needed a game from their best player and got it.
What happened? The strangest game of the game happened in the second game of the second quarter. Defenders at Fort Spain partially blocked a punt by Zaylen McCray into the heart of Pinson’s territory. Field officials ruled that Pinson had recovered the block beyond the line of scrimmage and returned the ball to the Indians. However, after Blackmon contested the appeal, the decision was overturned and Spanish Fort received the ball.
AHSAA Director of Officials Mark Jones put it this way:
“If the receiving team touches or is hit by a punt beyond the neutral zone, then it’s a free ball and whoever recovers has it first and the 10th. It was the rule on field. Replay showed that he was not touched beyond the neutral zone (by Spanish Fort) so not a free ball. Once the kicking team (Pinson Valley) caught him, he was dead there. If he had been tagged over the line by the kicking team, it would be Pinson’s ball.
In the end, it didn’t matter. The Indians intercepted Byrd three times later to avoid points.
Statistical sheet: Pinson Valley – Pyron finished 13 of 21 for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 74 rushing yards on 14 carries, although three sacks gave him a 50-yard net. Michael Sharpe had 13 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. Fells Jr. finished with four receptions for 52 yards and a TD. James Perkins led the defense in seven tackles, including a pair of sacks, and 5.5 tackles for 29 losing yards. Spanish fort – Byrd finished 11 of 24 for 131 yards. He was intercepted once and sent back three times. He scored both Toro TDs in short heats. Johnny Morris III, who has only played his second game since returning from injury, ran 111 yards on 14 carries. Jacob Godfrey led the team in receiving with four receptions for 23 yards. Cassius Taylor had seven tackles and a sack in defense. Jabrel Snowden also made seven tackles. Oregon commits Christian Burkhalter had 1.5 bags.
In numbers: Pinson Valley finished with 321 total yards in 62 games. Spanish Fort had 223 yards in 55 games. … The Toros were only 4 of 13 on the third down. Pinson was 7 of 15.… The Indians were called on 10 penalties for 91 yards; Spanish Fort 6 for 55.… Pinson Valley had 10 tackles behind the line for a loss of 45 yards. Spanish Fort had 7 for a loss of 28 yards.
Did you know? Pyron won their third consecutive state title with their second team. He helped Fyffe win back-to-back 2A titles in 2018 and 2019 before moving on to Pinson Valley.
Coachspeak:
“This senior class has only lost five games since being here. It’s quite special. I think this is the most successful group in the school. They’ll come back in 10 years and have a meeting, and they won’t talk about individual things. It will be about coming together as a team and what they have accomplished. – Shadow.
They said it:
“I never doubt this team. We have been in the same situation several times. We knew if we followed the pattern we could win. – McKinstry trailing behind at halftime.
“Our defense has played very well all year. They really carried us. In the end, defense was the strength of our team. They are fast and aggressive, and they fight to reach the ball. – Blackmon.
[ad_2]
Source link