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It's a Chamber of Commerce day here in Auburn, Alabama, as we get set to crown a 1A football championship.

With Coach Jack Crowe, I'm Lynn Rollins.

Jack, let's look at how these two teams got here.

Pickens and Leroy, the best of the best so far.

We'll have a champion in a couple of hours.

- [Jack] Pickens had a little more uncertainty along the way.

They had three losses.

They actually got beat up pretty good sometimes earlier in the year.

But both of 'em can score points.

Pickens, I think has probably shown that they can win in a tighter game, 'cause I'm not... Leroy hadn't had many tie games, but they had have one defeat early in the year, with the latter to play their way into this tournament.

They had to go back and beat the team that beat 'em first, and that was Millry.

So they have both earned their right to be here.

- [Lynn] Well, it's Pickens and it's Leroy, coming up your way right now.

But when we come back, we will see what has happened so far in these championships and what's to come.

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(upbeat music) - [Announcer] Welcome back everyone.

The 1A Championship is about to unfold.

It's Pickens and it's Leroy.

That will be... (spectators cheering) It's happened so far in this State Championship tournament.

Let's take a look at it right now.

You'll see a couple of champions have been crowned already.

Last night, Thompson put 49 on Auburn.

Maybe an upset in that game, but Thompson is the 7A champion.

And St. James in the game game preceding this one, beat Piedmont 45-28.

Also, congratulations to the Flag Football champion, Auburn Tigers.

We'll have the kickoff between Pickens and Leroy on a Chamber of Commerce Day in Auburn.

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(upbeat music) - [Lynn] Welcome back to Jordan-Hare Stadium on the campus of Auburn University, the Children's of Alabama coin toss is forthcoming.

We'll see who will get the football first here in this 1A Championship game between Pickens and Leroy.

Jack Crowe, when we were looking at that earlier graphic, when you look at the size of these communities, neither one of them exceed 1500, which means, everything revolves around the local high school.

Nothing could be bigger for these two communities, than this championship game.

They'll be talking about it, not only next year, but for decades.

- [Jack] Right.

We got reform Alabama, which is where Pickens County High School is, and Leroy in Alabama.

I've actually been to both of them, and it's your one stoplight town, so to speak.

But it is where since community is built around their sports programs in both these schools, they've had college athletes.

I mean, they've had pro-athletes.

So both these schools are not just...

They're not just now getting to this stage.

They expect to be on this stage.

I'm sure both of these teams rolled out that first day saying they were gonna play for the State Championship.

A lot of teams did.

These two teams just really had an understanding about what it meant and paid the price to be here.

- [Lynn] The Leroy Bears are in the dark uniforms, with Pickens in white and the red helmets, and we are awaiting the Children's of Alabama coin toss.

This is a natural grass surface.

(spectators cheering) Hardly any clouds in the sky right now.

The sky is the color of a robins egg.

And let's go down to the coin toss.

- Play with sportsmanship, pride.

Don't do anything to embarrass yourself or your families today.

Let's have a great day.

Pickens County, you're gonna be the visitor.

I want you to call the coin toss.

This side says tails.

This is heads.

What's your call?

- Tail.

- He's calling tails.

It's tails, you've won the toss.

Would you like to make your choice now, or defer your choice?

(crowd cheering) - I just wanna defer.

- Got you.

- Pickens County's won the toss and decided to defer the choice.

You're gonna get the football.

- Yes, sir.

- What goal do you wanna stand?

Turn your back to the jumbotron.

Leroy, that way.

(spectators cheering) - [Lynn] Pickens has won the toss.

It will defer until the second half.

Let's bring in the third member of our broadcast team.

We go down on the field.

Here is Susan Carruther.

Susan.

- Hey guys, it is a beautiful day, like you've said here in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The atmosphere down here on Pat Dye Field is electric.

Like we've said, these are the smallest schools in this playoff system, but you wouldn't know it from being down here.

These fans are excited.

I talked with both coaches at midfield before the game, and I'll tell you what they had to say.

Coach Michael Williams from Pickens the Tornadoes, he said that his team needs to stop the run, they need to protect the football, they need to play with heart like one team.

And then this is funny, he said they need to make no boneheaded mistakes.

So we hope that happens for them.

Then for the Leroy Bears, Coach Jason Massey, he told me that the defense... Defensively they need to play at their top level, and they need to run the ball.

Guys, this is gonna be a great game, we're excited.

- [Lynn] Yes it is.

Thank you so much, Susan.

We'll check in with you often this afternoon for the latest from down on the field.

So the Bears will receive the kickoff.

(upbeat music) And the kickoff is sponsored by the Department of Human Resources.

(whistle blowing) It's teed up on the 40, the returners, dual deep, waiting on the 10.

They will start from the 11.

Phillips, runs into traffic as he crosses the 20 and is knocked down at about the 24 yard line.

So decent field position for the Leroy Bears.

12 and one on the campaign, five and one in region 1A.

They have scored a lot of points in the playoffs, Jack, as you mentioned, 47, 33, 42 and 28.

- [Jack] Right here you have the bold decision.

It will be the same for both teams, whether they're gonna lead with their quarterback play, whether they're gonna do something to really create some explosiveness early, or take it a conservative approach, let their linemen get into the field for the game, or whether they'll do something to give the quarterback a chance to make a big play.

So we'll see here in a second just how.

- [Lynn] And the first snap gets by the quarterback, the flag is thrown.

It probably is going to be a motion penalty in addition to the misfire from the center Chestang to Brayden Huebner.

And we'll sort out a couple of penalty markers.

- [Jack] So much to the point I was making about testing the nerves early, 'cause there's some nerves obviously involved in that situation.

- They go shift on the offense.

That penalty will be declined.

Take the results of the play.

Second down.

- [Lynn] So the penalty is declined, as we knew it would be, and the result of the play was a loss, back to the 13 yard line on the muffed connection between the center and the quarterback in shotgun formation.

So second and very long now to open the ball game for the Leroy Bears offense.

Brayden Huebner has rushed for 883 yards at the quarterback position.

He's a 49.4% completion quarterback.

He'll call for it in shotgun formation.

Again, pitches to the right side, and lots of defenders get in the way of the tailback, and absolutely no where to go.

- [Jack] Obviously the attacking the flanks part of it, has to do with the down and distance.

Both coaches said they wanted to run the football, and probably the play that was missed on first 10 was a run.

- [Lynn] Well, the line to make right now, Jack-- - It's a long way.

- A 34 Yard line.

- [Jack] Whether they wanted choose to play with their quarterback or not, they gotta...

When you have this down in distance, it's not a choice.

I mean, you gotta put it... You gotta find out what your match-ups are outside, see what your quarterback can do.

- [Lynn] Crumity's got it, breaks a tackle, ships himself in between the hash marks, running all the way for a first down and more.

He's still on his feet, at midfield, to the 40, and finally bumped outta bounds on a aisle make it happen play by Taylor Crumity.

- [Jack] You have a receiver screen here.

It doesn't take a whole lot to get the ball to where the perimeter is, and then you just let the skill take over.

This is some skill right here, this great change of directions.

This is the point guard on your basketball team, the short stop on your basketball team athlete.

- [Lynn] That young man is averaging 21 and a half yards per reception.

He's the leading pass catcher with 33 coming into the game, and he just brought his team from third, and a long, long way down into Pickens territory.

- [Jack] Now they got a chance to play inside, create a rhythm in the game.

- [Lynn] This is Malik Cow, the running back.

- [Jack] That's what you want.

I mean if you can stay, if you can keep the sticks, the down and distance is in your favor.

In second five, you can run it or throw it, keep the pressure off the quarterback.

I'm not sure that they know quite yet how to get their quarterback in the floor of this game.

The long yard's play was really a very simple execution for the quarterback.

Sooner or later, you gotta define what your run past balance is in the football game.

- [Lynn] Howell has set up on the left side of the quarterback, it's a keeper by Huebner, and Huebner weeds his way down the middle of the field.

He gets across the 20, across the...

They're gonna mark it up out the 16 yard line.

- [Jack] Pulling blockers, number 11, pulling from a slide position.

And right now they look like, that they can control the line of scrimmage.

I'm talking about Leroy.

That was a pretty good size hole they had there.

- [Lynn] Leroy is in the Alabama votes red zone, brought to you by the Alabama Secretary of State.

First 10/10 for Leroy on its opening possession.

Handoff goes outside and Malik Cow cannot turn the corner.

He was stripped off his feet.

- [Jack] Red zone attack, the first thing is the perimeter, no go.

I mean Pickens County can run now.

If you take it outside early, you can lose some yardage.

- [Lynn] Davis Lockhart made that tackle.

He's fourth on the team with 79 stops, and 15 tackles for loss, and Locket has been only-- - On the defense, Pickens have to lose to the goal.

First foul.

- [Lynn] Well, they're gonna also tackle on some penalty yardage.

But Locket has been the only player to start every game at quarterback this year for the Pickens County Tornado defense.

Let's see where they spot this thing after the penalty.

- [Jack] My first impressions of Pickens, is they are very physical on defense, and this is gonna turn into a very physical football game on the early signs of this.

- [Lynn] The ball is marked just outside the 10, on the near side hash mark.

First drive of the game.

It looked like it was going nowhere, after a penalty and a missnap, and a lost yardage play.

But then all of a sudden, the ball got into the tans of the Crumity, and he made it happen on a wide receiver screen.

First down.

(spectators cheering) It's the quarterback again after faking to the tailback, and he is crashing over the eight down to the seven, maybe the six-yard line.

- [Jack] Secondary's making the tackles.

Linet Screw's actually blocked very cleanly.

Secondary had to make the fits, and Pickens County safety stepped up and made a really good tackle.

- [Lynn] They mark at the seven.

Second down and short.

A couple of downs to work with here, coach.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

They're staying consistently in a double wing formation.

The emotion out of it, now they're shifting out of it.

- [Lynn] Well, they've got too many men in motion and that's-- - [Jack] Yeah, the very same thing that happened on the first day of the game.

- [Lynn] Yeah, you can't put three men in motion at the same time.

- But the miscommunication with the snapper and... Yeah.

- Illegal shift on the offense, that penalty's five yards.

Will replay second down.

- [Lynn] So all three players in motion, at least two of them have got to come sit.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

There was a communication from the quarterback for the shift, that the center start was a snap count, and that is a...

It's something that shouldn't happen.

Obviously they haven't done that very much before.

Probably prepared it just for this football game, and when you do something like that, concentration slips a little bit, but you get that kind of result.

- [Lynn] The line to make for a first down is the seven, running room to the left side.

Huebner calling for the football.

(spectators cheering) This is Crumity on the reverse.

Crumity all the way to the end zone around the left side, and an early touchdown by the Leroy Bears, with some more trickery with Crumity getting it done.

- [Jack] Speed kills, 'cause he literally outran everybody.

And all of the design of that was deception with speed, and those two, speed and deception together, make big things happen.

- [Lynn] So the 5'9, 168 pound junior, weaves his way for big yardage to come out of a third and very long situation, and then he scores.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

- [Lynn] On a trick play to the left side.

- [Jack] It's obviously who they're trying to get the ball to, to make big things happen, that's for sure.

- [Lynn] Rob Mosley lines up the kick and it is good, Mosley.

Let's go back and look at this pass on third and forever to Crumity.

He is weaving his way, - [Jack] Absolutely.

- [Lynn] Picking up blockers.

And this is really nicely done.

- [Jack] A receiver screen just gives you an open field, but you still gotta block people, and there's a lot of people out in front of this play.

- [Lynn] And the touchdown now on the reverse.

- [Jack] Got two pullers out in front, but he actually just outruns the field.

- [Lynn] Crumity's got more moves than a TikTok dancer.

- [Jack] Yeah, he's a athlete.

Yep, yep.

- [Lynn] ALDOT presents the scoring drive nine plays, 76 yards.

It took just over four minutes and a 13 yard touchdown wide receiver rush to the left side by Crumity.

Punctuates it.

- [Jack] Let's see what the response is, 'cause games with two successful programs like this, it's when you respond and how you respond.

'Cause the other team is gonna have some success.

How do you respond?

- [Lynn] So we will soon see the high scoring Pickens County offense.

This kick is punched up into the air and goes outta bounds.

They were trying to perhaps pooch it to the left side, but certainly keep it in play.

That's going to give Pickens, very advantageous starting position.

- [Jack] Absolutely, whether that was-- - Free kick outta bounds on the kicking team.

- [Lynn] This is Demarkis Giles, the quarterback.

- [Jack] Whether that was intended to be a deep onside kick to be recovered, which I would assume 'cause it was...

It looked a little short to be a spot kick, and a little long to be an onside kick, so it was a... That was a unique maneuver.

I don't know that I've quite seen that one before.

- [Lynn] Giles has thrown for nearly 1900 yards, 22 touchdowns.

He has been intercepted 17 times.

And there is a loose football.

The snap hit the man in motion.

It's recovered by Leroy.

There's a Bear on it.

- [Jack] Well, both teams on their first snap, mis-executed the snap.

So I think that, George, we got a lot of nervous kids out there.

They'll settle in and play here.

- [Lynn] That was the motion man.

- [Jack] Yeah.

- [Lynn] Getting hit on the shoulder pad.

That was Zach Boone, he kind of saw it coming and tried to duck out of the way but he didn't, and then the Bears were all over it.

- [Jack] And the miscommunication on the snap, is just a matter of playing in this game.

Obviously they wouldn't be here if they couldn't execute a snap.

So we'll let the nerves get out of this and see what happens.

- [Lynn] It's Howell over the right side, and he is knocked to come a cropper at about the 32 yard line.

But Malik Cow is a very effective rusher.

He's run for 857 yards this year, eight scores, 6.8 has been his average per touch on the ground, he's also caught five passes.

- [Jack] Whether he is an inside, an outside runner, I know they're right.

To this point, they've just attacked the perimeter.

We'll accept inside with a quarterback.

We'll see how the running game develops.

But they look like they fully intend to run him.

- [Lynn] Huebner on a quarterback keeper runs to the left side and doesn't get much.

Maybe back to the line of scrimmage.

But Jack, talking about the other tailback for the Bears, it's Jeremy Perryman, who is a bigger running back, a 6'3, 205 pound senior.

He's kind of the short yardage guy.

But he's also averaging nine yards per attempt, so he's capable himself.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

When you have a two headed runner attack, it really makes a lot of sense to have different skill sets in them, and it sounds to be the case.

I'll tell you one thing I'm impressed with Ronald Burier, is Pickens County safeties.

They know how to fit against the run.

- [Lynn] Well, they are really loading the box right now.

Huebner keeps it, steps right, who's left?

Drags a couple of tacklers with him, and that's enough for a first down.

As he crosses the 25 yard line, they'll spot it at the 24.

A patient run by the quarterback Brayden Huebner.

Sowdy Hooper here.

- [Jack] Puller's out in front.

He's fitting in behind a wing-back and a guard that are both trying to get in front of the play, and they're making a good fit.

- [Lynn] It's an all dot first town, and it comes after a turnover.

Howell stands to the left of the quarterback Hudner, two wide receivers to the left side, stack receivers on the right.

The pass goes to Crumity, Crumity working one-on-one.

Stepped out of bounds, but he's got enough for a first down, and he has been an early go-to guy for the Bears, and it's immediate to see why.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

I mean, they know what their advantage is on this field, and they're taking advantage of it right now.

His speed and quickness is obviously superior on this field against this opponent.

There's not a lot you can do to keep that from happening, by the way.

Except put more people outside to tackle him.

- [Lynn] The Bears are in the Alabama folks red zone.

For the second time in the first quarter, looking to take a two score lead.

And the quarterback is manned and dumped.

Really nice defensive play by a couple of Tornadoes.

And let's look at who gets there first here after the fake.

- [Jack] Well, they're not sitting back and waiting on this red zone series.

They're coming after him.

- [Lynn] That was Jamari and Cohen, who was the second leading tackler with 92 on the year.

He picked up the quarterback and dumped him like a sack of rice.

- [Jack] He's six foot, 205.

He's ever been (indistinct).

The red zone style of play is not quite clear to me yet for Leroy, at least for this football game.

But number three...

It's gonna be hard to get number three the ball if- - Time out, Leroy.

That's the first charge time out we have.

- [Lynn] Leroy takes the time out with second and long in the red zone.

And we will come back, as Leroy has an early seven nothing lead, and getting close to adding to it here in Auburn, Alabama.

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(upbeat music) (upbeat music) (soft music) - [Announcer] You can almost feel the shock waves from anti-aircraft fire, and hear the roar of a P-51 Mustang.

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(upbeat music) - [Lynn] Welcome back to Jordan-Hare Stadium on the campus of Auburn University.

This is the 1A Championship game.

Leroy on its first possession, motored the better part of 75 yards and got to the end zone, and they've taken advantage of a fumble recovery on a snap which hit a motion man, and right now Leroy is attempting to take a two score lead with second and long coming in the red zone.

And, Jack, it's very unlikely, that no matter where the ball is, Leroy will try a fuel goal.

They have not kicked a fuel goal this year.

- [Jack] Well, that's the approach.

You're gonna see some things done differently, and I can tell you that right now, the fit of the safety is inside, it's saving some of these Leroy runs from breaking inside, particularly when the quarterback comes up in there with the two extra blockers.

- [Lynn] Dickens is putting nine men in the box too.

- [Jack] Yeah, they are determined to keep him from running the ball.

- [Lynn] Huebner is rolling right, looking back left.

He's gonna keep it.

Shifts to the left side.

Bumper behind.

He's still on his feet to the end zone.

- [Jack] Wow, wow, wow!

- [Lynn] (indistinct) looks like a ping pong ball in a bathtub.

- [Jack] I'll say the Wolves got balance.

I'll say that for them.

He had his receivers covered and really was just trying to make... Advance the ball.

Took him down and then...

He's already tackled.

- [Lynn] That is his 15th rushing touchdown of the season.

- [Jack] You can tell from up here, that is a tough kid.

(laughing) That is a tough kid.

He's not as confident in turning the ball loose, particularly outside.

- [Lynn] Rob Mosley, who is the left tackle, arches it up and can't get it between the uprights, so he misses an extra point, but it's a 13 nothing lead.

Let's look at what set all of this up.

It was a turnover on the first play from Scrimmage for Pickens.

- [Jack] Miscommunication on the snap, with emotion and nerves.

- [Lynn] And now Huebner, watch him bounce off a tackler who tries to bump him down from behind.

Right there.

But no wrap up.

- No wrap up, no.

- [Lynn] That would be tackling.

Huebner said, "You gotta do better than that."

- [Jack] I'll tell you, when you don't bring your arms in tackling, this has to happen to you.

But this guy's done this...

This quarterback's done that more than once.

He does need to take better care of that football though.

He's carrying it like a watermelon.

- Right here?

- Yeah, right here.

- [Lynn] The scoring drive presented by Drive Safe Alabama, six place, 37 yards after the turnover.

Just under three minutes, we're taken off the clock.

Huebner with that touchdown run, a circuitous route to the end zone.

- [Jack] I'll tell you, Leroy's used to being successful.

I mean, you can look at their record the way they scored, they come at you, and they're physical and they have...

They play with major intent.

I guess this is the way they kick this off, and to me like it'd go out mounds every time, but that's really good coverage.

- [Lynn] A 12 yard return back to the 40 yard line.

- [Jack] We're just now getting a chance to see offensively, where Pickens County are having plans to attack.

- [Lynn] Caleb Hill on the return of 12 yards after the short kickoff.

And the ball is placed at the 40.

So let's see if Pickens, now trailing by 13 early, can get its offense into a rhythm and-- - [Jack] Yep, they gotta be careful - [Lynn] Shake on some of those jangling nerves.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

This formation means that their quarterback intends on getting the ball down the field.

- [Lynn] Giles is throwing on first down.

That's a little bit high off the hands of Kamari and Plot.

Plot, by the way, has caught 32 balls this year, so he's a go-to receiver.

Five touchdowns averaging better than 16 and a half yards per catch.

That's good stuff if you can get it to him.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

That ball... That ball floated and it actually... That could have been dangerous, that could have been intercepted, that's not the kind of ball you wanna be putting out very much.

- [Lynn] Pickens needs to get to midfield for a first down second attempt.

- [Jack] Two backs in the back field.

They go back to two backs rather than the four wide alignment.

- [Lynn] The handoff goes to the right half back.

He comes to his left, not wrapped up after a lot of contact, and he tries to reverse.

Elijah Merryweather with a very determined effort, but there were a lot of defenders in his way, both of the ways he turned.

- [Jack] He was looking to escape out the backside, but as always the trail party of defense had better keep their eyes open, and they did have their eyes open.

They saw him coming back and made sure he didn't turn that into an in time reverse.

- [Lynn] Pickens will use four tailbacks, Merryweather, Somerville, Hill, and Barnes.

Three white outs to the right side, one to the left, and a protector next to Giles.

- [Jack] We got a lot of-- - [Lynn] Only a three man rush coming defensively.

Flag goes down and that pass is knocked down at the line of scrimmage.

- [Jack] And there is a flag and I think it's Elou.

We'll see.

- Sideline warning on Leroy, that's their first sideline warning.

- [Lynn] So there will be no penalty marker on this, or no assessment on the sideline warning.

That was Jaquan Scott who knocked that pass down outta the quarterback's hands.

- [Jack] There is an opportunity here to change the dynamics of this.

If not with your offense, with your punt team, we'll see just how... What the opportunity is to get Leroy off into a long field situation.

Very important part of the game here.

The punting game.

- [Lynn] This is a side winding kick that takes a Pickens roll across the 20, and it will come to rest between the 17 and 18 yard lines.

So this will be the... - [Jack] If they get-- - [Lynn] Worst field position for Leroy, to open a drive already leading 13, nothing.

Two possessions, two touchdowns for Leroy.

- [Jack] That's what you... That's what you hope for, is what you plan for.

It doesn't happen on the first two plays very often, but it's time for a response here, and the response from Pickets County has to be the limit number three from making the big plays, because other than that they have played pretty well.

They can potentially be exposing themselves really, when quarterback comes inside with two lead blockers, those safeties are getting closer and closer to the line of scrimmage.

You can look at the safety's right here.

- [Lynn] Now Lee Cow drags a tackler with him for a short gain to the 20.

A pickup of a couple.

Second and eight coming.

13 nothing.

Leroy leads a 12 and one team, five in one in region 1AA, winner over Georgiana, 47 to 12.

Maplesville, 33 to eight, Brantley, 42 to 14, and Millry, 28 to 11, last week, and that was a reversal of the score earlier in the season.

Here's the pitch to Howell.

Turns on the jets and he's able to run through a couple of tackles, crosses the 30, and he's able to pull a couple of tacklers with him for additional yardage to the 34.

First down, Leroy.

- [Jack] They got the corner again and they did it with speed, but they had the angles out there and that's what opened up the space.

Pulls out in front, a really outstanding blocks by the wide receivers and speed.

- [Lynn] From the 34, first in 10 for Leroy.

Two receivers to the short side of the field, one to the right.

The pass goes over to Giles, that's his first reception, and he's able to turn it into a five yard gain or so.

- It's obvious that their design is to get the ball up in the flats and make Pickens County run and tackling grass, and they've done a pretty good job, but they're also getting blocked by the wide receivers, which means there's room.

And the athletes, they've got it taking advantage of the room they've got out there.

- [Lynn] The line to make for a first down is just short of the 44.

Quarterback will keep it again.

He probes the right side, manages to fall forward a little bit, before he's lifted off his feet.

So Huebner, gets a little bit closer to the first down stake, let's call it third and a short four.

- [Jack] Still a run past situation.

They don't have to throw it here, they don't have to run it here.

Sort of an ideal situation for the play caller.

I call it a quarterback down, because normally in this situation, a quarterback ends up with a ball, either as the runner or something that gets a ball out of his hand very quickly.

(spectators cheering) - [Lynn] Crumity and company split out to the right, and a running play on third and about four.

Huebner may have come up a little bit short.

This is going to be fourth down, and let's call it a short two.

We'll see what happens right here on fourth down.

The punting unit will come on the field, and Jeremy Perryman, who averages about 29 yards a kick, will boot it away.

- [Jack] There's an opportunity here to gain some pretty good field position for Pickens County.

We'll see what kind of return game they've got.

- [Lynn] The kick is a high wobbler.

Pretty good kick.

Bounces at the 20 and takes a Leroy roll across the 10, across the five, and is smothered near the three yard line.

- [Jack] That's a weapon right there.

- That was a heck of a kick.

- It was.

- [Lynn] Mike Perryman, he got the advantage of a very fortuitous role, and they're gonna mark it right at the three.

This is Jeremy Perryman.

- [Jack] Really gets a full extension of the ball, and given an opportunity to step up there and fair catch it, it would have saved him some lost yardage, but I've never questioned the judgment of a punt returner.

If he doesn't have the confidence to take it, you don't force it on him.

- [Lynn] Well, San Antonio Jones is a really good punt returner, but he let that one... - He sure did.

- Go by him.

And who was to say that it was going to take a 25 yard roll in favor of the punter.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

- [Lynn] Throwing out of the end zone, out to Jones, and the catch will be sustained for about a yard gain to the four.

Jones has caught 42 balls.

He's the leading receiver for Pickens, 12 touchdowns and he averages 19 yards per catch.

This one only good for about one, an immediate plan defensively, by the defender for Leroy.

And that is Ray Ray Phillips.

- [Jack] Opportunity advanced ball was lost when he had to jump up in the air.

But they have it, they have advanced it.

(spectators cheering) - [Lynn] Giles, on the keeper.

That was very close to being a safety.

Actually that's Summerville.

That's a wide receiver who is in the quarterback position, Corby Summerville.

- [Jack] A lot of penetration by Leroy and... - [Lynn] Summerville was very fortunate to be able to get back across the goal line.

- [Jack] Yeah, Leroy is playing like they don't have to defend the middle of the field very much, and somewhere along the line, they will expose themselves.

- [Lynn] Jack, how about this?

And I know you love defense.

Leroy has only allowed 17 touchdowns the entire year.

- [Jack] I can see that because they play relentlessly.

They really get after the football, and they are physical.

- [Lynn] Let's see where this catch is marked.

It's gonna be short of the first down.

And the end of the first quarter.

It's been a good start for the Leroy Bears.

They scored on the first two possessions.

They've got a 13 nothing lead.

As we go to quarter number two in the 1A Championship team from Auburn.

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(orchestral music) - The famous goal line stand, one of the most celebrated moments in Alabama sports history.

The Tide was leading the 1979 Sugar Bowl, when Penn State moved the ball to within 10 inches of the goal line.

Barry Krause and Marty Lyons leaped over the pile to stop Nittany Lyons running back Mike Goman, and preserve the Tides victory.

The win handed Coach Paul Bear Bryant, his fifth national championship.

- [Lynn] It's 57 degrees right now under a lot of sunshine, a lot of shadows, encroaching over the field right now.

Leroy's Bears lead 13, nothing, as we get started in the second quarter.

Not much available to Pickens on that play.

It was smothered defensively by Bryston Dixon.

73 tackles on the year for that defensive tackle.

28 tackles for loss.

Another one there, a loss of about a yard and a half.

And he's recorded five sacks.

Dixon has been active on the defensive line.

- [Jack] I tell you, he's very physical, and they all play off his physicality too.

The old saying, if he can absorb two blockers, and he does, then people ought to be running free.

- [Lynn] Gile sets up, throws it down the right sideline, it is intercepted at the 44 yard line, returning to the 20, hurdling forward for more yardage, inside the time down to about the nine.

The Bear's defense rises as Caleb Giles for the sixth time this year intercepts the opposing quarterback.

- [Jack] This is what the meaning, free safety is all about.

He's got free reign over the field, just to follow the flight of the ball, and he draws a bead on it early, and shows a lot of great range to come as far as he came.

Great hands.

This guy-- - [Lynn] That ball was slightly underthrown, and Giles was right there to pluck it.

- [Jack] Yeah, that was a very... That's the way you hope free safeties play.

- [Lynn] That's interception number six for Mr. Giles.

- [Jack] He's done it before then, haven't he?

When you got somebody that has that kind of range in middle field corners, you can play a lot tighter.

- [Lynn] Quarterback keeps after faking it to Howell, and maybe a yard hard earned by Huebner.

So two turnovers very early.

The Leroy Bears trying to take advantage of both of them.

- They have intent.

They know opportunities are coming their way, and they tend to make 'em happen.

And as you said with the six interceptions, they're used to making things happen with their defense.

You can tell that.

- [Lynn] The Alabama vouch red zone, is where Leroy's Bears are right now.

The ball is at the nine yard line.

Low snap, but the quarterback's got it, runs right, gets a good block across the five, and he's dumped just short of the goal line.

- [Jack] That had a bunch of blockers in front.

For anybody that remembers, that was single wing football.

- [Lynn] Let's give credit to those Bears up front.

It's Rob Mosley, the left tackle.

Dylan Jackson, the left guard, Daven Chestang is the center.

He's only a freshman.

- [Jack] They have some blockers who have put their pads on people and sustained blocks.

- [Lynn] Maddocks Everett is the left guard.

John David Cox is the... Or rather the right guard, and John David Cox is the right tackler.

Those latter two, perhaps the best of the bunch.

And the quarterback sneak is successful without much contact as Huebner follow those big guys up front, and was able to easily motor into the end zone.

That's the third touchdown early for the Leroy Bears.

They are looking for their sixth state championship.

- [Jack] There's a history and a tradition there.

This group's been hearing about it their whole lives, and they mean to put themselves on the board with the rest of those people that are listed.

- [Lynn] Boy, your point is so well made.

In a town of less than 1500, it all revolves around the high school, whether it's sports, or the corral, or whatever it may be.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

- [Lynn] The extra point is up, man, it is good for Rob Mosley, and with 9:49 to go in the second quarter, it's 20 nothing Bears.

- [Jack] Free safety coming out of the middle of the field.

Has all the range to make it happen, and then knows what to do with it and gets him at it.

This is an athletic runner now.

This guy could play offense.

He knows how to...

There are a lot of NFL teams that need to remember, sometimes you put your quarterback under center.

- [Lynn] It's a pretty big offensive line, Jack, for a one 18.

Austin goes 265, Jackson goes 256, as we look at our Drive Safe Alabama scoring drive.

Three plays only 10 yards after the interception.

Huebner on the one yard run, just staying as a freshman center.

He goes 248, Evernet, right guard, is 279, and John David Cox is one cat head biscuit away from 300.

He's at 298.

- [Jack] Yeah.

And that's what you normally don't see in a 1A program, is multiple size players with size.

- [Lynn] A lot of sweet milk and cornbread.

- [Jack] Yeah, absolutely.

You know that, I think that's a farming community, and that's what you get.

You get corn feds.

- [Lynn] Here's a little popup kick and it takes a left turn immediately.

And again, good field position.

- [Jack] Yes.

- [Lynn] It's a bit curious what Leroy does with these kickoffs.

- [Jack] And I didn't watch a film, so I would've been able to think a little more into this.

I don't quite get it, but they won a lot of games so they... - [Lynn] They won everything but one.

- [Jack] But one they went back and beat the team they lost to, so they don't have anybody they played they hadn't beaten.

Millry beat 'em early in the season, and then they met them, actually in the semis.

A really good football team.

- [Lynn] Yeah, that was a 28 to 11 victory over Millry, in that return match.

- [Jack] Yeah.

And that gives you a lot of confidence when you do something like that.

This is a very confident football team, and there's gonna be some confident issues with Pickens here.

There is not a response.

- [Lynn] Merryweather reverses and the ball is out, and apparently recovered by Pickens.

Maryweather is a 1,278 yard rusher on the season, with 14 touchdowns on the ground.

No gain on the play.

The ball is remarked at the original line of scrimmage.

Merryweather leaves the contest right now, and is replaced by Caleb Hill.

- [Jack] If you look in the middle of that defensive line, at the physicality, that allows everybody to play so free for the Leroy defense.

- [Lynn] Plot on the wide receiver sweep, and he's able to turn the corner on the left side, get between the hash mark and the numbers, and he's got a first down on the Bear's side of midfield.

- [Jack] And they're relying on speed, and they're blocking out in front of the speed.

The wide receivers are doing an outstanding job.

- [Lynn] That was Caleb Hill who was sealing it off on the left side, enabling the running back to get a little bit more.

And here's Hill on the carry, steps outside.

He's got six, he's got seven.

He's repelled there.

But a nice run on first out.

- [Jack] Outstanding run.

Ran at the tackle to sort of engage the block, and one saw offensive tackle engaged the block, he made the break outside.

That's good running 'cause he set that block up, but if he'd taken it just to the corner, he would have had some problems.

(spectators cheering) (energetic music) - [Lynn] Back to the ground game and some production.

- [Jack] Speed.

Yeah, got the corner.

- [Lynn] Matty Barnes, that's his first carry.

He ran for 237 yards on the year in a reserve role and Jackie averaged seven and a half yards per touch.

Four touchdowns.

- [Jack] That was somebody who knew how to run in space, 'cause he made a cut to get him in some area that he wouldn't have... A lot of backs wouldn't have found.

- [Lynn] Damian Jones is the center of three year starter.

Here is Barnes again.

This time he's dragged down with a fine open field tackle by the strong side linebacker, Sawyer Sullivan, who by the way is the backup quarterback.

- [Jack] Without a blocker on him, whether it was a missed assignment or his play in particular.

- [Lynn] Watch Sawyer Sullivan right here.

That is perfect tackling, wrapping up around the knees.

- [Jack] That's called downhill linebacker play, 'cause he was getting penetration as he got there.

He made the tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Instead of playing laterally, he played downhill.

- [Lynn] The line to make is close to the 24, second down and better than 10.

Play action throw goes to the outside.

It's incomplete, intended for Jones.

Jones is an interesting story.

He dislocated the little finger on a hand in the first round of the playoffs.

Dislocated, and in fact the joint broke through the skin.

- [Jack] Wow!

- [Lynn] What did he do the following week?

He returned, he was bandaged up, he caught eight balls with a couple of touchdowns, and 152 yards against an undefeated team in Meek.

How's that responding?

- [Jack] That is responding.

That means you gotta love for the game, is what that is.

They're getting penetration consistently.

Leroy is getting in their way along the rise of scrimmage right now.

- [Lynn] It's Jaquan Scott up front along with Jakori Pugh, Bryson, Dixon, and Malcolm Pugh.

The linebackers are Sullivan, Harrison, and Marshall.

Marshall probably the best of that bunch.

And then the cornerbacks are Moore and Phillips, and the safeties are Howell and Giles.

Moore is a really good coverage cornerback.

We've already seen what Giles can do with this sixth interception.

Those two are probably the best in the secondary.

- [Jack] This is this area of the field where you can go for it on four down.

They obviously with the score, feel like they have to take this risk of losing the field position, they might gain the punting.

- [Lynn] Giles lets it fly deep.

It is intercepted inside the five yard line by Malik Howell, that's his third interception of the season.

He's the starting tailback, he also is the strong safety, and he was able to get to that ball first.

- [Jack] Probably for Pickens County's advantage, it was better than the punt.

But when you put the ball deep like that, I mean, you do have to have, make the play on the ball and defense mate play on the ball.

- [Lynn] So Giles has intercepted his sixth of the season, Howell, his third of the year.

And of course you're right, Jack.

That ball would've been back near the 40 yard line, had it just been knocked down.

But the interception by Howell, gives the Bears a first down at the three yard line.

- [Jack] This ought to be an opportunity here to regain some field position though, with the ball being pinned inside or to the goal line.

- [Lynn] Handoff goes to the tailback who wedges his way across the five, maybe to the sixth.

That's Howell.

How's that?

You touch it on consecutive plays, one on the defensive side of the ball, and one on the offenses.

- [Jack] This is all 1A football, they play both ways, and that doesn't happen very much in three and four, 5A, 6A and 7A.

But one and 2A, it does happen, particularly when you have an outstanding athlete, you don't want him standing on the sideline with you.

- [Lynn] Here they're under center.

High formation, the tailbacks got it.

And this time, the Tornadoes have got the tailback, Malik Howell could not take more than two steps toward the line of scrimmage, before he was really wrapped up.

That's nice work defensively along the line of scrimmage.

First contact made by Jamari and Cohen.

What did he do in round three of the playoffs?

He recovered a fumble, he forced a fumble, and he recorded a sack and a half.

He's the second leading tackler, number 25, Cohen.

Five and a half sacks on the year, that's number one on the team.

22 tackles for loss, that's number two on the team.

Here's the pitch on the wide receiver sweep, (crowd cheering) and it strung out pretty well defensively.

A little bit of yardage on there as Crumity got it.

Why not get it into his hands as often as you can?

(indistinct) - [Jack] This play was gaining a lot of yardage earlier, so you can see that Pickens County is making adjustments, 'cause that play had a lot of grass and that's about fourth time they run it.

And Pickens County's a little bit, surely fine into the lanes and paths to reduce the yardage that they play.

- [Lynn] Jeremy Perryman, who had a nice kick last time, will strike it.

No real rush.

This is a short wobbler.

Jones lets it bounce.

Now he'll pick it up at the 48, gets to the midfield, maybe a yard beyond, and that's where the Tornadoes will start the offense.

They trail 20 to nothing here, early in the second quarter.

We will be back with more in a moment.

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(spectators cheering) - [Lynn] It's been a marvelous start for Leroy.

They've taken advantage of a couple of turnovers, actually, three.

Two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

There is Coach Larry Massey.

He is a small town guy.

He's in his 12th year as head coach at Leroy.

His wife is a graduate of Leroy, as is he.

His father, Larry Massey, was the head coach at Leroy in the late 70s.

Jack, you may remember him.

- [Jack] I remember.

I coached at Livington, West Alabama, which is... We had a lot of players, and they love their football.

This is a real opportunity here to make this game more competitive.

- [Lynn] Well, Massey was a defensive coordinator at Leroy, before he took over as head coach, and they won four state championships during that time.

They've won five altogether.

This would be number six.

This is a very important opportunity for Pickens-- to get on the scoreboard-- - [Jack] Sure is.

- [Lynn] ...late in the second quarter, and take advantage of pretty good field position, but they lost six yards on the first play.

Handoff goes to the left side.

Not much available to Merryweather.

Right now Leroy is controlling both sides of the line of scrimmage.

- [Jack] They really are.

This obviously is a two down situation, third and long, and 13 is pretty long, 14, close to 14.

They need to try to get half of it, make it on fourth down and do something to end this, to end this half with some momentum going to the locker room.

- [Lynn] The line to make for the first down is the 39, and we've got a penalty marker.

An illegal substitution, that's going to be five more yards against Pickens.

This team has just not been able to find the rhythm.

- [Jack] They really haven't.

- On the offense, the penalty's five yards, where we play third down.

- [Lynn] It's a very well-coached team.

It is a team that has come from a couple of sizable deficits during the regular season against very good competition to win it.

And right now things are not going in favor of Pickens.

- [Jack] They're not.

And it doesn't mean that they couldn't settle down and do it a lot better.

(crowd cheering) - [Lynn] This is Quart with the ball.

He's able to turn up field a little bit after picking the pass.

- [Jack] That helps the calls.

- [Lynn] But it's going to be fourth down and still more than 10.

- [Jack] Yep.

And it's a passing down.

One thing that I expect to happen, it hadn't happened yet.

Maybe this will be an opportunity for it to happen.

But this quarterback gets lot of space on a passing down and when they're...

He doesn't see what he wants.

I mean, he can take this thing down and create some plays.

He's got the wheels to do that, and he's gotta do something about that rush.

And the best draw's the quarterback draw they've got.

They have decided to punt it.

- [Lynn] Here's the Pickens punt by the Electric Co-ops of Alabama.

The kick is away.

Giles will look at it, it's gonna bounce his way, picks it up on a chest high hop and goes down immediately.

Excellent coverage by Pickens defensively.

Really well done.

Zach Boone, one of the first to get there.

- [Jack] Obviously an intent to go in and take what the situation is as game stands, and take it in halftime.

- [Lynn] But 2:07 to play here in the second quarter, Jack, and a couple of timeouts, I believe, at the disposal of the Bears.

So they've got a chance to make some-- - [Jack] They do.

- [Lynn] Make something else happen, and they've already provided 20 points to the scoreboard.

They've made it change three times.

- [Jack] It's gonna be interesting to see just how aggressive they will be with this lead, with the time on the clock.

That formation is an indication they're gonna run it.

- [Lynn] Huebner hands it off to the wide receiver coming to the left side, and that play is strung out pretty well.

That's Crumity again.

- [Jack] Both these teams have responded defensively better to the perimeter.

Both of 'em have gotten pursuit into the perimeter and the plays that were breaking early on both sides, are not as...

They don't quite have the opportunity they did early in the game.

- [Lynn] Second and nine, the clock continues to run.

We are inside 100 seconds now, in the second quarter, and Leroy in no hurry to get to the line of scrimmage.

- [Jack] Yeah, I think they're... And the formation tells you, they're gonna protect their lead going into half time.

Still, you can't relax, and I'm sure Pickens County won't.

(whistle blows) - [Lynn] This play grabs a yard and that's about it.

A lot of humanity in the vicinity of the ball.

- [Referee] Time out, Pickens County.

- And Pickens is taking the time out to try to get the ball back with a few seconds left inside a minute.

I like that strategy by Pickens.

- [Jack] I like it too.

And particularly, if you can force 'em to punt, always in this area of the field, now you've got a chance to block a punt and that would be the most advantageous thing right now for Pickens County.

Force them to punt and then bring the house... Bring the house for the block.

(soft music) - [Lynn] Michael Williams, the head coach of Pickens, certainly one of the notable alumni.

He graduated in 2008.

He was a part of three national championship teams at the University of Alabama.

Those came in 2009, 2011, and 2012.

And then he was an NFL draft pick in 2013, by the Detroit Lions.

- [Jack] Yeah.

He's got a plan.

He's been around winning, he's been around...

He's been around Coach Saban, he's been around some pretty good sideline calls, so he's got a plan for this situation.

And if he can...

They can hold on to defending against the first down and force him into a punt, they can force something to happen.

- [Lynn] Nertner keeps it.

(whistle blowing) He's turned down short of the 20.

Actually, they'll give him progress to about the 22.

Let's see if Pickens takes another time out.

- Time out.

- It will.

- Pickens County.

- And it does.

- So second charge time out of the game.

- [Lynn] So 62 seconds to go.

Pickens has one more time out.

But it's fourth down.

- [Jack] Well, there's two ways to do this.

One is that you're gonna try to return the punt, which I think they could be successful doing that.

It's gonna be really interesting here to see if maybe they use the punt block as an offensive initiative, to try to make something happen that way.

I don't know what the numbers are on their punter front, but I think they're pretty good.

- [Lynn] They are pretty good.

- [Jack] And he may be playing for his punter to try and get the ball in open field.

(soft music) (whistle blowing) (indistinct) - [Lynn] Let's see who comes out to return the punt for Pickens.

It appears it's going to be Plot.

- [Jack] Return or the block, which is it?

We're about to find out.

- [Lynn] Perryman will strike it.

He's calling for the football.

It's a good snap.

He gets it away.

- It's a hold up-- - Nice kick.

- [Jack] It's a hold up and they're playing for the return.

- [Lynn] Plot starts inside the 40, and is thrown down at about the 40 yard line.

- [Jack] Yep.

- [Lynn] So a pretty good kick by Jeremy Perryman.

So far in this first half, Jack, he has kicked better than his season stats might-- - [Jack] He sure has.

In fact, that was an outstanding part.

He doesn't look as sure of himself when he's kicking it, but he's got a leg.

That's what it takes to punt.

He's got a very explosive leg.

- [Lynn] And we've got an injury for a Bear.

It looks like Jabore Pew.

We will not speculate as to the cause of the injury.

It is Pew.

Now there's a Malcolm Pew as well on this team.

Lots of the brothers throughout the years that played, and no exception this year.

- [Jack] Farming families are big families.

Not to say they all are, but that's what I associate with that part of the world is.

- [Lynn] There's not a day off on a farm.

- [Jack] No, they're isn't.

Those cows have to be fed every day.

- [Lynn] Let's go back and see if we can find out what might have gone wrong for number 50 in black.

Here's the tackle and there's the slip.

Yeah, look, it could be a knee problem, it could be an ankle problem.

That was a non-contact injury of some sort.

- [Jack] He pinned his leg up under himself.

- [Announcer] (indistinct) is challenging and how many people were on the field.

- [Lynn] Looked like maybe the right ankle or right leg may have been the injured one.

- [Jack] Both these teams are being provided athletic trainer coverage, and one thing about 1A football, they generally as a rule in 1A football, don't have that athletic trainer coverage.

- [Lynn] Certainly not a full-time trainer.

- [Jack] They sure don't.

And so, those decisions are ones that have to be made in the moment, whether you return somebody to play or you remove 'em from play.

- [Lynn] Jack, they are reviewing this.

I'm not quite sure what they are looking for, but we'll find out in a hurry.

Might have been a horse collar tackle, possibly.

- [Jack] I think it was how many players were on the field.

- [Lynn] Okay.

- [Jack] I think they're counting the players.

- [Lynn] All right.

Do you need an abacus to do that?

- [Jack] (laughing) I don't know who they get to do it.

- [Lynn] And that is the call Jack, Leroy is challenging.

- [Jack] Yeah.

- [Lynn] Claiming, or at least, arguing that Pickens might have had 12 men on the field.

- [Jack] Well, I give the coach some credit for realizing-- - [Lynn] You wanna count really quick?

- [Jack] About that because I don't think the 1A football team is-- - [Lynn] One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12.

- [Jack] That was sharp, that was sharp.

Coach Massey, that's a coaching name over in that part of the world.

Ronnie Massey was probably the first one.

- [Lynn] See, there's number 12 way back behind the play.

That's the punt returner.

- [Jack] Yeah.

- [Lynn] But I think there were 11 near the line of scrimmage, and maybe, and then the punt returner.

- [Jack] Yep.

- [Lynn] Come on guys, it doesn't take that long to count to 12.

- [Jack] No, it doesn't.

They could have just called you and got this answer, couldn't they?

(laughing) - [Lynn] Well, I'm not sure I got it right.

- [Jack] I tell you, this is a beautiful time of day at Auburn.

They call the prettiest sunsets kiss from Auburn, 'cause they're orange and blue, and this looks like an orange and blue sky, and an orange and blue world right here.

- It is.

- At Auburn.

- [Lynn] It would be difficult to find a better playing conditions than this first day of December.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

These kids when they come into this stadium and they...

They've watched games outta here.

It doesn't matter who they pull for their loyalty.

They understand that this field has had Heisman trophy players all over it.

It's had NFL first round raft choices all over it.

I mean, they're playing at a place that lives forever.

- [Lynn] Do you reckon the grass could tell a few stories here?

- [Jack] (laughing) Yeah.

Oh, I got some of my tears and sweat down there on that dirt too.

But it's a special time.

These kids, they do...

They dream about this when they're in the ninth grade, and they work for it and they sacrifice for it.

How many times they got home late, how many times they had to get up early?

It was all because they had a dream, and they're living their dream.

- [Lynn] And it's been 12 years now, since Leroy has had a state championship.

They won the last one in 2010.

They had a roll there where they won four and five years, I think.

- [Jack] Right.

- [Lynn] And then this would be number six altogether, if they can get it.

They're in pretty good shape right now with less than a minute to play in the second quarter.

- [Jack] Yep.

- [Lynn] But I am still puzzled over why it takes so long to count the players.

- [Jack] Lord have mercy, it is a...

I'd say right now that, there's something going on besides the obvious, because that was, from our standpoint, you got a picture of it up here.

It was a lot more obvious than the time it had taken, or maybe they had equipment failure.

- [Lynn] That's possible.

There's a couple of dance moves in the stands.

- [Jack] Amen.

1A football, you and I were talking about this before we got on.

This is football.

These kids are less likely to be playing for some other motive than just the motive of playing for their school, their friends, their community.

The good feeling that they get walking down the street when people recognize 'em as football players and... All right.

- After review, the ruling on the field has been overturned.

Their work could have been on the field.

We'll go back to the previous spot.

The illegal participation will be penalized 15 yards and re-kick.

- [Lynn] Oh wow!

So that is the major penalty.

12 players indeed were on the field for the receiving team, and that's going to be a 15 yard penalty.

That's about as damaging as you can get.

- [Jack] Yeah.

Yes.

- [Lynn] So the challenge was successful with a great deal of impact.

- [Jack] It changes how you play the end of this game.

So I don't think it's gonna change the outcome of the possession.

But let's see whether he decides to block it, which honestly, I think he needs to consider that.

But a lot of people don't trust-- - [Lynn] Would the penalty be enough for the first down" - [Man] After the penalty, it'll be a first down for Leroy.

- [Lynn] Yes, it is.

So it is a first down.

- [Jack] Well, they got a punt returner back.

- [Lynn] Yeah, I'm not sure I'm quite reading this correctly.

But they're gonna mark the penalty yardage now, and that's going to be enough for the first out.

- [Jack] Yep.

- [Lynn] So it's business as usual, offensively for the Leroy Bears.

They're gonna have a first down after that illegal participation penalty.

- [Jack] They may get bold here and try to throw it up and see what they can get.

I wouldn't expect that, to be honest with you.

They're not a field goal team, and what they don't want to do, is throw something up to get run back for touchdown against them.

Some of these athletes, they can take this game over if they get enough field to do it.

There's some athletes...

There's some athletes on this field.

- [Lynn] Leroy this year has scored 60 touchdowns.

That is a huge number.

- [Jack] It absolutely is.

- [Lynn] 24 by passing, 36 by rushing.

Huebner the quarterback steps outside.

He's got an open field.

Does he have enough speed?

He's across the 20, he's across the 15.

He's run out of bounds near, let's see where they mark it.

They're gonna spot it at about the eight yard line or so.

- [Jack] Wow!

- [Lynn] Wow!

Does that change the complexion of the final 38 seconds?

- It does, it sure does.

He's got speed.

I mean, that was speed.

He doesn't look like he's running fast, but he was gaining a lot of ground every time he turned it over, and it was just, I think, he caught Pickens County, they had no containment and no safety support inside out.

- [Lynn] And once again, Leroy is in the Alabama votes red zone, first down at the eight yard line with 38 seconds remaining.

Huebner's gonna keep it again.

He's across the five, and he is tripped up at about the three, maybe the two and a half, and a timeout will be called.

So 30 seconds to play here.

- [Referee] Leroy, that's a second touch down.

- [Lynn] And we also have a penalty marker.

If it's a penalty against the defense, it's not going to be that much costly.

Let's go back and look at Huebner break the containment.

- [Jack] Break containment.

You got the puller 58 coming around the corner, just logs everybody inside.

You got the whole field to run, and no inside out from the second level.

- [Lynn] Let's give credit to Maddox Everett, that 5'10, 279 pound senior guard who sealed it off.

- [Jack] He did seal it off.

- [Lynn] There's the face mask right there.

Great camera work.

- [Jack] Yes.

- [Lynn] To show you exactly the clarity of that face mask penalty, they're gonna mark the ball at the one now.

- [Jack] 30 seconds left to play, I think it'd be very hard 'cause I suspect to run.

It's gonna be very hard to get two runs off, unless they're calling two runs with no huddle as they are, which they'd run to play and then re-huddle quickly to run the play.

We'll second play.

- He does, Jack.

He has thrown 24 touchdown passes.

- [Jack] Oh wow!

That does make a point.

And I tell you-- - [Lynn] And 24 of those have been in the end zone.

- [Jack] Play action pass both these tight ends are gonna be open.

- [Lynn] Yes, they would.

Tight formation, straight ahead goes the quarterback, and it's a touchdown.

- [Jack] Wow!

- [Lynn] The near side official, after waiting a few moments, brought both hands up and Huebner has scored again.

- [Jack] That boy is having a day.

- [Lynn] Yes, he is.

- [Jack] You saw the same thing in 3A with Jack Hayes.

I mean, these are quarterbacks that take on the physicality of the whole team.

They become the most physical players in the game.

- [Lynn] Let's go back and remember the pivotal decision in this drive that enabled the Bears to hold onto the football, and that was somebody who's pretty good in math on the other sideline, (Jack laughs) who challenged the number of players on the field.

It was a successful challenge.

- [Jack] Yeah, we'll give coaches kudos on that one, won't we?

- [Lynn] This extra point is no good by Rob Mosley, but still his team has added another touchdown and leads 26, nothing.

But it was that call with 12 men on the field that gave-- - Absolutely.

- [Lynn] The Bears a first down, and then the long run by Huebner, and then the short run by Huebner to the end zone, that was a huge deal to change the scoreboard yet again.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

And I think the play that bounced outside for the long sideline run was just a very well executed play.

I mean, the pin by the guard was outstanding.

When you got that kinda open space and that kinda speed, I didn't think he could run fast of that deal right there.

I didn't think he had speed, but he's got a stride that moves very quickly, and that stride covers some ground.

It was a great run.

- [Lynn] So we'll see if Plot, or any of his teammates are able to get their hands on these kickoffs, which have been short and angled, and a couple of them have gone out of bounds.

- [Jack] I wish I'd have watched the film, and I could say whether this the kickoff return from hurting them, or this is what they do every week.

That's very smart coaching in itself.

You keep it away from the people that can hurt you.

- [Lynn] Let's see if Plot can hurt.

We've got a marker down at the line of scrimmage, meaning where the ball was placed for the kickoff.

- On the kicking team, five yard penalty.

Re-kick.

- [Lynn] It's an offside penalty on the kicking team.

(spectators chattering) (indistinct) - [Jack] Yeah, yeah, that will.

They've chosen to kick it to the returners after not really giving the returner an opportunity earlier in the game on what four other.

This is the fourth kickoff, so three other kickoffs.

But they're gonna do it here.

I mean, they have confidence that they can put him on the ground.

Well, no, they just gonna put...

They're still keeping it away from him.

- [Lynn] That ball is pinballing around off a couple of Pickens players, and finally recovered at about the 35.

Now remember, Pickens will have the first possession in the third quarter.

It'll be a kickoff from Leroy to Pickens.

But right now, only 19 seconds to go with the ball at the 35 yard line.

- [Jack] 26, nothing.

Get into the locker room, get your poise, get your composure, and bring your A game out when you come out the second half.

- [Lynn] This is Summerville who takes a direct snap, and he turns that direct snap into a nice run on first down, about 15 yards on the pickup.

Little wildcat formation of Summerville.

- [Jack] They seemed to be intent on making, taking every opportunity they got.

- [Lynn] Three seconds left in the half.

This will be the final play barring penalty.

Somerville giving ground.

He is knocked down.

And that is the end of the first period, or the first half, I should say, here at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Well, Jack, this game got off to a very good start for Leroy.

And then of course, after they were able to turn a couple of broken plays into a long drive for a touchdown, Leroy started taking the ball away with great regularity.

Three interceptions and also a-- - [Jack] Made a lot of plays, couple of big plays.

- [Lynn] Let's go down to Susan Caruthers.

Susan, it's all yours.

- Hey coach, you've got all the momentum and all the points so far in this game.

What are you gonna say to your guys in the locker room?

- We just gotta keep it up.

We just gotta keep playing defense, and taking care of the football on offense, and not turn the ball over.

- Sounds good.

Good luck, coach.

- Thank you.

- [Lynn] Well, he's got a 26 nothing pad right now as the teams go into the locker room.

26, nothing at the half.

And Leroy seeking its sixth state championship, is up by four scores.

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- [Announcer] This is the Jefferson County Halftime Show.

(upbeat music) - And we are back here at Jordan-Hare Stadium at halftime of the Class 1A Championship game.

It is all Leroy so far, 26 to zero over Pickens County.

As we join you for the Jefferson County Halftime Show, we're pleased to be joined by our special guest, Paul Henderson, president, co-owner of Encore Rehabilitation.

Just a tremendous supporter of athletics throughout the state of Alabama.

Paul, thank you for joining us.

- Thank you for having me.

- Paul, tell us this is a long relationship, isn't it?

That Encore has had with athletics in general throughout the state, and particularly with the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

- Yes, it's been a really good partnership for us.

I think we've been with the association for maybe 15 years, and we've seen it grow.

I think we're our third executive director, and so they keep adding sports and regionals, and we cover all those.

Every sport, every regional, every state final, we'll have an athletic trainer there to help with any injuries that might occur.

- And how important is that, that the work that athletic trainers do, they are really the unsung heroes of the athletic world.

Are they not?

- Well, athletic trainers are vital part now, and more and more, I think, teams are seeing the importance of having an athletic trainer over the years.

That profession has really grown, and with the concussions, and some of the legislation with that, it really has brought that athletic trainer to the forefront, and it's really good, that they can have those on the sidelines now.

The coaches feel more comfortable with it, and certainly the parents.

- [Kevin] Has that been a process over time, where you've had to get coaches to understand how important a trainer is, or have they been willing in general to buy-in and the issue may have been finances in the past?

- Well, I think over the years, again, early on, a lot of coaches got used to seeing their own injuries, and taping and treating.

And so I think once they got used an athletic trainer that could take that off of them, that them had the responsibility of coaching and concentrating on that, it gives them a comfort factor, plus it relieves them of a lot of responsibility.

- And we're so used to seeing the Encore Rehabilitation logo at incredible sporting events like the Super Seven across the State of Alabama.

How many different events do we see an Encore presence throughout a typical year?

- Well, Alabama, we're in Alabama, Mississippi, a little bit in Florida and Tennessee.

We cover a little over 250 high schools and universities, and all of the state tournaments here, so chances are you'll see one of our athletic trainers on the sidelines, or in the gymnasiums.

And so, they're pretty common place now, especially in Alabama.

And so that's been good for us, to kind of get our company name out in front, and we're really proud of our athletic trainers and everything they do.

- Well, Paul, we appreciate all the great work that Encore Rehabilitation does.

Thank you so much to Paul Henderson, president and co-owner of Encore.

We're gonna head to a break.

When we come back, Coach Bill Clark will be back here.

We'll break down the first half.

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Look and you'll find protectors all around us.

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We're by your side, helping you protect what matters most, because we're all protectors.

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But all of that powerful information, needs a really powerful home.

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- [Presenter] Welcome back to the Jefferson County Halftime Show.

- Kevin Scarbisky back here with you from Jordan-Hare Stadium halftime of the 1A State Championship game, the Leroy with a commanding 26, to zero lead over Pickens County.

I'm pleased to be joined once again, by Coach Bill Clark.

And Bill, I wanted to talk to you about a very important cause that you and I are both involved in, and that is Coach Safely.

People may not know that you are the vice president of the Coach Safely Foundation.

If you would let everyone know what Coach Safely is and what it does, and most importantly, why it matters?

- Gosh, there's so many great things about our initiative of Coach Safely.

This is all we got past a few years back.

Coach Jack Crowe started this foundation.

A lot of us got to be part of it.

Dr. Jimmy Andrews, myself, you, tons of coaches and great folks out there.

Parks and REC Department of the State of Alabama, so this is a safety law, but it's also to get kids out to play youth sports.

We want to keep 'em safe.

So there's so many things in these courses these coaches take and get certified in as youth sports coaches, that teaches them about safety.

But it also... We talk about hydration where we give 'em access to a trainer, and there's a lot of other tools we wanna teach 'em along the way.

But certifying coaches so parents would feel good about their kids playing youth sports.

And obviously I'm an old high school coach, dad was a high school coach, so you believe in that youth sports, I believe, and then we're talking about boys and girls.

So it's a big deal.

- It really is.

And I don't know that everyone is aware.

That's part of my mission, I serve as director of communications for Coach Safely, is getting the word out, raising awareness about the many aspects of Coach Safely.

And one is, as you mentioned, that state law in 2018, Alabama became the first state in the nation to pass a law that requires all youth coaches of children 14 and under, to take an annual course in injury recognition and prevention.

And it doesn't get any better, than a course that is designed in part by Dr. James Andrews.

- Yeah, and I think what we've got, we've got all the things you want in there.

We've got the safety aspect of it, which allows kids to come play.

As a parent, and I'm a grandparent now, I want my kids to be safe, I want that coach to be training.

We know these coaches, man, they do it outta the goodness of their heart, them male or female, but we want 'em to know what they're doing.

I mean, 'cause there is a risk factor here.

So let's make 'em safe so we can get these kids out.

Along the way, I think there's a lot of other things we're gonna teach 'em about getting kids out and what that should look like, and prior schedules.

When I was a high school coach and athletic director, I was very involved with our youth teams.

What did that look like?

How should practice look?

What does hydration, et cetera, look like?

I've talked to coaches for a long time about that, about get involved in your youth sports, in all sports, because that's your future players.

- Exactly.

And we had Paul Henderson from Encore Rehabilitation, another great supporter of Coach Safely on with us.

And that's another thing.

At high school games, yes, you're gonna have a trainer, but when you're coaching eight year old football players on a Saturday morning or you're at practice, you are the trainer.

You're everything as the coach, as a youth coach.

- Well, we love to win.

We love to win, but this is about getting the kids out, making it safe, and the word is fun, and when it's safe, it's fun.

We're teaching 'em about dealing with others, and as we talked about having some adversity and physically fit.

I mean, there's just so many things that we believe in with athletics.

Obviously, sitting here at the State Championship, this is a great culmination.

But if we look at the pyramid with the top being pro sports, and you go all the way down to the bottom, that's where the players are at, and you know the numbers that we could talk to people about, but how many kids throughout our country are involved in youth sports?

This is a place at Alabama.

We are leading, we're the first ones to enact this law.

This is gonna end up becoming going across our nation.

But Alabama, I'm really proud of our state legislature for doing that.

Obviously Coach Crowe, what he's done to make this go.

- And it couldn't be any easier.

We encourage everyone to go to coachsafely.org, and as a youth coach in the State of Alabama, it doesn't cost you one penny to take this course.

Thanks to the Coach Safely participation, the partnership with the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association.

We'll be back here on the Jefferson County Halftime Show to wrap up the first half.

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(thunder crashing) That's why we love Alabama Power.

As soon as it's safe, they work day and night to get the lights back on fast, kind of like real life superheroes.

I know they do it for everybody, but sometimes I think they do it just for Poppy.

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(Poppy barking) - [Presenter] Welcome back to the Jefferson County Halftime Show.

- All right, we're with you again from Jordan-Hare Stadium, halftime of the 1A State Championship game.

Leroy up 26 to zero over Pickens County, and we're gonna get some highlights from the first half, and we're gonna get Coach Bill Clark to provide some commentary for us.

The Leroy quarterback, Brayden Huebner.

He is a workhorse.

Throwing the ball.

First play of the game.

Right there, coach.

- [Bill] Yeah, I mean that's that quick screen.

Obviously he gets credit for a quick throw.

Great run after catch, blocking down field.

- [Kevin] And then you see the inside hand off the little reverse action a little.

Misdirection.

- [Bill] Little wing tee.

- [Kevin] Yeah, you like that old school stuff?

- [Bill] Yeah, I do, I like it.

I like a little bit of everything.

There's a turnover.

Here's our quarterback, boy, what a half he had.

He can really run the ball.

Look at this here.

Just bouncing off tacklers.

- And he's not all that stout.

- No.

- [Kevin] But it seems hard to bring him down.

- [Bill] Yeah, yeah.

I think he's strong.

He's really strong.

Big pick right here.

I love to see the free safety get over the top.

There he is down the sideline.

That's what you teach.

Get to the near sideline, go score.

- [Kevin] And you saw the blocking and he almost did take it back for a pick six.

And then there's that guy again, Brayden Huebner, finding the end zone.

- [Bill] Big touchdown, I think that was right before half.

There's a defensive play tackle for loss.

I tell you, I've been impressed with Leroy's size.

Obviously Pickens County, they're gonna go in there in half and talk about the things they've gotta do, and it is gotta be one play at a time.

- And we talked about the Leroy defense.

There's again, Bredan Huebner, every time you look up he's getting chunk plays.

So we're gonna cut it off here and we're gonna get ready for the second half, here from Jordan-Hare Stadium.

All right coach, give us one last thought again, that defense for Leroy, it's an offensive game today.

Everybody scores points.

They had four shutouts in their regular season, and you have a little history of Coach Massey.

- Yeah, well Coach Massey was with Coach Danny Powell back years ago when I was at South Alabama starting in '08.

We had a little defensive program we called Total Defensive Program.

They were a client.

They came around.

It was good for us.

Obviously they won a bunch of games back then.

Good to see him on the sideline and seeing him playing great defense.

I also want to get a shout out to Alabama Public Television for what they're doing, putting this game on.

That's just so good to get that out to the state and to the local communities.

- Absolutely.

And yeah, we should remind everyone that you can watch every game in the Super Seven through tomorrow night 6A Championship game, over the air on Alabama Public Television.

If you're watching on a streaming device, then you find it at the NFHS Networks.

So you got the best of both worlds covered, and you can watch these incredible young men compete for those blue maps and those state championships.

Leroy is halfway there, up 26 to nothing of the 1A state title game.

Can Pickens County mount a comeback?

We'll see.

(upbeat music) (people cheering) (upbeat music) - [Presenter] I know it's early, but it's okay to move around in your seat.

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(upbeat music) Everybody in here clap with me on this one, all right?

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Join our hardworking team that positively impacts the lives of children and families across Alabama.

Speak to a recruiter by calling 334-242-1780, or emailing recruitments@dhr.alabama.gov.

(soft music) - [Announcer] You're watching Alabama Public Television.

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(upbeat music) - Don't you just love rain?

It's nature's way of watering the Earth.

Thunderstorms are a different story.

Poppy really freaks off when the lights go off.

(thunder crashing) That's why we love Alabama Power.

As soon as it's safe, they work day and night to get the lights back on fast, kind of like real life superheroes.

I know they do it for everybody, but sometimes I think they do it just for Poppy.

Say thanks, Poppy.

(Poppy barks) - [Lynn] Right here in Auburn.

Look at the gloaming in the background, as when you see the sunset here, and it's 1A Championship football.

Leroy has a 26 nothing lead over Pickens, and did a lot of things right, including forcing three turnovers.

Jack Crowe and Lynn Rollins with you from the booth here at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Certainly a very commanding lead right now for Leroy.

But don't forget about an amazing comeback not long ago by this Pickens team.

Pickens was trailing meek by 14, with three minutes left in the game, and won it by eight points.

So this is a team with some resiliency.

And even though it's down by 26, nothing right now, Jack.

I'm sure that the whole atmosphere in that locker room was, "Look, that was not a good half.

"But we're capable of coming back."

- [Jack] And they'll draw.

I'm sure they're in that locker room drawing on something exactly as you said it, probably.

That's what coaches do.

- [Lynn] Let's go down to Susan Carruther.

Susan, take it away.

- All right, coach.

Well, the first half didn't really go the way that you would like it.

What's your plan to turn it around the second half?

- Try to do the exact opposite of what we did in the first half.

Sometimes the lights and the jumbotron, and all that can get to you.

I think we're locked in now, and I'm pretty sure I'm almost 100% positive that you'll see a different team in the second half.

- Very good.

So what specifically did you tell your players in the locker room?

- Don't blink, don't think twice.

We've been here before.

Nobody said it had to be easy, okay?

So we're gonna come out here, play another 24 minutes, and try to win this ballgame.

- Very good.

Good luck, coach.

- Thank you.

- [Lynn] Well, that's the approach you've gotta take, Jack.

And he just spelled it out.

Let's look at some halftime stats.

They definitely favor Leroy in every category.

- [Jack] I mean, something's gotta change, obviously.

That demeanor of Coach Williams, is the way you get it done, because those kids, if that's what they saw in the locker room, they will come back a better football team, that started the first half.

- [Lynn] 211 yards total offense for Leroy.

Only 44 equally divided between rushing pass for Pickens.

And 6.6 yards per play for Leroy.

Only two yards per play for Pickens.

Even though those numbers show the domination, if you wanna use that word, in the first half, it was the three turnovers.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

- [Lynn] That really, really hurt.

And then that penalty with too many men on the field, near the end of the second quarter, which sustained a drive, and Leroy got to the end zone.

- [Jack] Now you're talking.

Lynn, you're talking coaching now.

(both laughing) 'Cause that's exactly what it was, and that's what coaches coach.

So can it reverse?

Yes, it can reverse.

But in this first two minutes, they call it the middle four minutes in football, the middle four is the last two minutes of the second half, the first two...

I mean, last two of the first half, first two of the second half.

And right here with them with a ball, the best thing...

I mean, the way they can get this thing under control, is to make some points out of this first drive.

And I think the demeanor of Coach Williams tells me, we are gonna see something different.

I mean, that's what I read out of the circumstance.

- [Lynn] He didn't promise a victory, but he did promise you'd be seeing a different team in the second half.

- Absolutely.

And I'm reading his...

The word using the word blink.

I mean, he knows what he's doing, 'cause he's been in these situations.

- [Lynn] Well, let's look at what has transpired so far.

We go back to yesterday.

The Auburn girls won the Flag Football Championship over Oxford.

Then Thompson beat the Auburn guys.

A bit of a surprising score there, 49, 24.

Auburn certainly was a quality team.

Thompson was better yesterday.

St. James in a game preceding this one, beat Piedmont 45-28.

That was a wild one with several-- - Really was.

- Interesting moments in it.

And of course you've seen the rest of the schedule.

Leroy leading 26 nothing, here at the half.

We still have the 4A Championship, the 6A Championship, the 5A Championship, and the 2A Championship to be decided.

- [Jack] Great football in hand for people, and praise Alabama Public Television.

This is the best tournament that's ever been done.

Lynn, you're part of that quality of announcement.

The announcing is outstanding, and I hope APT and the Alabama High School Athletic Association make this a staple.

- [Lynn] And let's don't forget the people who financially backed this all across the state, within this public television forum, and it's a wonderful thing.

- [Jack] It is what makes us who we are, Alabama, when I say us.

(laughing) - [Lynn] So Leroy will kick off to Pickens.

This is a standard kickoff.

- [Jack] They're letting their returner have it here.

- [Lynn] Plot across the 25, steps outside of the 30, up to the 40.

A very nice return and a good starting position now.

- [Jack] Now we know why they were kicking it to him.

This is the way you do it.

Now poise and Confidence has to reside in this, and their quarterback is gonna have to make some plays.

His legs, his arm, all of it.

I'd suggest that he create some plays with his legs before he tries to do anything throwing the ball into the defense.

- [Lynn] First in 10 at a 40 yard line for Pickens.

Trailing 26, nothing.

It was a little tailback counter on his own.

And Merryweather read the play.

Blocked on the right side.

He reversed, he went left and turned nothing into about five yards.

- [Jack] First play of the game, and that first play, two different kinds of plays.

- [Lynn] Actually, again at six on the self-generated counter, let's call it second and a long four coming up for Pickens.

Pickens 11 and three on the year, seven and one in regional five, in region five 1A.

And right back to the ground goes Pickens up near midfield.

Let's see if it's enough for a first down.

Once again it's Elijah Merryweather.

He's a senior.

1,278 yards on the ground for Merryweather, coming into the game.

He's been the bell cow running back, although they use Somerville, they use Howell, and they use Barnes as well.

- [Jack] Two plays, first down.

- [Lynn] Giles calling for the football, hands it off again.

And this time Leroy is there to smother all avenues, as Merryweather rightly turned left, and then could turn no more.

- [Jack] It was, "Oh no, you're not defense response on that down."

- [Announcer] Second down.

- [Lynn] Second down and 11 after a loss of one.

Giles looking.

Giles throws over the middle.

He's got a receiver, (crowd cheering) turns up feel first down and some more.

And finally being knocked down at about the 33 yard line, is the receiver San Antonio Jones Jr. And he is a good one.

The number one pass catcher for Pickens.

- [Jack] Going against zone.

He found the open scene.

Paul well delivered.

You best to stay north right there, young man.

- [Lynn] Bryson Moore delivered the blow, but it's a first out.

This is Merryweather again.

And he is wrapped up in the backfield of tackle for loss by Bryson Dixon.

Jack, he came in with 28 tackles behind the line of scrimmage on the season.

He's had a couple tonight.

- [Jack] That one looks like-- - [Lynn] And that's the defensive tackle.

- [Jack] Yeah, this looks like a college football player right here now.

There's a difference between him and every other lineman on the field.

And the defense is playing off of him.

The whole Leroy defense is playing off this young man right here.

- [Lynn] Second down and 15.

The line to make is near the 23.

Giles looking.

Giles slinging it, got a man out there, caught.

Touchdown!

(crowd cheering) Pickens County is caught on the receiving end.

Gets to the scoreboard here early in the third quarter.

- [Jack] Credit to the offensive line for giving the time for that quarterback to zero in down the field.

Outstanding pass protection, in really a mismatched situation, because they are mismatched.

- [Lynn] And a well thrown ball, 33 yards to the end zone.

That is the fourth touchdown catch by Plot this season.

He's a junior.

He had 32 catches coming in, averaging 16.7 per reception.

And they will go for two.

Stepping to the outside and getting into the end zone, is Somerville, Corporate Somerville, had enough speed to turn the corner, but there is a penalty marker on the field.

- Free to try holding on the offense.

It's 10 yards where we try.

(crowd cheering) - [Jack] But it goes from a running down to a passing down.

And here comes a quarterback.

They were in a wildcat, if you want to call it that.

Right now they gotta have a play that requires this young man.

And I'm telling you, I want see him come down and run with it, son.

That's the way you neutralize the rush, along with the great effort that they got on that last pass.

He's got to create the threat to take the ball down and run 'cause he's athletic enough to do it.

- [Lynn] So the quarterback, Giles, is back in the game.

He completed 48% of his passes for 1,895 yards and 22 touchdowns coming into this game.

Giles looking, Giles slinging it to the corner and it's incomplete.

He threw into double coverage, and Xavier and Hood was the intended receiver, but it was out of his reach.

Jack, let's go back and look at the touchdown throw.

- [Jack] Great protection, great protection.

They rushed three which allowed them to put some double teams on people.

But what the quarterback did, was just make a tremendous, tremendous throw.

And there's some speed outside because Coron was trying to run with him.

He couldn't run with him.

He couldn't run with him.

- [Lynn] He threw a checklist, threw a donut right there.

That one was on the money.

- [Jack] Yup, yup.

Well, that's what... We wanted a game, we may have one, Lynn.

- [Lynn] Three minutes into the third quarter, our Drive Safe Alabama scoring drive presented by the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Six plays, it covered 60 yards, a 38 yard pass reception for the touchdown.

And we've got a new score, 26 to six.

There's nice coverage that kinda energized the defense, didn't it?

- Sure did, absolutely.

There's a shift in momentum here.

What's the response gonna be?

Because this is very confident, talented football team at Leroy.

But they've gotta put an end to this.

- [Lynn] That was Ray Ray Phillips on the return.

Out to the 19.

Let's check in with Susan Carruther, Susan.

- [Susan] Hey guys.

So we've had a little bit minimum shift down here, and it's worth noting that Pickens County, one of the assistant coaches told me that, also in Pickens County there's Aliceville and there's Gordo.

Those are other teams that this team plays during the year.

But those teams are also very supportive of this team here tonight.

Some of them are in the stands tonight, cheering them on.

It just goes to show the best of what Alabama football has to offer.

- [Lynn] Oh, I couldn't agree with you more, Susan.

A great story.

In fact, they play each other during the regular season.

The two schools that Susan just mentioned, are higher in classification.

And always really good at football.

and sometimes Pickens does not prevail against those schools, but it gets them better, and they play a round Robin every year.

- [Jack] That's great stuff, that's great stuff.

There's a sense of community.

It really is.

- [Lynn] Now this tournament, if you'll call it that, the Super Seven, will rotate between three locations.

It'll be in Tuscaloosa next year, I believe, and then Birmingham the following year, and then back here in Auburn, three years from now.

And two plays behind the line of scrimmage by this defense by Pickens.

Pickens starting to get energized a bit.

Huebner was wrapped up and he had no place to go.

- [Jack] They've got 'em all in the box and they got 'em coming.

They're saying, "Throw it if you want to, "if you can hit him, you can have him."

- [Lynn] That was Corbit Summerville, a linebacker, one of the best at that position.

That number seven is the leading tackler on this team.

He's got over 100 tackles now.

- [Jack] This reminds me of Mississippi State coming after Ole Miss.

There's more to block than you got to block him with.

- [Lynn] Summerville had 16 solo tackles in a first round playoff game.

That's amazing.

- [Jack] That is.

- [Lynn] Third down and very long.

And we've got illegal procedure, I think.

Flag was dropped at the line of scrimmage.

- (indistinct) On the offense.

- Boys, boys.

- Five yards.

We play third down.

- [Lynn] So that's three would be snaps, and all three have retreated.

The line to make for a first down is near the 30.

The ball is at about the eight, maybe the seven.

(spectators cheering) - [Jack] It's gonna be real interesting how Leroy answers this version of defense.

'Cause this version of defense is daring you to throw the ball.

- [Lynn] Huebner will keep it.

He'll step to the near sideline, and he's bumped outta bound short of the 15 yard line, and now forth and very long, coming for the Bears, so it's one of the few times this game have been stopped.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

And we can look at the mechanics as a punter, and he is not efficient.

He can be effective.

This will be the worst time in the world to get off a shank.

But we'll see that.

- [Lynn] Plot is waiting for the punt off the foot of Jeremy Perryman.

Kick is away, nearly blocked.

It might have been tipped.

It's a wobbly high kick, very shallow.

It backs up and is finally down to about the 35.

So this is exactly what Pickens is hoping for.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

- [Lynn] They've got a score already on the board in third quarter and a chance right here with a very short field.

- [Jack] Yeah, momentum has shifted for the moment, folks.

- [Lynn] First down for Pickens, the Tornadoes, trying to work themselves into a spin here, offensively.

- [Jack] Leroy continues to play with a three man front.

They are three, three in their defense, and they're really predicating everything on their great nose man.

He's a college player.

- [Lynn] There's a slicing run by Merryweather.

He slipped by a would-be tackle at the line of scrimmage.

Merryweather was able to turn what looked like might be a no gain into about three.

- [Jack] Well, their double team's happening on the nose tackle, which frees the linebacker.

But the linebacker missed the tackle in the hook, so you can keep playing that game, see what you get out of it.

- [Lynn] Three down line and again, second down.

Once again it's the tailback, and Merryweather crosses the 30 barely.

They'll mark it a little inside the 30 yard line.

- [Jack] They were attacking the strength of defense, which is the middle stack, the nose man, the linebacker.

And they're going right at 'em, which is, "We're here to play."

- [Lynn] It's three new players check in offensively and three more enter the game on the defensive side.

They get the snap and then get a penalty.

There were too many men on the field.

Handoff goes to Summerville, running left.

I don't see a flag, but they were... Now I do.

They're gonna get Leroy for having too many men on the field trying to make that late defensive substitution.

- [Jack] It's really vulnerable when... Leroy's really vulnerable when they have too tight ends.

They tried to get an extra lineman in the game to get outta the front.

- Leroy substitution on the defense, minus five yards.

We play third down.

- [Lynn] So a replay of third down after the penalty marker.

Actually, it's a first down and now they correct it.

The first down brought to you by the Alabama Department of Transportation Drive Safe Alabama.

First 10, 10, Pickens looking to get back to back scores.

Merryweather reverses.

That play was designed to go right.

Merryweather saw a schism on the left side and was able to step through a vacated area.

- [Jack] Leroy's gone to a four man front, but they don't have a contained element out of it.

And he found the backside, like the trail element of it contained behind.

And he made the backside good.

- [Lynn] Second down and a workable down here second and about four.

Right up the middle is Merryweather.

He's met at the line of scrimmage, maybe blasts his way for a yard, maybe two, but it's going to bring up third and let's call it two.

- [Jack] And in reality, they'll take two downs to get this, and what they have to make sure, number one, don't lose yardage, get a positive play, give us a makeable fourth down situation.

You got the two tight ends versus the four man front.

- [Lynn] And Summerville is calling for the ball behind the center.

He has replaced Giles at quarterback.

- [Jack] In the wildcat.

- [Lynn] It's stacked heavy left.

He's running that way.

Gets a block, slides between a couple of defenders, and works his way with powerful opinions pumping, down to about the 11 yard line.

- [Jack] Pickens County's got a plan and the plan is working.

They had the edge cut off, but again, they're getting physical more.

They're bringing more physicality at Leroy right now, and it was the other way around the first half.

- [Lynn] Pickens is trying to cut the lead in half with its second possession here in the third quarter.

Merryweather tries to dance through the hole.

He's able to make something still on his feet.

He's being held by his lineman.

The whistle finally blows, but again of close to four.

- [Jack] That was outstanding running 'cause there wasn't a lot...

There wasn't a hole there, he was just... - [Lynn] You saw the options and there weren't many, and Merryweather made the most of what he had.

Second down.

- [Jack] Still didn't put him on the ground.

- [Lynn] Caleb Hill is the running back.

Giles will throw.

Giles to the end zone, batted away at the goal line.

Good coverage out there.

- [Jack] Good coverage.

But he gave him a chance to make a play.

- [Lynn] That was well done in the secondary by Ray Ray Phillips.

- [Jack] It really was.

But he gave the ball, he gave the receiver a chance.

Great coverage.

- [Lynn] Phillips has a couple of interceptions coming into the game.

- [Jack] They're really having a hard time with 28.

What's his name?

He is a monster.

- [Lynn] Giles will throw again, fires as it is, tipped and intercepted near the goal line.

Picked off by Harris.

The linebacker dropped and was right in the path of the flight of the ball.

He bottled it for a moment, but Shamar Harris takes it away at the goal line.

Let's go away for just a minute.

3:04 to go in the third quarter.

It's 26-6.

- Hi, I'm Lionel Richie, and I have traveled all over the world, but I consider Tuskegee, Alabama, as my home sweet home.

I have such a pride in this state, and I know that there's something I need to tell you that's of great importance.

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- [Lynn] Well, certainly a change in the momentum of this game.

Number six is the middle linebacker, Shamar Harris.

Watch him play the zone.

Start right, follow the quarterback's eyes, and Shamar Harris turns Pickens away at the goal line with his first interception of the season.

And Demarkis Giles can't believe it.

- [Jack] Yeah, he saw the linebacker moving out of the lane, but the linebacker saw the ball coming to his hand.

Action, reaction.

- [Lynn] What a huge impact that play might have on this game, because Pickens was rolling, looking indeed like another team, here in the third quarter.

It could have cut the gap in half.

- [Jack] You really can.

And right here...

Right here's where they're getting that opportunity to Leroy is to re-establish their dominance in this game.

If they don't, they may not the whole rest of the game.

I consider this to be a major situation on this possession.

Major.

- [Lynn] A gain of five on the first place.

Second at a long five coming.

- [Jack] Two tight ends.

They're making it.

They're trying to make it physical.

- [Lynn] Huebner calling for the football and the quarterback will keep it.

He's got a lane to run.

He's out in front of the 40.

Does he have enough speed to take it all the way?

To the 30, to the 20, to the 10, nobody will catch him.

Brayden Huebner to the end zone.

- [Jack] Working around.

- [Lynn] And how this game has changed on two plays, the interception to keep Pickens out of the end zone, and then Huebner on the following possession by this Leroy team, runs nearly the length of the field, down the right side, instead of having the lead cut in half, and now it's extended by Leroy.

It's 32-6, a chance for an extra point here.

Wow!

Rob Mosley, puts the straight toe into it and this one is good.

Let's go back and look.

Let's go back and look at what play gave Lamont the...

Gave Leroy the ball near the end zone.

That's the middle linebacker.

- [Jack] He read the quarterback's eyes and started one way, and then fooled the quarterback.

And two tight ends got more gaps and the defense filled, and the quarterback found the gap that weren't in.

Eight gaps created by two tight ends and one misfit is all it takes.

- [Lynn] Huebner has covered more ground than Kudzu tonight from that quarterback position.

- [Jack] And I started off thinking this wasn't really that outstanding an athlete, but I think I was wrong.

This guy is maybe a little awkward in his running style.

- [Lynn] Let's look at our Drive Safe Alabama scoring drive presented by the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Just a couple of plays, an 81 yard dash to the end zone by Huebner.

It took less than a minute for Leroy to change the scoreboard.

- [Jack] Yep.

They're gonna give this return a chance again, I bet.

- [Lynn] It's Plot.

He's being chased, and Plot turns every way he can.

But Leroy did not turn him loose.

So great coverage on the kickoff.

And this Pickens team puts its offense back on the field, just short of the 20 yard line.

- [Jack] Looking at scoreboard, it's gotta be pass first run second at this point, there's not enough possessions to cover that 27 point deficit there, so whether they're willing to accept that, we'll see.

- [Lynn] Less than two minutes to play in the third quarter.

One that started so promising for Pickens, but the fortunes have been reversed on the turnover, the fourth turnover of the day, and then of course, the long touchdown run by the Leroy quarterback.

- [Jack] Then as Leroy turned it over... Has Leroy turned it over any?

- [Lynn] I don't think so.

- [Jack] Four to zero.

I mean a four point differential, that's some tough stuff.

They're gonna have to get some explosive plays and they're not gonna get it running up the gut.

So play action.

You have to run it enough to... - [Lynn] Giles throws it out on the left side in excellent coverage.

- [Jack] They were very sound.

- [Lynn] That was Zach Boone.

But Leroy was very quick to the ball, Jack.

- [Jack] They were very sound in their leverage of the ball where the ball goes.

So just speaks to coaching.

They're back in their three main front now, which allows their linebackers to really get out there and cover a lot of ground when they're in this.

They drop one of their linebackers down.

They're back with the four men in front.

- [Lynn] Third down and a whole lot more coming.

(crowd cheering) Summerville trying to outrun the final defender, and he's in the end zone.

Corbi Somerville comes right back and matches the touchdown dash by Brayden Huebner, and back and forth we go in this third quarter.

- [Jack] That's an answer right there.

- [Lynn] That's an answer with an exclamation mark.

- [Jack] It sure is.

What a great play.

Still running at the edges.

What had been a very well fitting secondary took one bad angle in the middle of the field, and this guy's speed took care of the rest of it.

- [Lynn] Summerville looked like a bottle rocket, pulling away from the secondary.

- [Jack] There's speed and then there's speed.

I think his is on the top end of that meter.

- [Lynn] 37 Seconds to go, in what has been an action packed third period.

- [Jack] I'm surprised they're going for one.

- [Lynn] They've only tried 11 kicks this year.

They've made five of them.

And this one is line drive, but there is a penalty marker down, which apparently is going to take away the play.

- On the defense, we'll retry.

- [Lynn] So it's a defensive penalty.

- [Jack] That ought to have turn them to going for two.

- [Lynn] I think the kick was good.

I think they're-- - I think it was.

- [Lynn] I think they're looking to see what option.

I think they're gonna take the point.

Well, let's see.

Now they're gonna bring another unit on the field to try to put a two point conversion.

- [Jack] Bring an offense on the field.

- [Lynn] Jack, they tried 63, two point conversions this year.

Now number one, that's a whole lot of touchdowns.

They've made 36 at 63.

- [Jack] Yeah.

And here we go.

And they're in the same formation that led to the touchdown.

- [Lynn] They may snap it directly to Summerville.

Although Giles, I think is in the game.

- [Jack] That's exactly the formation that they scored the touchdown out at.

- [Lynn] Yep.

Somerville, the wide receiver calling for it.

We've got markers down everywhere.

They put a man in motion.

- [Jack] Delay game.

- [Lynn] Oh, a delay of game penalty.

(referee speaking faintly) Oh, that's costly.

Now let's see if they try to kick it.

But remember, they've only tried 11 kicks this year and they've been good on five of them.

- [Jack] I think they're going back to kick this, and hopefully for them that's...

It has the same, because the first one was good.

Well, it's low.

- [Lynn] I don't think they've put the kicker in the game.

I think they've gone back to Giles, the quarterback.

- [Jack] Going back to a thrower, yes.

- [Lynn] So it's Giles calling for it.

He's looking, he fires it over the middle.

Caught under the goal post.

Was he in vouch?

Yes, he was.

Very well done.

A really nicely thrown ball.

And Zach Boone with sure hands made the play under the goal post.

- [Jack] Yep, that was well done.

Very well done.

- [Lynn] Let's go back and look at the touchdown run first, and then we'll check the extra point.

This is Corbit Summerville, and he is off to the races right now.

- [Jack] They had a receiver downfield that took the alley player out of it and they nevertheless progress.

- [Lynn] And now the two point conversion, Giles is looking, he looked left first.

That ball is well thrown between a couple of defenders, and a really nice catch by Boone, who went to the top step of the ladder and leaped from there.

- [Jack] They actually caught him in zone coverage.

A little unique from that spot on field.

- [Lynn] It took only three plays to monitor 81 yards.

Somerville on the touchdown rush, and Boone on the two point conversion reception.

The scoring drive brought to you by the the Alabama Department of Transportation.

- [Jack] Well, we got a 19 point deficit, which is three scores.

- [Lynn] Jack, let's play the what if game.

- [Jack] Yeah.

- [Lynn] What if that touchdown had not been scored after the turnover?

- [Jack] Absolutely.

- [Lynn] By Leroy, this could be-- - [Jack] It could be a (indistinct) There's a real balance between these teams.

They're very different teams, but there's a real balance in their... Or obviously they wouldn't be here.

I mean they both know how to win at their game.

Pickens didn't start off playing their game, Leroy did, and it's just been a catch up action ever since then.

Picken's a lot better football team right now than were in the first half, so we see what happens.

Giving up that long, long run, again, turnovers and big plays.

- Three interceptions.

- Three interceptions.

- [Lynn] For the secondary, actually one from the middle linebacker, and then one fumble recovery on the first play of the game offensively.

Here's the quarterback again.

They have found something with Brayden Huebner.

- [Jack] Yeah, they have.

- [Lynn] Huebner had rushed for 883 yards coming into the game.

14 rushing touchdowns.

By the way that last touchdown Runny had was the longest of his season.

The previous best was 70 yards.

Huebner has averaged 7.6 yards per rush this year.

So this is something that has been seen all season.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

This is what he does, this is how they plan it to work.

- [Lynn] That's the end of the third quarter, and we will step aside for a moment.

The fourth quarter coming your way under dark skies right now.

It is a 33-14 lead, as Leroy looks to claim a sixth State Championship.

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All right?

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(upbeat music) - [Lynn] Welcome back, everyone.

The final quarter of the season is upon us for these two teams, either Pickens or Leroy will be crowned a 1A State Champion, 12 minutes from now, and we'll see what happens here.

Indeed, it has been a much more invigorated to Pickens team after trailing by 26 points at the half.

They have come through with a fine third quarter.

But is there enough time for Pickens to overcome a 33 to 14 lead?

- [Jack] They're gonna get it three more times, and they gotta score on all three of 'em, and they gotta keep Leroy and...

The chances, it can happen.

But right now, Pickens is bringing somebody in every gap, and as long as they get penetration and get to the ball, they're fine.

If that ball gets outside, it's gonna be another long run.

- [Lynn] Chestung will snap it to Huebner.

Chestung is a freshman center, somebody on the outside, he's free on the sideline.

There's one man to knock him out of bounds, and he does so successfully.

That was a touchdown saving tackle by San Antonio Jones, the last man defensively as the safety.

- [Referee] During the run, holding.

On the offense.

Penalty is 10 yards to the spot of foul, will replay third down.

- [Lynn] There is a penalty marker down in that long run after the big hit by San Antonio Jones, is going to be negated because of the holding penalty.

- [Jack] That's how they got the edge, because they are playing with leverage outside.

They're holding that leverage defensively, offensively.

Setting the edge, holding the edge, however you wanna put it.

And the holding was offensive holding.

- [Lynn] We are delighted to be coming your way tonight, wherever you may be watching across the great State of Alabama, our public television.

Susan Caruther's working in the sideline.

I'm with Coach Jack Crowe here in the booth.

Lynn Rollins with you on play-by-play, and it's been a delight to be part of the Super Seven.

That's great work, that started yesterday and will continue with the remaining games from our production crew on all angles.

These guys come out, the guys and gals come out early and stay late, and make it happen.

And Jack, the intensity, the high quality television being produced for the Super Seven is really something of which a lot of people should be proud.

- [Jack] We should be very proud, and kudos.

Kudos to the production team here.

They work at it and they know what they're doing.

They're professionals par excellence.

- [Lynn] Here's the kick.

San Antonio Jones has to retreat to take the spiral that bounces over his head.

He's gonna go back and get it, and stumbles and then falls down at the eight yard line.

Boy, that didn't work out for him.

- [Jack] That didn't work out at all.

- [Lynn] He is a really, really terrific punt and kickoff returner.

- [Jack] He had room to roam.

- [Lynn] But his feet came out from under him, and his momentum took him to the ground after the spiral kick.

That's the best punt of the day.

- [Jack] It sure was.

It sure was.

But it's exciting (laughing) when he gets ready to punt.

But he's been effective.

He really has.

They are gonna have to score on three possessions here.

So I mean, it is not gonna be a pound and grind kind of approach.

They're gonna have to... And that's what they show they're ready to do.

- [Lynn] Giles looks and throws and it's underthrown.

It was intended for Xavier Hood.

He's been on the receiving end of nine catches, so far this season, a couple of touchdowns.

He was open on a deep slant between the hash marks.

Second and 10th.

Hood goes to the sideline, he's replaced by another wide receiver.

- [Jack] Right now they're bringing three and dropping eight, which means there shouldn't be very many scenes in there.

They'd actually brought the linebacker that time.

- [Lynn] And the pass is thrown to the right side, and overthrown intended for Plot.

It's not surprising that we've seen a lot of defenses, and well done defenses by Leroy, because their head coach was a defensive coordinator for several years with great success, before he took over as the head coach.

- [Jack] They're multiple too.

I mean, they do a lot of things and they win on...

The way they go about it, they win on defense.

If you were to ask me.

- [Lynn] So Larry Massey knows something about defense.

- He sure does.

- Third and 10, a critical down coming for Pickens.

Pressure in the end zone and he goes down, is it a safety?

Let's see, did he get outside the goal line?

We have not had any mark yet, I don't think.

That is a high end sack, and it is a safety, so Leroy has scored just about every way you can.

- [Jack] Yeah, they have, and they're relentless.

- [Lynn] That was Jaquan Scott, the defensive end chasing down the quarterback.

- [Jack] They put three people on the nose tackle and he got through all three of them.

I mean, he is a beast.

And that's who forced quarterback outta him.

Not the edge guys at that one, but it was that pressure up the middle that made him take off and start outside.

- [Lynn] That's the third sack of the season for Scott.

And this one counts for two points.

(indistinct) (spectators cheering) There's a sign that says, "Teams to remember play in December."

And that is true.

- [Jack] (laughing) Absolutely.

That's exactly right.

- [Lynn] Could this be another December to remember for the Leroy Bears?

- [Jack] Well, it's headed that way, but you still gotta finish 'em folks.

Right now I think-- - [Lynn] There's that side, Jack, our guys, founded in a hurry.

- [Jack] Yeah, that's good stuff.

That's on the Leroy side.

But the same thing is true for all teams on all sidelines.

- [Lynn] Indeed.

The floating kickoff return starts at the 38, and not a whole lot of room to run for Nagel Barnes.

- [Jack] Still good effort from Pickens County.

I mean, they covered that with their hearts.

- [Lynn] No, I beg your pardon.

Let me correct.

That's Ray Ray Phillips.

- [Jack] And this is about eating some clocks, so you don't expect the ball to be thrown.

Score if you can, but run the clock off for sure.

- [Lynn] 10:34 to go in the final period.

We started this game under brilliant sunshine.

We are under a waxing moon right now.

Quarterback hands off the plunge up the middle, and a nice determined run by Jeremy Perryman.

Now Perryman has not had a lot of carries, but he is a very effective runner, and he's a great relief runner for Malik Howell, who is 5'7, 171, Perryman is 6'3, 205.

They are different types of runners.

- They sure are different.

- But both are effective.

- [Jack] Yes.

He brought some steam up in that hole, when he brought it up in there.

- [Lynn] That guy's tougher than a green pine cone.

- [Jack] (laughing) I call 'em pine notch, but it's probably the same thing.

Hey, they've got their end the game kind of thinking going on right now, and that's when you bring in your biggest backing.

You put two tight ends in the game, you put a lead blocker in the game.

I mean, they're in their finishing mode right now.

- [Lynn] Huebner's gonna keep it.

Dancing ahead, still on his feet, he pulls away at the 40 and he's finally tumbled over at about the 32 yard line.

He is patient when he needs to be, and he can run away from you when he needs to do it.

- [Jack] He made some cuts in the hole right there now.

I did not give him enough credit.

I just thought he was...

He looks a little awkward when he does it, but he is highly effective.

He doesn't stick his feet in the ground, he hops, and he covers a lot of ground when he hops.

- [Lynn] Huebner will be back next year.

He's a junior quarterback.

You know, this offensive line is only allowed four sacks the entire season.

- [Jack] That's pretty special.

The first way to win is, don't let the negative things happen.

- [Lynn] Perryman again, and he's driven outta bounds with a good play defensively.

Let's go down to Susan Caruthers.

She's got a story about three generations of Massey, Susan.

- [Susan] That's right guys.

In a 1A game, there's not a lot of people on the sidelines, but you know what there are a lot of, there's a lot of Masseys down here tonight.

So obviously we've got Head Coach Jason Massey, his son, Grant Massey, he was actually on the team last year.

He was Allstate, first team Allstate, and now as a freshman in college, he is a volunteer assistant coach.

And to top that all off, Coach Jason Massey's father's down here, rooting them both on.

- [Lynn] Yeah, he's a former head coach too of Leroy.

Jason and his wife are both graduates.

And this is Huebner, nobody's gonna catch him.

Huebner to the end zone again.

Brayden Huebner has done it with his feet, he has shown speed, he has shown patience, he has shown intelligence, and he is crafty with a ball in his hands, and this has been a Brayden Huebner show.

- It sure is.

- Another touchdown run, Jack.

- [Jack] That's an MVP performance right there.

You can tell who the people are that flip the switch, and this guy flips the switch, he makes the plays, running and throwing.

He's a very special player.

I'd like to meet this young man personally.

- [Lynn] He'll have another year in the black uniform.

Mosley's kick is good.

- [Jack] Yeah.

Still pretty effective that straight on kicking.

- [Lynn] He's a thicker kicker, isn't he?

- [Jack] (laughing) I've heard that one, yeah.

That's what he looks like.

- [Lynn] Let's go back and look at Huebner, on his way to the end zone again.

Here's the fake and then he takes off left side.

- [Jack] Two pullers and one of 'em kicks out and the other one leads through on number seven, and the rest of it is, "Turn it on, buddy, just turn it on."

- [Lynn] These are some well-designed plays too, and offensive linemen who are really staying with their blocks.

Mosley and Jackson on the left side, Chestung staying in the middle, Everett and Cox on the right side.

That group up front has done a really fine job.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

They are executing now, what I would say is that, cut the throat kind of mentality, which means you let 'em know you're not gonna let up.

And that's what they brought to that last drive.

- [Lynn] The Drive Safe Alabama scoring drive, you just saw another touchdown run by Brayden Huebner.

This is San Antonio Jones trying to weave and trying to make something happen, but a lot of defenders on that kickoff team there to take down Jones who is a very dangerous punt and kickoff returner.

- [Jack] Yup.

- [Lynn] 42 to 14.

(crowd cheering) - [Jack] This is a situation where you still play.

I mean, there's not enough time without something, great amount of turnovers happening.

And you still play and you still... - [Lynn] And now we've got flags everywhere.

- Illegal substitution on the offense.

Kick is five yards will replay first down.

- [Lynn] First in 15 after an illegal substitution penalty.

You know, Leroy, the entire season is only allowed, including the two touchdowns today, only 19 touchdowns the entire year.

There's trouble here.

Let's see if a recovery is possible by Plot, and he goes down after another loss.

- [Jack] Go back to a poise situation.

There are things happening now that are not the norm for Pickens County.

- [Lynn] But only allowing 19 touchdowns in 14 games now for the season, that's really good stuff.

- [Jack] That is excellent stuff.

I don't know.

That nose tackle, he just keeps telling me that...

I mean, he allows for Leroy every defensive player to play at half their responsibility, 'cause he covers up for a lot of stuff.

- [Lynn] And Jack, perhaps as a result of that, you're talking about Dixon there.

As a result of that, this team only allows 79 yards a game rushing.

- [Jack] When he's in that position of three man front, they put three blockers on him.

He's getting triple teamed, and he's still pressing the ball somewhere besides where they're trying to run it.

- [Lynn] Well, he's also second on the clean team and tackles for loss, which is unheard of from an interior defensive line.

- [Jack] Absolutely, absolutely.

When you're a big physical young man like that, and you have three people blocking on you, I mean, that takes a lot of poise just to keep pushing and grinding, because you're not gonna get there very often.

- [Lynn] Touchdown in a whole lot here, the line to make is the 33.

The ball is back at the 10.

(energetic drumming) Leroy inching closer, 7:42 and counting, Leroy, leading 42 to 14.

Giles, back to throw, and it's tipped away, a leaping defensive play, and that one well done by Harris, the linebacker, again.

He covers a lot of ground back there, doesn't he?

- [Jack] No, he's stacked in there as a middle linebacker, and his job is to take the middle of the field.

He felt the route of that tight end and he matched him.

He matched him one-on-one, athletically and-- - [Lynn] That is a terrific play.

And remember it was Shamar Harris who made that intersection on the goal line, earlier in the third quarter.

- [Jack] He takes care of the middle of the field, he does.

- [Lynn] So the punt coming now.

A high wobbly kick hanging in the air like a box kite.

It backs up a little bit, and is down at the 36 yard line, so Leroy now in really good position, Jack, not only leading 42-14 but a short field, and 7:20 to go.

- [Jack] If they had another game to play, I'd be getting 17 outta the game, I bet you.

He'd fight him if they tried to take him outta the game.

- [Lynn] You're right.

Brayden Huebner has had a sensational night.

We're working on some rushing numbers for him, but it's way over 100 yards, probably closer to 200.

23 rushes, 262 yards.

- What is a-- - For a quarterback?

- [Jack] What is a record rushing record?

That's a Bo Jackson number there.

- [Referee] The previous play is under further review.

- [Lynn] You coached Bo Jackson, you ought know something about that.

- [Jack] Yeah, I coached him.

He didn't make any more plays than this young man has made, I can tell you that.

Not in the game I coached him.

- [Lynn] 260 something yards rushing for number 17, Brayden Huebner.

- [Jack] You talk about a young man to be able to...

He'll be known in his town 40 years from now, they'll be walking.

- That's right.

- [Jack] He'll still be getting patted on the back for winning this game.

- [Lynn] And that's one of the great charms of living in a small community.

Small town America.

- Sure is, oh yeah.

- [Lynn] And football, especially in Alabama, and contiguous states, is very, very special and meaningful.

Let's go back a little bit about Bo Jackson.

What made him so special?

You were directly his offensive coach at Auburn.

What about Bo Jackson?

- [Jack] Well, he was almost superhuman when he was in that zone.

He didn't live in that zone, he didn't show that every day at practice.

I can remember him in situations where you knew that he just took it on, that he wasn't gonna be tackled or... And he had great character.

He knew when his team needed him the most, and he could rise up.

When it came to throwing, jumping.

Harvey Glance won the gold medal in the Olympics, if you remember Harvey.

Harvey was training him here to run the indoor 60 in the off season.

- [Lynn] Oh my goodness!

- [Jack] And I sat down with Harvey one time.

We'd never timed him at that point.

It was his first year, and I said, "Harvey, how fast is he if you're training him?"

He said, "I got in a box with him the other day "and found out he's faster than I am.

"I'm never gonna do that again."

Now this guy that won the Olympic gold, said he was faster than him.

- [Lynn] And this is also a 235 pound running.

- [Jack] Oh, but Jack, he said, "I'm not getting in the blocks next to him again, "'cause they get in your head.

I uniquely think that he-- - [Lynn] Are you still in touch with him?

- [Jack] I see him on occasion, probably once a year, in different things.

He lives in Chicago.

He's got a house here in Auburn.

I mean, they just probably hadn't ever been anybody like him, to be honest with you.

He's talented.

I know the people that played with him at the Royals, didn't think there'd been anything like him.

- [Lynn] Huebner's gonna hand it off this time, and we'll see a lot of this over the final seven minutes or so.

Pretty nice run right up the middle by Zach Boone.

- Zach Boone?

- I beg your pardon.

- [Jack] Number five is... - [Lynn] Let's see, that's Jeremy Perryman again.

Jeremy Perryman, again, is the alternative back.

Howell is more the scat back, and Perryman can bring it at 6'3, 205 pounds.

- [Jack] Yes, sir, he can.

He's a singer because he's got a lot of upside to him now.

He is a talent.

- [Lynn] Well, it's nice that in his final high school game, he's got a chance to close it out too in the championship game and being on the field.

He's standing at the right of Huebner.

It's gonna be a blocker this time.

Huebner keeps it at a really fine play behind the line of scrimmage by Devin Cohen, one of the linebackers.

Cohen hasn't quit, has he?

- [Jack] No, there's no quitting any of these guys, no.

There's so much pride in these communities, and for the seniors, it's one thing, for the ones that are coming back, it's something else.

I tell you, for the ones that are coming back, they'll carry out of this game the way they'll leave this game, where their head is, and if they'll serve with themselves, that's what they'll carry home with them.

If they leave here and play with pride to the end, that's what they'll carry home with them.

- [Lynn] Less than six minutes to go in the final period.

Blitz coming from everywhere.

Perryman, fighting his way but does not get the first down.

And this will bring up fourth down, and obviously, I am nearly 100% certain that they will run the ball here on fourth down to eat more clock, and of course where the ball is on the field, Jack, that you don't have anything to lose.

- [Jack] You really don't.

And it would, I think probably be over the top for them to legitimately try to score another touchdown, to be honest with you.

I don't think Coach Massey is trying to do that, but he is trying to keep the ball.

- [Lynn] Huebner after faking, gets to about the 27.

This is going to be close, but I think he may be a little bit short.

Yep, he doesn't get there.

We'll take a break and be right back.

It's 42 to 14 with Leroy on top.

(upbeat music) - Hi, I'm Lionel Richie, and I have traveled all over the world, but I consider Tuskegee, Alabama, as my home sweet home.

I have such a pride in this state, and I know that there's something I need to tell you that's of great importance.

Vote.

Register to vote and get your voter ID today.

It really is easy, easy like Sunday morning.

(upbeat music) (soft music) - [Presenter] You're watching Alabama Public Television.

Broaden your horizons.

(orchestral music) - [Presenter] It wouldn't be the holidays without working your hands a bit.

That's how you create something worth remembering.

Like those snowflake ornaments of kids done in grade school, or those hand breaded chicken sandwiches from Jacks.

Got the all new sweet hot honey with a kicked up glaze.

The always fresh fan favorite cheesy bacon.

And everyone loves the crispy southern fried classic.

But would you look at that?

Now that's a handmade masterpiece.

Jack's, all about the south.

- [Lynn] Well, here come the participants in the final game tonight, the Ramsay Rams.

(audience cheering) Let's look at what's upcoming, what has already transpired.

It'll be the Ramsay Rams taking on Charles Henderson.

That's the game that follows this one.

St. James already has won a championship, and so has Thompson over Auburn, and the Auburn girls in flag football won a championship.

Cherokee County, and Andalusia, and Mountain Brook and Saraland, also yet to play, so wall-to-wall football continues here in Auburn.

- [Jack] And good football too.

I mean, this is all good football.

- [Lynn] Leroy tonight with 42 points.

Jack, it's the third time in the playoffs that Leroy has exceeded 40 points.

They've had a 47 to 12 win over Georgiana.

They had a 42 to 14 win over Brentley.

They've got a 42-14 lead here in the championship game.

- [Jack] And in high school football, that's way over the average.

- [Lynn] That last reception into the hands of Corby Summerville, came up a yard short of the first down but second and one.

- [Jack] Very well thrown football, I might add on that play.

- [Lynn] Giles throws it long across two hash marks and the numbers and finds a receiver who breaks free.

He slips away.

This is Plot, Plot all the way to the end zone.

A sensational catch and run by Plot.

- [Lynn] Absolutely, absolutely.

That tells you they weren't quitting.

- [Lynn] He had the game winning Hail Mary reception against Krusser Christian also at a game winning interception against Meek.

And this one may not be a game changer, but it was certainly a superb play.

- [Jack] Absolutely, no feel sorry for yourself in that.

I mean, they are gonna play this thing in the end.

- [Lynn] Pickens will keep its offense on the field going for two, two players are late getting on the field.

It will be a direct snap apparently to Summerville.

Summerville sends a man in motion, keeps it trying to come left side.

There's a lot of containment out there.

But he is diving for it, and I believe he did it.

No, they say he did not.

- Really.

- Oh!

This one may be worth a review.

- [Jack] The ball crossed the plane and maybe his knee hit the ground before the ball crossed the plane.

- [Lynn] The official was right there in perfect position to make the call.

They said he did not get in.

- [Jack] I'm watching replay.

This is just effort now.

This is effort.

This is, "I'm not quitting."

Let's see if the knee touches the ground as he extends the ball, 'cause that's the only reason I would think this wouldn't have made it.

Knee down ball.

- [Lynn] Apparently short when the knee went down.

- [Jack] Yeah.

- [Lynn] A little tough to tell from that angle.

- [Jack] I think his knee was down without the ball being there.

Great effort again.

Knee down, ball not over the line.

- [Lynn] Yep, that's a little bit better look.

- [Jack] He finally does break the plane, but after the knee is down.

- [Lynn] And that official was right there, and emphatically made the call.

- [Jack] Yep, I hate it but they're right about... - [Lynn] So the call is going to stand.

They took a quick look at it.

42 to 20, 22nd half points for this Pickens team, and it really should have had another touchdown, had a ball intercepted at the goal line.

- [Jack] This game could be played over again and get a bit different kind of game.

And Coach Williams, he framed it perfectly with his comments coming out at half time.

- [Lynn] Well, this is the most points that Leroy has given up in the playoffs.

- [Jack] Yeah.

(whistle blowing) You look at this and say, "Did this represents the two best teams, "did we really get the two best teams here?"

And I think in this case, there may have been one better, but these two teams represent what ought to be the best in their classification.

I can see that in the way they're coached, even though one, as Coach Williams said, I'm a believer in this word, they blinked, and you don't blink in football, and then they got through their blinks, and they showed themselves more effectively, and I think there's evidence all over the place that this was a Pickens County team, that fought their way here and deserved every right to be here.

- [Lynn] Four turnovers to a large extent have contributed to the undoing of Pickens tonight.

- [Jack] Sure, have it.

- [Lynn] Here's Perryman again.

He sticks his head into the middle of the pile, and grabs a couple of yards.

Four and a half to play, and the clock is kicking.

(voices overlapping) - [Jack] There's a lot of anticipation of celebration on one side, and a long bus ride home on the other one.

But I say what?

- [Lynn] Place trophy, a runner up trophy is not anything to sneeze at.

It'll be proudly displayed at your trophy case.

- [Jack] These Pickens County kids, they're gonna...

They're gonna get a lot of pats on the back.

I mean, they're gonna have a good Christmas.

- [Lynn] Well, three of their four starting defensive linemen are underclassmen.

Let's take a look.

We're talking about Pickens here.

They've got two juniors and a sophomore starting at linebacker, and the secondary has a junior in Jones, a junior in Somerville, a freshman in Phillips, and a junior, another junior.

So there's a lot to work with on the defensive side of the ball coming back from Pickens.

- [Jack] It sure is, yeah, it sure is.

We may see them back here next year.

I'll tell you what, that name Phillips, from that area, that's a talent name right there.

- [Lynn] He is a freshman and also a backup quarterback, as well as secondary.

- [Jack] That's a talent name in that part of the country, that's lineage.

- [Lynn] Huebner running right.

Stays on his feet, spins and is finally slung down by Corby Summerville.

- [Jack] My esteem for that guy is just getting higher.

I mean, he is really effective as a runner.

- [Lynn] He is approaching 300 yards rushing.

- [Jack] Wow, what is the 1A record?

That's gotta be, it's gotta be up there.

- [Lynn] Teams to remember play in December.

Indeed they do.

(Jack chuckling) - [Jack] You could tell they had that card.

That's been said since August.

That's what that's been said.

I mean, that was a goal plan in December.

- [Lynn] 329 yards is the 1A record for rushing.

- [Jack] If he breaks off one more run, he'll have it.

Are we about to see it?

Fourth down.

- [Lynn] It's fourth and about three.

2:56 to go.

Pickens called the timeout.

Jamarcus Brown holds the record with that 329, and that occurred in 2013, and he played for Pickens County.

He played for this team.

- Oh, wow.

- [Lynn] How's that for some irony?

- [Jack] Right now he's dialing up these guys saying, "You don't let him at my record, boys."

Dialing them up.

That's interesting.

Such is the way of tradition, my man.

It's what keeps... - It's a beautiful thing.

- It sure is.

- [Lynn] It's football, it's sports.

It's a high school in small town America.

- [Jack] Yep.

These are the guys that don't get the privilege of everything where they live at.

Both these communities, I think you would say they're somewhat underserved.

- [Lynn] Huebner's gonna keep it.

- [Jack] Football probably means more in these two cities than they do in most cities, I'll tell you that.

- [Lynn] I would say that's an absolute truth.

I think Huebner was able to wedge out enough for a first down.

They indeed will move the chains.

- [Jack] I'm gonna see if Coach Massey keeps feeding him the ball, 'cause he does, he knows what the record is.

(laughing) - [Lynn] Two and a half to play.

And the clock is moving.

(bright band music) There won't have to be, but a couple of more snaps.

They'll be able to run it out, I believe, on this series.

- [Jack] The guy's tired too, but see, what you want to bet he gives it to him again, Lynn?

- [Lynn] Huebner might just say, "I'm calling my own number here."

- [Jack] (laughing) Oh, okay.

- [Lynn] He does hand it off.

(audience cheering) And look at the effort here.

- [Jack] Yeah.

- [Lynn] Helmets go down, but not the ball carrier.

Let's see, that is a new ball carrier.

That's Jacobian Collins.

He's listed as a... Not listed as a ball carrier on the offensive D chart, but he is listed as a strong safety.

- [Jack] He's a safety, I bet, yes.

He's a very good safety too.

- [Lynn] Collins stays in the game.

Huebner is not far away from 300 yards rushing.

100 seconds to separate Leroy from a State Championship.

- [Jack] Yeah, they're working on the clock now.

They're letting it run all the way down.

Holding at the line, they are trying to go home and celebrate.

- [Lynn] There's a nice effort run by Jacobian Collins, back-to-back Carries by him, and they've both been effective.

It's another first down.

- [Jack] Come on, man.

- [Lynn] We don't need any of that.

Collin's got into a brief scuffle with Corby Summerville.

- [Jack] There you go.

- [Lynn] We might have seniors coming into the game now.

I'm not sure.

On both sides.

- [Jack] I think that's what good.

(audience cheering) - [Lynn] The celebration is about to begin.

Get set for a coronation of the Leroy Bears.

(Jack chuckling) (bright band music) 40 seconds to play.

A special moment.

An extremely special moment.

- Amen.

- [Lynn] And Pickens says, "You know what?

"We're gonna call another time out, "we wanna bust your chops one more time."

But look at me.

Look at the celebration on the sideline.

The coach is doused.

- Oh lord.

- What a moment for him?

- [Jack] He is cold.

'Cause that was ice water.

- [Lynn] Jack, you've been there.

He's hugging his son.

You've been there.

The emotions, the love, it just comes pouring out.

- [Jack] It lasts forever too.

It's how you build a life as a coach.

This guy seemed to... - [Lynn] Bryston Dixon has been a man tonight on the defensive line for Leroy.

- [Jack] He is a baller.

He and 17, I don't know who you give it, probably.

I'm talking about MVP, and the guys that just... You leave this game, you want to know what happens to him, is those two guys.

- [Lynn] Well, Dixon and Huebner, have really been good.

- [Jack] They're dominant football players.

- [Lynn] This will be the final play.

There is a penalty marker down.

The lay of game, I think.

- [Referee] Illegal substitution.

- Nope.

- On the defense.

- [Lynn] A defensive illegal substitution.

- [Jack] All right, Coach Massey is freezing.

He can't feel it though.

- No, he can't feel it.

- He can't feel it.

- He can feel the warmth of a championship 32 seconds away.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

How many have they won?

- [Lynn] This will be six.

- He gets to put his-- - Their first in 12 years.

- [Jack] Wow!

He gets to put his mark on the place.

(spectators cheering) We can guess what the conversation around coffee's gonna be at the local coffee drinker.

- [Announcer] 1546 (indistinct) play.

- [Lynn] That will be the final play.

Let the celebration begin.

Leroy's Bears are 1A champions.

(crowd cheering) Hail to the champions.

- Hail to the champions.

- [Lynn] Tears of joy, tears of elation, tears of accomplishment, tears of pride, as Leroy wins it 42 to 20.

Win number 13 for the Bears this year against one setback.

- [Jack] One setback that they redeemed themselves.

It's hard to have more satisfaction than that is.

- [Lynn] Leroy buzzed out to a 26 nothing lead, taking advantage of several first half turnovers, and then matched the scores in the second half, and win at 42-20.

Let's go down to Susan Caruthers.

Susan, it's all yours.

- Well coach, your team wins this one in convincing fashion.

What does this victory mean to your team and your community?

- It's just a great for our community.

I mean, our kids have fought all year long and hats off to them.

I got great coaches, and this community backs this team, and it's great for to be a Leroy Bear.

- Fantastic.

Congratulations, coach.

Enjoy the celebration.

- All right, thank you very much.

- [Lynn] Well indeed.

Now he's been part of five of the six championships, four of them while he was an assistant coach.

And we'll come back to put a bow on it in just a moment.

Leroy is the champion in Alabama 1A football.

(upbeat music) - [Presenter] What is a protector?

Is it always a hero bigger than life?

Look and you'll find protectors all around us.

At Protective, it's at the heart of who we are.

For more than a century, millions have relied on us to make retirement more about wishes than worry, and life insurance, more about legacy than loss.

We're by your side, helping you protect what matters most, because we're all protectors.

(bright music) (siren wailing) (radio chatter) - Throughout my career, I've seen many crashes and a lot of the fatalities are from people who haven't worn their seatbelt.

- Cars have rolled over multiple times.

- I've had people end up in lakes, ravines.

I've been looking for people in the woods for a couple hours before.

- Usually just about every bone in their body's broken, their organs have ruptured, and typically they die.

- If you wanna save a life, just simply click a button and put that seatbelt on.

- [Paramedic] Seat belts really do save lives.

- [Presenter] The internet, it's how we learn, experience, and connect to the world.

But all of that powerful information, needs a really powerful home.

A data center, like this world class facility, we invested $600 million to build right here in Alabama.

But keeping the world's information at your fingertips, isn't all we do.

Our data center supports thousands of jobs.

We provide resources to our community, and generate more than a billion dollars for the state economy.

We're doing our part for a better Alabama, because Alabama is our home too.

- [Announcer] A game without a crowd is just a scrimmage.

A performance without an audience is just a rehearsal.

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Purchase a ticket to your local high school's game or performance.

- [Announcer] This message is presented by the AHSAA.

(upbeat music) - [Lynn] Well, the celebration continues, as Leroy leading from start to finish today, has knocked off Pickens County, 42-20.

Congratulations to the Leroy Bears, as they are the 1A state champions.

Let's go to our Google trophy presentation.

Both of these teams will receive their just awards.

- [Presenter] Terry Curtis EDM and head coach from USM Ride Preparatory School, representing Leroy and Central Void vice president, and Jamie Chapman representing Pickens County.

Also assisting in the presentation of today's awards, is Paul Henderson from Encore Rehabilitation.

The official Wilson Championship footballs will be presented by Brandon Dean, assistant director at Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association, and Paul Henderson from Encore Rehabilitation, to both head coaches.

First from Pickens County High School, Head Coach Michael Williams.

(spectators cheering) Now from Leroy High School, Head Coach Jason Massey.

(spectators cheering) (spectators cheering) Congratulations to both coaches for a great season.

Now presenting the most valuable play award, Paul Henderson from Encore Rehabilitation.

Tracy Smith from Coca-Cola, and JT Lawrence, assistant director of the AHSAA.

The 2022 Most Valuable Player Award for the Class 1A Championship, is given to Brayden Huebner from Leroy High School.

(spectators cheering) And now to present a 2022 state runner trophy for Class 1A, Central board member, Jamie Chapman from District Seven, and Kim Vickers, associate executive director of the AHSAA.

The 1A State Championship runner up led by Head Coach Michael Williams, the Pickens County Tornadoes.

(spectators cheering) (cowbells ringing) (indistinct) And now to present the 2022 State Championship trophy for Class 1A, is Alvin Briggs, executive director of the AHSAA, and Central board member, Terry Curtis, from District One, to Jason Massey, head coach of the Leroy Bears.

(spectators cheering) - [Lynn] Jack Crowe, there's no feeling in the world that can match what you're seeing right now.

The Leroy Bears, the 2022, Alabama High School Athletic Association 1A state champions.

It's the sixth time in their career they've done it.

It's the first time since 2010, and this is just a special, special moment that will forever be burned into the hearts and the minds of everybody associated with that football team, including the people you see in the audience right there.

- [Jack] Absolutely.

And credit also goes to the mothers and fathers of those young men that drove them, picked them up, and made sure they were at practice all...

There's a lot of proud people who go along with all these proud players, and they deserve the credit for raising young men that can put it on the field.

It's a credit to that community, and the parents, the superintendent, everybody connected with the program.

- [Lynn] Jack, some final thoughts about what we saw today?

Obviously, the turnovers were a huge factor in giving Leroy an advantage in the first half.

It was 26 nothing at that point.

Many people thought the game was over, but it was not.

- [Jack] It was not.

And credit to Coach Williams.

He got his team back at halftime, which to me, is the ultimate, is what a coach's job is.

I think if they had to play it over again, I think it'd be a lot different on their side.

But I do think the best team in this match won this, and the stars that we talked about, they would've been stars in any game they played in.

- [Lynn] Well, Jack Crowe, it's been a pleasure working with you, along with Susan Caruthers on the sideline.

And I am so glad we got to spend this time together to watch the Leroy Bears claim the State Championship.

- [Jack] Amen and Lynn, I know a professional when I see one, and you're a professional at this, man.

It's an honor to be here with you.

- [Lynn] Thank you so much.

Don't forget we've got more football coming your way tonight.

Ramsay and Charles Henderson in the 5A title game, that will be a dandy.

Again, the final score, Leroy, hail to the champions, 42-20 over Pickens tonight for the 1A Championship.

(upbeat rock music) - [Presenter] The internet, it's how we learn, experience, and connect to the world.

But all of that powerful information, needs a really powerful home.

A data center.

At this world class facility, we invested $600 million to build right here in Alabama.

But keeping the world's information at your fingertips, isn't all we do.

Our data center supports thousands of jobs.

We provide resources to our community, and generate more than a billion dollars for the state economy.

We're doing our part for a better Alabama, because Alabama is our home too.

- Hi, I'm Mike McKenzie, programming director for Alabama Public Television.

Several generous sponsors stepped forward to help make APTs statewide broadcast of the Alabama Super Seven Championships possible.

Now I'd like to ask for your financial support as well.

Call 18002394000 or get online at aptv.org, to help us bring you even more special programming in 2023, including the State Basketball Championships in February and March.

Thank you.

- Be a great coach.

We need you.

- Our kids need you.

- To motivate them.

- Challenge them.

- Inspire them.

- Pay attention and know the facts.

- Every injured youth is a loss.

- So let this be our goal.

- Our collaborative goal.

- Our unified goal.

- Our name is our mission.

- Coach Safely.

- (whistles) It's the mission.

- (whistles) It's the purpose.

- It's the law.

- Coach Safely, win without losses.

- [Presenter] You're watching Alabama Public Television.

Broaden your horizons.

(soft orchestral music) - [Announcer] This is the AMFirst Post-game Show.

(upbeat music) - And we have just crowned another state champion here at the AHSAA Super Seven in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Leroy Bears taking the 1A blue map, taking down the Pickens County Tornadoes 42 to 20.

Welcome to the AMFirst Post-game Show.

I'm Kevin Scarbinsky.

And is it just me or does anyone else look at Leroy quarterback, Brayden Huebner, and see how little Johnny Manzel running around, being impossible to hem in, to take down, and making play, after play, after play?

A little more than a week after running for more than 260 yards in the state semi-final, he put up another big number tonight.

He put up another big... Over 500 yards of rushing in the last two games alone.

Just happened to be the two biggest games of the season.

And the Leroy Bears, for the first time since 2010, are your Class 1A state champions.

All right, well, we're ready to go right to the post-game press conference.

Let's hear from the Victoria's, Leroy Bears.

- Super proud of these guys.

They have gone through a lot, coming from last year and just they believed in what we were doing, and great coaches, great players, and they believed in our plan, and they came out champions tonight.

- Questions for coach or players.

Okay, go ahead.

- Coach, man, how special is it?

The tradition, rich history you guys have to be on this stage again and perform, not just win the game, but win in a dominant fashion like you guys did it?

- It means a lot.

Community Leroy, I mean, Enfrenia, they love football.

And the last time we made it in '17, we came up a little short.

And to get back here again, that's what's expected, and our kids believe that, and the community believes in that, and they support us.

And these kids, they give up a lot of time, and we ask them to do a lot, but they came through.

- [Speaker] Question, players or coach?

- [Interviewer] Jason, first half it seemed like everything went the way you wanted it to.

You guys were able to run it, you guys forced some turnovers.

What was working so well from the start for you guys?

- The kids just executing.

Defense has been playing great all year.

I know we got one of the best defenses in the state.

We were able to force some turnovers and put them in some bad situations, and we made some big plays offensively to put some points on the board at key times.

- [Interviewer] Another question.

Five touchdowns, you broke a record.

What's going on right now?

What's going on in your mind right now?

How are you feeling?

- I'm just thankful for the lineman making it easy on me.

I'm just really grateful for him.

- [Speaker] Other questions.

- [Interviewer] Malcolm, you got the safety there, then can you just take us through that play, what you saw?

For defense to score in a game like this is really cool.

- Yes, at home.

So the guy, he had tried to like wrestle me and start this, so I did a spin move, I just got to him.

- [Interviewer] Is that your first safety?

- Oh yes, sir, yes, sir.

- Another questions for all three of you players.

What was the message when they did start making a little bit of a comeback there in the second half?

Is there anything?

- Don't let up.

Keep going.

Words off, he said don't let up.

- [Speaker] What'd you say?

Go ahead.

(indistinct) - [Speaker] Other questions?

- [Interviewer] Jason, can you just tell us what you think of your running game in Brayden's performance?

- I gotta give him a lot of credit.

He gave to the offensive line.

We asked those guys to do all that nitty gritty hard work, don't get a lot of praise.

But they deserve it.

Those guys have really carried us through the playoffs, and when we really may have made a commitment to run the football, and Brayden, I'll tell you, he's a warrior.

I mean, he's taped up all over bleeding, all over, but he just keeps saying, "Hey, give me the ball."

And he performs, and those guys do a good job up front of him.

- [Speaker] Other questions?

Back to you and them to Steven.

- [Interviewer] Aside from like one or two long runs the defensive line, kind of handled business that it was hard for Pickens county to run the ball, really.

What's the mindset on the defensive line?

- Go hard play or try to kill somebody.

That's how we think every time, every play.

(people chuckling) - [Speaker] Okay, back here.

- [Interviewer] Coach, how did the tub feel when they dumped it on you at the end of the game there?

- It felt great.

I'll take that anytime.

It's a great way to finish, and like I said, it's great for our community, but it's even better for these guys up here, that did all the hard work.

- Question here.

Coach, that Millry lost during the regular season and you guys got to come back and avenge that.

What was the message to the team after that victory last week?

'Cause that had to be an emotional high for you guys.

- It was.

They're a big county rival at 25 miles from us.

They got us that first time.

But I really think that brought our team together, and we started really trusting in each other.

And that win last week, it was a packed house.

That was huge for our guys.

But the message going all week was, "Unfinished business."

It was still, we want to be 10 at the end of this week and go out as champions, and they did that tonight.

- [Interviewer] Coach, what about the mystique of Highway 43?

It's a different team.

- It is, it is.

I'll tell you, there's great football played, up and down, especially in that little area in Clark, Washington, Marengo County.

It's a lot of small towns, not a whole lot there, but the people love football, they love sports.

And these kids, they love playing, and these guys love being Leroy Bears.

- I got a question, coach.

Is number 28 helmet special fit?

- (chuckles) He's a big man.

- [Speakers] Another question for right here.

- [Interviewer] I got a question.

How many of these state championships have you been a part of at Leroy, and what did you learn from your dad that was a coach, and Danny Powell, to help you get to here with your team?

- Well, this is my fifth one that I've been a part of at Leroy.

I was there before as an assistant coach, and of course, this is the first one as the head coach.

Working for those guys, working for Coach Powell, it was great to work for him he gave me a lot of leeway and said, "Hey look, you wanna be a head coach?

"You get to work."

And he allowed me to do a lot and learned a lot from him.

But growing up as a coach family, it was great.

- [Speaker] Question.

- [Interviewer] Shamar, it seemed like when Pickens County was really starting to build some momentum at the beginning of that second half, you got that interception and kind of closed the door.

What's the mindset, just not letting the moment get too big?

(group laughing) (indistinct) - When I was driving out the field, I told myself that I'm not gonna let no one score.

I'm not gonna let no one score, and I seen the quarterback, Miles, shift that way, (indistinct).

- [Speaker] And we had one more question here.

- [Interviewer] Coach, I know you guys ran the ball so well.

What was it specifically that y'all were trying to attack against Pickens County run defense?

- Well, we tried to do a lot of just some block down stuff and kicking out, but with that.

But trying a little misdirection as well, we knew that they like to the blitz and like to come up, and we figured that they would make some plays, but we figured if we kept doing that, and we were consistent that we could pop one every now and then, and we were able to do that.

- [Speaker] Let's give them one more question and let 'em go celebrate with your team.

Any more questions?

Go ahead.

- [Interviewer] On defense, y'all pretty much had one underwrap, like they said for a few big plays.

Why do you feel like the defensive line had success in the linebackers?

- (indistinct) Great players.

I mean, those guys play hard every play.

Our coach, Lowe, our defense coordinator, does a great job of coming up with a plan, and our other assistant coaches over there, and I tell, these kids believe in it, and they believe in playing Leroy defense, and that's 11 black hats to the ball, and we're gonna rally to the ball and be physical at every time we can, and hats off to them.

- Coach, congratulations.

I know y'all got some celebrating to do.

- Yes, sir.

- Guys, y'all keep up.

- Congratulations one more time.

- [Presenter] What is a protector?

Is it always a hero bigger than life?

Look and you'll find protectors all around us.

At Protective, it's at the heart of who we are.

For more than a century, millions have relied on us to make retirement more about wishes than worry, and life insurance more about legacy than loss.

We're by your side, helping you protect what matters most, because we're all protectors.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) - [Announcer] You're watching Alabama Public Television.

Broaden your horizons.

(soft orchestral music) (upbeat music) (upbeat soft music) - Ralph Shug Jordan coached the Auburn Tigers for 24 seasons from 1951 through 1975.

With 176 wins, Coach Jordan lead Auburn Tigers to more wins than any other head football coach in Auburn's rich football history.

He's remembered in the College Football Hall of Fame.

The 1950s were probably his best decade, with the Tigers winning the National Championship in 1957.

I'm Thomas Gossom, a wide receiver on Coach Jordan's 1972 football team, nicknamed The Amazings.

A major underdog entering the season, we finished with a 10-1 record, number five in the country, including the infamous Hunt Bama punt, Iron Bowl victory.

Coach always said that his 1972 team was one of his favorites.

Coach Jordan remains one of the most highly respected personalities in the history of Auburn University.

Not only because of his success as a head football coach, but also because of his tireless devotion to the Auburn community.

- [Presenter] This is the AMFirst Post-game Show.

(upbeat rock music) - "11 black hats to the ball.

"That's how you play Leroy defense."

That's what Jason Massey just said, of the victorious Leroy Bears, winning another state title.

Their first since 2010.

He's been a part of five now.

Four as an assistant coach.

Bill Clark, you know what it means to hold that blue map, especially for a small community like Leroy.

This is a special night, isn't it?

- Yeah, and I mean, if you look up in the stands, you think maybe they brought the whole town, but what a big deal.

Obviously, once again, congratulations to Pickens County for being here.

But Leroy played well offensively, defensively.

It's just really a total win.

- And we should tell people, not everyone knows where Leroy is.

It's about 60 miles north of Mobile in Washington County.

The Marengo County in that area, they play some really good football down there, don't they?

- They do.

And my time at South Alabama was some of their best...

Some of their best time winning state championships, and that's when I was down there seeing 'em.

And that community's very tight in football, and athletics is important to 'em, and it was obvious today how well they played.

- It really was.

They took an early lead.

The Pickens County to their credit, after halftime, made a run at 'em, but they got close, key interception for Leroy.

Again, that defense stepping up big in the shadow of the goal post, and then there goes that man again, Brayden Ebner, he was so big.

Again, he's 5'10, about 178 pounds.

That's what he is listed as.

He looks like he's about 20 pounds lighter than that.

- He really does.

One, he can really run.

He's got really good speed, I think deceptive speed, and then he runs tough.

We talked about the first half him bouncing off tacklers.

He's stronger than he looks.

- He is, yeah.

It was interesting to hear Coach Massey say, "He's bandaged up, he's bleeding, "but he always wants the ball."

He says, "Feed me the ball."

And they did, and he made it work.

- Yeah, and that's what you want.

You want, I guess your best player with a ball on his hands.

That's a good thing when your quarterback is that guy, he's touching it every time.

- And you've pointed out many times, the difficulty for the defense, when that quarterback is a dual threat, when you have to account for him as a runner, it's almost like having 12 men on offense, isn't it?

- It really is.

That's the world we talk about when it's like having 12, you gotta worry about him throwing the ball, he runs it, you got all the fakes, and of course, they've got a lot of looks like wing to misdirection in there, A lot of single wing type stuff, which a lot of guys... A lot of people do now.

He's a really good runnerback.

- Well, I look at him and I remember Johnny Manzel, running up about 60 points on Auburn Dugen Heisman season here, and he reminded me, again, a little bit of Johnny Manzel.

Again, his deceptive speed, running away from DBs, not letting them close on him when he got in the open field.

That touchdown he scored after the interception, which shut down the Pickens County comeback.

All right, we're gonna throw it to the post game.

The runners up, Pickens County.

- The 2022 Class 1A state runner up.

Coach, congratulations to Pickens County.

Coach Michael Williams used to make anything, any opening comments you wanna make, then we'll open up for questions.

Congratulations, guys.

- Really not much to open over.

Just to tell of two halves.

We come out and have a lot of turnovers in the first half, and didn't take care of the football, and come out in second half, and I think it ended up being 20 to 16, basically on our way in the second half.

So we knew it dug ourself a hole and we tried to call ourself out of it, but sometimes it just... One of the nights that it's not yours, so it just wasn't our night, especially in the first half.

So probably of what we did in the second half, but like I said, it wasn't enough.

But we're gonna keep chopping at the bit.

We're gonna keep chopping, man.

- [Speaker] Question, coach or players.

- The coach got mentioned, talked with you last week after a game like that, such an emotional high, winning like that in front of your home stadium, and how did you get your guys back level headed and get 'em focused?

'Cause you knew you had this game coming up, but that had to take something outta y'all, just the emotional juice of last week.

- I guess I didn't do a great of a job... A good job of trying to get past last week, but it's not about that game or what transpired during that game.

I think it's more of just, we did not come ready to play today, and when the team doesn't come out ready to play, it lays on the head coach, and I'm not gonna sugar coat around it.

I have to be better, as far as getting my team prepared, ready to play the game and just...

I'm just leaving at that.

I have to be better at that point.

Obviously we didn't do something that we need to do during the weekend, and I need to do a better job at that.

- [Speaker] Other questions.

- [Interviewer] Coach, what was the half time message that got y'all sort of back in the game, somewhat?

- If you've been following us, you see we've been kind of like the comeback kids.

You didn't have to say too much.

Basically I just told him, don't blink.

This is what we've been trying... Basically, we've been there all season, so we came out and I think we hit a nice pass on Kamara on the slug and got us going.

We felt we got a little more pressure off of us.

Another thing I thought, the bright lights, the jumbotron, I thought that played a part in us in the first half, and second half I felt like we'd finally been able to calm down, but just a little bit too late.

- [Speaker] Other questions.

- [Interviewer] Just for the players, clearly this wasn't an outcome you wanted, but what's this experience been like for you guys to get in the championship game, to get here to play on this big stage?

Just what's that been like for you?

- Ashley, talk about it.

- I mean, like coach said, it was an emotional ride, but just losing like that on the big field like that, is heartbreaking, then watching on tape what we thought was gonna be ours, is even more heartbreaking.

We put in so much work to get here.

And like, it's just all for nothing.

- [Interviewer] What about you?

Do you want to add something?

- It was a good ride even though we didn't get over the hump that we were supposed to, but it just made us want to work harder.

- [Speaker] Other questions?

Right back here.

- [Interviewer] Obviously, this stinks right now, but what do you tell your team to keep them from being down and hard on themselves, and get their journey ready for next year and for your seniors?

Show them the silver lining and going forward into there.

- First off, I'll start with our seniors.

My senior, most of them, two or three of 'em I had when they was in the eighth grade.

We started out when I first got here five years ago, and that was my first, the young guys that I had.

I basically told 'em right there at the end, that they have been a part of something that is gonna transpire into something bigger.

I know it's gonna transpire into something bigger.

But they was the root of what what my era has been about.

Pickens County always been at state championships before, but this is different when you're five years into the program.

Those are your guys, those are my guys, and I was proud of what they've done in these five years.

What was the second part?

What was the first part of the question?

- [Interviewer] Just how you keep your returning players from being hard on themselves.

- As you can see with these two... With these two, it's not gonna be very difficult.

They played in 2020 when they lost to Lindon, and they come out here today and it's still, you can tell the way he talks, the way both of them talks, they still feel like they left something out there on the field.

So that whole junior class is like I've been saying it to recruiters and everybody for a while, that this junior class is one of the best classes, athletically and talented, with the talent that they have, that I've had at this school outside of maybe 2020 with Jamer.

But I don't have to say much, when it comes to being able to come into next year.

They know what it takes.

We just have to get to this point to finally get ourselves over this hump, and we will.

We just gotta stick to the course, man.

I promise you you'll see us again.

- For each one of you guys, what's it like having a coach like Coach Williams, that's went to the highest level and was successful all the way up to the NFL?

- [Speaker] Go ahead, go ahead.

- I feel good, great, maybe (indistinct) been through everything that we've gone through, so he (indistinct) when he tell us.

- [Interviewer] What about you, Demarkis, could you answer that too?

- He keep pushing us every time we get down.

If I get down of myself he tells me to hold my head up, keep pushing.

I only been out here for two years.

My first year starting quarterback, he helped me through the whole process.

- [Speaker] Go ahead.

- He's good.

It's really an amazing experience having a coach that's been at that high up a level 'cause he bring his game, like of what he learned down to us.

He tried to install that in us to go play, and build on what he know.

- [Speaker] Other questions?

- I know you just said you only been here two years.

What did you notice about the culture that Coach Williams and Pickens County had, when you joined, especially the senior class, and them coming out together?

- Well, basically, Demarkis, he'd been with that class all his life.

He was just a...

He was at Gordo?

He was at Gordo, and he just transferred over to play with the people he's played with, since he was in Peewee, and that's basically what it was.

Demarkis doesn't like to talk on camera.

He gets nervous.

So Demarkis led us this year, man.

He led us.

Before we start the year off, I think we can go back to the spring game against Meek.

We lost 30 or nothing, and we didn't have a quarterback.

He came in this summer and he worked his butt off, man.

He worked his butt off.

We have the tendency to put him in some bad situations, with the way our offenses ran.

But he never blinked.

He never thought twice about it, he never questioned what we were doing.

He just came in this year and filled a spot that we needed to be filled, I think, for the last three years.

But prior to that we had Javian Bear, who was a Bear catch forward.

He could do whatever he wanted, however he wanted to, like I said, I used to call him Superman, and we used to... We didn't have a quarterback at all, and D came in and stepped up, took on that job, man, and led the team to the state championship.

So not very many quarterbacks can say that, especially one for that first year.

- [Interviewer] Players, what do you learn from a loss like this?

- Well, I learned that whatever we missing we need to work on, find out what we need to work on and get to it.

- I feel like it isn't my first time on this big of a stage, but a loss like that is always heartbreaking, and there's always something to learn from.

Only thing to do now, get in the weight room, start watching film and get better.

Try to help my team get better as a whole.

- [Speaker] Other questions.

- Coach, what's the message going into this off season?

Get to the highest peak you can in the game, which is to say championship game.

What would be the message?

- The message now is, keep your foot on the pedal, man.

I know it can be, it can get tiring, it can get demoralizing.

Past eight years we've been to semifinals or better.

So you have a great pedigree to live on, you know what the standard is, and you keep going for that standard.

Just because you have a little niche, it doesn't mean you don't keep going for it.

The standard is set.

We're gonna keep fighting for it.

And like I said, I promise you, I promise you, look at every last one of y'all, I promise you, we're gonna get better.

- When Michael Williams makes a promise, I think you could probably bank on it.

But you have to feel for them.

Coach Bill Clark, this is their fourth runner up finish in the last seven years, the third under Coach Williams.

That's gotta be frustrating to get so close, and not quite push that rock to the top of the hill.

- Yeah, and it's hard not to say, "We failed."

One of the players said, "Like it was a failure."

And it's not.

In the moment, you want 'em to hate it, because it's what it's about to compete.

But what a great year they had, and they just ran into...

I know they thought they didn't play as well as they can, but they also ran into a really good Leroy team.

- They did.

All right, let's look at the highlights from the 1A Championship game.

Again, Leroy is your champion.

Very first play of the game.

(rock music) - [Bill] There's your underneath screen, lockers out in front.

That's what we talked about, earlier in the quarterback.

Gets it outta of his hands, he gets credit for that, so that's a good thing.

There's a counter.

- [Kevin] And the counter, yes.

They have to keep so much on the quarterback.

- [Bill] Correct.

- [Kevin] Everything flows towards him with defenses.

- [Bill] Yep.

Big takeaway.

We always talk about turnovers or the difference in every game.

This is a good run right here.

Watch this right here.

There he is.

So of course the guy didn't lock up.

If we wanna talk about it from a defensive standpoint, lock up.

- Yes.

- But good running.

- [Kevin] He's a challenge to lock up, that's for sure.

- [Bill] That's right.

Here's where our safety gets over the top.

High point, that's one of the big things we talk about.

You see went up and got it.

That's good coaching, good play.

Luckily he got to the near sideline.

- [Kevin] Almost took it to the house, but then there was Brayden Huebner quarterback sneak, they're just standing up.

- Did you see that ball?

- Two hands on the ball.

- [Bill] Tackle for a loss, so obviously that's a big deal.

That's what we look for.

Make it a big tackle for a loss.

Defensively, another interception.

Like you said, go up there again.

There's a counter.

That is a tough play.

Back one way, you see we got linemen pulling out there.

You see his speed right here, down the sideline.

- [Kevin] Of course.

- [Bill] I don't think that was a touchdown play.

- [Kevin] Yeah, he finishes it off for another Leroy touchdown.

They seemed in control of the game, but Pickens County was not about to go away.

- [Bill No, and that says a lot about them.

I think people need to appreciate that big hit right there, legal hit, in the strike zone.

But that says a lot about Pickens County, that came back playing big vertical ball right there.

Nice hands, looked it all the way in.

- [Kevin] And then all of a sudden, it looks like we've got a football game.

- [Bill] Yeah, there's Pickens County in the backfield.

This was the big pick we talked about.

You talked about.

There he is again, getting to the near sideline, getting people out front.

Red zone stops.

We talk about that all the time.

- [Kevin] And this is the play that really broke it open.

This reminds me so much of Johnny Manzel.

DB's thinking, "I'm gonna run that guy down."

No, you're not.

- [Bill] Right, no.

He can run, he can really run.

Big play right there.

- [Kevin] And again, Pickens kept coming.

Again, they've been on this stage.

Four state championship games in the last seven years.

They have a tradition of winning there.

- [Bill] Well, when I talk about a program, people not quitting, I mean, that's what a program looks like.

Give them credit for that, I think that's a big deal.

- [Kevin] That was a really sharp throw in that two point conversion after a touchdown.

But then the Leroy defense, four shutouts on the season.

- [Bill] There's that quarterback counter again.

They run that very well.

Two guys pulling.

We got a kick out and a lead up, and that's counter trade blocking, very tough for your ice bath.

- (laughing) Your ice bath on a very icy night, here in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

And there's your 1A Champions, the Leroy Bears, their first championship since 2010.

Congratulations to them and congratulations to the Tornadoes for getting here and making this a thrilling 1A State Championship game.

All right, we're gonna take a break at this point.

We'll be back and we will preview the 5A State championship game, Charles Henderson and Ramsay, next.

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