Edgewood’s Dillon NesSmith battles for a catch in Friday’s Class AA state championship game in Troy. (Photo by Art Parker)

By Art Parker
RRS Correspondent

(Nov. 21, 2009)

TROY - One point.

Three seconds.

That’s what separated Edgewood from its second consecutive AISA Class AA state championship.

The Monroe Academy Volunteers defeated the Wildcats 30-29 with a 39-yard field goal by freshman place kicker Craig Bryant with three seconds remaining in the game.

The teams were as evenly matched as one can imagine and showed the fans at Movie Gallery Stadium what a championship game should look like.  It was a classic struggle where both combatants refused to yield but neither could conquer.

“It’s a shame someone had to lose this game,” Edgewood coach Bobby Carr said while he fought back tears. “And, it’s too bad that we are the ones that lost.”

Both teams scored on their respective first possessions and the game was tied 7-7 after only 4 minutes had elapsed. Edgewood would get the advantage and looked like they could take a 13 point lead into the locker room at halftime.

But the Vols mounted an efficient drive with less that two minutes in the second quarter to narrow the Wildcats lead at halftime, 19-14.

Monroe took the lead early in the third quarter, but the Wildcats came right back and marched downfield to the Vols’ 2-yard line. Edgewood could not take it into the end zone and was forced to settle for a field goal.

The failure to score a touchdown at that point, coupled with the missed extra point in the first quarter, would eventually prove to be detrimental for the Wildcats.

Edgewood was leading 29-21 when Monroe’s Tanner Smith picked off a pass and returned it for a score.  Monroe failed on the 2-point conversion but trailed by two, 29-27, with just under five minutes left.

The Vols had less than two minutes remaining in the game when they started to march downfield hoping for a final chance. A couple of completions that barely passed the first down yardstick kept the drive going until the clock was under 10 seconds and the Vols were stuck on the Wildcats 22-yard line. A field goal attempt was the only real hope the Vols had and Bryant delivered.
“I didn’t think I made it at first,” Bryant said. “But I looked and it was right down the middle.”

For the season Edgewood finishes at 10-2 and Monroe Academy at 11-2.

Pike Liberal wins second-straight title

Quarterback Trey Walters passed for 172 yards  and ran for 88 more in the Patriots’ 36-20 victory over Bessemer Academy, giving Pike Lib (11-1) a second-straight Class AAA title.

“Winning back to back is awesome,” Walters said. “We were able to make the plays when we needed.”

Taylor Stephens had runs of 23 and a yard for scores as part of a 419-yard effort by the Pats’ offense.

Austin Gray had 112 yards for Bessemer (10-4) Marcus McAfee scored twice for the Rebels.

Patrician repeats as champs

B.J. Boykin scored two touchdowns and ran for 225 yards to lead Patrician Academy to its second-straight Class A state title over Crenshaw Christian, 51-13, on Friday.

Brandon Meeks added 164 yards that included an 81-yard run for a score. Dylan Flowers also broke the 100-yard barrier and scored a touchdown. Patrician finished with 648 yards in total offense with 573 on the ground.

Pete King had a touchdown catch while Nick Kilpatrick led Crenshaw with 65 yards rushing.