The UTV44 High School Game of the Week presented by Whataburger headed into the semifinal round of the AHSAA playoffs, this re-match was between the St. Paul’s Saints and the Spanish Fort Toros.
Winner of this game will go to Auburn for the AHSAA Super Six.
Spanish Fort got the ball first, and drove down field only to stall out and not convert on a fourth and goal. St. Paul’s took possession of the ball after the turn over on downs and started their first possession.
Quarterback Bradley Padgett ended their first drive when Thomas Johnston picked off Padgett. Joel Poe took over and once again drove the Toros down field only to turn the ball over again. On the three yard line, Poe trying to score fumbled the ball into the end zone and the Saints recovered.
The start of the 2nd quarter saw the first score of the game when, Toros Alexander Theodore kicked a 41 yard field goal and took a 3-0 lead.
The Saints got moving offensively again but could not finish the drive off; Saints kicker Yannick Wildraut missed a 35 yard field goal. But just as quickly as they gave up the ball, they got it back when Jalen Thompson picked off Joel Poe. Four plays later Wildraut made a 34 yard field goal to tie up the game 3-3.
As the 1st half was ending, the Toros were looking to take a lead in to the half but Theodore missed a 38 yard field goal to end the period. The halftime score was still 3-3.
St. Paul’s struck first in the second half when Padgett hit Kylen Towner for a 44 yard touchdown pass. The Saints now had a 10-3 lead with just over nine minutes to go in the 3rd quarter.
The momentum was in St. Paul’s favor when Kylen Towner picked off Joel Poe, which was his second of the night. Later in the period, the Saints defense got to Poe again when linebacker Zavier Carmichael sacked Poe on fourth down.
Spanish Fort’s luck would change in the 4th quarter, on the first play of the period Toro’s running back Sammy Tolbert found the end zone on a 3 yard run. The score was once again tied but now 10-10.
Looking to get the lead back, Padgett tried to do to much and was picked off by Matt Hall, and Hall returned it 41 yards. That interception help set up the Toros offense and in two plays, Poe ran in the go ahead touchdown from six yards out. The Toros now had a 17-10 lead with ten minutes to go in the game.
The Toros extended their lead over the Saints late in the 4th quarter. The Saints turned the ball over on downs and Spanish Fort took over on the Saints 46 yard line. Five plays later Tolbert scored his second touchdown of the night from four yards out.
Spanish Fort sealed the win after Johnny Cook picked off Padgett, the Toros got the 24-10 win over the Saints.
St. Paul’s finished this season with a 11-3 record.
The Toros improve to 13-1 and move on the state finals to take on 14-0 McAdory.
