The UTV 44 High School Game of the Week presented by Whataburger saw the 5A Region 1 showdown between the St. Paul’s Saints and the Spanish Fort Toros.
Both teams came into this game tied atop Region 1 with 3-0 records and both are looking to stay at the top.
On Spanish Fort’s first possession of the game, the Saint made the big play when linebacker Jeb Boudreaux intercepted Joel Poe’s pass on the Saints 19 yard line. St. Paul’s quarterback Bradley Padgett capped the drive by finding Tre Williams for a 40
yard touchdown pass. The Saints were leading 7-0 over the Toros with just under 4 minutes left in the 1st quarter.
Spanish Fort’s offense we not able to get anything going on their second possession either, after five plays they had to punt the ball to the Saints. On the first play of the second quarter freshman running back Ostin McPherson ripped off a 38 yard
touchdown run. McPherson finished the night with 6 carries for 89 yards and one touchdown. The Saints now had a 14-0 lead over the Toros.
The Toros still looking to get on the board get a drive going in the 2nd quarter. Poe lead the Toros 40 yards, and running back Sammy Tolbert found the end zone after a one yard run.
The Saints looking to strike back do only five plays later. Jordan Huff scored on a 3 yard run after the Saints drove 40 yards for the score.
St. Paul’s got the ball back quickly after linebacker Zavier Carmichael picked Joel Poe off. The interception was Poe’s second one of the night. Jordan Huff found the end zone again after a 23 yard run. The Saints were now leading 28-7 over the
Toros. Huff had 13 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
The Toros looking to cut the lead before the halftime were driving down the field until Zavier Carmichael intercepted Joel Poe for the
second time in the game. The Saints had the halftime lead of 28-7 over the Toros.
Still down by 21 points, the Toros were looking to cut the ead got the ball first for the second half. Starting on their own 22 yard line, Poe lead the Toros down field 78 yards with Tolbert scoring his second touchdown of the night. The score was now 28-14 with St. Paul’s leading.
St. Paul’s first possession of the half was stopped short when quarterback Bradley Padgett fumbled the ball and Spanish Fort’s Kylan
Cotton recovered the fumble. The St. Paul’s defense stepped up again when defensive back Jalen Thompson picked off
Joel Poe. This was Poe’s third interception of the night.
The game came to a stop late in the 3rd quarter when Spanish Fort’s Jeremy Murray had to be carted off the field after being hit by
St. Paul’s Tre Williams.
The start of the 4th quarter saw the Toros begin to move the ball again. Poe put together a nine play 71 yard drive that ended when Tolbert found the end zone for the third time on a 1 yard run. Sammy Tolbert ended the night with nine carries for 70 yards and three touchdowns. The Toros now trail the Saints 28-21 with just over 8:00 minutes left in the game.
The Saints now have the ball and are looking to run down the clock. They were able to do just that. Yannick Wildraut finished the 8
play 36 yard drive with a 47 yard field goal to extend the Saints lead to 10; the score was now 31-21. This drive took
over six minutes off the clock.
With just over 90 seconds to go in the game, the Toros were hoping to get a quick score, but what Poe found instead was St. Paul’s Zavier Carmichael with his third interception of the night from Poe. Poe was 19/28 for 199 yards and 5 interceptions. That interception sealed the region victory for the Saints 31-21 over the Toros.
Spanish Fort falls to 5-1; 3-1 and now looking at St. Paul’s and Vigor in front of them in the Region. The Toros travel to Prichard this week to play Vigor on a Thursday night game.
St. Paul’s improves to 5-1 and 4-0 in the region. The Saints head to Faith Academy this week.
The UTV44 High School Game of the Week now enters its “Flex” part of the schedule. Check back to see what game will be broadcasted. Join us on Friday at 7pm for the UTV44 High School Game of the Week.
