By Erik Harris
TUSCALOOSA – Top-ranked Clay-Chalkville has one more step to take.
The final leg in a two-year race to perfection will be run in Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium this Friday night. Who’s the opponent? No. 2 Spanish Fort (14-0). What’s on the line? The Alabama High School Athletics Association Class 6A state championship.
From left to right: Kenyon Hasberry, Amari Holloway, Dez Williams and Ty Pigrome prepare for a 40-39 playoff win over Homewood on Nov. 13 in Cougar Stadium. Photo by Ron Burkett
The two perennial powers aren’t accustomed to loosing on the big stage, and neither plans on doing so on Friday night. Clay-Chalkville, the proud owner of a 29-0 record over the past two seasons, has built a 2-0 program mark in Alabama’s state finals. The Toros are also unbeaten in state championship games, entering the 2015 finals with a 3-0 past.
To get there, both teams had to grind out semifinal wins. Spanish Fort looked dead upon arrival as visiting Benjamin Russell darted out to a 21-3 lead heading to the second frame, but a comeback effort pushed the Toros onward with a 31-27 victory.
Clay-Chalkville never trailed eighth-ranked Austin in the semifinals, but the physical contest slid into the final minutes without a clear-cut winner. However, when the time ran low and the stage rose high, Jerry Hood’s Cougars made the decisive plays that sent them home with a 45-35 win.
Hood will now face first-year Spanish Fort head coach Ben Blackmon for a shot at a 6A repeat. Clay-Chalkville defeated Saraland, 36-31, in last year’s title game in Auburn.
Spanish Fort repeated as Class 5A champions in 2012-13 after hoisting the hardware in 2010.
This time around, per the usual, the Toros bring a balanced attack into the championship game. On average, they score 42 points while holding the opponent to 16.9 points per game. Clay-Chalkville scores over 50 per game and allows 18.8.
To keep that salty reputation, the Cougar defense will have to slow Spanish Fort senior quarterback Tyler Johnson, who completed 15 of his 26 semifinal passes for 206 yards and an interception. The recent UAB pledge also found production on the ground with 75 yards and three touchdowns.
“I just thank God for this opportunity, because if it wasn’t for him, we would’ve never been here,” said Clay-Chalkville defensive lineman Qutavius Barber following last week’s win in Decatur.
Erik Harris is the Sports Editor for the Trussville Tribune. Follow him on Twitter@jeharris2 or email him at jmseharris2@gmail.com.
