AHSAA: Jackson wins Class 4A Title

Tuscaloosa, Ala.--Jackson High School rallied for 14 fourth-quarter points Friday afternoon to beat Oneonta 42-28 as the Aggies won the Class 4A state football championship.

Eleven Super 6 Class 4A state records were set or tied in the game that generated a combined 665 total yards. Among the records was a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown by Lakendrick James with 24 seconds left in the half that gave Jackson (15-0) a 21-7 lead. Oneonta (12-3) trailed 21-7 and was nearing the Aggies end zone when James grabbed a deflected Schyler Walker pass at the six and sped for the score.

First-year Jackson Coach Danny Powell, who led Leroy High School to four state championships since 2006 including the 2010 crown, watched his Aggies move the ball easily in the first half for three other scores.

Junior Jarren Johnson, named the Class 4A game MVP, caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Dustyn Moseley and raced 25 yards for another score to give Jackson a 14-7 lead.

Oneonta got on the board early in the second quarter when Walker connected with Taylor Oden for a 61-yard touchdown pass. Moseley sneaked in from the one to make it 21-7. James’ interception gave Jackson a three-touchdown lead at intermission.

Oneonta struck quickly to turn the momentum early in the second half. Oden caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Walker at 6:27 of the third period and Walker ran 16 yards for a touchdown four minutes later. Chase Bryant picked off a Moseley pass and ran 31 yards for the Redskins’ fourth touchdown to tie the game at 28-28 with 7:27 to play.

That momentum was short-lived, however. Antonio Fox and Moseley connected for a 75-yard touchdown on first down to go ahead 35-28. With 3:59 remaining, Johnson scored his third touchdown of the game when Moseley passed 17 yards for the final score.

Johnson caught 10 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns, all Class 4A Super 6 records. He also had 96 yards rushing on 13 carries. James swiped a Super 6 record three interceptions and had a record 151 yards in returns. He also had nine tackles to lead the Aggies' defense.

Moseley finished with 17-of-28 passing for 298 yards and three touchdowns.

Walker was 18-of-40 passing for 233 yards to lead Oneonta. Oden had five grabs for 131 yards and two scores, and Alvin Scott had five catches for 38 yards. Walker also hauled in a trick-play pass from Oden for 52 yards while Scott also had four punt returns for 107 yards.

Cody O’Toole and Keaton Jones each had 12 tackles for the Redskins and Walker Musso 11.

With the state title, Powell is one of only two coaches to win Super 6 state championships at two different schools. Hoover Coach Josh Niblett is the other, winning at Oneonta in 2004 and at Hoover in 2009.
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