TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Mobile Christian scored three touchdowns in the final 10:10 to beat Madison Academy 55-28 at Thursday’s Class 3A Super 7 State Championship game played at the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Junior quarterback and 3A game MVP Damien Gatson supplied the decisive play, hooking up with Kentonio Kelly on a 55-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter – just 30 seconds after Madison Academy’s Ken Cherry scored on a 14-yard run to make it a one-score game.
“It hit him in the hands and he broke a couple of tackles,” Gatson said.
Added Kelly, “When I caught that ball, I saw I had to do it for my teammates.”
Mobile Christian’s victory kicked off Day 2 of the Super 7, with Class 1A and Class 5A championship games set for later Thursday. The title games in Classes 4A, 2A and 6A are scheduled to close out the 2023 Super 7 Championships Friday.
For the second straight year, all Super 7 games will be televised live over the Alabama Public Television Network. The games are being produced by the NFHS Network with Vince Earley and his WOTM TV crew producing the games. All games will also be live streamed over the NFHS Network and over the AHSAA Radio Network as well.
Mobile Christian (15-0) won its first AHSAA football state title, having finished as Class 3A runner-up in 2016 and 2019. It was especially satisfying for head coach Ronnie Cottrell, who underwent eye surgery a week ago.
“After we beat Saint James (in the semifinals), I knew they were going to win it,” Cottrell said, referring to his players. “I didn’t know it was going to be this convincing.”
Madison Academy (14-1), which was trying to win its first state title since winning three in a row from 2012-14, didn’t make it easy for the Leopards.
The Leopards built an early 14-0 lead, as Gatson threw touchdown passes of 38 yards to Aaron Rogers and 33 yards to PJ Brown. Cherry responded with a 19-yard TD run and a 75-yard touchdown catch to tie the game at 14-all with 2:04 to go before halftime. Mobile Christian’s Michael Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards and was knocked out of bounds inside the MA 10, and Jordan Woullard’s 2-yard TD run with 1:04 to go before halftime made it 21-14.
The second half played out much the same way. Mobile Christian scored two quick touchdowns with Gatson throwing a 52-yard touchdown pass to Rogers and a 24-yarder to Woullard, to build a 35-14 lead. The Mustangs responded again, with Reece Jackson making a 1-handed catch on an 18-yard TD from Jake Poldiak and Cherry scoring on his 14-yard run to make it 35-28 with 10:40 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Leopards again got a strong kickoff return from Rogers, and Gatson’s fifth TD pass came just 30 seconds later.
“Give Mobile Christian credit for making those plays,” Madison Academy coach Bob Godsey said. “Every time we got back in it, we couldn’t get the play to get over the top.”
Brown added a 63-yard touchdown run with 7:44 to go, and Jason Todd’s 36-yard TD run with 2:04 to go ended the scoring.
“This is definitely one of the biggest wins of my career,” Cottrell said.
Gatson completed 15-of-20 passes for 298 yards and five touchdowns, and Brown led the rushing attack with 17 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown. Rogers caught five passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns, and Kelly led the defense with 14 tackles and an interception. Sema’j Law and Todd also intercepted passes.
Cherry led Madison Academy with 24 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns and added five catches for 122 yards and a score. Poldiak finished 20-of-39 passing for 342 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Jackson caught six passes for 69 yards.
Madison Academy rolled up 514 yards of total offense on 80 plays. Mobile Christian ran only 48 offensive plays but finished with 468 yards as both teams combined for 982 total yards.
“Our goal was to make it through 15 games, and our players, I can’t say enough about them,” Cottrell said. The Leopards finished the season 15-0 and the Mustangs ended their season 14-1.
Added Gatson: “This is one to remember.”