MCCALLA, Alabama -- With McAdory not getting a score to start overtime and Pinson Valley with a 4th and three, it was all on the line for the Indians and a 20-yard field goal for the win. One kick, one big win!
The ball was spotted for a 20-yard field goal, kicked and the ball sails right through the uprights for Indians kicker Saul Rios and Pinson Valley gets the big thrilling win over #4 McAdory 24-21 in overtime. "I got this, I'm going to make it," said Indians kicker Rios. "I knew I could do it. I'm just so excited for my teammates in getting this big win for our team."
The Pinson Valley defense shutdown the McAdory offense in the second half and in overtime. "This is big for our program, we took two big losses on the chin the last two weeks, so this is big," said Indians Head coach Matt Glover. "Really, really proud of our guys. We had guys injured and some guys stepping in for them and to come and win at McAdory that is a tough thing to do." Pinson Valley came off two big losses to Gardendale and Clay-Chalkville and have been outscored 107-23 in those two games.
McAdory scored first in the game when they recovered a Pinson Valley fumble on a punt return. Chris Roy recovered the fumble for the Yellow Jackets on the Pinson Valley 25-yard line. A few plays later Jordan Jones scores on a 13-yard run to give the Yellow Jackets an early lead with 8:00 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, McAdory missed on a 25-yard field goal with 10:50 left in the half. After that Yellow Jackets missed opportunity, Pinson Valley went the length of the field and scored with 5:37 left in the half on a Jackie Matthews to Errius Collins 15-yard touchdown play for the Indians. With the Rios extra point, Pinson Valley took a 7-6 lead. Collins finished the game with eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown.
With 3:59 left in the half, Darrion Williams blocked a Pinson Valley punt and put the Yellow Jackets first and goal at the Pinson Valley 8-yard line. The Yellow Jackets scored on a Jones to Malcum Askew touchdown play and McAdory took back the lead at 13-7. Pinson Valley came right back to score with :58 seconds left in the half on a Matthews to Liallen Dailey 33-yard touchdown play and the Indians took over a 14-13 lead. Matthews finished the game 19-of-31 passing for 224 yards and two touchdowns.
That lead didn't stay long as McAdory scored on the last play of the half when Jones hit Askew on a 51-yard touchdown pass. Jones scored up the middle on the two-point conversion and McAdory led 21-14 at halftime. Jones completed 8-of-22 passes for 140 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions along with 65 yards on 13 carries. Askew had five receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. Shaq Terry led the Yellow Jackets with 153 yards on 21 carries on the night.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Pinson Valley pinned McAdory inside their own 10-yard line. On a 3rd down play, Pinson Valley sacked Jones in the end zone and the ball came out and defensive lineman Ezekiel Lawrence pounced on the ball in the end zone for an Indians touchdown. "I wanted to make a play," said the Indians lineman Lawrence. "I just saw the ball on the ground and went after it. I just want to play hard on everyplay." With the touchdown recovery by the sophomore defensive lineman, the game was tied at 21-21 with 8:18 left in the game.
The Pinson Valley defense didn't allow a point after halftime which provided the difference in the game. "We just had to stop shooting ourselves in the foot on defense in the first half," added Glover. "We made a few adjustments at halftime, but I was really proud of the effort we gave in the second half."
Pinson Valley had a chance to take the lead in regulation, but a McAdory blocked a field goal attempt with 2:52 left in the game. McAdory had two shots on offense put had to punt both times. In overtime, McAdory lost yardage on three straight plays and had to settle for a 35-yard field goal attempt that went wide right. The Pinson Valley defense recorded four sacks in the second half of the game.
