ADAMSVILLE, Alabama -- The power game of Class 7A #8 Spain Park defeated Class 6A #1 Minor 52-42 Thursday night at Minor Stadium. Larry Wooden and D'arie Johnson combined for 353 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the win for the Jaguars.
Spain Park (8-2) made a big defensive stand on a two-point conversion and a late interception by Damarius Farmer that kept the game a two score game. "Our running game was the difference tonight," said Jaguars Head coach Shawn Raney. "D'arie and Larry have done this for two years now and when one comes out, the other one comes in with fresh legs and keeps it going."
Johnson had 232 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns, while Wooden had 121 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns with 67 yards on six receptions in the Jaguars win. "We came together at halftime and we came out with a lot of energy in the second half," said Jags running back Wooden. "Our offensive line played the best game of the season tonight. There was a lot of holes that we ran through. They did a great job."
Minor (9-1) scored first in the game on a JaCure' Jackson to Delonte Evans for a 59-yard touchdown pass play for the Tigers. Deandre' Charleston ran in the two-point conversion and Minor led 8-0 with 10:55 left in the first quarter. With 8:39 left in the first quarter, Spain Park came back on a D'arie Johnson 60-yard touchdown run. The Cole Starr extra point and Minor led 8-7.
With 1:37 left in the first quarter, Wooden scored his first touchdown on a 1-yard Jaguars touchdown run. Starr kicked the PAT and Spain Park led 14-8. With 11:24 in the second quarter, Wooden scored on a 9-yard touchdown run for the Jaguars. Starr kicked the extra point and Spain Park led 21-6. With 6:25 left in the half, Jackson hit Jaylond Adams on a 10-yard touchdown pass play for the Tigers. Jackson to Evans on the two-point conversion and Spain Park still le 21-14. Jackson finished the game completing 16-of-23 passing for 223 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
With 2:44 left in the half, Starr kicked a 26-yard field goal and Spain Park led 24-14. With only :37 seconds left in the half, Minor scored on a Kristion Prowell on a 1-yard touchdown run for the Tigers Prowell scored on the 2-point conversion and Minor cut the Jags lead to 24-22 at halftime.
Big play in the second half was the opening kickoff when Farmer took the kickoff 92-yards for a touchdown. Starr kicked the PAT and Spain Park led 31-22. Minor fumbled on their next possession and with 11:15 left in the third quarter, Wooden scored on a 38-yard touchdown for the Jaguars and Spain Park led 38-22. With 6:52 left in the third quarter, Adams scored on a 8-yard touchdown run for the Tigers. Dominic Ellis scored the two-point conversion and Minor cut the Spain Park lead to 38-30. Adams had 70 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown, with 8 receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns.
With 2:51 left in the third quarter, Wooden scored his fourth TD on a 6-yard touchdown run for the Jags. Starr kicked the extra point and Spain Park led 45-30. With 9:57 left in the fourth quarter, Jackson scored on a 4-yard touchdown run for the Tigers. The two-point conversion failed and Spain Park led 45-36.
With 4:29 left in the game, Johnson scored on a 31-yard touchdown run and Starr kicked the PAT and Spain Park led 52-36. With 2:27 left in the game, Jackson to Adams connected again on a 10-yard touchdown play. The two-point conversion failed and Spain Park gets the 52-42 win.
Braxton Barker completed 11-of-12 passing for 129 yards with one interception. The Jags had 473 total yards against the smaller Tigers defense. Minor had 312 total yards on the night. Evans had 5 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers.
Up next in the playoffs for both teams, Minor will host Homewood while Spain Park travels to James Clemens in the 1st round games of the 2016 AHSAA Championship Playoffs. Let the second season begin!
