TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- McAdory quarterback Jordan Jones threw for four touchdowns to lead McAdory to a 35-14 win over Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa in a key Class 6A, Region 4 contest at Roy Johnson, Jr. Stadium. With the win, McAdory leads the region and has the inside track to the region title.
McAdory (6-1, 4-0) lost running back Shaquil Terry early in the second quarter and had to turn to Jones with the passing game. "The passing attach did well, it was good showing off our passing game," said Yellow Jackets QB Jones. "We wanted to show everyone that we could throw the football and that we are not just a running team."
McAdory scored first in the game, when Jones hit Malcolm Askew on a big 59-yard touchdown play to give the Yellow Jackets an early 7-0 lead with 7:01 in the first quarter. Terry had a big 15-yard run to setup the long touchdown pass. "I feel like no one can can check Askew one on one," added Jones. "Same thing with (Willie) Langham one on one. I feel like we can make plays with our outside guys. If I give them a chance, they will make a play."
With 9:38 in the second quarter, Phillip Brown scored on a 3-yard run up the middle to extend the McAdory to 14-0 midway through the second quarter. Brown filled in after Terry went out early in the second quarter with an ankle injury.
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (5-3, 3-1) scored on a Robinson pitch, handoff to Kamron Oliver and he hit a wide open receiver in quarterback Cole Frederick for a Patriots 9-yard touchdown play. With the score, Hillcrest cut the McAdory lead to 14-7 with 4:46 left in the half. The Patriots touchdown with 56-yards on 13 plays.
The big play of the night that gave McAdory with momentum heading in to the locker room happened with Jones found Askew over the middle of the field on a 29-yard touchdown play for the Yellow Jackets. "I feel coming out on this field that no one can guard me," said Yellow Jackets WR Askew. "I tell my coach throw the ball to me and I will make a big play. Jordan is playing well right now and I know that he can make plays for us and he does a great job of getting me the football." With the touchdown with :22 seconds left in the half, McAdory took a huge 21-7 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Hillcrest cut the lead again when Frederick hit Jahi Brown on a 52-yard touchdown pass. The Patriots went 10 plays for 89-yards for their second touchdown of the game. With the score, Hillcrest cut the McAdory lead to 21-14 with 4:45 left in the third quarter. "We didn't take advantage of opportunites that we had in the game," said Patriots Head coach Sam Adams. "In the first half, we had three very good drives but only scored seven points out of it. We missed an early field goal on our first drive."
McAdory scored two more touchdowns to in the second half to give the Yellow Jackets some confort zone. With :52 seconds left in the third quarter, Terry threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Langham. McAdory led 28-14 after the third quarter. The final TD came after the kickoff, the Patriots fumbled the return and set McAdory up deep inside Hillcrest territory. A couple plays later, Jones threw to Brown for a 19-yard touchdown pass for the final score of the night.
Jones has a big night for the Yellow Jackets. Jones completed 14-of-20 passing for 218 yards & 4 TD's while adding 113 yards on 20 carries. For the season, Jones has completed 57-of-98 passing for 1,137 yards & 14 TD's with 740 yards on 79 carries & 9 TD's. Askew had 7 receptions for 132 yards & two TD's. With Terry going down early, linebacker turned running back Brown filled in and did a great job. Brown had 38 yards on eight carries and a TD run along with the big 19-yard TD reception.
The McAdory defense came up big in this game holding Patriots running back Brian Robinson to only 80 yards on 19 carries. "That was our game plan to hold their big running back down," added Askew. "The defense came up big. This was a big game coming here and getting this win on the road."
