MADISON, Alabama -- It has been since 1978, but it happened Thursday night at Madison City School Stadium, as the Sparkman Senators defeated Bob Jones 31-0 in a Class 7A, Region 4 game. Sparkman used a strong second half scoring 24 points for the win while the Senators defense has been on a roll for a few weeks now.

Defense and running the football is the game plan for the Senators and it played out to perfection tonight. "We showed patience, they gave us a couple of different looks in the first half but we adjusted," said Senators Head coach Laron White. "The defense played well and it gave the offense time to catch up. We have a bunch of guys on defense that are very experienced. They are tough and smart."

Sparkman (4-2, 4-0) leads Class 7A, Region 4 and has won four straight games since losing the first two games of the season. Sparkman scored first in the game when Chance McClendon scored on a 12-yard touchdown run and the Senators led 7-0 with 1:00 left in the half. A Nick Sawyer to McClendon short pass turned into a 28-yard gain deep in the Patriots territory that gave the Senators the first score of the game. Both teams struggled to get any offense going in the first half, but Sparkman took over on a short field after a Bob Jones punt to punch in a score right before the half.

In the second half, it was all Sparkman. Sawyer ripped of a few long runs to setup an Andrew Thrasher 39-yard field goal for the Senators. Thrasher in his first year of football, just kicked his career long and it had some room to spare as he nailed it to give Sparkman a 10-0 lead with 4:27 left in the third quarter. Cam Foley had a big 33-yard punt return to setup the Senators score. Sparkman can right back after a Bob Jones punt and with only :59 seconds left in the third quarter, Sawyer found Mekhi Wall on an 8-yard touchdown play action play for the Senators touchdown. Sparkman took a 17-0 lead going into the final quarter. "We couldn't get things going in the first half, but made some good adjustments in the second half," said Senators QB Sawyer. "We took what we saw and it worked. When the play shuts down, I just take off and make something happen for me team. I take what the defense gives them. I know this game means a lot to Coach White since he beat his brother. I'm sure there will be a conversation about this game pretty soon with him."

With 9:45 left in the game, Sawyer found Foley on a 42-yard slant play as Foley took the short pass into the end zone. With the score Sparkman led 24-0. With 1:41 left in the game, Clifton Shaw scored on a 13-yard touchdown run around the left end and Sparkman had their big region win. 

Sawyer completed 6-of-13 passing for 119 yards and two touchdowns on the night. The senior quarterback also rushed for 83 yards on 14 carries. "His biggest asset is when a play breaks down, he can push it forward," added White. "He doesn't do everything right, but he does a lot of good things and I'm glad he is on our team." 

Bob Jones (2-4, 1-4), played their first game in 20 days after two forfeits due to COVID-19. Bob Jones had to cancel against Florence and Auburn the last two weeks.