Mobile Christian beats Madison Academy 55-28: updates from Alabama 3A football state championship
Mobile Christian and Madison Academy are both undefeated, but something will have to give on Thursday when the two face off in the AHSAA Class 3A state championship Thursday in Tuscaloosa.
Thursday's noon kickoff marks the first time the two schools have met on a football field.
Mobile Christian is coming off 34-30 win over St. James, and is led by former Alabama assistant coach Ronnie Cottrell, who is making his return to Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Madison Academy took down Geraldine 49-43 in the other state semifinal. The Mustangs won the state championship in 2012, 2013 and 2014, and have a chance to pick up another with star tailback Kenyon Cherry.
Follow along below for live updates from the Alabama Class 3A football state championship game:
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FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 55, MADISON ACADEMY 28 (Final) The Mobile Christian Leopards are your AHSAA 3A State Champions.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 55, MADISON ACADEMY 28 Jason Todd busts a big one down the home sideline and that’s definitely the dagger. Just 2:04 to go.
Turnover on downs! Madison Academy came up with one clutch conversion on 4th-&-10 on their side of the 50-yard line to keep the drive (and their championship hopes) alive, but they weren’t as fortunate the second time. Leopard defensive end Floyd Boucard, who has been Mobile Christian’s most valuable player on defense, came up with the 4th down sack. Just 5:30 to go.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 49, MADISON ACADEMY 28 The Leopard offensive line sprung Antonio Brown on an inside zone run, and the sophomore beat everyone to the end zone for a 62-yard touchdown run with 7:44 left on the clock.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 42, MADISON ACADEMY 28 Kentonio Kelly took a swing pass from Gatlin, made a couple of guys miss and scooted 55 yards for the touchdown. Now 10:10 left in the ballgame. This has turned into the shootout we thought we might see.
MOBILE CHRSITIAN 35, MADISON ACADEMY 28 Madison Academy’s Tyler Long came up with a big sack to force a punt, and the Mustangs got great field position out of it, taking over at the plus-31. Ken Cherry scored two plays later on a 14-yard run. He’s over 200 yards of total offense. Just 10:40 to go.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATES
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 35, MADISON ACADEMY 21 (End of 3rd quarter) The Leopards will take a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter. They will face a 3rd-and-long deep in their own territory when we resume.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 35, MADISON ACADEMY 21 Poldiak hit Jackson Reece on the back shoulder and the senior made a circus catch for a 19-yard touchdown. The Mustangs desperately needed that. There’s just 42 seconds left in the third quarter.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 35, MADISON ACADEMY 14 Gatson hits Jordan Woullard on the jump ball and the Leopards find the end zone from the 24-yard line. That’s the third time Mobile Christian has made the Mustangs pay for a turnover. Still 6:09 to go in the third quarter.
Turnover on downs! Madison Academy opted to go for it on 4th and 13, but Poldiak’s pass falls incomplete. Mobile Christian takes over near midfield with 7:14 to go in the third quarter.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 28, MADISON ACADEMY 14 Gatson hits his man Aaron Rogers on the slant and the senior does the rest on a 55-yard TD strike. That’s exactly how the Leopards wanted to start the second half. Still 10:21 to go in the third quarter.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATES
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 21, MADISON ACADEMY 14 (Halftime) We’ve hit the halfway mark in the Class 3A Championship. Mobile Christian will take the opening kickoff in the second half when we resume.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 21, MADISON ACADEMY 14 Michael Moore responds with a long kick return to the Madison Academy eight-yard line. Jordan Woullard punched it in two plays later from the four. Just 1:04 to go until the half.
MADISON ACADEMY 14, MOBILE CHRISTIAN 14 Poldiak hits Cherry on a screen that went for a 75-yard touchdown. Only 2:21 to go until the half.
Interception! Poldiak converted a couple of key third downs through the air, and drove the Mustangs down to the Mobile Christian 24-yard line before tossing his third interception of the first half. Jason Todd came down with that one for the Leopards.
FIRST QUARTER UPDATES
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 14, MADISON ACADEMY 7 (End of 1st Quarter) Poldiak just bounced back in a big way. The senior Mustang QB found Keaton Watson wide open for a 51-yard gain on 4th-and-1 from their own 30-yard line. Ken Cherry did the rest with a 19-yard touchdown run. The Mustangs are right back in this game. That's the end of the first quarter.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 14, MADISON ACADEMY 0 Gatson finds P.J. Brown for a 33-yard touchdown pass. That’s twice the Leopards have made the Mustangs pay for a turnover. 2:16 to go in the first quarter.
Another interception! Poldiak is picked off again! After converting what looked like a key third down, Poldiak tried to hit Ken Cherry over the middle of the field, but the ball tipped right into the hands of Mobile Christian’s Kentonio Kelly. They’ll take over at the Madison 37-yard line.
MOBILE CHRISTIAN 7, MADISON ACADEMY 0 Leopard quarterback Damien Gatson Jr. tossed an absolute dime and hit star receiver Aaron Rodgers in stride for a 42-yard touchdown pass. There's 4:35 left in the first quarter.
Interception! For a game between two offenses that average north of 40 points a contest, this one has started slower than expected. After a three-and-out from both teams, Madison Academy quarterback Jacob Poldiak drove the Mustangs to midfield before being picked off by Mobile Christian defensive back Sema’j Law. We’re still scoreless halfway through the first quarter.
PREGAME UPDATES
COIN TOSS AND KICKOFF Madison Academy won the toss, and the top offense in 3A wants to take the ball. We’re underway in Tuscaloosa.
PREGAME CEREMONIES The P.A. announcer is introducing seniors from both teams. We're moments away from the opening kick.
KICKOFF SET The two teams are on the field for pregame warmups, and we're still on pace for an 11 a.m. kickoff.
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