Patriots Cap Off Undefeated Regular Season with Thrilling Win to Secure Region Title
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --Week nine of Alabama high school football took place over at Hillcrest High School, where the Patriots squeezed out a 22-20 win over the Bessemer City Tigers to stay undefeated and win the 5A Region 3 title. Jeremiah Beverly, the Alabama commit, made the game-sealing tackle on 4th and 5 to end all hope for the Tigers on the final drive of the game.
The first score of the game came from Jacobi Harris midway through the 1st quarter as he broke loose for 55 yards and a touchdown. It wasn't long after when Lamarrion Gooden punched the ball in from the one-yard line to close out the 1st quarter with the game tied up 7-7.
On the following kickoff, Zayden Martinez, the kicker for the Tigers, forced a fumble that was recovered by Bessemer City. That turnover led to three points on a 40-yard field goal by Martinez. Looking to respond, Hillcrest quarterback Jordan Shambley threw an interception to Jermaine Gilbert, setting up another Martinez field goal—this one from 36 yards out—to end the first half. The Tigers went into the locker room up 13-7.
What seemed to be a very uneventful third quarter changed in an instant. Harris scored his second touchdown of the night on a 23-yard run to put the Patriots ahead 14-13. On the ensuing drive, Marvin Johnson intercepted VJ Slaughter and returned it 20 yards for a pick-six, with all the action unfolding in under a minute of game time.
With one quarter left to stay alive, Bessemer City put together a solid drive capped off by Braylon Ellington's 11-yard touchdown run to bring the game within a field goal at 22-20. The game came down to one final drive for the Tigers starting with 1:37 left. Hoping to get into range for Martinez, Bessemer City found themselves on their own 40-yard line facing a 4th and 5. Slaughter dropped back looking for an open target but was met short of the line to gain by Jeremiah Beverly to close out the game.
Hillcrest Patriots Notable Stats:
Jacoby Harris (#5 RB): 11 carries, 193 yds, 2 TDs
Marvin Johnson (#1 DB): Pick-6 INT
Jeremiah Beverly (#9 DL): Game-ending sack/TFL
Bessemer City Tigers Notable Stats:
VJ Slaughter (#12 QB): 12/26, 128 yds, 2 INTs
Braylon Ellington (#5 RB): 12 carries, 62 yds, 1 TD | 1 rec, 12 yds
Lamarrion Gooden (#9 RB): 18 carries, 53 yds, 1 TD | 2 rec, 20 yds
Zayden Martinez (#7 K): 2/2 FG (40, 36 yds), 2/2 PATs (8 pts), 1 FF
Hillcrest's regular season comes to an end at an undefeated 9-0 after the game between the Patriots and Daphne High School was mutually canceled. The Patriots will host their opening-round playoff game.
Bessemer City drops to 6-3 on the season and will host Chelsea (1-8) next week to close out its regular season before preparing for the playoffs.
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