Tuscaloosa Academy Secures Spot in State Championship

It is the fourth round of the Alabama High School Athletics Association Playoffs and Tuscaloosa Academy hosts the Sulligent Blue Devils.

These teams played during the regular season in Sulligent, Alabama, and the Blue Devils were able to give a then undefeated Tuscaloosa Academy their first loss of the season. That game ended in overtime with a score of 46-44.

Tonight’s game was not as offensively dominated as the previous one with the score staying at 7-6 for majority of the game.

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Sulligent received the ball on the opening kick but was unable to produce and punted away to the Knights.

Tuscaloosa Academy capitalized on this drive with a passing touchdown to Kena Rego, to put the Knights on the board first.

After a few drives, Sulligents defense was able to stop the Knights for another punting situation. The Blue Devils finally saw open space for a 37-yard rushing touchdown from Johnwil Spruiel on the following drive to make the score 7-6. Unfortunately, the score stayed at 7-6 after the two-point conversion was unsuccessful.

The Blue Devils attempted an onside kick following the failed conversion and was unsuccessful as the Knights recovered the ball at the 49-yard line, giving great field position.

The score did not change much throughout the game, although Sulligent did get in the red zone at some point in the third quarter but was stopped by the Knights for a loss of yards and a change of possession.

In the 4th quarter, the Tuscaloosa Academy Knights were able to find the end zone again on a passing touchdown to Ellis Hamiter, which put them up by another six points.

The score stayed at 13-6 after the point after attempt was no good.

On the next drive, Sulligent quarterback, Johnwil Spruiel rushed for a 20-yard TD to bring the Blue Devils within one point of the Knights. Spruiel also scored the two-point conversion, which gave the Blue Devils a one-point lead over Tuscaloosa Academy.

Not standing down, the Knights scored in the next drive when Preston Lancaster was able to find Kena Rego for an 8-yard passing touchdown.

The Tuscaloosa Academy Knights went on to win the game 20-14, securing their spot in the State Championship.

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