Patriots cap 2020 with perfect season, state title
The Linden Patriots completed a perfect season and captured the AHSAA Class 1A State Title at Bryan-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, defeating the Pickens County Tornados 32-8 in a rematch of the first game played in the 2020 season. The Patriots won their first matchup 36-0. The championship is the first of the playoff era for the Patriots.
In the biggest game of the season, it looked like nerves had gotten the best of the Patriots when they mishandled the game’s opening on-side kick by the Tornados, who recovered the kick at the Linden 36-yard line. However, the Patriot defense, which only allowed 40 point in the regular season and another 40 points in four playoff games, kept the Tornados out of the end zone.
The Patriots then cashed in on their first possession of the afternoon, competing a 75-yard drive when quarterback Joshua Williams reached the ball out, beyond a giant mass of humanity, over the goal line for Linden’s first score. A successful PAT was thwarted by an offensive penalty, and the second attempt was unsuccessful. The Patriots took a 6-0 lead with 8:05 to go in the first quarter.
The Tornados lone score of the contest came after low snap on a Patriot punt caused punter Jamarcus Williams to be tackled at the Linden 12-yard line. The Patriot defense put up a fight, but eventually surrendered an 11-yard touchdown pass on a fourth down conversion by the Tornados. The 2-point try was fumbled into the end zone, where it was recovered by the Tornados for a successful conversion. The Tornados took their only lead of the afternoon at 8-6 with 3:23 to go in the first quarter.
Late in the second quarter, the Patriot defense forced a Pickens County punt on a 4th-and-40. A little less than three minutes later, Joshua Williams hit Savion McIntosh for a 35-yard touchdown strike. Jamarcus Williams then hit Timothy Thurman with a pass for a successful 2-point conversion. The Patriots reclaimed the lead, 14-8, with 57 seconds to go in the first half. That score would stand until halftime.
The Patriot defense held the Tornados on their opening possession of the second half and benefitted from a bad snap, which the Patriots recovered at the Pickens County 26-yard line. With 4:42 to go in the third quarter, Zelly Aldridge rounded the right end and got into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown run. The 2-point try was unsuccessful, but the Patriots took a 20-8 lead.
(This is the point where Linden senior Jamarcus Williams started his campaign to solidify his claim to the Class 1A State Finals MVP trophy.)
On the ensuing Tornado possession, Jamarcus Williams picked off a pass and returned it 18-yards for a touchdown. The PAT kick failed, giving the Patriots a 26-8 lead with 3:51 to go in the third quarter.
Williams wasn’t done yet. On the Tornados next possession, Williams scooped up a Tornado fumble and scored from 5 yards out. The 2-point try failed and the Patriots took the lead at 32-8 with 3:34 to go in the third quarter.
Later in the third quarter, Joshua Williams picked off a Tornado pass and returned it 90 yards for an apparent touchdown. However, it was called back for an illegal block.
The Linden defense kept the Tornados in check and neither team reached the end zone in the fourth quarter, giving the Patriots their first championship with the 32-8 final.
The Patriots offensive output wasn’t as impressive as it has been in other games this season. The Patriots collected 90 yards through the air and 92 on the ground, for a total of 182 yards of total offense. The Patriot defense kept the Tornado offense mostly in check, allowing 151 yards through the air but holding the Tornado running game to -30 yards, for a total of 121 yards.
Joshua Williams completed five of eight passes for 90 yards. Johnny Blackmon caught two passes for 39 yards. Savion McIntosh had one catch for a 35-yard touchdown. Timothy Thurman had one catch for 16 yards.
Zelly Aldridge scored one touchdown on 11 carries and collected 47 yards. Joshua Williams had one touchdown and 26 yards on nine carries. Thurman had seven carries for 21 yards. Savion McIntosh had one carry for 19 yards while Stephon McIntosh had five carries for 16 yards. Roderick Brown got a single carry for four yards.
Defensively, Tyrik Daniels and Blackmon led the way with six solo and two assists each. Daniels collected three and a half sacks for a loss of 39 yards. Stephon McIntosh had five solos and three assists, with one sack for an eight yard loss. Daryl McIntosh collected four solos and three assists. Brown, Jarvis Packer collected four solos and one assist each. MVP Jamarcus Williams collected four solo tackles and one assist, tallying three sacks for a loss of 22 yards and adding an 18-yard interception return for a touchdown in addition to the fumble recovery for a 5-yard touchdown. Joshua Williams had three solos and two assists. Aldridge collected three solos and Thurman had two tackles and two assists. Kevonte Alston had one solo tackle and three assists, with half a sack for a 3-yard loss. Dewoyne Charleston and Demetrius Varner were credited with one tackle each. Antwarne Cosby and Kytrel Howard were credited with one-half tackle each.