Linden beat Pickens County 32-8 on Thursday at Bryant-Denny Stadium to win Alabama’s 1A high school football state championship. It was the first-ever high school football championship for the Patriots, who finish the season 14-0.
— AHSAA (@AHSAAUpdates) December 3, 2020
Hear from @LindenPatriots Coach Lockett following today’s 1A State Championship victory pic.twitter.com/y7GijA36Re
— AHSAA (@AHSAAUpdates) December 3, 2020
Linden beat Pickens County 36-0 during the regular season.
Below is a game recap from our friends at PrepsNet.com.
Tuscaloosa, AL – The Linden Patriots claimed the first state football championship in their program’s 100 year history in a 32-8 drubbing of the Pickens County Tornadoes Thursday afternoon in Tuscaloosa.
The Super 7 showdown was rematch for the west Alabama programs. Linden blanked the Tornadoes 36-0 in their week one regular season meeting.
The Patriots, who finished the regular season ranked second in class 1A closed out their historic season at 14-0 capping the program’s first undefeated season in school history. 10th ranked Pickens County closed out 2020 at 11-4 finishing second in 1A region 6.
The Patriots lit up the Bryant-Denny scoreboard first on a 1 yard Joshua Williams touchdown bolt three minutes into the first period. The Tornadoes answered back with three minutes and change remaining in the opening stanza as Kajaveion Byrd pulled down a 13 yard pass from Javion Belle. Xerrance Washington tacked on the two point conversion to put Pickens County up by a pair with 3:23 left before the break.
Linden reclaimed the the advantage on their next possession on a Josuha Williams to Savion McIntosh 35 hard scoring strike. Jamar Williams hooked up with Tim Thurman for the two pointer to give the Patriots a 14-8 lead heading into the locker room.
The second half was all Linden. Zelly Aldridge began the Patriots 18 point second half run with a 3 yard scoring scamper. Championship game Most Valuable Player Jemarcus Williams put the game on ice scoring a pair of defensive touchdowns at the end of the third. The first was an 18 yard pick-six followed by a five yard fumble recovery for a score.
Patriots signal caller Joshua Williams finished the game with 90 yards though the air completing 5-of-8 passes with one touchdown and an interception. Zelly Aldridge lead the Linden rushing attack running for 43 yards and a score on 11 carries. Johnny Blackmon was Williams favorite target hauling in two Williams passes for 39 yards.
Pickens County quarterback Javion Belle completed 12-of-25 throws for 151 yards including a touchdown pass and a pair of interceptions. Xerrance Washington and Kajaveion Byrd added 10 rushing yards apiece and Byrd pulled down 8 catches for 121 yards and a score.
