Nationally-ranked St. Paul’s defeated Pleasant Grove 29-21 Thursday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium to win its fifth overall Alabama state championship. The 5A championship win was the school’s 400th overall victory.
Pleasant Grove, which was playing in its second straight championship game, led 14-10 at the half and extended the lead to 21-10 in the third quarter.
Touchdown Pleasant Grove! The run in to the endzone makes it 14-10 PG with 2:23 left in the 1st half pic.twitter.com/DXDYOZIa0M
— AHSAA (@AHSAAUpdates) December 4, 2020
The comeback began when after a 42-yard return kickoff return by Javonte Graves-Billups, who capped a 14-play, 37-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run to make it 21-17. The Saints then used an onside kick that set-up a field goal that cut the lead to 21-20 early in the fourth quarter.
Touchdown St. Paul’s! After the extra point the Saints trail 21-17 with 5:06 left in the 3rd quarter pic.twitter.com/eeSs2UMpXS
— AHSAA (@AHSAAUpdates) December 4, 2020
Game MVP Will Passeau’s 39-yard catch-and-carry to the end zone gave St. Paul’s a 26-21 lead with just over eight minutes to play in the game.
Hear from Coach Steve Mask from @spsmobile_al following tonight’s 5A State Championship victory pic.twitter.com/t2YZrQa61j
— AHSAA (@AHSAAUpdates) December 4, 2020
The Saints, who are currently ranked No. 84 in the High School Football America 100, finish a perfect 15-0. Pleasant Grove, which has now lost three state title games since 2014, wraps the season with a 12-3 mark.
