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2024 AHSAA reclassification
HT coach returns to Jeopardy
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www.TrussvilleTribune.com
December 20 - 26
2023
23DEMPTION
Photo by Ron Burkett
Cougars win 6A State Championship By Britney Bailey For the Tribune
TUSCALOOSA – The Clay-Chalkville Cougars hit the road to Bryant-Denny Stadium for the AHSAA Super 7 6A State Championship game to face the Saraland Spartans Friday night. The Spartans entered the game undefeated, on a 20-game winning streak, and the reigning state champions. The Cougars, also undefeated, looked to reclaim the state title since taking home the trophy in 2021 and an early exit from the playoffs in 2022. The Cougars were held to
a punt on their first possession. Saraland took advantage with a 63-yard touchdown pass from Texas-commit quarterback KJ Lacey to wide receiver Ryan Williams on their first play of the drive. Alabama-commit Jaylen Mbawke and the Cougars would respond quickly with Mbakwe breaking through Spartan defenders for a 12-yard touchdown run. Antone Ellison added the finishing touch with the PAT. Saraland answered with a 77-yard touchdown pass from Lacey to Alabama-commit Williams with just 2:20 to go in the first quarter giving
Saraland a 14-7 lead. Mbakwe added another touchdown to his stat sheet early on in the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run to tie up the ballgame 14-14. The remainder of the second quarter was a defensive stalemate until the last two minutes, with Saraland’s Williams squeaking in for a 2-yard touchdown run to take the lead once more. Mbakwe responded with :40 to go in the half, launching a 40-yard pass to Mario Craver for a touchdown. The Cougars and Spartans would head to the locker room tied up at 21-21.
Saraland’s Williams kicked off the second half with an 84-yard kickoff return to take back the lead for the Spartans. The Cougars were stalled out on their next possession, ending in a stripped ball by the Spartans. The Cougar defense returned the favor and held the Spartans to a failed field goal attempt. A holding call spoiled a Jaylen Mbakwe 77-yard touchdown for the Cougars, but Mbakwe ended the third in Mbakwe fashion, with an 18yard touchdown run to tie it back up 28-28. Part two of the defensive showdown account-
ed for most of the fourth quarter. The Cougars would land a field goal late in the fourth, to take a 31-28 lead with under two minutes remaining in the ballgame. The Spartans called a timeout with five seconds left in the game and the ball at the ten-yard line. Everyone in the stadium thought they were going to line up for a field goal, but the offense trotted back out onto the field for the fourth down play. KJ Lacey called his own number and DJ Barber found him at the twoyard line and stopped him two yards shy with the clock wind-
ing down to take the championship victory back home to Clay-Chalkville. Jaylen Mbakwe was named the MVP of the contest. “They’ve done it all year,” Cougar Head Coach Drew Gilmer says of his now title winning defense, “They don’t panic. They don’t point fingers. They’ve done it game after game all year and I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.” The Cougars finish the season 14-0 winning their second state championship in three years. Saraland finishes 13-1.
Here’s a look back at all 4 of Clay-Chalkville’s state championships By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor
CLAY – The ClayChalkville Cougars are your 2023 6A State Champions, beating perennial powerhouse Saraland, led by Texas commit KJ Lacey and Bama commit Ryan Williams, on a dramatic game that saw a
Inside the Tribune
game-winning field goal and a game-saving tackle all within the final two minutes of the contest. While the Spartans are indeed a local powerhouse in Alabama 6A football, ClayChalkville is no pushover. Clay-Chalkville High School was started in 1996 with the first team going a paltry 1-9
and fielding a team made up mostly of freshmen and sophomores, few juniors and no seniors, as the school started out with no senior class. The following year saw success for the Cougars as they went 8-2 under Coach Toney Pugh in his second year. On the field, the Cougars have only had one other sub-.500
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season, that coming in 2007 when they went 4-6. 2011’s team went 1-9 due to an ineligible player, but went 10-0 on the field. In their somewhat short history, the Cougars have made the playoffs every season with the exception of 1996 (1-9), 1997 (8-2 but ineligible due to being a new
school), 2007 (4-6) and 2011 (1-9 due to forfeits). Included in these playoff appearances are four state championships. Let’s take a look at each championship. 1999: In 1999, the Cougars were replacing the original coaching staff that got it all started at Clay-Chalkville as Hal Riddle and his staff
took over for the afore-mentioned Pugh and his staff (including Jerry Hood, former Cougar coach and current Leeds coach). Clay started the season with a 27-7 win over Thompson and beat rivals Erwin for the second season in a row. During this season, See CHAMPS, Page 13
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