Wadley on top
- Updated: December 5, 2024
Wilkes keeps Wadley rushing machine rolling with 312 yards to lead Bulldogs to their first state football championship.
AHSAA SUPER 7 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
GIRLS’ FLAG FOOTBALL FINALS
at Protective Stadium, Birmingham
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4
CLASS 1A-5A FINALS
Montgomery Catholic (17-4) 14, Moody (17-3) 7
CLASS 6A-7A FINALS
Central-Phenix City (19-0) 55, Spain Park (14-5-1) 7
BOYS’ STATE FOOTBALL FINALS
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4
CLASS 7A FINALS
Thompson (11-3) 21, Central-Phenix City (10-3) 7
THURSDAY, Dec. 5
CLASS 3A FINALS
Mars Hill Bible (14-1) 50, Houston Academy (13-2) 43
CLASS 1A FINALS
Wadley (13-0) 37, Maplesville (12-3) 7
CLASS 5A FINALS
Montgomery Catholic (14-0) 17, Moody (11-3) 14
FRIDAY, Dec. 6
CLASS 4A FINALS
Jackson (14-1) 69, Cherokee County (13-2) 6
CLASS 2A FINALS
Reeltown (14-1) 49, Tuscaloosa Academy (12-3) 13
CLASS 6A FINALS
Parker (14-1) 28, Saraland (13-1) 17
By Josh Bean
For the AHSAA
BIRMINGHAM – Junior running back Jacquez Wilkes powered Wadley High School to the school’s first state football championship.
Wilkes had 38 rush attempts for 312 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to a 37-7 victory over Maplesville in Thursday’s Class 1A championship game as the 2024 AHSAA Super 7 state football championships continued at Protective Stadium.
He scored on runs of three, 79 and three yards in the first half and added scoring runs of 15 and two yards in the second half.
“My mindset was to hit the hole hard, keep grinding and do what I needed to do,” the 6-foot-4, 222-pound Wilkes said. “It’s mind-blowing. I’ve put in the work, and it’s paying off.”
Wadley, using the run-first wishbone offense, entered the game averaging 55.5 points per game – including scoring 68, 55, 67 and 69 points in in the four playoff games to get to the finals. The Bulldogs (13-0) attempted just two passes against Maplesville (12-3), completing none, and Coach Shenan Motley said they attempted less than 50 passes this season.
“I’m going to give it to the O-line,” Motley said. “They came off the ball and worked hard. The line blocked for the backs and blocked for each other.”
Maplesville coach Brad Abbott noted the difficulty in preparing for a wishbone offense, noting how few schools run the formation anymore and how little familiarity his scout team had running it.
“We knew where we needed to be, but they executed so well, and they were so precise in what they do,” Abbott said. “Their O-line did a great job of getting man-on-man. … Nobody else has slowed ’em down, either. At least we held them under 60.”
Wadley’s defense also turned in a dominating performance, holding the Red Devils to 138 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs intercepted Maplesville quarterback Pearce Yeargan four times – two by Frisco Robertson and one apiece for Wilkes and Mason Wilkerson.
The victory gives Wadley its first state title and avenges a 40-16 loss to Sweet Water in the 2021 Class 1A championship game. Motley noted many of the current juniors and seniors played in that 2021 game as freshmen and eighth graders.
“They said, ‘Coach, if we go back, we’re going to win it,” Motley said
Wilkes gained 312 of Wadley’s 367 yards. Cortavion Lynch added 35 yards on 13 carries, and Robertson had 24 yards in two carries, including 15-yard touchdown run on a reverse.
Wilkes led the defense with 8.5 tackles, and Wilkerson had 7.5 tackles.
For Maplesville, Yeargan finished 11-for-21 for 80 yards and a 20-yard touchdown pass to Colby Mitchell with 1:30 to play. Cade Smith had eight tackles, and Von Woods added seven tackles.
Wadley closed the season scoring 703 points – and led the state with 54.1 points per game, which ranks seventh all-time in AHSAA history.
Wilkes tied several Super 7 Class 1A records with his performance including: most points scored (30); most touchdowns (five) most rushing touchdowns (five); and most rush attempts (38). His 312 rushing yards rank second in Super 7 Class 1A history.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login