St. Paul’s Episcopal takes 5A crown with 29-21 win over Pleasant Grove

Tuscaloosa, AL – The St. Paul’s Episcopal School Saints claimed their 5th Blue Map in program history with a 29-21 victory over the Pleasant Grove Spartans Thursday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium. 

The south Alabama powerhouse Saints finished the season as Class 5A region 1 champs closing out 2020 at 15-0, securing the their third undefeated season in program history. 

Pleasant Grove’s season comes to a close in the Super 7 for the second year in a row after falling to Central-Clay County in 2019.  The Spartans climbed to No. 1 in the ASWA rankings for the first time in school history during 2020.  The Region 5 runner up Spartans’ only loses came to defending 6A champion Oxford, No. 1 ranked Ramsay and St. Paul’s. 


The most glaring stat of the night – time of possession, shows the Saints holding the ball for 30:53 compared to Pleasant Grove’s 17:07.  St. Paul’s possessed the ball for 19:52 in the second half alone. 

Championship game Most Valuable Player Will Passeau finished the game with 6 receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Saints quarterback Bestor McFadden completed 10-of-21 passes for 135 yards and a pair of scores.  Jaylen Sulton lead the St. Paul’s rushing attack with 102 yards on 16 carries while Javonte Graves-Billips carried the ball 32 times for 87 yards and a score. 

Spartans signal caller Zyquez Perryman finished the night with 280 yards though the air, connecting on 20-of-34 throws and two touchdowns while running for 34 yards on eight attempts.  Demarcus Lacey carried the ball 11 times for 57 yards and a score.  Christian Lewis pulled down six catches for 145 yard and two TD’s while Jamaryon Furlow added receptions for 54 yards.

Final Score
St. Paul’s 29 – Pleasant Grove 21

Myles extents the St. Paul’s lead to 8 with a 25 yard field goal.  

St. Paul’s 29 – Pleasant Grove 21 | 5:47 4th

St. Paul’s reclaims the lead.  Passeau takes the curl route and turns the corner en route to a 39 yard touchdown.  Two point conversion fails. 

St. Paul’s 26 – Pleasant Grove 21 | 8:12 4th

The Saints inch closer on the leg of Grayson Myles.  The junior kicker splits the uprights from 21 yards out. St. Paul’s trails by 1 with 10 minutes and change remaining in the contest. 

Pleasant Grove 21 – St. Paul’s 20 | 10:35 4th

St. Paul’s pulls within four as Graves-Billips rushes in from inside the Spartan 3.  Grayson Myles PAT is good. 

Pleasant Grove 21 – St. Paul’s 17 | 5:06 3rd

Touchdown Spartans.  Jamaryon Furlow escapes the ankle tackle and Christian Lewis takes it 76 yards to the endzone. PAT is good.

Pleasant Grove 21 – St. Paul’s 10 | 11:31 3rd

Halftime Score 
Pleasant Grove 14 – St. Paul’s 10

First Half Stat Leaders

Passing
Pleasant Grove – Zyquez Perryman | 13-of-22 | 175 yards | 1 TD
St. Paul’s – Bestor McFadden | 5-of-12 | 73 yards | 1 TD

Rushing
Pleasant Grove – Demarcus Lacy | 57 yards | 10 attempts | 1 TD
St. Paul’s – Javonte Graves-Billips | 31 yards | 8 attempts 

Receiving 
Pleasant Grove – Christian Lewis | 69 yards | 5 catches | 1 TD
St. Paul’s – Will Passeau | 61 yards | 3 catches | 1 TD

Pleasant Grove takes the lead with a Demarcus Lacey run from the 3 yard line.

Pleasant Grove 14 – St. Paul’s 10 | 2:23 2nd

St. Paul’s kicker Grayson Myles splits the uprights from 29 yards out to give the Saints 3 point advantage.

St. Paul’s 10 – Pleasant Grove 7 | 1:01 1st Quarter


Pleasant Grove pass from Zyquez Perryman to Christian Lewis complete for a touchdown.  The extra effort gives the Spartans their first touchdown of the game. PAT is good.

St. Paul’s 7 – Pleasant Grove 7 | 4:01 1st Quarter


Bestor McFadden completes a curl to Will Passeau who sprints 57 yards for a St. Paul’s Touchdown. PAT is good.

St. Paul’s 7 – Pleasant Grove 0 | 8:37 1st Quarter