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.
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 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 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
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
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
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
St Paul’s retakes the lead! St. Paul’s leads now 10-7 with 1:35 left in the 1st quarter pic.twitter.com/MYpm18jsXE
— AHSAA (@AHSAAUpdates) December 4, 2020
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
Touchdown Pleasant Grove! The extra effort during the tackle makes it across the plain for a TD. We’re tied now 7-7 with 4:01 left in the 1st quarter pic.twitter.com/r7SBhtfC8A
— AHSAA (@AHSAAUpdates) December 4, 2020
Bestor McFadden completes a curl to Will Passeau who sprints 57 yards for a St. Paul’s Touchdown. PAT is good.