Good news, Alabama fans.
Crimson Tide commit Ga’Quincy McKinstry already feels right at home at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The state’s top 2021 prospect caught a go-ahead 52-yard touchdown from quarterback Zach Pyron with 9:15 left, propelling Pinson Valley to a 23-13 come-from-behind victory over Spanish Fort here on Friday night.
The win gave the Indians their third Class 6A state championship in the last four years and put a bow on McKinstry’s banner high school career. He committed to Alabama earlier this fall and is expected to sign with the Tide on Dec. 16.
“We had some ups and downs this year, but we came through it all as a family and kept fighting,” Pinson Valley first-year coach Sam Shade said. “I told the guys a long time ago that if they stayed together and believed, they could do whatever they wanted to do. They proved it once again tonight.”
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After Pinson Valley (12-2) bolted to a 10-0 lead in a dominating first quarter, Spanish Fort rallied on a pair of short Brendon Byrd TD runs to move ahead 13-10 entering the fourth quarter. The Toros had limited the Indians to 174 yards through three quarters and harassed Pyron throughout.
It took Pinson Valley and McKinstry just one play to turn the game around, however.
On a first-and-15 from the Indian 48, Pyron dropped back and delivered a rope to McKinstry. He slipped a tackle and raced across the field for the touchdown with 9:15 left in the game. Pinson led 17-13.
Spanish Fort’s lead was gone for good.
“I saw the way they were playing me the whole game,” McKinstry said. “I told the coach to run that specific play. I just knew it was my time to score. I knew I could score off that play.”
It was McKinstry’s first touchdown at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“It won’t be my last,” he said. “Roll Tide.”
McKinstry, who is expected to play defensive back at Alabama, finished with 5 receptions for 89 yards and was named MVP. He also had back-to-back first-down receptions on the drive before the TD to help spark the Pinson Valley offense. The Indians had struggled offensively following their first two drives of the game.
They added an insurance touchdown late when Pyron hit Jaquel Fells Jr. with a 12-yard TD with 2:44 left in the game for a 23-13 lead. With a Spanish Fort offense that also was struggling, that was more than enough.
It was the first state title for Shade, who also played his college his college football on this field for Alabama. Pinson Valley won the 2017 and 2018 crowns under former coach Patrick Nix.
Spanish Fort (11-4) was denied for the second consecutive year in the final game. The Toros lost 14-13 to Oxford a year ago. They are now 4-of-6 in state title games.
“I’m really proud of our guys for battling all year long and overcoming all the adversity through the pandemic and a pair of Hurricanes,” Spanish Fort coach Ben Blackmon said. “Our kids had to battle. We had to go through our region twice basically (sweeping 2 games each against Blount and Saraland). There were a lot of positives. We are blessed to have great kids and a great community. This game didn’t end the way we wanted, but I’m proud of how hard these guys fought all year long.”
Star of the game: All attention was on McKinstry, and he came through. In addition to his receiving totals, he locked down Spanish Fort receiver Mario Montgomery. McKinstry was targeted just 3 times in the game. He gave up one completion.
Play of the Game: Pyron to McKinstry. The Indians scored 10 points on their first two possessions of the game but hadn’t scored again. They needed a play from their best player and got it.
What happened? The strangest play of the game happened on the second play of the second quarter. Spanish Fort defenders partially blocked a punt by Zaylen McCray deep in Pinson territory. Officials on the field ruled that Pinson recovered the block past the line of scrimmage and gave the Indians the ball back. However, after Blackmon challenged the call, the decision was reversed and Spanish Fort was awarded the ball.
AHSAA Director of Officials Mark Jones explained it this way:
“If the receiving team touches or is touched by a punt beyond the neutral zone, then it’s a free ball and whoever recovers has it first-and-10. That was ruling on the field. Replay showed it was not touched beyond the neutral zone (by Spanish Fort) therefore not a free ball. Once the kicking team (Pinson Valley) caught it, it was dead at that spot. Had it been touched beyond the line by the kicking team, it would have been Pinson’s ball.”
In the end, it didn’t matter. The Indians intercepted Byrd three plays later to prevent points.
Stat sheet: Pinson Valley – Pyron was 13-of-21 for 166 yards and 2 TDs. He also had 74 yards rushing on 14 carries, though three sacks gave him a net of 50 yards. Michael Sharpe had 13 carries for 60 yards and a TD. Fells Jr. finished with four receptions for 52 yards and a TD. James Perkins led the defense seven tackles, including a pair of sacks, and 5.5 tackles for 29 yards in losses. Spanish Fort – Byrd was 11-of-24 for 131 yards. He was intercepted once and sacked three times. He scored both of the Toro TDs on short runs. Johnny Morris III, playing in just his second game since returning from an injury, ran for 111 yards on 14 carries. Jacob Godfrey led the team in receiving with four receptions for 23 yards. Cassius Taylor had seven tackles and a sack for the defense. Jabrel Snowden also had seven tackles. Oregon commit Christian Burkhalter had 1.5 sacks.
By the numbers: Pinson Valley finished with 321 total yards on 62 plays. Spanish Fort had 223 yards on 55 plays. … The Toros were just 4-of-13 on third down. Pinson was 7-of-15. … The Indians were called for 10 penalties for 91 yards; Spanish Fort 6 for 55. …Pinson Valley had 10 tackles behind the line for a loss of 45 yards. Spanish Fort had 7 for a loss of 28 yards.
Did you know? Pyron won his third straight state title with his second team. He helped Fyffe to back-to-back 2A titles in 2018 and 2019 before transferring to Pinson Valley.
Coachspeak:
“This senior class has only lost five games since they’ve been here. That is pretty special. I think they are the winningest group to come through the school. They will come back in 10 years and have a reunion, and they won’t talk about individual stuff. It will be about coming together as a team and what they accomplished.” – Shade.
They said it:
“I never doubt this team. We’ve been in that same situation a lot of times. We knew if we followed the scheme, we could win.” – McKinstry on trailing at the half.
“Our defense has played really well all year long. They’ve really carried us. At the end of the day, defense has been the strength of our team. They are fast and aggressive, and they fight to get to the ball.” – Blackmon.
