Marla Jones, Sports Editor
PISGAH, Ala.-- The No. 8 ranked Pisgah Eagles(11-2) defeated No.4 ranked Aliceville, 26-22, to make their first semifinal appearance in the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Playoffs since 2002.
Pisgah capitalized on an Aliceville fumble, to score on a 1-yard stampede into the endzone by Legion McCrary, taking the 6-0 lead, with :09 remaining in the first quarter.
After Aliceville turned the ball over on downs, McCrary bulldozed his way down the field, to set up a pass completion, for the 53-yard gain to the Aliceville 1-yard line. McCrary scampered into the endzone and the two-point conversion to take the 14-0 lead over Aliceville. Aliceville found their way into the endzone and got the two-point conversion to narrow the Eagle lead to 14-8. Pisgah got tricky, faking a handoff and sneaking into the endzone, to make the score 20-8, with 2:28 remaining in the first half. Aliceville tried to score before the half but fumbled with .6 seconds remaining in the first half, giving the Eagles the 20-8 lead over Aliceville.
Aliceville scored just five plays into the third quarter. Aliceville went for two to narrow the Pisgah lead to 20-16. Pisgah drove down the field, but took eight minutes off the play clock before having to punt. Aliceville scored on a 63-yard pass to take the 22-20 lead at the end of the third quarter.
With 6:48 remaining in the game, McCrary dove into the endzone for the winning score. After a long drive, Aliceville flirted with the go ahead score before Jett Jeffery intercepted the pass to seal the Pisgah Eagle victory.
McCrary led the Pisgah Eagles with 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.
After a remarkable season, the Pisgah Eagles are asking themselves, Why not us?
The Pisgah Eagles will travel to take on the undefeated Fyffe Red Devils at the Paul Benefield Stadium in Fyffe on Friday night. The winner of this game will advance to the Class 2A State Championship game on December 2 at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.
