AHSAAFootballFyffe Red DevilsMontgomery Catholic KnightsPostgame Recap

45 Straight | Fyffe wins their 45 consecutive game to take 3A state title

Tuscaloosa, AL – The No.1 ranked Fyffe Red Devils erased a 16 point deficit to knock off the ninth ranked Montgomery Catholic Knights 21-16 Thursday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Fyffe rolls out of Tuscaloosa riding a 45 game winning streak and three consecutive state championships.  The Devils were elevated to class 3A following the 2019 season and a pair of state titles.  The Catholic Knights were making their first state championship game appearance.  

In addition to rattling off an astonishing 45 straight victories, the DeKalb County juggernaut has posted a 60-1 record in region play while claiming nine region crowns and winning five state titles in the last decade. 

Fyffe head coach Paul Benefield has posted a 267-42 record including 16 region titles, seven Super 7 appearances, five state championships and 23 playoff births during his 24 seasons at the helm of the Red Devil program. 


The Knights drew first blood early in the first quarter as Judd Osten split the uprights from 26 yards out followed by a pair of first period touchdown passes of 13 and 56 yards from Caleb McCeary to Myles Butler to put Catholic up 16-0 with less than a minute remaining in the opening stanza. 


The Devils got on the board with 2:33 left in the second quarter as Ike Rowell capped a long Fyffe drive with a touchdown jaunt from inside the Knight five yard line.  After blocking the Fyffe point after attempt Catholic carried a 16-6 lead into the Bryant-Denny locker room. 

After a scoreless third quarter the Red Devils began their comeback as Fyffe’s Mr. Everything Ike Rowell crossed the goal line for the second time pulling the Devils within a score with just under a quarter to play. 

Fyffe drove to the Catholic one yard line twice in the waining minutes of the 4th quarter.  The first ended in a turnover on downs followed by defensive stand and an official view review resulting in a safety.  The second resulted in another Ike Rowell touchdown run to put the game on ice.  


The game’s Most Valuable Player Ike Rowell finished the 3A triller with 143 yards rushing and three scores on 36 carries while completing 5-of-7 passes for 155 and added 104 kick return yards.  Brody Dalton was Rowell’s favorite target hauling in three catches for 76 yards, Justin Stiefel pulled down two grabs for 79 yards.  

Catholic signal caller Caleb McCeary completed 14-of-24 passes for 188 yards with a pair of scores and an interception.  Miles Butler caught dix passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.  Jeremiah Cobb lead the Knight rushing attack with 87 yards on 19 carries.

Brant Berry

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Brant is the Founder & CEO of PrepsNet Inc. Reach out to him at [email protected]