No. 1 Saraland Downs Briarwood Christian 51-14 To Advance To 6A Quarterfinals
Birmingham, AL – The deafening state champion Saraland Spartans made the 240 mile trek to metro Birmingham Friday night and left with a dominant 51-14 victory over Briarwood Christian in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. From the very beginning, it was clear that the No. 1 ranked Spartans came to play.
Briarwood lit up the Lion’s Pride Stadium scoreboard early, but their advantage quickly vanished as Saraland unleashed their explosive offense. On the Spartans’ first possession Dillon Alfred received a pass from University of Texas commit K.J. Lacey and sprinted 63 yards for a touchdown, leveling the score. The momentum continued for Saraland as Ryan Williams capitalized on a Lions fumble, hauling in a short pass from Lacey to extend their lead. And just when you thought the fireworks were over, Williams electrified the crowd with a spectacular 60-yard punt return for a score.
The Spartans were relentless, scoring touchdowns on six out of nine possessions. This season, the Spartans’ starters have displayed unparalleled effectiveness, finding the end zone on an astonishing 78 out of 89 possessions. Their offensive prowess has propelled them to a 12-0 record and the state’s longest winning streak at 18 games.
Looking ahead, Saraland now sets their sights on the Class 6A quarterfinals, where they will host third ranked Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (12-0). This highly anticipated clash of unbeatens promises to be a can’t miss.
Ryan Williams, the reigning Alabama Mr. Football, showcased his exceptional talent once again. He contributed three touchdowns, including a 7-yard reception from Lacey and a 42-yard run on an end-around in the third quarter. Lacey demonstrated remarkable composure in the contest, completing 19-of-30 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
While head coach Jeff Kelly’s Spartans prepare for their fourth consecutive trip to the quarterfinals, Briarwood’s season comes to a close at 6-6, with a 4-2 mark in region play.
