Saraland Overpowers Pike Road, Advances to Third Straight Class 6A Title Game
PIKE ROAD, AL – The No. 1-ranked Saraland Spartans showcased why they’re the top ranked team in Class 6A with a dominant 47-12 win over Pike Road in Friday’s AHSAA semifinals. Led by standout quarterback K.J. Lacey, the Spartans secured their third straight trip to the Super 7, setting the stage for a highly anticipated championship match against the No. 2 ranked Parker Thundering Herd.
K.J. Lacey Lights Up the Semifinals
K.J. Lacey delivered a masterful performance, completing 19-of-27 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns. This marked Lacey’s fourth 300-yard passing game in the playoffs. The University of Texas commit shined brightest in the second half, going a perfect 9-of-9 for 182 yards and three touchdown passes.
Lacey connected with Deshawn Spencer for two scores (11 and 51 yards) and hit running back Santae McWilliams for a 7-yard touchdown. With these efforts, Lacey now totals 10,764 career passing yards, placing him just 261 yards behind Alabama’s all-time passing leader, Jack Hayes of Piedmont.
Santae McWilliams Delivers On the Ground and Through the Air
Santae McWilliams once again proved vital to Saraland’s success. McWilliams rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries, adding three touchdowns from 2, 7, and 38 yards. He also contributed in the passing game, recording seven receptions for 97 yards. Six of those catches turned into critical first downs, with the seventh resulting in a touchdown during a trick play that electrified the crowd just before halftime.
On the play, Lacey lined up as a receiver, took a reverse pitch from Spencer, and fired a perfect pass to McWilliams. The trick play further extended Saraland’s control over the Patriots.
A Total Team Effort
The Spartans dominated on both sides of the ball, racking up 496 yards of offense compared to Pike Road’s 234. Saraland also recorded 23 first downs, doubling the Patriots’ total of 12. Defensively, the Spartans held Pike Road to just 2-of-10 on third downs, delivering relentless pressure that stifled the Patriots’ offense until late in the game.
Pike Road Finds Bright Spots Late
While the Patriots struggled, running back Ja’Michael Jones managed 80 yards on 18 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Gunner Gibbs added a 47-yard touchdown pass to Levi Kelly in the third quarter, but by that time, the Spartans were firmly in control with a 33-0 lead.
Preparing for the Championship Showdown
Saraland, now 13-0, advances to face Parker (13-1) in the Class 6A state championship at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m. The matchup pits Alabama’s top-two ranked 6A squads against each other in what promises to be an unforgettable clash.
With a state title on the line and K.J. Lacey just 261 yards shy of a new state passing record, all eyes will be on Birmingham for this epic battle.
Click here to check out the schedule for the 2024 Super 7 State Championships.
