Montgomery Catholic Captures Second Straight State Title with Late Field Goal

Knights Defeat Moody 17-14 to Secure 5A Crown

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Montgomery Catholic High School’s J.P. Costa delivered a clutch 23-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to seal a 17-14 victory over Moody and claim the Class 5A state championship Thursday at Protective Stadium. 

With the score tied at 14, the Knights’ kicker calmly split the uprights with 3:21 remaining, ensuring an undefeated (14-0) season for Montgomery Catholic. 

“You just have to take it one kick at a time,” Costa said. 

“He’s a man of few words,” added Montgomery Catholic head coach Kirk Johnson. “We believe in him.” 

The win marks back-to-back state titles for Montgomery Catholic, which also finished undefeated last season while claiming the Class 4A crown. Under Johnson’s leadership, the Knights have compiled an impressive 55-2 record over four seasons and extended their winning streak to 29 games heading into the 2025 season. 

First-Half Domination 

The Knights wasted no time taking control of the game, scoring just two plays in with a 52-yard touchdown pass from Kingston Preyear to B.J. Bedgood. Montgomery Catholic extended their lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Miles Khatri. 

Moody’s Gritty Comeback 

Moody (12-2), playing in its first-ever state championship game, rallied in the second half. Relying on a strong ground attack and a tough defensive front, the Blue Devils fought back. 

Le’Kamren Meadows scored on a 1-yard run to cap an 11-play, 73-yard drive midway through the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 14-7. Early in the fourth quarter, Kaleb Goff’s 11-yard touchdown run capped a 10-play, 82-yard drive, tying the game at 14. 

“We weren’t going to quit,” Moody coach Jake Ganus said. “That’s a team that if you lay down, they’ll beat you by 40 like they have just about everybody else. I’m really proud of the way the guys fought back.” 

Game-Winning Drive 

Montgomery Catholic’s defense delivered a critical stop on fourth-and-1 at Moody’s 46-yard line midway through the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover on downs. Moments later, Giovanni Hayner broke free for a 34-yard run that set up Costa’s game-winning field goal. 

Moody had two more possessions to respond, but the Blue Devils’ offense struggled without leading receiver Josiah Dozier, who left the game due to injury. 

Standout Performances 

Hayner earned MVP honors, amassing 126 rushing yards on 19 carries. Preyear completed 10-of-15 passes for 116 yards, including the opening touchdown. On defense, Charlie Chapelle recorded 11 tackles and one of the Knights’ three interceptions, with Rickie Williams and Keltric Washington securing the other two.

For Moody, quarterback Charlie Johnston completed 16-of-29 passes for 135 yards, while Meadows ran for 54 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Goff led the Moody defense with 7.5 tackles. 

Game Stats 

• Montgomery Catholic totaled 262 yards of offense on 52 plays. 
• Moody recorded 247 yards of offense on 65 plays. 

Johnson Reflects on Knights Resiliency 

Head coach Kirk Johnson commended his team’s perseverance following the hard-fought victory. 

“We live in a want-to, right-now world,” Johnson said. “Sometimes it doesn’t work like that in life. You’ve got to work for it.” 

What’s Next at Protective Stadium? 

The action at the Super 7 State Championships concludes Friday with three more games in the Magic City:

• 11 a.m. – Class 4A Finals: Cherokee County (13-1) vs. Jackson (13-1) 
• 3 p.m. – Class 2A Finals: Reeltown (13-1) vs. Tuscaloosa Academy (12-2) 
• 7 p.m. – Class 6A Finals: Saraland (13-0) vs. Parker (13-1) 

Montgomery Catholic’s championship caps another historic season, solidifying their reputation as one of Alabama high school football’s elite programs.