MVP Jacquez Wilkes Leads Wadley to First 1A State Football Title with 312 Rushing Yards and 5 TDs

Wadley Secures Historic Championship with Dominant Ground Game

Junior running back Jacquez Wilkes delivered a record-breaking performance to lead Wadley High School to its first-ever state football championship. Wilkes racked up 312 rushing yards on 38 carries, scoring five touchdowns to power the Bulldogs (13-0) to a decisive 37-7 victory over Maplesville (12-3) in the Class 1A finals at Protective Stadium on Thursday. The win is part of the ongoing 2024 AHSAA Super 7 State Football Championships.

Wilkes’ touchdowns came on runs of 3, 79, and 3 yards before halftime, followed by scoring rushes of 15 and 2 yards in the second half.

“My mindset was to hit the hole hard, keep grinding, and do what I needed to do,” said the 6-foot-4, 222-pound Wilkes. “It’s mind-blowing. I’ve put in the work, and it’s paying off.”

Run-First Offense Defines Wadley’s Victory

Operating out of the run-heavy wishbone formation, Wadley’s offense continued its season-long dominance. The Bulldogs entered the game averaging 55.5 points per game, including playoff wins where they scored 68, 55, 67, and 69 points. Against Maplesville, Wadley attempted just two passes and did not complete any. The Bulldogs attempted fewer than 50 passes all season, underscoring their commitment to the ground game.

Coach Shenan Motley praised his offensive line for their effort. “I’m going to give it to the O-line,” Motley said. “They came off the ball and worked hard. The line blocked for the backs and blocked for each other.”

Maplesville coach Brad Abbott highlighted the difficulties of preparing for the rarely-seen wishbone offense. “We knew where we needed to be, but they executed so well and they were so precise in what they do,” Abbott said. “Their O-line did a great job of getting man-on-man. Nobody else has slowed ’em down either. At least we held them under 60.”

Dominant Defense Complements Record-Breaking Offense

Wadley’s defense also turned in a dominant performance, limiting the Red Devils to just 138 total yards on offense. The Bulldogs intercepted Maplesville quarterback Pearce Yeargan four times, with Frisco Robertson accounting for two interceptions and Wilkes and Mason Wilkerson each making one. Wilkes also led the team defensively with 8.5 tackles, while Wilkerson contributed 7.5 tackles.

Wadley’s defensive prowess and offensive power highlight its historic season, which ended with 703 points scored—a state-leading 54.1 points per game, ranking seventh all-time in AHSAA history.

A Redemption Story Years in the Making

Thursday’s victory avenged Wadley’s loss in the 2021 Class 1A championship game, where they fell 40-16 to Sweet Water. Several juniors and seniors on the 2024 championship team played in that earlier game as freshmen and eighth graders.

“They said, ‘Coach, if we go back, we’re going to win it,’” Motley recounted.

Wilkes racked up significant milestones during the victory, tying several Super 7 Class 1A records, including most points scored (30), most touchdowns (5), most rushing touchdowns (5), and most rush attempts (38). His 312 rushing yards rank second in Super 7 Class 1A history.

Additional contributions came from Cortavion Lynch, who added 35 yards on 13 carries, and Robertson, who ran for 24 yards on two attempts, including a 15-yard touchdown run.

Maplesville’s Highlights

Maplesville’s lone touchdown came on a 20-yard pass from Yeargan to Colby Mitchell with 1:30 left in the game. Yeargan finished 11-of-21 for 80 yards, while Cade Smith tallied eight tackles and Von Woods added seven tackles.

What’s Next?

The Super 7 Championships continued on Thursday evening with the Class 5A title game between Moody (12-1) and Montgomery Catholic (13-0). Friday’s schedule includes the Class 4A finals at 11 a.m., the 2A championship at 3 p.m., and the 6A title showdown at 7 p.m.