Jackson Dominates Cherokee County 69-6 to Capture First Title Since 2011

Landon Duckworth Shines with Record-Breaking Performance in Class 4A Championship

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Jackson High School quarterback Landon Duckworth delivered an unforgettable performance on Friday at Protective Stadium, propelling the Aggies (14-1) to a resounding 69-6 victory over Cherokee County in the AHSAA Class 4A State Championship.

Duckworth closed the first half with a 49-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Keeyun Payne, who made a spectacular grab at the goal line. “That shot right before halftime, that was impressive to me,” Jackson coach Cody Flournoy remarked after the game. 

Payne was confident in the play. “I knew he was going to throw it to me,” Payne said. “I make plays like that. It’s normal to me.” 

Duckworth’s five touchdown passes set a new Class 4A Super 7 record and tied the all-time Super 7 record, shared by Mobile Christian’s Damien Gatson, Saint James’ K.J. Jackson, and Thompson’s Trent Seaborn. Jackson’s 69 points also set a Class 4A Super 7 scoring record, falling just one point shy of the Super 7 overall record of 70 points, set by Madison Academy in 2014. 

The Aggies secured their first state title since 2011 while extending their winning streak to 14 games. Cherokee County (13-2), appearing in its third consecutive title game, saw its 13-game winning streak snapped. 

Explosive Offense from the Start

The Aggies set the tone early as running back Xzavier Crowell broke free for a 67-yard touchdown on Jackson’s second play of the game. Duckworth followed with three first-half touchdown passes—a 31-yarder to Chris Payne and scoring strikes of 18 and 49 yards to Keegan Chapman—to give Jackson an overwhelming 42-6 halftime lead. 

Cherokee County struggled to maintain its usual ground-heavy approach, as the Warriors managed just 50 passing attempts all season prior to this game. Quarterback Adam Griffith threw a rare touchdown—a 68-yard pass to Ben Frampton—late in the second quarter, but Duckworth quickly responded with his critical touchdown pass to Payne before halftime. 

“We wanted to stop the run and create explosive plays,” Flournoy explained. “We executed our game plan. I think everybody got to see what Jackson football is all about.”

Second-Half Dominance

The Aggies didn’t ease up in the second half. Crowell sprinted for a 13-yard touchdown, pushing Jackson’s lead to 49-6. Duckworth then cemented his record-setting day with two more touchdown passes—one for 28 yards to Jamarrion Gordon and another for 32 yards to Payne before the third quarter’s end.

Defensively, Jackson excelled as well. Keegan Chapman capped the night with a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown, though the extra point was blocked.

Duckworth Earns MVP Honors

Landon Duckworth was named game MVP, finishing with 325 passing yards while going 14-of-17 with five touchdowns and one interception. Other outstanding performances included:

• Xzavier Crowell: 140 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries.
• Keeyun Payne: Nine catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
• Keegan Chapman: Four receptions for 142 yards, two touchdowns, and a defensive touchdown. 

Tough Day for the Warriors

Cherokee County relied on Griffin, who completed 7-of-13 passes for 92 yards with one touchdown. Backup quarterback Carson Tittle entered briefly, completing one of two attempts. Running back Tae Diamond managed 47 rushing yards on 19 carries. 

Cherokee County joins Pleasant Grove (2019-21) and Russellville (2002-04) as the only teams in Super 6/7 history to lose in three straight championship games. 

“They’ve got a lot of players,” Cherokee County coach Jacob Kelley said. “We just didn’t make plays today. My hat’s off to them for making plays.”

A Record-Breaking Day

The 69-point total showcased Jackson’s explosive offense and determined effort. Their historic victory will stand as a testament to the excellence of their 2023 team. 

The Super 7 Championships continued on Friday, with Reeltown set to face Tuscaloosa Academy in the Class 2A title game, followed by Parker versus Saraland for the Class 6A championship.