Parker Captures Historic State Football Title with 28-17 Win Over Saraland

Thundering Herd Secures Victory with Late Touchdown in 2024 AHSAA Super 7 

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Parker High School claimed its first-ever AHSAA Class 6A state football championship Friday night, defeating Saraland 28-17 in the Super 7 finale at Protective Stadium. 

The game’s turning point came late in the fourth quarter when Thundering Herd head coach Frank Warren made a crucial call. Leading 21-17 with just under two minutes remaining, Parker faced a fourth-and-9 at the Saraland 16-yard line. Rather than settling for a field goal attempt, Warren entrusted senior Timothy Merritt with the ball. Merritt faked a handoff to Na’eem Offord, broke left, and dashed for 15 yards to secure a first down. 

“I knew that play was going to work,” Warren said. “We scored on that play in the first quarter, and I knew it was going to work again.” 

Offord sealed the game two plays later with a 2-yard touchdown run, clinching the 28-17 victory for Parker (14-1). The win capped the Super 7 event, which drew a total attendance of 41,264 over three days. 

“These guys are always going to be remembered as champions,” Warren added. 

Saraland (13-1) entered the game undefeated, having never trailed all season—until they faced Parker. For the second consecutive year, the Spartans finished as Class 6A state runner-up. 

Early Momentum for Parker 

Parker wasted no time building an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter, with Merritt scoring on runs of 14 and 6 yards. Saraland responded in the second quarter when DeShawn Spencer hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass from quarterback K.J. Lacey. Parker quickly answered with a 15-yard TD run by Offord. 

Saraland stayed within reach with another Spencer touchdown, a 37-yard catch where he managed to secure the ball in the end zone despite tight coverage from Offord and another defender. The Thundering Herd held a 21-14 lead at halftime. 

Saraland Struggles to Convert 

The Spartans’ only points in the second half came from a 23-yard field goal by Tucker Singleton late in the third quarter. Saraland had three drives inside Parker’s 20-yard line during the third quarter but managed to score just three points. 

“They made the plays necessary to win,” said Saraland head coach Jeff Kelly. “We give them credit. They earned the win.” 

Saraland’s best chance to retake momentum came after Singleton’s field goal. Facing third-and-18 on their next drive, Lacey escaped pressure and connected with Santae McWilliams for a 39-yard gain, which reached the Parker 44. However, the play was negated by an illegal-man-downfield penalty, forcing Saraland to punt. 

“If we got that right there, I felt like we would have sealed and gone down and scored,” Lacey said. 

Parker capitalized on the opportunity, embarking on a 12-play drive that ended with Offord’s game-clinching 2-yard TD run with just 1:37 remaining. 

Defensive Dominance 

The hero of the game was defensive lineman Jourdin Crawford, who also served as a blocking back for Parker’s offense. Crawford delivered a standout performance with three sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, and was named the game’s MVP. 

“It was meant to be,” Crawford said following the victory. 

Offord paced Parker’s offense with 98 rushing yards on 16 carries, while teammate Terrence Gaines contributed 78 yards on 19 carries. Merritt added 50 rushing yards on six carries and recorded four tackles on defense. 

Saraland’s Lacey finished 11-of-24 passing for 226 yards, two touchdowns, and six sacks, leaving him just shy of the all-time AHSAA career passing record. C.D. Gill was his primary target, catching six passes for 116 yards. However, the Spartans’ ground attack was stifled, gaining just 26 total rushing yards on 26 carries. 

“They had some players that had awesome games,” Kelly said of Parker’s defense. 

All Hands on Deck 

Warren emphasized the team’s determination and grit, with key players like Offord, Crawford, Merritt, and Keshaun Johnson playing extensively on both sides of the ball. Johnson contributed six tackles and a sack to Parker’s defensive effort. 

“Our guys knew it had to be all hands on deck,” Warren said. 

With their historic victory, the Thundering Herd not only made school history but also etched their names in Alabama high school football lore.