Mortimer Jordan Rallies in Fourth Quarter to Defeat Minor 35-14

KIMBERLY, AL – The Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils secured a crucial Class 6A, Region 5 victory on Friday night at Jimmie Trotter Stadium, using a powerful fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Minor Tigers for a 35-14 win. The Blue Devils scored 21 unanswered points in the final period to break a tie and snap a four-game losing streak.

The win marked a significant turnaround for head coach Heath Lauderdale’s Blue Devils, who improved to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in region play. For Minor, the loss was their first in the region, dropping them to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in region competition.

A Tightly Contested Start

The game began with Minor striking first. Paul Allen found the end zone on a 26-yard run to give the Tigers an early lead.

Mortimer Jordan’s offense quickly answered. In a unique play, wide receiver Tanner Rice connected with quarterback Blaze Neely on a 10-yard touchdown pass to even the score. The Blue Devils then claimed their first lead of the night, 14-7, when running back Parker Reno punched it in from 2 yards out with just over a minute left in the first quarter.

That score held through a defensive second quarter and deep into the third. Minor’s offense came alive late in the period, with Trevone Hurth scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14-14 with 3:47 remaining in the third quarter.

Blue Devils Dominate the Fourth Quarter

With the game tied heading into the final frame, Mortimer Jordan took complete control. The rally began when Neely found Rice for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 11:54 left to play, putting the Blue Devils ahead for good.

Less than three minutes later, Reno broke free and sprinted 50 yards for a commanding touchdown, extending the lead to 28-14. Neely capped the dominant quarter with a 7-yard scoring run of his own with 1:42 remaining, finalizing the 35-14 score. The victory was Mortimer Jordan’s largest since a 46-20 win on October 24, 2024.

Key Performances

Several players delivered standout performances for Mortimer Jordan.

Parker Reno was a driving force on the ground, carrying the ball 19 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns. His performance was a key indicator of the team’s success; the Blue Devils are now 2-1 when Reno rushes for at least 80 yards.

Blaze Neely had an exceptional and versatile night. The quarterback completed 14 of his 17 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a score and catching a touchdown pass.

Tanner Rice was Neely’s top target, hauling in 10 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. He also contributed the touchdown pass to Neely in the first quarter. On the defensive side of the ball, Zavier Burrow contributed with an interception to halt a Minor drive.

Looking Ahead

Both teams face important region matchups next week. Mortimer Jordan will host arch rival Gardendale (1-6, 0-4), while Minor will return home to the House of Pain to host the defending state champion Parker Thundering Herd (5-2, 3-0).