Briarwood Christian Rallies Past Montgomery Catholic 24-21 in Top-3 Showdown

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Top-ranked Briarwood Christian shook off a shaky first half and leaned on a smothering defense to escape with a 24-21 win over No. 3 Montgomery Catholic on Friday, Sept. 25, at Lions Pride Stadium. The victory kept the Lions perfect at 6-0 and dropped the Knights to 4-2 in a matchup that pitted two of Class Double-A Private’s best against each other.

The result meant more than another notch in the win column. Briarwood held Montgomery Catholic scoreless after halftime, flipping a 21-17 deficit into a signature comeback that reinforced its case as the state’s top team heading into the back half of the season.

A Wild First Half

Briarwood struck first behind its ground game. A methodical opening drive ended with a 3-yard Jackson Reyer touchdown run, putting the Lions up 7-0 with 8:11 left in the first quarter.

The lead did not last long. On the very next snap, Montgomery Catholic quarterback Will Blackwell hit a receiver in stride for an 88-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 and exposing a coverage breakdown that would haunt the Lions early.

Briarwood answered with another strong march. Ben Reynolds churned out back-to-back conversions, but a dead-ball penalty stalled the drive near the goal line. Evan Ball salvaged the possession with a 27-yard field goal, nudging the Lions ahead 10-7 with 2:35 remaining in the opening quarter.

Montgomery Catholic responded by turning a long return into points, capitalizing on a Briarwood personal foul near the goal line before punching in a score to take a 14-10 lead.

The Lions countered through the air. Sam Canale hauled in a contested 31-yard grab down the left sideline, setting up a 6-yard touchdown catch by tight end Charlie Allen for a 17-14 edge with 4:50 left in the half.

Then came the momentum swing. Briarwood muffed a fair catch, handing the Knights a short field. Montgomery Catholic cashed in with a catch-and-run score to grab a 21-17 lead with 1:17 to go. A bobbled snap on Briarwood’s final possession before the break sealed a frustrating half for the home side.

Defense Takes Over

Whatever adjustments came at intermission worked. Briarwood’s defense clamped down from the first drive of the third quarter, when Cooper Johnson jumped a checkdown for an interception and gifted the offense a short field.

The Lions could not convert that first opportunity, but the defense simply forced another stop. Briarwood recovered the ensuing possession at the Knights’ 44, and this time the offense delivered. John Campbell ignited the drive with a 14-yard jet sweep, and Allen broke open on the left sideline for a 25-yard touchdown. That score put Briarwood ahead 24-21 with 4:17 left in the third — and it stood as the game-winner.

From there, the Lions refused to give an inch. They forced four second-half punts, generated consistent pressure on third down and recorded a sack inside the final five minutes to ice the game. Montgomery Catholic never crossed midfield after the break.

Standout Performances

Jamison Barnes ran the show for Briarwood, completing 11 of 14 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns while adding 62 yards on 14 carries. His top target was Allen, who caught five passes for 59 yards and both of his scoring grabs.

Reyer was the workhorse, piling up 88 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries plus 48 yards on three receptions. Reynolds chipped in 58 yards on 10 attempts, and Campbell added 42 yards on five touches.

The Lions finished with 252 rushing yards at 5.4 yards per carry and outgained the Knights 416-221 overall. That balance proved decisive as the game wore on.

Montgomery Catholic leaned heavily on Blackwell, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns, including his 88-yard strike and a 19-yard scoring throw. The Knights showed plenty of firepower in the first half, but their inability to move the ball after the break told the story.

Looking Ahead

Briarwood carries its unbeaten record and No. 1 ranking into a short week, traveling to face winless St. John Paul II on Thursday, Oct. 1. The Lions will look to sharpen their conditioning and clean up the mistakes that nearly cost them.

Montgomery Catholic returns home to host St. Paul’s, hoping to bounce back and regroup with an eye toward a possible playoff rematch. For both programs, this top-3 clash offered a valuable measuring stick — and a reminder that the season’s biggest tests still lie ahead.