Bob Jones loses thriller to Austin, finishes regular season 9-1

Austin’s TC Lowe runs against Bob Jones defense in Austin’s close 28-24 win (Contributed/ Tammie Stephenson)

MADISON- It was a game that cried out for a dramatic ending. And Bob Jones and Austin, two teams headed to the playoffs, delivered. Brady Polson’s last pass fell incomplete and Austin had upset Bob Jones, the #1 ranked team in 7A, 28-24.

It was a game that meant nothing in the overall scheme of the playoffs. Bob Jones had clinched Region 4, class 7A. Austin came in second in their region in 6A.

But as the game wore on the intensity level began to rise. Suddenly both teams wanted the win. Bob Jones was going for the schools first perfect season. The disappointment on Patriots players was evident; like a season ending loss.

“We played hard for 48 minutes it just wasn’t good enough. You have to give Austin credit,” said Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose. “They played well and deserved to win. We had opportunities but we didn’t make the play so we got to go back to work.”

Bob Jones must now quickly regroup and get ready for round one of the playoffs. The Patriots will host Vestavia Hills, a team they have never beaten.

“Obviously we have our work cut out for us,” Rose said. “It will be a huge challenge. Going against a coach that has won over 300 high school football games. They have a great tradition, they play extremely hard. Our kids are going to have to raise their level of play to match their intensity.”

Despite a huge game from quarterback Brady Polson, Bob Jones never led by more than 7 points. Austin largely shut down Bob Jones running game. Conversely, Austin’s TC Lowe ran for 259 yards on 33 carries and scored two touchdowns. Lowe, normally a linebacker, was moved to running back to substitute for Asa Martin who was held out to get ready for the playoffs.

Austin quarterback Victor Garth had a huge game. He rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 63 yards passing, most of it on the critical final drive.

Austin featured college recruits on both sides of the ball. Left tackle Deonte Brown, an Alabama commit, and Marcus Webb defensive end and Troy commit. Both had huge games. Bob Jones used two different right tackles to try to stop Webb’s pass rush.

Bob Jones struck first, a 77-yard catch and run by Brad Anderson for a touchdown. Austin came right back and scored on a 17-yard run by Garth. After forcing a turnover on downs Austin struck again with Lowe going in from 10 yards.

Among the miscues for Bob Jones were a fumble by Rashad Nelson as he fielded a pooch kickoff. Also a snap and hold were botched on a field goal attempt.

Defensively, Bob Jones got two turnovers; an interception by AJ Harris and fumble recovery by Carlos Davis.

Matthew Stephenson’s 37-yard field goal made it 14-10 Austin at halftime.

kicker Matt Stephenson hit a 37 yard field goal (Contributed/Tammie Stephenson)

Miles Strickland struck for two rushing touchdowns in the second half, from 2 yards and 22 yards as Bob Jones held slim leads at 17-14 and 24-21.

On Austin’s final drive Garth converted a fourth and nine with a completion to Malek Senor. He then hit Lowe in the corner of the end zone from 10 yards out to go up 28-24 with 1:01 left.

Austin stopped everything Bob Jones threw at them on the final drive including a flea flicker and a throwback pass to Mikhi Stewart.