AISA AAA 2019 Football State Champions

AISA AAA 2019 Football State Champions

The Rebels’ road to the 2019 State Championship was an unusual one. The season started 0-2, with opponents outscoring the Rebels 97-12. 

But then something changed. All it took was a spark—a 49-14 victory over Evangel—and the Rebels finished the season 11-1, averaging 41.3 points per game, and allowing only 16 per game.

 

The Class of 2020 celebrate with their hard-earned trophy

The Playoffs

BA entered the playoffs ranked 2nd in the region, behind Tuscaloosa Academy. The Rebels hosted Fort Dale Academy and saw a 49-0 victory. With three rushing touchdowns, a pick-6, fumble recovery and punt returns for touchdowns, the Rebels just couldn’t be stopped.

For the second round, BA traveled to the defending state champion, Monroe Academy. The Rebels beat Monroe 38-21 in the regular season, but this game would be on their turf, so all bets were off. But after just one quarter, the Rebels were on top 21-7, and the gap only widened from there. Senior RB Josh McMillon had a season-high 215 yards on the ground, plus another 126 through the air, with a school record 5 touchdowns. Rebels advanced to the state championship with a 45-27 victory.

The senior football captains represent the Rebels for the coin toss
Senior cheer captains, Josie Smith and Aubrey Bowman, lead the Rebels onto the field before kick-off

The Game

On a beautiful Friday night in Troy, Alabama, the Rebels met the Glenwood Gators. The game started with the teams trading 3-and-outs, a missed field goal, and not much else. But the Rebels found an offensive spark in the last few minutes of the first quarter. Josh McMillon (Sr) finally found the end zone, and Jackson Stewart (Sr) added the PAT. Jackson then turned around and pinned the Gators deep in their own territory on the following kick-off. On the second play of that drive, the ball was stripped from the Gator QB and LT Overton (Fr) scooped it up and dove into the end zone. Within a few seconds, the score went from 0-0 to 14-0. 

Senior Josh McMillon rushes for a Rebel touchdown
Freshman LT Overton runs a fumble recovery in for a touchdown

The second quarter saw another Rebel touchdown, this time Chris Pickens (Jr), and the Rebels went into the half with a commanding 21-0 lead.

The student section making themselves known to the opposing Gators

That lead was almost immediately solidified, when QB PJ McDonald (Jr) threw a 65-yard pass to Josh McFarland (Sr) that put him in the end zone. On the next drive, PJ did it again, this time to Jacob Barry (Jr). Josh McMillon added another touchdown run in the third quarter, and then Jarvis Dancy (Jr) rounded out scoring in the fourth.

Let’s go Rebels!
Box ScoreQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Bessemer Academy14721749
Glenwood School0014822
The Rebel coaching staff instructing the defense
Freshman LT Overton sets a new school record of 19 sacks in a single season
The Rebel stands cheer for the beginning of the fourth and final quarter of the game
Rebels receive the 2019 football trophy

The season ended with a few new names in the Rebel Records.

PJ McDonald (Jr) edged out Ty Hatcher (2017) for 3rd place in season passing yards at 2161 yards (154.4 mpg).

Jarvis Dancy (Jr) rose to 2nd place in season rushing yards, pushing back Brandon Cook (2015) and Austin Clarke (2017).

LT Overton (Fr) set a new school record for most sacks in a season at 19 (1.5 spg), knocking out Jacob Diffley’s (2017) former record of 14.

Jackson Stewart (Sr) set a new record for PATs in a season at 66, ousting Jay Fitch (2016). Jackson also broke his own previous record for kick points scored, now standing at 81 points.