Jordan King is first to the pylon Photos by Kyle Thornton

Tigers advance with another comeback win

Last year's defending champions looked the part early jumping out to a 14-0 lead, but Tallassee's comeback kids came through in the clutch with the season on the line.

The Tigers beat Mobile Christian 21-14 in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs at J. E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium on Friday. It was their seventh straight win, matching their longest win streak since 2010.

"(We've) been doing it all year," said head coach L.A. O'Neal. "Never give up. Never fold."

Mobile Christian scored all its points in the first quarter driving down the field on its first two possesions. It looked like Leopards running back Jason Todd was about to score his third touchdown of the night and raise the lead to three scores, but Jordan King was in the right place at the right time. The senior punched the ball out at the goal line, and it was recovered by Jaiden Gordon in the end zone.

On the next THS possession, King caught a 60-yard pass from Trent Morris to make it a 14-7 game before halftime.

"They came out in a two tight end set and haven't run it all year. They kind of hit us in the mouth," O'Neal said. "We went back in the locker room and made some adjustments."

On the opening kick of the second half, King returned it 95 yards for a TD, but a penalty wiped it off the board and put Tallassee on its own nine-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Gordon found an opening and raced 63 yards into MCS territory. On the sixth play of the drive, King ran six yards crossing the goal line for another score. Yuren Rodriguez converted the extra point to knot things at 14-14.

The Tigers defense got a three-and-out on the next series setting up the go-ahead score. And once again it would be King, this time on an eight-yard scamper. King's three touchdowns this week matched his feat from a week prior versus Holtville. He ended the night with 101 all-purpose yards.

Jaiden McKenzie with the game-clinching pick

It was a scoreless fourth quarter. Jaiden McKenzie sealed things with an interception in the final minute. It was redemption after he had dropped a long pass on the previous Tallassee drive.

"That's the maturity of a kid," O'Neal added. "Before if he had dropped something, he'd be done. He dropped that one and came back. That shows, if you make a mistake and keep fighting good things happen."

Tallassee (8-2) will host its second-round opponent Ashford on Friday night at O'Brien Stadium. The Yellow Jackets (6-5) beat Oak Grove 35-20 in the first round. The game will be broadcast on WTLS - Score 94.7/Hit 106.9 and www.1300wtls.com with an air time of 6 p.m.

*Photos by Kyle Thornton

GAME STATS
Mobile Christian vs. Tallassee Football
11/8/24, 5:44PM
Regular Season