Deshler stops Chiefs

By Bryan App

Correspondent

TUSCUMBIA, Ala. — Deshler’s J.R. White said he thought the Tigers could play a more physical brand of football than visiting North Jackson and its high-scoring offense had seen.

He and the Tigers showed that it was more than tough talk with the season on the line in the second half of Friday’s Alabama Class 4A playoff semifinal.

Deshler’s wing-T offense converted six of seven third-down attempts in the second half and moved the chains twice more on fourth downs in a 28-14 win against North Jackson.

The Tigers got the go-ahead score on a 9-yard play-action pass from Justin Cantrell to Dylan Boston on third-and-9 with 2:21 to play in the third quarter. Then Deshler marched 69 yards on 10 plays, taking 5:19 off the clock, before adding an insurance score on Deven Sullivan’s 7-yard run with 6:41 remaining in the game.

Sixth-ranked Deshler (12-2) advances to the Super 6 state championship, where it will face No. 1 Thomasville (14-0) on Friday at 11 a.m. at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.

North Jackson ended its season 13-1.

White finished with only 39 yards on seven carries but scored on first-quarter touchdown runs of 5 and 1 yards. His first scoring run was set up by Sullivan’s 82-yard return of the opening kickoff to the North Jackson 15-yard line.

North Jackson threatened with a 51-yard drive to the Deshler 6 but came away without points when wildcat quarterback Kahleem Jones had his pass tipped and intercepted by Deshler’s Nick Ellison on the first play of the second quarter.

The Chiefs got on the scoreboard with a 14-yard touchdown strike from Zac Barnard to Montel Hale with 2:34 left in the half. They tied it with Barnard’s 77-yard strike to Kahne Cooper on the first play of the second half.

The Chiefs were averaging 47.9 points a game but managed three first downs and 107 yards after halftime and 43 yards rushing on 12 carries in the loss. Deshler is 5-1 all-time against the Chiefs in the playoffs.

Barnard finished 18-of-31 passing for 197 yards. Hale had a team-high 63 yards on seven catches. Running back Deuntae Johnson rushed eight times for 35 yards and had 23 yards on five catches.