Saraland hangs on to beat Jackson 35-27

Two teams that played for a state championship a year ago will square off in the 2024 season opener

Saraland's Karle Lacey, Jr., (9) passes against Clay-Chalkville during the AHSAA Class 6A football state championship game at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Friday December 8, 2023. / Mickey Welsh / USA TODAY NETWORK

• HS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD | RECRUITING UPDATES

	1	2	3	4	T
Jackson	7	6	7	7	27
Saraland	21	7	0	14	35

PREGAME

- Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm CT

- We're about 20 minutes from kickoff. Keep it here for the latest updates.

- Both teams are on the field and we are about ready for kickoff.

1st Quarter

- Touchdown Saraland: K.J. Lacey rolled to his right on third and long and hit CD Gill in stride for a 63-yard touchdown pass. Tucker Singleton’s extra point makes it 7-0 Saraland early in the first quarter.

- Touchdown Saraland: Lacey hit Ole Miss commit Dylan Alfred for a 65-yard touchdown pass on the Spartans' second possession.

- Touchdown Jackson: Landon Duckworth hooked up with Keeyun Chapman for a long pass to set up a Ezavier Crowell five-yard touchdown run to trim the Saraland lead to 14-7.

- Touchdown Saraland: K.J. Lacey just did his best Michael Vick impression, rolling to his right with four defenders in pursuit, throwing back across his body and hitting receiver CD Gill for a 30-yard touchdown pass. That’ll put Saraland ahead 21-7 in the final moments of the first quarter.

- End of the first quarter: K.J. Lacey hit Dylan Alfred for a first down pass on the final play of the first quarter. The Spartans have it at their own 30-yard line when we come back.

2nd Quarter

- Touchdown Saraland: Senior Santae McWilliams, Jr. broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run, and the extra point makes it 28-7 Saraland with 1:41 left in the second quarter.

- Touchdown Jackson: Ezavier Crowell broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run. The 2026 four-star recruit has been a bright spot for the Aggies offense. It's 28-13 Saraland as we head to the half.

3rd Quarter

- Back and forth: The two teams have traded punts back and forth for the first half of the third quarter. It's still 28-13 Saraland with 5:43 left in the third quarter.

- Touchdown Jackson: EJ Crowell powered his way into the end zone on a 1st-and-goal play and it's 28-20 with 4:37 left in the third quarter.

- End of the 3rd Quarter: Jackson was driving at the Saraland 45-yard line when the clocks hit all zeroes on the third quarter. The Aggies will face a 2nd-and-8 trailing 28-20 when we resume.

4th Quarter

- Touchdown Saraland: KJ Lacey's third TD pass of the night to CD Gill extends the Saraland lead to 35-20 with 8:14 left.

- Touchdown Jackson: Crowell has struck again, this time for a 45-yard house call that trimmed the Saraland lead to 35-27 with just over four minutes to go.

- Big defensive play: Saraland's Arterus Moffett just snagged a huge interception with under four minutes to go.

- Saraland hangs on: Santae McWilliams converted a couple of big first down runs, and this one ends with the Spartans in the victory formation inside the Jackson 15-yard line. Final: Saraland 35, Jackson 27.