High School

Acalanes tops Birmingham in CIF State 3AA final: Live update, scores recap

This page was dedicated to live updates throughout the game, but is now a recap page for the biggest plays in Saturday's CIF State final

Tarek Fattal

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA - The Los Angeles City Section's best football team, Birmingham Charter was on display in the CIF State Division 3AA final against Lafayette Acalanes on Saturday at Saddleback College.

Acalanes claimed its first CIF State title in program history thanks to four touchdown passes from Sully Bailey, including a dagger to Paul Kuhner with 31 seconds to go to defeat Birmingham 35-23.

The City Section is still in search of its first CIF State title since 2017 when Narbonne and Crenshaw both lifted state crowns. Since that season, the City is now 0-10 in state finals, including Friday evening's 29-21 Fairfax loss to Ferndale.

STORY: Sully Bailey leads Acalanes to first CIF State crown in gutty performance over Birmingham

LIVE UPDATE RECAP

-FINAL: ACALANES 35, BIRMINGHAM 23

4TH QUARTER

-TOUCHDOWN: Sully Bailey finds Paul Kuhner on a 10-yard pass on fourth down to deliver the dagger with 31 seconds left. Acalanes 35, Birmingham 23. 

-DRIVING: Acalanes is on the Birmingham 8-yard line with 37 seconds to play and a 28-23 lead ...

-PUNT: Birmingham punts the ball back to Acalanes

-INTERCEPTION: Cayden Chapelle intercepts the ball back for Birmingham. Acalanes still leads 28-23 with 6:16 to play.

-INTERCEPTION: Paul Kuhner intercepts the ball for Acalanes as Kingston Tisdell is hit.

-TOUCHDOWN: Sully Bailey throws a 34-yard TD to Trevor Rogers to give Acalanes a 28-23 lead over Birmingham. 11:53, 4Q

3RD QUARTER

-END OF THIRD QUARTER: Birmingham 23, Acalanes 21.

-PUNT: Birmingham punts from the Acalanes 49-yard line. Dons take over from the Birmingham 7-yard line. *BAILEY RETURNS*

-SAFTEY: Acalanes' punt snap is over the punter's head and into the end zone for a safety. Birmingham now leads 23-21 with 3:34 to play in the third quarter.

-INJURY: Sully Bailey takes a big hit and is on the ground getting medical attention. He gets up on his own power, but is questionable to return.

-TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Birmingham goes for it on 4th down from the Acalanes 13-yard line. But the ball falls incomplete. The Dons will take over with 4:50 to play in the third quarter and the game tied 21-21.

-TOUCHDOWN: Acalanes scores on its opening drive. Sully Bailey to Henry Souza to cap a 12-play, 64-yard scoring drive in 2:49. Birmingham 21, Acalanes 21. 9:08, 3Q

HALFTIME - Birmingham 21, Acalanes 14.

2ND QUARTER

-TOUCHDOWN: Acalanes' Jack Giorgianni punches in a 1-yard touchdown on the last play of the first half to cap off a 12-play 57-yard drive. Birmingham 21, Acalanes 14. 0:00, 2Q

-Acalanes driving and on the Birmingham 5-yard line with 14 seconds remaining in the first half.

-TOUCHDOWN: Kingston Tisdell throws his second touchdown to Peyton Waters, a three-yard connection to cap off a 12-play drive in 4:45. Birmingham 21, Acalanes 7. 1:15, 2Q

-Acalanes punts to Birmingham. Patriots will take over on its own 30-yard line.

-Acalanes driving. Same score, Birmingham 13, Acalanes 7. 6:06, 2Q

1ST QUARTER

-END OF THE 1ST QUARTER: Birmingham 13, Acalanes 7.

-TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Acalanes fails to convert a 4th and 4. Birmingham takes over on its own 39-yard line with a 13-7 lead. Less than a minute left in the opening quarter.

-TOUCHDOWN: Peyton Waters takes a catch from Kingston Tisdell 31 yards for a touchdown. 8 plays, 80 yards in 4:17. Birmingham 13, Acalanes 7. 3:40, 1Q

-BIG CATCH: Devyn Jackson with a ESPN Top 10-like diving catch down the right sideline to the Acalanes 31-yard line.

-4TH DOWN CONVERSION: Birmingham's Ronnell Hewitt converted a 4th and 2 with a big run up the middle.

-TOUCHDOWN: Trevor Rogers scores on a 28-yard screen play to tie the game at 7-7. The scoring drive was six plays for 67 yards in 2:06. Birmingham 7, Acalanes 7. 7:57, 1Q

-TOUCHDOWN: Dredon Fowles scampers for 25-yard score on Birmingham's opening drive, which is just four plays in 1:50. Birmingham 7, Acalanes 0. 10:10, 1Q

-Birmingham received the ball first. Peyton Waters returns to Acalanes 37-yard line.

FULL BOX SCORE

Acalanes vs. Birmingham CIF State Division 3AA final box score
CIF State
Published
Tarek Fattal, SBLive Sports
TAREK FATTAL

Tarek Fattal has been covering high school sports since 2015 in Southern California and primarily in Los Angeles, covering notable athletes such as Bronny James, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Alyssa Thompson. He was with the LA Daily News for eight years, which included being the beat reporter for the UCLA men's basketball team. Tarek can be seen on TV regularly on CBS/KCAL as a sports analyst with Jim Hill.

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