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

Bailey borrowed a knee brace from his teammate to finish the CIF State final after sustaining a lower-leg injury in the second half

MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA - Acalalnes quarterback Sully Bailey saw green turf in front of him, so he took it. 

The savvy senior hit top speed as he glided toward midfield before Birmingham's Peyton Waters tackled Bailey in the left leg.

The collision happened at full speed, pretty much sending Bailey end over end and putting him on the ground for an extended period of time. He tried to get up on his own power, but fell back to the ground in pain.

"I felt something pop," Bailey said.

Media in the press box watching the instant replay grimaced, seeing Bailey's knee morph awkwardly in slow motion. He was done ... so it seemed.

But what Bailey shares next epitomizes team athletics to its core.

"I went to the sideline and (Paul) Kuhner gave me his knee brace. I knew I had to finish the game," Bailey said. "I knew I had to get out there. It was bigger than me."

Wearing his teammates knee brace, Bailey limped back onto the field on the Dons' next offensive possession in Hollywood fashion to finish the final game of his high school career, and his gutty performance, to anchor the Dons' 35-23 victory over Birmingham to claim the CIF State Division 3AA final at Saddleback College Saturday afternoon.

"The trip was worth it," said Acalanes coach Floyd Burnsed, who is believed to be the oldest coach to win a CIF State title at 76 years old, according to Cal-Hi Sports. "It means a lot to our players and community. We set our banquet for tomorrow (Sunday), because we planned on being here.”

Bailey delivered the dagger with 31 seconds left when he connected with Paul Kuhner on a 10-yard touchdown on 4th down, extending the lead from 28-23 to 35-23. He finished the day with 290 yards passing on 23 of 36 passing and four touchdown passes.

Photo: Joe Bergman

"I knew I couldn't really do anything, but I know we have guys with speed, so I just put the ball out there to give them a chance. It worked," Bailey said.

It's Acalanes' first state title in program history, coming off first-ever titles in the North Coast Section and a regional crown. Not a bad three-week spree. 

Acalanes climbed back into the game after trailing 21-7 in the second quarter. Birmingham's Kingston Tisdell connected with Waters, a 4-star recruit headed to Washington, on two of the Patriots' first three scores.

Waters finished the day with 98 yards on eight catches and two touchdowns. Tisdell was 14 of 23 for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Ronnell Hewitt had 98 yards rushing on 21 attempts.

"We were in it the whole game," Birmingham coach Jim Rose said. "I thought we were going to drive down and score, but their pressure on (Tisdell) forced an interception."

Acalanes' Jack Giorgianni scored a 1-yard touchdown just before halftime to trim Birmingham's lead to 21-14 at halftime. Then Bailey hit Henry Souza to cap a 12-play, 64-yard scoring drive early in the third quarter to make it 21-21.

Bailey's go-to target was Cal-bound Trevor Rodgers, who tallied seven catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns. The two connected on what Burnsed said was the difference maker, a spectacular 33-yard strike with 11:53 remaining that gave the Dons their first lead, 28-23. 

Bailey threaded the needed and Rogers out-leaped Waters for the catch. The two had battled over the years in 7-on-7 every summer. 

"Our coach tells us that big-time players make big plays in big games in big-time moments," Rogers said. "I saw it was one-on-one and told (Bailey) to go my way. To catch that over a guy like (Waters) made it even better."

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

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Acalanes vs. Birmingham CIF State Division 3AA final box score / CIF State