BIRMINGHAM — The score doesn’t tell the story of how close this game was at times, but in the end the final is the only thing that matters and that swung to Mars Hill Bible. The Panthers defeated Bayside Academy 38-21 at Protective Stadium in the AHSAA Super 7 Class 3A title.
Mars Hill Bible looked like it was going to run away with the game early in first quarter. The Panthers displayed its offensive prowess when it drove 99 yards down the length of the field, capped off by a rushing touchdown by senior Jaxon Penn.
It was slow going for Bayside in the first half. The Admirals only managed six yards of offense in the first quarter. But Bayside wasn’t going away with a Blue Map on the line. A 42-yard catch and run by Walker Collins set up a Noah Cain score for Bayside 48 seconds before the end the first half.
It was a defensive battle during the third quarter, but what changed the tide was a personal foul call against Mars Hill Bible that gave Bayside Academy new life at the Panther six-yard line. Bayside quarterback Barnett Davis found Collins for a six-yard score to pull within three points heading into the fourth quarter.
The knife in Bayside’s hopes was seen streaking downfield with Penn going 89 yards for the touchdown that sealed the game at the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter. Penn rushed for 195 yards on 22 carries and three rushing touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Mars Hill Bible claims AHSAA Super 7 Class 3A title over Bayside
