History will have to wait. Jacksonville Christian was looking to earn its first playoff berth in its history of Alabama High School Athletic Association competition, but it was not to be. A.T. Thomas led Coosa Christian’s offense with 300 yards and six touchdowns as the Conquerors grabbed a 45-28 victory and the fourth and final playoff spot in Class 1A, Region 5.
Thomas, who had 23 carries and scored all of his team’s touchdowns, had scoring runs of 38, 38, 64, 2, 36 and 16 yards.
It was the worst of situations for Jacksonville Christian, who was playing on a soggy Tommy Miller Field, and was without numerous key players.
“It didn’t take them long to found our weakness and hit it,” head coach Tommy Miller told The Star.
Jacksonville Christian held close for the majority of the contest. The Thunder trailed only 9-0 at the half and just before the end of the third quarter, it got a 1-yard plunge from quarterback Stephen Hurst to cut the Conqueror lead to 17-14.
That’s when both teams turned it up a notch and Coosa Christian began to pull away.
On the ensuing drive, after an onside kick failed, Thomas went for his longest touchdown of the night to but the CCHS lead at double digits, 24-14.
JCA trimmed the lead back to 10 points twice, but it was not meant to be.
Hurst finished 11 of 26 for 187 yards for Jacksonville Christian with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Jacksonville Christian will look to avoid a losing season as its travels to Mount Hope for its regular season finale. Mount Hope has won only one game this season and is in the midst of a six-game losing streak.
“This has been a special season,” Miller said. “They responded and have a kept a positive attitude and a we-can attitude. We’re still immature in some areas but not in attitude.
“We’ve only got four seniors. Maybe we can come back next year and compete for a state playoff berth next season. But I think this is a season we’ll remember for a long time.”
