Jacksonville, AL – Determined not to repeat last year’s semifinal exit, Jacksonville Christian turns Cornerstone away, eyes Russell for next week’s ACAA title shot.
This week’s area scoreboard
THURSDAY, Oct. 24
Oxford 49, Huffman 0
FRIDAY, Oct. 25
Alexandria 42, Etowah 32, FINAL
Anniston 46, White Plains 14, FINAL
Central-Clay 41, Pell City 17, FINAL
Cherokee County 49, Ashviille 6, FINAL
Bullock County 35, Cleburne County 6, FINAL
Coosa Christian 35, Academy 21, FINAL
Donoho 31, Woodland 12, FINAL
Locust Fork 55, Glencoe 39, FINAL
Handley 44, Booker T. Washington 40, FINAL
Hokes Bluff 42, Oneonta 7, FINAL
Jacksonville 45, St. Clair County 21, FINAL
Jacksonville Christian 58, Cornerstone 26, FINAL
Moody 66, Lincoln 3, FINAL
St. James 42, Munford 24, FINAL
Ohatchee 49, Saks 14, FINAL
Piedmont 54, Wellborn 20, FINAL
Pleasant Valley 38, Section 0, FINAL
Lanett 48, Ranburne 14, FINAL
Randolph County 56, Beulah 27, FINAL
Southside 39, Hazel Green 14, FINAL
Tallassee 48, Talladega 7, FINAL
Wadley 52, Winterboro 12, FINAL
Weaver 37, Westbrook Christian 34, FINAL
Jacksonville Christian 58, Cornerstone 26
By Joe Medley
Jacksonville Christian learned from last year’s semifinal disappointment.
Noah Lee accounted for 218 yards in total offense and four touchdowns, and Caleb Stallings rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns as the Thunder rolled over Cornerstone (Rainsville) 58-26 in Friday’s Alabama Christian Athletics Association semifinal on Tommy Miller Field.
JCA punched its ticket to next week’s title game against Russell (Miss.) in Tuscaloosa.
The Thunder got the shot it wanted to last year and hopes to end Russell’s string of seven consecutive association titles.
“They are extremely hard to beat,” said Miller, in his 36th year as a head coach and 30th full season as JCA’s head coach. “Russell is a big school, actually about four times our size.”
JCA (8-2) seeks its first ACAA title. The Thunder won three titles in 10 years in the old North Alabama Christian Conference then went from eight-man football to 11-man Alabama High School Athletic Association ball.
Because of low participation, JCA suspended football before the 2017 season and returned to eight-man Christian school ball in 2020, playing under the Faith Temple umbrella.
The rest of JCA’s sports teams play AHSAA ball.
Winning an eight-man Christian schools championship would bridge JCA back to a glorious past.
Miller, 70, has been the head coach for nearly all of JCA’s existence. He stepped aside before the 2005 season but took the reins back during that season.
JCA had hoped to make a title run in 2023 and beat Russell 37-6 during the regular season, but the Thunder lost to Tuscaloosa Christian 56-48 in the semifinals.
“Last year, we walked off of here losing this semifinal game here at home,” Miller said. “First thing I said when I went in there (the locker room), there was no patting anybody on the back and saying, ‘That’s OK.’ We knew we had let our attitude drop, everything drop, and we come in here and wasn’t ready to play.
“I take the blame for that, but I guarantee I did not let it happen this time.”
Miller said this year’s Thunder “looked more like a focused football team this week than we have in a long, long time.”
JCA had a bye week ahead of playing Cornerstone.
“We had the right mindset going in, and that’s what led us to victory.”
JCA rolled to a 50-12 halftime lead, and the teams played the second half on a running clock. The Thunder’s younger players played the entire second half.
Lee went 13-for-19 for 189 yards and three touchdown passes. He also rushed for 27 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown scramble.
Stallings had a 34-yard catch-and-run touchdown to go with his 144 yards on 19 rushes, including touchdown runs of 29, four and seven yards.
“It was just, honestly, working hard,” Stallings said. “Our coach told us all week, just work hard, be physical, get to the ball, all of that kind of stuff.”
Jesse Gannaway caught eight passes for 8 passes for 112 and a touchdown and returned an interception 51 yards for a score. He also recovered two Cornerstone fumbles on kickoff returns.
Bryson Dowdey caught five passes for 49 yards and a touchdown on the way to a title shot against Russell.
JCA beat Russell 49-16 on Sept. 20.
“Just thinking back to last year, when Tuscaloosa upset us, we just proved ourselves tonight,” Gannaway said. “We’re one of the best teams in this conference, if not the best.
“We still have one more week to prove it. It’s a good win, but the job’s not finished yet. We’ve still got one more.”
