The Leroy football team’s emotions were stretched as far as physically possible.

Following a Coosa Christian interception early in the fourth quarter, the Bears appeared to have been unable to muster the necessary means to seal a second straight Class 1A title. They all but booted it away on a blocked punt that tied the game midway through the final period.

With ball in hand and its first undefeated season in 15 years on the line, Leroy’s offensive line took it upon themselves to erase all doubt on a grueling final drive.

“All five O-lineman looked at me and said, ‘Let’s run the football,’” Leroy interim coach Chan Lowe said. “You give it to those big guys up front.”

The top-ranked Bears fell behind early, rallied, and then ground out a game-winning march to the end zone for a 28-21 victory over No. 9 Coosa Christian in Thursday’s Super 7 game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Leroy (14-0) has now won consecutive AHSAA Blue Maps after going 2-8 during the 2021 season and has won seven state titles in program history.

“We faced a lot of adversity this year,” Lowe said. “Not too many teams lose their head coach in the middle of the year to (a National Guard) deployment. Hats off to that guy, first and foremost, coach Jason Massey, for going and serving his country.”

“Next man up mentality,” he added. “At any point in time and any place, they could have folded. We never missed a beat and that goes a lot to the six seniors in the locker room. They led. Those underclassmen and juniors, they stepped up.”

Massey enjoyed the post-game festivities with his team through a FaceTime call with his daughter.

“All the credit goes to coach Massey because he built a culture here,” Lowe said. “Our kids thrive in this culture.”

The Bears were dominated in the opening quarter, giving up two turnovers that directly resulted in touchdowns for Coosa Christian, but rallied in the second period to force a 14-all tie entering the halftime break.

Despite missing a 34-yard field goal on its opening possession, Coosa Christian forced a fumble on the Bear’s first drive, scoring four plays later on a 38-yard run by Kanon Wilson, and Clete O’Bryant intercepted a pass on the ensuing Leroy series. Wilson scored his second touchdown on the third play of the second quarter, giving the Conquerors a 14-0 lead.

“Don’t panic, it’s not the first time we’ve been down like that,” Lowe said. “Taylor (Crumedy) looks at me and says we’re about to get a big run on this kickoff. Our kids just didn’t have any quit in them.”

Leroy immediately responded to the two-score deficit as Crumedy returned the kickoff 82 yards to the 1-yard line. Ja’Kavian Collins scored two plays later to cut the lead to 14-7. Then, Crumedy evened the score on a 1-yard touchdown run that capped a 9-play, 75-yard drive.

Coosa Christian threatened near the end of the first half, but Jaquan Scott strip-sacked the Conquerors’ John David Justus inside the final minute of the quarter. Leroy advanced across midfield, but Brayden Huebner was sacked to bring an end to the first half.

The first three drives of the second half ended in turnovers on downs before Coosa Christian set up for a punt on its second possession. The kick traveled only 21 yards and Scott scored on a 30-yard pass from Huebner to give the Bears a 21-14 lead early in the final period.

Justus was intercepted by Jason Byrd on the next series, but Morgan Grant blocked a Leroy punt that was recovered by Kylen Johnson in the end zone to knot the score at 21 midway through the fourth quarter.

“We wanted a safety,” Coosa Christian coach Mark O’Bryant said. “We would have been down five and got the ball at the 40, or near the 50, with five or seven minutes to go, whatever it was. I liked our chances. I wish they hadn’t reviewed it, to be honest with you.”

With a little more than six minutes remaining in the game, Leroy embarked on an 8-play, 61-yard drive that chewed 4:25 off the clock and resulted in Collins’ go-ahead touchdown run with 2:01 left in the game. The entire possession was on the ground as Huebner had four carries for 39 yards and Collins had four for 23 yards and the touchdown.

“They (offensive line) wanted to run the ball,” Huebner said. “We kept chipping away and getting first downs. We punched it in.”

Coosa Christian (9-6) was forced to forfeit its first four wins of the season due to a violation of the transfer rule, following a season-opening loss to Geraldine, but won its final five games of the regular season before reaching the championship game for the first time in school history.

“Thankful for the run,” O’Bryant said. “It’s priceless.”

Star of the game: Collins. The sophomore running back took over the load for his injured cousin, Malik Howell, who was hurt last week against Elba, and finished with 15 carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 2:01 remaining in the game.

“The offensive line stepped up and did their job. We drove down the field and got the job done,” he said.

Did you know? Leroy appeared in its 15th title game in the past 30 seasons, winning seven total championships.

By the numbers: 10, the number of pass attempts by each team in the second half. … 6, the number of penalties committed by each team, combining for 83 yards. … 2, the number of turnovers given up by each team, a fumble and an interception.

Stat sheet: Leroy – Huebner was 10-of-20 passing for 117 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and had 17 carries for 79 yards. Crumedy had three receptions for 48 yards and an 82-yard kickoff return to set up Leroy’s first touchdown. Scott had three catches for 43 yards and a score. Sawyer Sullivan and Scott finished tied for a team-high 10 tackles with the latter adding the strip-sack to end a Coosa Christian threat late in the first half. Coosa Christian – Justus was 8-of-15 for 51 yards and an interception. Wilson led the rushing effort with 18 carries for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Josh Hester added 24 yards on eight carries and Kylen Johnson, Eli Motes and Grant Morgan all had three catches for a combined 38 yards. Clete O’Bryant led Coosa Christian with a game-high 14 tackles with an interception and Cade Mickler and Hester had six tackles apiece.