Bob Jones took another major step toward securing a berth in the upcoming Class 7A playoffs by forcing four turnovers in a 31-13 Region 4 win over No. 10 Sparkman at Madison City Schools Stadium.

Bob Jones (4-3, 4-1) held the Senators to 30 points below their scoring average while hanging four touchdowns and a field goal on Sparkman’s defense that entered the night limiting opponents to 8.2 points a game. The win was the Patriots’ fourth straight after opening the season with three losses and Sparkman’s second loss in a row after five wins.

Mistakes hurt Sparkman (5-2, 3-2) early on and the Patriots offense capitalized, racing to a 20-7 halftime lead and not letting up in the second half.

Workhorse Tyren Washington scored on runs of 1 and 6 yards in the opening quarter, the first touchdown set up by a short Senator punt and the next score coming after Aaron Mitchell’s interception and 25-yard return to the Sparkman 16.

Two missed extra points, however, left Bob Jones with a 12-0 cushion through one quarter.

Sparkman answered with a 14-play, 73-yard scoring drive capped by Jay’quel Coleman’s 5-yard TD run at the 9:08 mark. That momentum immediately shifted when Bob Jones’ Kenardo Jackson scored on a 7-yard run five minutes later and Washington ran in the 2-point conversion.

The Patriots started the second half by moving 77 yards in six plays to extend their lead to 28-7. A pair of 15-yard penalties moved Bob Jones into Senators’ territory and Samuel Monroe finished things off by running for a 22-yard touchdown, with Washington tacking on another two-point conversion.

Josh Stewart’s 29-yard field goal late in the third gave Bob Jones its biggest lead at 31-7.

Star of the game: Washington, taking the direct snap from center much of the game, rushed for 142 yards on 34 carries with two touchdowns and a pair of 2-point conversion runs. He now has 991 yards and 14 touchdowns through seven games, including six 100-plus efforts.

Play of the game: Trying to rally midway through the third quarter after falling behind by 21, Sparkman quarterback Josh Ward was sacked and fumbled deep in Bob Jones territory. Brandon White pounced on the loose ball at the 14 and the Patriots responded with a drive of nearly six minutes that ended with Stewart’s field goal with less than a minute to go in the third.

Stat sheet: Sparkman – The Senators were penalized 14 times, including two personal foul penalties assessed after the game was over. Ward threw 25 times with 16 completions for 120 yards with two interceptions. The Senators managed only 36 passing yards in the second half. Jaiden Scott had a 63-yard run and scored Sparkman’s last TD on a 1-yard run. Bob Jones – The defense recovered two fumbles and Mitchell and Frankie Hill had key interceptions. Quarterback Sheldon Graham attempted only three passes and completed one – all in the first half. Monroe ran for 70 yards, including a 48-yard burst on his second carry.

By the numbers: 51, meetings in the all-time series that dates to 1973, with Bob Jones now holding a 33-18 advantage. It’s the Patriots’ longest-running series and Sparkman’s third-longest after county rivals Hazel Green (62 meetings) and Buckhorn (59). … 4, the victory gives Bob Jones its first four-game winning streak since 2017. … 31, points allowed by Sparkman’s defense in the Senators last two games, both losses. The Senators had allowed only 18 total points – including four shutouts – in their first five victories.

Coachspeak: “We just felt like we were the more physical team. I don’t think they had played anybody with our physicality. The defense made some big stops and I’m just proud of the whole team.” – Bob Jones coach Kelvis White

What’s next? Sparkman will host Huntsville (3-4, 2-3). Bob Jones travels to Decatur to play Austin (6-2, 3-2).