Moody senior running back Blaine Burke scored on a 35-yard run for a game-clinching touchdown in Friday’s 34-21 victory over Southside-Gadsden.

Burke’s late TD run answered Southside’s 18-play scoring drive that took 9:53 off the clock in the third quarter, as Blue Devils (8-2 overall, 5-1 in region) earned a share of the Class 5A, Region 6 title.

The Blue Devils dealt the Panthers (7-2, 5-1) their only loss in region play. Junior quarterback Charlie Johnston finished 12-for-15 passing for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Burke added 71 yards on the ground and converted a 2-point conversion after Johnston scampered 20 yards for a score to put Moody up 21-0 in the second quarter.

Johnston hit Kadarius Barnes for a 6-yard TD to open the scoring on Moody’s first drive, and Chase Jackson picked off the Panthers’ Jordan Bryan and scooted 22 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Southside-Gadsden running back Mason Teague was limited to 62 yards and a touchdown due to four holding penalties in the first half that brought back huge gains. Bryan finished the night 7-for-15 passing for 114 yards and an interception. He also ran for two scores.

“I’m proud of them,” Moody coach Jake Ganus. “I didn’t come here with winning a region championship on my mind, but it’s part of being a good football team to win the games you’re supposed to win. Ultimately the goal is to try to get in the dance and then go win five one-game seasons, and we put ourselves in position to do that.”

This share of the Region 6 title is Moody’s first region title in 19 years.

“I was just thinking that it was a chance for us to get up,” Burke said of his scoring run. “It was a chance for us to give our defense a rest because it felt like they had been on the field for 10 minutes in the third quarter. I’m glad we got to give them a break and go up two touchdowns.”

For Southside, penalties proved problematic.

“Penalties was the difference in the game,” Panthers coach Miles Holcomb said. “In the first half, we couldn’t get out of our own way, shot ourselves in the foot. I thought our kids played hard, battled back in the second half … drove down, pretty much ate up the whole third quarter and made it a one-score game. It just came down to we didn’t make enough plays.”

Playoff push: Three teams are now tied atop the Region 6 standings – Moody, Southside and Leeds. Playoff seeding will be determined by the AHSAA tie-breaking procedures after the regular season is completed next week.

Top play: Jackson’s leaping interception and return for a score on Southside Gadsden’s first possession set the tone for the Blue Devils and let the Panthers know that Moody wasn’t going to be a pushover.

Key stat: Southside-Gadsden had a total of 94 rushing yards called back for holding penalties in the first half.

Coachspeak: “This outcome doesn’t change the fact that we still have a very good football team. I think this may end up being a blessing in disguise when it comes to the first round of the playoffs.” —Holcomb

They said it …: “It means a lot. This is Moody’s first championship since 2004, 19 years. Just being able to be part of the team that was able to break that seal and give something like that back to the community is a blessing.” —Moody receiver Kadarius Barnes

“My goal is a Blue Map. I’m not really worried about the region championship. We’re trying to get to state.” — Moody receiver Aidan Robinson

What’s next?: Moody does not play next week and awaits its playoff fate, while Southside travels to Etowah next week.