Eagles Advances to State Semifinals With Quarterfinal Win Over Knights
By Cinthia Rico
PISGAH – The Pisgah Eagles are back in the Class 2A state semifinals for the second straight year.
In the state quarterfinals on Friday, No. 5-ranked Pisgah held off visiting No. 8-ranked Tuscaloosa Academy for a 36-29 win at Sam Kenimer Stadium.
Down by 3 in the opening quarter, the Eagles settled into their groove as starting quarterback Mason Holcomb found Luke Gilbert for a 58-yard touchdown pass. Gilbert followed with a 2-point conversion, and Pisgah took the lead with 4:50 left in the first quarter.
A few plays later, Legion McCrary rushed up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown, then added a two-point conversion. On the ensuing drive, Levi Horton recovered a Tuscaloosa Academy fumble, and the Eagles took over at the 45-yard line.
Following a fourth series early in the second quarter, Holcomb left the game due to an injury, and the Eagles moved Gilbert to quarterback.
Pisgah’s Legion McCrary rushes for a first-half touchdown.
Tuscaloosa Academy’s Nicholas Evans made his way into the end zone for a TD cutting the score to 16-9 after Pisgah blocked the point-after kick.
Pisgah recovered as Gilbert covered 43 yards, then capped it with a 4-yard touchdown at the 4:23 mark in the second quarter.
A Simon Mitrev field goal closed out the first half, cutting Pisgah’s lead to 22-12 at the half.
The Eagles have shown they have what it takes to keep moving forward, and it showed in the second half as they held off Tuscaloosa Academy’s advances.
Late in the third quarter, McCrary broke free on a long scoring run from 33 yards out and Landon Watkins executed a 2-point conversion to extend Pisgahs’ advantage to a 30-15.
McCrary recovered a Knights fumble and rushed for more than 80 yards, setting up a long run by Jett Jeffery and capped by a 1-yard scoring run from Gilbert, furthering the lead to 36-15.
Preston Lancaster, who ran in two touchdowns and threw for 426 yards and a touchdown, was the driving force behind Tuscaloosa Academy’s late comeback.
Pisgah held steady as its defense and offenses put in some work with less than four minutes left in the game. The result was a 36-29 triumph for the Eagles.
The Eagles are now 3-0 at home in the quarterfinals, extending their four-game winning streak to five. The win also improved the overall record to 12-1, marking the most wins in a season in over 20 years.
The Eagles (12-1) travel to take on defending Class 2A state champion Fyffe (12-1) in the semifinal matchup at Paul Benefield Stadium tonight. The two will meet for a semifinal showdown for the second time.
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