BIRMINGHAM — With the exception of the last three Super 7s, Saraland usually makes good teams look bad and bad teams look forward to next year. But now it’s the Spartans who must again look ahead. Does Friday night’s 38-21 loss to Clay-Chalkville in the Class 6A state championship game make them…

      By JIMMY WIGFIELD BIRMINGHAM — Jamison Roberts kept getting off the turf and launching pocket rockets after getting knocked down. Deshawn Spencer kept catching them. But they and Saraland were still no match for the latest Clay-Chalkville quarterback to torment the Spartans. Cougars quarterback Aaron Frye stretched Saraland’s defense so thin that…

      By LOGAN GATLIN BIRMINGHAM — Game MVP E.J. Crowell ran for 304 yards on 25 carries and five touchdowns and Jackson’s defense swarmed Anniston all game long as the No. 2-ranked Aggies ripped the No. 4 Bulldogs 52-0 for their second straight Class 4A state championship Friday at Protective Stadium. “When I…

    BIRMINGHAM — Jackson’s E.J. Crowell finished his final high school football game in the only way imaginable: By making everyone’s tongues droop in pure amazement at what they had witnessed, leaving a trail of skid marks where defenders had once stood and, of course, with records. The imaginable for Crowell, however, is unimaginable…

    BIRMINGHAM — As well versed as Vigor is at this state championship thing, nothing could have prepared the Wolves for the water torture they endured Thursday night in the big wash basin known as Protective Stadium. No. 3-ranked Moody was as unrelenting as the rain, beating No. 2 Vigor 25-0 to inflict the…

    By ARTHUR L. MACK BIRMINGHAM — Coming off an emotional 28-21 win over top-ranked Williamson in the Class 5A semifinals, No. 2-ranked Vigor seemed to have momentum heading into Thursday night’s Super 7 final against No. 3 Moody. But in a steady rain at Protective Stadium, the Blue Devils got up a head…

      By JIMMY WIGFIELD When Saraland receiver Deshawn Spencer visited the Iron Bowl Saturday night, he was still committed to Duke. But as he watched the Tigers fight back from a 17-0 deficit to tie Alabama before ultimately losing 27-20, he found himself being swayed and believed he could help. “Literally, in my…

    By JIMMY WIGFIELD It took one phone call on Monday to make Mary G. Montgomery tight end D.J. Broughton the first player to commit to newly installed Auburn coach Alex Golesh. “You ready to come with me?” Golesh asked Broughton. “You already know I am,” Broughton replied. Broughton had previously committed to Golesh…