Spanish Fort prepares for championship

SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) - Atop ‘The Hill’ in Spanish Fort, it’s the baseball team that gets a lot of love, but that's what happens when you complete a 'three-peat' in state championships. 

These days, it’s the football team trying to do something pretty special: win its second state title in three years.

Not just a game, but a season can change on a single, solitary play. 

On Friday, Nov. 30, region one rivals Spanish Fort and St. Pauls were locked in a tight playoff game, with the prize a trip to Auburn for the state championship.

In the fourth quarter, with the Saints backed down deep in their own territory, freshman safety Tyler Johnson made a play he’ll never forget.

“I read the quarterback, and it just came right to me," Johnson said.

Johnson intercepted Saints quarterback Bradley Padgett and nearly returned it for a touchdown.  From there, Spanish Fort punched in a score, and the Toros never looked back.

“It felt great," Johnson said. "I’ve been waiting for that chance all year.”

“From then on, I think we dominated the game, and I think that play absolutely turned the game around," said head coach Mark Freeman.

Now, Coach Freeman and the Toros turn their attention to McAdory, who just knocked off Muscle Shoals. They were ranked number one in the state.

“[McAdory] bring[s] a lot of speed," Freeman said.  "They have a really good defensive front, really good size on the defensive front and they bring a lot of team speed.  They’re well coached.  It’s going to be a challenge trying to find space out there but there’s going to be a lot of football going on and we like our chances.”

One aspect the coach didn’t mention, however, they’re familiar. The Yellow Jackets play in Freeman's home town of McCalla.

“That’s the old home; we’re at the new home," Freeman said.  "And we want to go up to Auburn and represent and bring us back a state championship.”

Spanish Fort will play McAdory Thursday at 7 p.m. in Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium for the 5A state championship.