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Briarwood's William Gray (10) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Jonathan Hill (22) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's William Gray (10) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's William Gray (10) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's William Gray (10) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's William Gray (10) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Bennett Miles (3) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Bennett Miles (3) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's William Gray (10) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Fred Yancey in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Fred Yancey in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's WIlson Hand (5) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's William Gray (10) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Barrett Tindall (6) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Carson Donnelly (28) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Luke Miskelley (11) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Luke Miskelley (11) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Barrett Tindall (6) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Briarwood's Ethan Housel (2) in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
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Action in a game between Briarwood and Mortimer Jordan on Friday, September 23, 2016, at Mortimer Jordan High School in Kimberly, Alabama.
KIMBERLY -- The Lions are hungry.
On Friday night at Jimmie Trotter Stadium, they ate. Briarwood Christian scored 17 fourth-quarter points and defeated No. 4 Mortimer Jordan 23-14 in a non-region game.
“We knew we could beat them, but it is a very good win and I think it proves that we’re legit, and it’s not just easy stuff that we’re winning,” said senior quarterback William Gray. “I think it sends a statement to the rest of the state that we’re coming and we’re real.”
Gray sent his own statement. He completed 14 of his 21 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. He also bulled his way for 63 rushing yards on 11 carries. Both of his touchdown passes went to Luke Miskelley, from 29 yards out in the first quarter and from 45 yards out in the fourth.
“I’ve developed a ton of trust in Luke this offseason,” Gray said. “I know he’ll go up and get it. I threw it up for him and he went and got it.”
Said Miskelley, “Every ball is a ball that I have the mindset to go up and get it. That ball is mine.”
Briarwood kicks game-winning field goal
Briarwood Christian kicker Noah Nall boots a 32-yard field goal to give the Lions a 9-8 lead in the fourth quarter against Mortimer Jordan on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016.
Briarwood's defense played perhaps its best game. Mortimer Jordan quarterback Douglas Moore faced constant pressure and threw three interceptions. Two went to Carson Donnelly, and the other to Jonathan Hill.
“I’m so proud to be a part of a team with guys that will just go out and whip people’s butts,” Gray said. “It’s just so encouraging to see.”
Briarwood Christian (4-1) went up 6-0 midway through the first quarter when Gray found Miskelley for a fade route to the corner of the end zone. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Mortimer Jordan’s Spencer Brown scored on a 4-yard run and plunged forward for the two-point conversion to give the Blue Devils (4-2) an 8-6 lead in the third quarter.
When the final quarter began, Briarwood took over. Freshman Noah Nall booted a 32-yard field goal that turned out to be the game-winner just 11 seconds into the fourth quarter. Two minutes later, Gray hit Miskelley on a 45-yarder to take a 16-8 lead. J.R. Tran-Reno added a 12-yard scoring run with just 5:05 left to give the Lions a 23-8 advantage.
But on fourth-and-long from their own 18-yard line, Moore connected with Noah Cardwell for an 82-yard touchdown. The ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, and Briarwood proceeded to rush six times for 38 yards and three first downs to run out the clock.
Miskelley finished with five catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Tran-Reno rushed 11 times for 61 yards and a touchdown. For Mortimer Jordan, Brown rushed 25 times for 113 yards and a touchdown. Moore completed 11 of his 24 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown against three interceptions.
Head coach Fred Yancey said it was the most complete game Briarwood Christian has played this season.
“That was a big deal,” he said.
Yancey said that in the fourth quarter, his offensive line outlasted the Blue Devils.
“I think the offensive line just kept chopping wood and finally we got it down,” he said.
Briarwood travels to St. Clair County next week.
“I know that they’re going to be a tough opponent,” Miskelley said. “We’ve got to take it week by week and go out there and give it our all and not let up.”
Yancey said this is a special group of players.
“These kids are real hungry, and I’ve got to keep them understanding that the only way to feed that hunger is with hard work to prepare so that you can have these kind of nights,” he said. “They’re pretty easy to motivate because they really don’t like the idea of being 4-6 or 3-7. They want to have a good year.”
