Jaelin Goodwin ran for two touchdowns as Class 6A, No. 7-ranked Muscle Shoals beat Sparkman 31-21 on Thursday night.
His 14-yarder with 49 seconds left was the clincher for the host Trojans (8-1). He scored from 8 yards out in the second quarter.
Trey Stoddard kicked a 44-yard field goal late in the first quarter. The Trojans led 10-7 at halftime at J.F. Moore Stadium in Muscle Shoals.
Xavier Johnson scored on a 95-yard kick return midway in the third. Muscle Shoals went up 24-21 after Jamir Goodloe caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cole Woods.
Josh Ward ran for two touchdowns for the visiting Senators (5-5), from 4 and 11. He connected with Matthew Rozier on a 70-yard catch and run.
“I don’t think we played particularly well,” Muscle Shoals 15th-year coach Scott Basden said. “All three phases of the game we’ve got to get better at if we want to keep playing past next week.”
Star of the game: Goodwin had five carries for 30 yards and two touchdowns.
Play of the game: Trailing 21-10, the Trojans grabbed the momentum on Johnson’s kick return at 6:09 in the third. Stoddard’s extra point pulled them within 21-17.
Key sequence: A bad punt snap by Sparkman gave Muscle Shoals a first down on the Senators’ 24 late in the third. Four plays later, Woods connected with Goodloe for the 8-yard score. Stoddard’s extra point put the Trojans up 24-21 at 3:35 in the third.
Stat sheet: Muscle Shoals – Johnson had the 95-yard kick return and intercepted a pass. Devin Townsend had 18 carries for 127 yards and two catches for 10 yards. Sparkman – Ward had 10 carries for 38 yards and two touchdowns and threw a TD pass. Rozier had nine catches for 179 yards and a touchdown.
By the numbers: 222 – Muscle Shoals total yards on 170 rushing and 52 passing. 363 – Sparkman total yards on 91 rushing and 272 passing. 3 – Muscle Shoals turnovers on fumbles. 1 – Sparkman turnover on an interception. 4 – Muscle Shoals wins against Sparkman, but the Senators lead the all-time series 5-4.
Coachspeak: “I think the biggest thing is we can’t get caught up in what other people’s records are because anybody can beat you on any given night.” – Basden.
“I thought the guys played hard, they played well. We went ahead right there in the fourth quarter, but we had a penalty. But all in all, this team – so many guys have been out, been hurt all year long. We were just a few plays away this whole season being a different type game for us.” – Sparkman coach Laron White.
They said it: “I had to read my blocks and I had to know which hole was which. I felt like I did OK. First and second quarter kind of struggled and third quarter came out here with momentum and kept momentum going. Had our foot on the gas, didn’t let up.” – Goodwin.
“I saw a hole (on the kick return) and my teammates were blocking. And I just ran through and got past a defender and got into the end zone.” – Johnson.
“We knew that this is a game that’ll prepare us for the playoffs because they’re a 7A team.” Townsend.
What’s next? Muscle Shoals will host Hazel Green in the Class 6A first round. Sparkman is done for the year.
