St. Paul's (12-1) vs. Williamson (10-3)

This should be an offensive dandy. Two heralded quarterbacks and talented running backs to boot. This game may come down to which defense can man-up to stop the offensive flood.

St. Paul’s is led by junior quarterback AJ McCarron.

McCarron and company defeated the previously perfect 12-0 Charles Henderson 49-11 last week to earn this spot in the semi-finals and a rematch with a Williamson team that handed them their heads in a second week loss 40-7.

The Saints’ boats a pair of University of Alabama commitments in the backfield with Ivan Matchett and Mark Barron.

Matchett rushed for 128 yards on 15 carries with one score while Barron made it an even 10 yard average per carry with his 70 yards on seven carries and two scores.

McCarron completed 11 of 16 pass attempts for 195 yards and two touchdowns. In the first quarter they were up 21-0.

The Saints' defense took the ball away from the Trojans three times. One resulted in a 98-yard touchdown return.

Williamson defeated UMS-Wright 38-21. Their senior quarterback Brandon Smith completed 12 of 17 passes for 231 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 96 yards and two more scores. This may be the most underrated player on the field Friday night.

Ellis McGaskin rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns and caught three of Smith’s passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Williamson has yet to lose to another 5A team. All three of their losses came at the hands of 6A teams.

One of these teams is going to have to step up and stop the other. Coach Bobby Parrish’s Lions certainly did it before, but Coach Mike Bates’ Saints have come a long way since then, especially defensively.

Look for this score to be a much closer affair than the first meeting.

St. Paul’s vs. Williamson at 7PM at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

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