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   The best of the best in Alabama High   
  School Football over the past 100 seasons.





The Greatest Games


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          The Lynn Bears ended eighteen years of frustration against the Addison Bulldogs in the semi-finals of the 1996 state playoffs with an unlikely 7-6 comeback win. The Bears had not beaten Addison since a 10-7 victory over the Bulldogs in the 1978 season.

           Addison had shutout the Bears 31-0 during the regular season so most observers gave Lynn little chance of upsetting the undefeated Bulldogs. Lynn began the 1996 season with a 2-3 record before winning their next eight games entering the playoff matchup with Addison.

           Following a scoreless first half, Addison finally got something going in the third quarter. After a short Lynn punt, aided by a 15-yard face mask penalty, the Bulldogs took over on the Lynn 29-yard line. Eight plays later, Craig Cleghorn scored the game's first touchdown on a 1-yard run.

           The Bulldogs lined up for a two-point play but a delay-of-game penalty pushed the ball back to the eight-yard line. Quarterback Heath Crider's pass was incomplete and Addison led 6-0. The penalty would prove to be important later.

           After the ensuing kickoff, Lynn drove to the Addison 20-yard line before an interception by Jason Bladow at the two ended the drive. The Lynn defense stepped up and three plays later, Addison was forced to punt.

           A short punt and a 15-yard personal foul penalty set up the Bears' offense in great field position at the Bulldogs' 15-yard line. Lee Cagle scored three plays later from the one to tie the score at 6-6 on the third play of the fourth quarter. Travis Barton booted the game winning extra point.

           Once again, the Bears' defense came through in the final minutes of the game with two interceptions and forced a punt. As the final seconds ticked off the game clock fans poured onto the field and actually tore down the goal post to celebrate a huge win. They were also celebrating the opportunity to travel to Legion Field in Birmingham the following week to face Maplesville in the Class 1A state championship game.

           Lynn lost to Maplesville in the title game but the fans knew this team was special. They reached the state championship game for the first time in school history and broke a fifteen game losing streak to their Winston County rivals.

           Lee Cagle was the star for Lynn all season. He ended the year with 2,954 yards on 321 carries which was the second most yards rushing in state history.


Addison ....................................   0   0   6   0 -6
Lynn .........................................   0   0   0  7 -7
 
Addison - Craig Cleghorn 1-yard run (conversion failed)
Lynn - Lee Cagle 1-yard run ( Travis Bolton kick)

Lynn
1996
9/6 27 Winston County . . . . . 34
9/13 27 Berry Fayette . . . . . 12
9/20 36 T.W. Martin . . . . . . . 12
9/27 0 Addison . . . . . . . . . . . 31
10/4 28 Hackleburg . . . . . . . . 38
10/11 22 Meek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
10/18 36 Brilliant . . . . . . . . . 8
10/25 43 Vina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
11/1 65 Hubbertville . . . . . . 28
11/8 52 Phillips Bear Creek . . 6
11/15 44 Parrish * . . . . . . . . . 12
11/22 41 Donoho * . . . . . . . . . . 28
11/29 19 Collinsville * . . . . . 15
12/6 7 Addison * . . . . . . . . . 6
12/12 6 Maplesville # . . . . . 45
453 11-4 290

* Playoff game
# State championship game
Addison
1996
9/7 27 Vinemont . . . . . . . . . . 6
9/13 47 Madison Academy . . . . 12
9/20 46 Marion County . . . . . 0
9/27 31 Lynn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
10/4 19 Meek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
10/11 33 Cold Springs . . . . . . 0
10/18 27 Falkville . . . . . . . . . 7
10/25 34 Oakman . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
11/1 20 Speake . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
11/8 14 Winston County . . . . . 13
11/15 56 Westbrook Christian * . 6
11/22 35 Cedar Bluff * . . . . . 7
11/29 15 Talladega County Central * . 0
12/6 6 Lynn * . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
410 13-1 92

* Playoff game
# State championship game


  The Memorable Games, a series on the important and memorable games in high school football history

David Parker
  AHSFHS.org
  dparker@ahsfhs.org



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