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In the fifth and final overtime Parker Gargis threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Colt Byrom and when Benjamin Russell failed to score on their possession the Homewood Patriots could finally celebrate a state championship. On fourth down and goal from the six, with the Wildcats needed a touchdown to keep their hopes alive but came up empty when Jordan Thomas lofted a pass intended for Demetrius Shealy in the end zone but Jonathan Herr jumped over Shealy to bat the ball away.            After five overtimes the game was over and the celebration could begin. Homewood had defeated Benjamin Russell 41-34 in a thriller. Gargis was named the MVP for his efforts which included 118 yards rushing and he completed 14-of-23 passes for another 109 yards.            The five overtimes is a record for any championship game. The previous record was a two overtime game between Greenville and Russellville in 1987 for the Class 5A state championship. Prior to 1983 there were no overtimes and teams that ended regulation play tied were named co-champions.            Benjamin Russell jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a 1-yard run by Jewonski Kendrick in the first quarter and a 24-yard field goal from Brent Dye in the third. Homewood rallied in the fourth quarter on a one-yard scoring run by Gargis and a 33-yard field goal by Jeremy Schatz. The field goal was set up when Chris Turner recovered a fumble on the kickoff following Gargis' touchdown.            Homewood had a chance to win the game in regulation but Eric Brock blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt to send the game into overtime.            The teams resolved nothing during the first three overtimes as they traded touchdowns. Gargis threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jake Collins and ran for two more scores for Homewood. Benjamin Russell answered on a 7-yard run quarterback Jordan Thomas and James Kendrick scored on a couple of short runs. Both of Kendrick's touchdowns came on fourth down.            Both teams settled for field goals in the fourth overtime and entered the fifth tied 34-34. Homewood gained possession of the football first on the ten-yard line. Colt Byrom caught a five-yard scoring pass from Parker Gargis to give the Patriots a 41-34 lead. All the Patriots needed was to stop the Wildcats one time for the win.            Benjamin Russell's fullback, Kendrick was on the sidelines during the final overtime trying to work through leg cramps and was not available for the Wildcats. After gaining only four yards the first three plays, the Wildcats faced a fourth and goal from the six-yard line. Homewood stopped the Wildcats on fourth down to seal the victory in dramatic fashion at Legion Field in Birmingham.            Homewood won the Class 5A state championship having avenged a 25-18 regular season loss to the Wildcats. Parker Gargis accounted for all four of the Patriots touchdowns in overtime and was named the game's MVP for his efforts.            The Homewood defense shut down the Wildcat offense all evening. The Patriots outgained them 353-123. Benjamin Russell had scored 34 points yet gained only 123 yards on offense. The overtime period inflated the score in what was otherwise a great defensive effort by the Patriots. Homewood ...................   0   0   0 10   7   7   3   7   7 -41 Benjamin Russell............   7   0   3   0   7   7   7   3   0 -34   Benjamin Russell: James Kendrick 1 yard run (Brent Dye PAT) 0:03 Benjamin Russell: Brent Dye 24 yard field goal 2:10 Homewood: Parker Gargis 1 yard run (Jeremy Schatz PAT) 10:35 Homewood: Schatz 33 yard field goal 8:53 Homewood: Jake Collins 5 yard pass from Parker Gargis (Jeremy Schatz PAT) Benjamin Russell: Jordan Thomas 7 yard run (Brent Dye PAT) Benjamin Russell: James Kendrick 1 yard run (Brent Dye PAT) Homewood: Parker Gargis 4 yard run (Jeremy Schatz PAT) Homewood: Parker Gargis 6 yard run (Jeremy Schatz PAT) Benjamin Russell: James Kendrick 2 yard run (Brent Dye PAT) Benjamin Russell: Brent Dye 34 yard field goal Homewood: Jeremy Schatz 23 yard field goal Homewood: Colt Byrom 5 yard pass from Parker Gargis (Jeremy Schatz PAT)
Homewood 2000 9/1 18 Benjamin Russell . . . 25 9/8 14 Briarwood . . . . . . . . . 7 9/15 53 Pleasant Grove . . . . . 22 9/22 6 Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9/29 35 Curry . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10/6 26 Jackson-Olin . . . . . . 0 10/13 34 Gardendale . . . . . . . . 0 10/20 58 Fairfield . . . . . . . . . 0 10/27 45 Erwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 11/3 34 Vestavia Hills . . . . . 24 11/10 27 Lee Huntsville * . . . 12 11/17 35 Oxford * . . . . . . . . . . 10 11/24 24 Athens * . . . . . . . . . . 13 12/1 28 Russellville * . . . . . 10 12/8 41 Benjamin Russell # . . 34 478 13-2 188 * Playoff game # State championship game	Benjamin Russell 2000 9/1 25 Homewood . . . . . . . . . . 18 9/8 43 Russell County . . . . . 13 9/15 45 Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 9/22 20 Auburn . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 9/29 0 Pine Forest FL . . . . . 26 10/6 6 Stanhope Elmore . . . . 0 10/13 35 B.T. Washington . . . . 6 10/20 16 Wetumpka . . . . . . . . . . 0 10/27 28 Eufaula . . . . . . . . . . . 7 11/3 3 Opelika . . . . . . . . . . . 0 11/10 38 Carroll * . . . . . . . . . 0 11/17 33 Citronelle * . . . . . . 7 11/24 17 McAdory * . . . . . . . . . 6 12/1 18 Williamson * . . . . . . 15 12/8 34 Homewood # . . . . . . . . 41 361 13-2 139 * 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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