St. Paul Episcopal defeats Mortimer Jordan 41-26 in 5A

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Ostin McPherson rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns to lead St. Paul Episcopal to a 41-26 victory over Mortimer Jordan in the AHSAA Class 5A state championship game at the University of Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium on Thursday night.

McPherson was named Most Valuable Player and led St. Paul's Episcopal (13-2) to its second consecutive state title.

By halftime, St. Paul's Episcopal had built up a 27-6 lead.

Duncan Hodges completed 20 of 36 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown, and Jacob Dean rushed for 123 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown for Mortimer Jordan (13-2).

Defensively, B.J. Edmonds led St. Paul's Episcopal with nine tackles. Mortimer Jordan's Colby Moon also finished with nine tackles.

This is the third state championship for St. Paul's Episcopal in school history. The Saints have won state titles at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Auburn University's Jordan-Hare Stadium (2014) and Birmingham's Legion Field (2007).