STORY COURTESY OF AL.COM

SARALAND – Saraland intercepted a pass in the end zone on the final play, securing a 21-13 victory over Luverne.

Luverne drove 60 yards in 10 plays, but Kenterius Womack’s pass was intercepted to seal the victory and hand the Tigers their first loss of the season.

“They were not undefeated for nothing, great coaches, players, and class. Hats off to Luverne,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said.

Saraland built a 21-0 halftime lead, as Chris Weaver scored on a 3-yard run, Nick Williams had a 46-yard touchdown run, a n d Leander Burrowes had an 8-yard run with 5:50 to go in the half.

“We had built a lead, but had to push a little harder in the second half to hold on,” said Burrowes, who had 89 yards on 17 carries.

Luverne started its comeback after covering a Saraland fumble in the third quarter, and the Tigers drove 29 yards in five plays. Ke’vonte May scored from a yard out. May added another 1-yard run with 6:22 remaining.

“We definitely grew a lot tonight especially in the second half, we never quit,” Luverne coach Mike Dubose said.

Womack ran for 105 yards on 15 carries and completed 25 for 47 passes 268 yards.

“We knew we could make it a game,” Womack said. “Our team has never been down 21 points all season, but we kept fighting.”

The Spartans defense grabbed three interceptions and denied the Tigers three times inside the 20 yard line.

“That is unlike us to score, but give credit to Saraland, I know our guys learned a lot from the adversity of being down,” Dubose said.

Saraland (9-1) host Gulf Shores in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs ,while while Luverne (9-1) host Leroy in 2A.

“Tonight we were challenged and our guys responded,” Kelly said. “Gulf Shores is one of the hottest teams around right now.”