Jackson’s EJ Crowell scored three touchdowns on runs of 40, 34 and 20 yards in the Aggies’ 49-28 victory over St. Michael in the Class 4A semifinals Friday. Photo by Eduardo Magaña/The South Alabamian

JACKSON – Jackson’s EJ Crowell ran for 157 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns as the No. 1-ranked Aggies earned a 49-28 win over No. 5 St. Michael on Friday night at Legion Field, sending them to the Class 4A final.

Crowell, the nation’s top-ranked running back in the class of 2027, scored on runs of 40, 34 and 20 yards, complementing passes from Landon Duckworth, the nation’s top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2026. Duckworth completed 17 of 24 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns while adding 67 rushing yards on six carries, including TD runs of 10 and 5 yards. He hit Keeyun “Red” Chapman for two touchdown strikes, including a 60-yarder, to break a 14-14 tie and give Jackson the lead for good in the second quarter.

“Landon’s vision and attitude were outstanding,” Aggies coach Cody Flournoy said. “He saw what they gave us and took advantage of it.”

Jackson (13-1) – which has won 13 straight games since its season-opening loss to Saraland – will face No. 3 Cherokee County (13-1) in the Class 4A Super 7 at 11 a.m. Friday at Protective Stadium in Birmingham. It will be the Aggies’ first trip to the state championship since 2011, when Danny Powell’s team went 15-0 and won the school’s second state championship with a 42-28 win over Oneonta.

Jackson’s defense swamps a St. Michael’s ball carrier. Photo by Jennifer Butts

The Cardinals (12-2), who had lost to Jackson 55-16 earlier in the season, never led but tied the score at 14-14 before Jackson pulled away. Crowell’s 20-yard TD run in the fourth quarter ended any hopes of an upset for St. Michael.

“That was a statement,” Flournoy said. “EJ just stuck it in and put the game away. He’s our All-American for a reason.”

Jackson survived a standout performance from Cardinals quarterback Gunner Rivers, who completed 28 of 49 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns.

“That was a much better St. Michael team,” Flournoy admitted. “They were really good tonight, but we were just too much. Our guys are tough, they’re resilient and they made the plays when it counted.”

The Aggies had two interceptions in the red zone to slow the Cardinals in the fourth quarter, one by Jamarrion Gordon and one by Teigh Skanes.

The Aggies are averaging 45 points per game behind Duckworth, who passed for 2,862 yards and 32 TDs, and Crowell, who ran for 1,667 yards and 25 TDs on 142 carries.

“We’re going to enjoy this tonight,” Flournoy said. “But these guys love the big stage. You have been waiting for this moment. With a group like that, the championship will take care of itself.”