COLUMN: Patience pays off in Catholic's first state championship
Catholic coach Kirk Johnson and quarterback Caleb McCreary embraced after the Knights earned a 35-0 win over Cherokee County in the Class 4A state championship game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Friday. (Jason Caldwell)
By GRAHAM DUNN
TUSCALOOSA - Patience.
At one time, it was considered a virtue, and still is if one is to quote scripture.
In today’s society, it’s almost a dirty word. From a world dependent on microwaves and social media, it’s not necessarily a mark of excellence when it comes to success.
The sports world has a certain limitation on the idea. Usually, it’s win or else.
But for Montgomery Catholic, Friday was the culmination of four years of frustration, dating back to the last time the Knights graced the Bryant-Denny Stadium turf for a shot a the title.
In 2020, longtime powerhouse Fyffe got in the way.
A year later, arch-rival Montgomery Academy ruined the parade a week early in the semifinals.
Last year, Andalusia ended the run, again, prematurely.
This year, it wasn’t happening.
Patience had run its course.
Friday’s 35-0 whitewash of Cherokee County finished the narrative where no longer one can question if the Knights’ program would ever get over the hump.
“It was all fresh on our minds this week,” stated quarterback Caleb McCreary, regarding the aggravation that had stymied what could have been a series of state championships.
“Our defense played outstanding. To hold someone scoreless in the championship game is remarkable. (Cherokee County) had a great offense and they played hard but we did what needed to be done.”
The four years leading to Friday’s victory have been well documented. Catholic, once the team everyone scheduled for Homecoming, had become a powerhouse, winning no less than 12 games each season. Their berth in the ’20 3A championship was a first.
On that day, they faced the methodical, almost stoic Red Devil team that waited for the right time to strike and erased a 16-point deficit on the way to a 21-16 victory.
Forgive Catholic coach Kirk Johnson if he was suffering from a little deja vu as he watched Cherokee County matriculate down the field… or at least try to with little success.
“The fact that we played (Fyffe) last time… That helped out a lot,” Johnson said. “We used that film. That single-wing stuff… that really helped us. We kept telling our kids, don’t let anyone beat you. Stay in your lane.”
Unfortunately, the Knights were having their own offensive problems, managing to reach deep into Warriors’ territory three times before finally punching it in for the first points with just 37 seconds left in the first half.
Exasperation was evident from McCreary and the offense prior to the points.
“It’s always frustrating when the offense is not rolling like it’s supposed to” he said. “We came together, calmed down and started doing the things we were supposed to do.”
“(McCreary) wanted to do too much in that first quarter,” Johnson added. “I kept telling him and Josh (Griffin), ‘stay the course, stay the course.’ When we got that first score, I saw it in their eyes - they knew they could do it.”
While the offense sputtered, the defense provided its patented showcase, holding the Warriors to 63 yards in the first half and 180 for the game, both well below Cherokee’s season average. As the Catholic points mounted, so did the Cherokee turnovers, which ended with two lost fumbles that led to Knight touchdowns.
“They did exactly what we talked about before the game,” McCreary said. “They came out and had a great game plan. We had to settle down. We have been a second-half team and I guess we showed that today.”
The shutout was the first in Super 7 action since 2018 when UMS-Wright walloped Deshler, 52-0 in the 4A finals. For Catholic, it was the second-consecutive donut in the playoffs and the ninth of the season, a school record that was set just two years ago.
Catholic’s four-year wait for its first state title was worth it, but the second might come sooner. While McCreary will move on to the college ranks, most of the defense returns along with Griffin and JJ Williams.
Next season, Catholic will move to 5A thanks to the competitive balance factor, but that might not be much different since the Knights have enjoyed success against bigger classes in the past.
So, don’t expect a let up. The good vibes of the first championship could last a few years.