Saturday, March 7, 2026

Northridge High School Jaguars Sports (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

FootballSports

Jags come up just short against Tigers, 19-16

Michael Clements

The Northridge Jaguars traveled up I-20/59 north to Bessemer for their final region game of the 2025 season and came up just short, suffering a 19-16 loss. The Jag defense stopped the Tigers with under three minutes in the game and a catch by Jaylin McCray put Northridge at the Bessemer 6-yard line with under a minute to go. However, the next play saw the Jags lose a fumble that was recovered by the Tigers at the 2-yard line.

The Jags won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Bessemer City put together a first drive that ended on a 32-yard screen pass for a touchdown with 8:46 to go in the opening quarter. The successful PAT gave the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

10-17-2025 — Bessemer, Ala. — Northridge’s Hicks Finison connects on a 27-yard field goal during the Jags game against the Bessemer City Tigers.

Northridge’s ensuing possession hit the brakes at the Tiger 20-yard line and Hicks Finison got the Jags on the board with a 27-yard field goal. The kick closed the Tiger lead to four, 7-3, with 4:32 to go in the first quarter.

The Tigers got on the board again with 6:57 to go in the second quarter. The 7-yard run was followed by a blocked PAT, leaving the Tigers with a 13-3 lead.

10-17-2025 — Bessemer, Ala. — Northridge’s Mayson Elam dives into the end zone for a touchdown during the Jags game against the Bessemer City Tigers.

On fourth down of the ensuing Northridge possession, the Jags faked the punt and Brylon Tubbs hauled in a pass and was stopped at the Tiger 5-yard line. Two plays later, Mayson Elam dove into the end zone for the score. The PAT failed, but the Jags were within four at 13-9 with 3:03 to go in the half.

Bessemer returned the ensuing kick for a touchdown, but the play was called back due to a penalty. As a result, the half ended with the Tigers in the lead, 13-9.

10-17-2025 — Northridge’s Cullen Pilsch deflects a fourth down pass in the end zone to prevent a touchdown during the Jags game against the Bessemer City Tigers.

The Jags received the opening kick of the second half, but the drive stalled. The Tigers connected on a long pass for a touchdown with 9:51 to go in the quarter, but the PAT was blocked and the Bessemer lead was 19-9.

On the following Northridge possession, the Tigers picked off a Jaguar pass and the Jags’ 21-yard line. But, Tubbs returned the favor and picked off a Tiger pass in the end zone, on the next play.

10-17-2025 — Bessemer, Ala. — Northridge’s Demeriyan Cotton hauls in a touchdown pass during the Jags game against the Bessemer City Tigers.

After a 63-yard completion from Elam to Keith Powell, Demeriyan Cotton hauled in an Elam pass in the end zone with 6:58 to go in the third quarter. Finison tacked on the PAT and the Jags closed the Tiger lead to 19-16.

After trading a couple possessions, the Jags had the ball for a final attempt to win the game. Facing a 4th-and-8, with 1:28 remaining, Tye Welton hauled in a pass for a first down. Then, McCray made a catch, despite some visual interference, that had the Jags at the Tiger 6-yard line. Unfortunately, the Jags lost the handle on a run attempt and the Tigers recovered at the 2-yard line to seal the game.

10-17-2025 — Bessemer, Ala. — Northridge’s Jaylin McCray secures a contested pass during the Jags game against the Bessemer City Tigers.

Northridge (4-5, 2-4) will take a week off before traveling to Adamsville (Birmingham) to take on the Minor Tigers for the last regular season game of 2025.