Monday, August 24, 2026

Northridge High School Jaguars Sports (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

FootballSports

Jags don’t fare well against heat, Patriots in opener

Michael Clements

The Northridge Jaguars ran up against two opponents on Friday night when they traveled across the river to take on the American Christian Academy Patriots. (Some might even say three opponents, but we shall refrain from naming the third.) After seeing the Patriots take a 7-0 lead after one quarter, the Jags evened things up at the half, 7-7. The Patriots grabbed a slim lead early in the third then stretched it to 28-7 before the Jags eventually got back on the board midway through the final quarter. Cramps and heat timeouts prolonged the outcome, with the Jags walking away with a 28-14 loss a little after 10 o’clock on Thursday night.

The 2026 season got off to an ominous start when the Jags fumbled the opening kickoff and the Patriots recovered at the Jag 23 yard line. The short field drive saw the Patriots convert on a fourth down and score three plays later, giving them a 7-0 lead early.

8-20-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Damarcus Wilder breaks into the open during the Jaguars game against the ACA Patriots.

The Jags moved the ball well and drove down inside the ACA 15-yard line. A penalty backed them up a bit and the drive ended with a missed field goal at the 2:03 mark of the first quarter.

Northridge had another opportunity to put points on the board at the 9:52 mark of the second quarter, only to see that opportunity sail wide right on a field goal attempt.

Following a big defensive stop on a fourth down conversion try by ACA, Max Bruinton hit Tate Espey on a screen pass in the right flat and Epsey turned it into a 60+ yard touchdown. But, hold on. There was a flag on the play.

8-20-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Tate Espey runs free after eluding a would-be tackler during the Jaguars game against the ACA Patriots.

With only 23.5 seconds to go in the half, Julian Crenshaw picked off a Patriot pass and gave the Jags a boost of momentum. Bruinton followed by finding Demeriyan Cotton over the middle and Cotton raced to the end zone for the Jags’ first touchdown of the season with 17.7 seconds to go in the second quarter. Hicks Finison tacked on the PAT, knotting the score up at 7-7, which held until the horn sounded for halftime.

In a case of turn-about fair play, the Patriots fumbled the opening kick of the second half and the Jags recovered at the ACA 12-yard line. Unfortunately, another field goal attempt sailed wide right at the 10:39 mark of the third quarter and the Jags came away empty.

The Patriots next drive ended with a touchdown and a missed PAT, resulting in a 13-7 lead for the Patriots with 9:06 remaining in the third quarter.

8-20-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Max Bruinton throws a pass during the Jaguars game against the ACA Patriots.

On their ensuing drive, the Jags turned it over on downs at the 8:00 minute mark. However, Da’marcus Wilder picked off a Patriot pass, but the Jags had a pass intercepted in the end zone to end their drive with 3:33 to go in the third quarter.

The Patriots found the end zone again at the 9:12 mark of the fourth quarter and completed the 2-point conversion for a 21-7 lead. After intercepting another Jag pass, ACA scored their final touchdown with 7:27 to go in the final quarter. The PAT resulted in a 28-7 lead for the Patriots.

The Jags did get on the board one more time, when Wilder walked in from three yards out with 6:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Finison’s PAT gave us the final score of the night, with the Patriots leading 28-14.

8-20-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Demeriyan Cotton attempts to elude a tackler during the Jaguars game against the ACA Patriots.

Offensively, Bruinton completed 17 of 32 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown. Magnus Greimel led the Jags with 49 yards on 10 carries. Wilder finished with 33 yards on six carries with one touchdown. Bruiton totaled 18 yards on three carries and Carson Mooney had one carry for six yards (and it was for a first down). Cotton hauled in six passes for 96 yards with one touchdown. Espey finished with 40 yards on four catches. Dre Young caught six passes for 31 yards. And Austin Posey had two catches for 18 yards.

Defensively, Jaden Wright led the Jags with eight solo tackles and one assist. Wilder had five solos, three assists and one interception. Javeon Jenkins had six solos and two assists, one of those being a sack. Anthony Hyche, Jr., Trindon Henderson, Christian McLaurin and Cullen Pilsch were credited with five total tackles. Zaine Rymond totaled four tackles. Crenshaw had three tackles and one interception with a 30-yard return.

The Jags will be at The Ridge this Friday night, for the home opener, hosting the Demopolis Tigers.