Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Northridge High School Jaguars Sports (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

FootballSports

Jags fend off Gophers for 35-27 Homecoming win

Michael Clements

The Northridge Jaguars picked up a Homecoming victory to even up their win-loss record on the season on Friday evening at The Ridge. After holding a 7-0 lead at the half, the Jags traded volleys with the visiting Hueytown Golden Gophers, before hanging on for a 35-27 victory.

After a first quarter that saw each team only record one possession and no scoring, the Jags put the first points of the game (and only points of the first half) on the board. After the second Jag possession stalled, punter Tregre Benoit rolled a punt out at the Gopher’s 12-yard line. The Northridge defense, with the help of a Trindon Henderson third down sack, blocked a Hueytown punt and returned it to the Gopher 14 yard-line. After a pass interference call in the end zone, Da’marcus Wilder punched it in with a 2-yard run at the 2:15 mark of the second quarter. Hicks Finison added the PAT to give the Jags a 7-0 lead that would carry into halftime.

10-16-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Demeriyan Cotton almost makes a catch under duress in the end zone during the Jaguars win over the Hueytown Golden Gophers. The interference call would help set up a touchdown for the Jags.

Hueytown got on the board with 7:02 remaining in the third quarter, with a short touchdown pass. However, the kick failed, leaving the Jags with a 7-6 advantage.

Julian Crenshaw extended the Northridge lead with a 3-yard touchdown run with 5:00 remaining in the third quarter. Finison’s kick gave the Jags a 14-6 lead, which carried to the end of the quarter.

10-16-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Julian Crenshaw slips the tackle of a Golden Gopher during the Jaguars win over Hueytown.

The Gophers attempted to tie the game with 10:27 remaining, when they scored on a 2-yard run. However, their 2-point conversion attempt was a failure that left the Jags with a 14-12 lead.

After a kick into the end zone, Demeriyan Cotton got into the scoring column with an 80-yard catch-and-run on the first play of the Jags’ ensuing possession. Finison’s extra point gave Northridge a 21-12 lead with 10:27 to go in the game.

10-16-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Da’marcus Wilder leaps into the end zone as Dre Young removes a potential tackler during the Jaguars win over the Hueytown Golden Gophers.

Following a defensive stand by the Jags that resulted in a turnover on downs by the Gophers, Wilder notched his second touchdown run, a 4-yarder, with 6:35 to go. Another Finison PAT resulted in a 28-12 lead for Northridge.

Hueytown didn’t throw in the towel and scored on a 50-yard touchdown pass with 5:14 to go. A 2-point conversion was successful and the result was a 28-20 advantage in favor of the Jaguars.

10-16-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Max Bruinton rumbles down the sideline for a touchdown during the Jaguars win over the Hueytown Golden Gophers.

On Northridge’s next possession, Max Bruinton got loose for a 25-yard touchdown run on the home side of the field and Finison added his final extra point. That gave the Jags a 35-20 lead with 2:03 to go in the final quarter.

Hueytown was able to get a quick touchdown with 1:30 to go. The PAT got the Gophers within eight at 35-27. The ensuing on-side kick attempt was recovered by the Jags and they were able to run out the clock to secure the Homecoming win.

10-16-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Ashton Spates takes down a ball carrier during the Jaguars win over the Hueytown Golden Gophers.

Bruinton completed four of six passes for 121 yards and one touchdown. Crenshaw had 18 carries for 159 yards with one touchdown. Wilder totaled 105 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns. Bruinton had five carries for 25 yards with one touchdown.

Cotton caught three passes for 113 yards with one touchdown. Austin Posey caught one pass for eight yards.

10-16-2026 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Zaine Rymond latches onto Hueytown’s quarterback before completing a sack during the Jaguars win over the Golden Gophers.

(Defensive stats were not available.)

The win evened up the Jags 2026 record at 4-4 (3-3) with two games remaining. Northridge will host the Central Falcons on Friday.