Saturday, March 7, 2026

Northridge High School Jaguars Sports (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

FootballSports

Jags ground Eagles for 41-21 Season Opening Win

Michael Clements

The Northridge Jaguars got off to a promising start to the 2025 season, taking down the Calera Eagles, 41-21, at The Ridge. The Jags took a 21-0 lead a couple minutes into the second quarter and held off the Eagles for a 20-point win to kick off the four game season opening streak. Senior running back Jaylin McCray bagged three touchdowns on the night and tight end Adam Hall returned to the gridiron for his senior season, hauling in two touchdown passes from fellow senior Mayson Elam. Defensively, seniors Ford Cole and Grayson Cannon intercepted Calera passes, with Cole recording two picks and Cannon picked off one. (Cannon would have had two, but was ruled out of bounds in the end zone on one of the picks).

8-22-2025 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Jaylin McCray eludes a would-be tackler during the Jaguars’ victory over the visiting Calera Eagles.

The Eagles won the toss and elected to defer their choice to the second half. The Jags made the decision work in their favor, when McCray started up the middle then tracked to the home sideline and scampered 35 yards for a touchdown. Freshman placekicker Hicks Finison tacked on the PAT, giving the Jags a 7-0 lead with 8:52 remaining in the opening quarter.

After the Northridge defense forced the Eagles to punt, Elam and Tate Espey connected on a long pass that Espey took down to the Eagles’ 2-yard line. McCray notched his second TD of the evening on the next play and, with Finison’s PAT, the Jags pushed their lead to 14-0 with 3:05 to go in the first quarter.

8-22-2025 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Brylon Tubbs (2), Miller Arendale (back) and Ford Cole (right) converge to tackle a ball carrier during the Jaguars’ victory over the visiting Calera Eagles.

Cole put an end to Calera’s ensuing possession with his first interception of the game. That pick paid off for the Jags when Elam and Hall connected in the end zone for their first touchdown of the night, good for 16 yards, just under two minutes into the second quarter. Finison added the PAT and the Jags were up 21-0 with 10:18 to go in the second quarter.

Calera got on the board with 8:12 left before haltime, on a long TD pass. The PAT closed the Northridge lead to 21-7. The teams traded scoreless possessions for the remainder of the first half, with the Jags final possession resulting with the clock running out.

8-22-2025 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Mayson Elam throws a pass during the Jaguars’ victory over the visiting Calera Eagles.

After receiving the opening second half kickoff, the Eagles made things a little interesting after a short TD pass and PAT closed the Jaguar lead to 21-14 with 8:28 to go in the third quarter.

Northridge responded on their next possession, with the second Elam-to-Hall touchdown combo – this time, a 21 yard catch-and-run. An errant snap led to an unsuccessful PAT, giving the Jags a 27-14 lead with 4:42 remaining in the third quarter.

8-22-2025 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Adam Hall crosses the goal line for his second touchdown of the night during the Jaguars’ victory over the visiting Calera Eagles.

The Eagles’ next possession was snuffed out with Cole’s second interception of the game. McCray made the most of Cole’s efforts, scoring his third rushing touchdown of the night on a 2-yard run. Finison was true on his PAT attempt, giving the Jaguars a 34-14 lead with 1:05 to go in the third quarter.

Cannon got his first recorded interception of the season, on Calera’s next possession. The catch was marked at the 9-yard line and the Jags couldn’t muster a drive, ending with Tregre Benoit punting out of his own end zone. The punt traveled over the 50-yard line and the bobbled reception left the Eagles starting their possession a little over mid-field. Calera was able to cash in, on a 21-yard touchdown pass and PAT. The Eagles pulled within 13 with 7:59 to go in the game, 34-21.

8-22-2025 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Cruz Lee hangs onto a handful of jersey as Kaideyn Rice wraps up a ball carrier and others converge during the Jaguars’ victory over the visiting Calera Eagles.

Northridge responded when Tye Welton made a sliding catch on the home sideline, at the 2-yard line. Damarcus Wilder got the call and recorded his first touchdown of the year, on the next play. Another Finison PAT resulted in the final Jag advantage of 41-21, with 5:08 to go in the game.

The final notable play of the night was the Jaguar defense stopping the Eagles on a 4th-down attempt with 1:41 to go. Northridge ran a couple plays from the victory set and let the clock run out, claiming a 41-21 season opening victory at home.

8-22-2025 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Keith Powell prepares to haul in a pass during the Jaguars’ victory over the visiting Calera Eagles.

Northridge finished with 156 yards on the ground and 287 through the air for a total of 443 yards of offense. (More precise stats will be available in next week’s Tale of the Tape.)

The Jags (1-0, 0-0)continue their four game home stand to open the season, when they host the American Christian Academy Patriots at The Ridge next week.

8-22-2025 — Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Northridge’s Miller Arendale, Cruz Lee and others converge to stop a ball carrier during the Jaguars’ victory over the visiting Calera Eagles.