BIRMINGHAM – Mars Hill Bible School entered the fourth quarter of Thursday’s Class 3A championship game against Bayside Academy at Protective Stadium in an unfamiliar position – locked in a tight game.

The Panthers (15-0) entered the game having scored at least 41 points in its 14 wins and won them all by at least 24 points. When Bayside Academy’s Davis Barnett threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Walker Collins in the final minute of the third quarter, it cut Mars Hill’s lead to 17-14 and put the Panthers in a situation they hadn’t faced this season.

“That’s why you put in all that work (in the offseason),” Mars Hill coach Darrell Higgins said. “When it happened, we were ready for it.”

Mars Hill responded with three fourth-quarter touchdown drives and pulled away for a 38-21 victory. The w

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