Catholic shuts out Cherokee County to win 4A State Football Championship

Knights QB and Class 4A Championship Game MVP Caleb McCreary (1), fending off Turner, Warriors defender Jace rushes for 197 yards and three TDs in the 35-0 win. (Photo from AHSAA)

Montgomery’s Catholic High School has won the Class 4A football state championship at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, after shutting out Cherokee County 35-0 today.

Caleb McCreary scored three touchdowns and threw for another.

Catholic ends the season 15-0. This championship is the Knights’ first.

Montgomery Catholic (15-0), coached by Kirk Johnson, earned its eighth shutout of the season and won its first AHSAA state football championship as the 2023 Super 7 State Football Championships opened its final day Friday.

“It’s a collective win,” head coach Kirk Johnson told Josh Bean of the AHSAA. “People talk about our defense and how little points we give up. Man, bump that. We have to play complimentary football, and we did that.”

Cherokee County (13-2), coached by Jacob Kelley, finished as Class 4A runner-up for the second straight season.

“It’s tough to end this way and have this taste in your mouth,” Kelley said.