Biggersville Lions stun Velma Jackson in 53-49 thriller to win 2023 MHSAA Class 1A State Championship
OXFORD — Biggersville was down in Thursday’s MHSAA Class 1A Championship, but they weren’t out.
Trailing by nine points with five minutes to go, the Lions scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to stun previously unbeaten Velma Jackson 53-49 and clinched the 2023 MHSAA State Championship.
After trimming the Velma Jackson lead to 49-47, Biggersville got a defensive stop and great field position following a muffed snap on the Falcons' punt attempt.
It took five plays, but quarterback Drew Rousey led the Lions to the goal line and found senior Tre Gunn on an option pitch for a two-yard touchdown that gave Biggersville (12-1) the lead with nine seconds on the clock.
The Falcons (13-1) had time for one final play from their own 36-yard line, but the Lions’ defense ran receiver Tyshun Willis out of bounds at the Lions’ 19-yard line as time expired to seal the win.
“We fought and we fought and we never quit,” Biggersville coach Case Ingram said. “Nobody gave us a chance this week. I had people tweeting at me that we were David to their Goliath. I told our guys we are the best team in the state in 1A, and we just proved it on this field tonight.”
The thrilling finish was a fitting end to a game that went off the rails early and stayed that way for four quarters.
Velma Jackson led it 21-7 after the first quarter, but Biggersville outscored the Falcons 21-6 in the second quarter and took a 28-27 lead into the halftime break.
The two teams combined for 1,005 yards of total offense and 15 touchdowns.
Velma Jackson senior tailback and freshly minted Mr. Football for Class 1A was as-advertised, rushing for 316 yards and six touchdowns on 28 carries.
But it wasn’t enough — Rousey completed 21 of his 25 passes for 373 yards and six touchdowns to earn MVP honors. Gunn finished with six catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns and added 77 rushing yards with two more scores on the ground. Brooks Seago brought in seven passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
“We fought tooth and nail to the very end,” Rousey said. “We saw on film they like to send pressure up the middle, so we felt like the slant (routes) were going to be there. I trust my receivers and knew they’d make the plays.”
And so they did.
The championship was the first in the history of the Biggersville football program that dates back to 1971. Over the past two decades, the Lions were 1-96 in games in which they gave up 40 or more points.
On Thursday, they were 1-0.
“Velma Jackson was just as good as we thought they were,” Ingram said. “And Gavin Griffin is an absolute stud. I’m just so proud of our guys. They never showed any sign of backing off, and that makes you really proud as a coach.”
Photos by Austin Frayser
MHSAA Class 1A Championship: Biggersville vs. Velma Jackson
Photo by Austin Frayser
