Alabama High School Football Team Exploits Unique Fair Catch Rule To Win State Championship

Moody defeated Vigor to win the high school football Class 5A state championship in Alabama by a final score of 25-0. The Blue Devils took advantage of an unusual fair catch free kick to take a commanding lead into the locker room at halftime that they would never give back.

It is the easiest way to score from distance if your coach knows what he is doing!

This unique rule only applies to high school football and the NFL. To see it used in the state championship is extremely cool.

Moody dominated Vigor during the Alabama high school football championship.

Moody High School is located approximately 25 miles outside of Birmingham, Alabama. Founded in 1978, it enrolls ~675 students in Grades 9-12. Vigor High School is located in Mobile, Alabama. Founded in 1944, it enrolls ~600 students in Grades 9-12.

Both schools compete on the Class 5A level of high school football in Alabama. Both schools entered the state championship game at 12-2.

Although it appeared to be an even matchup on paper, the Blue Devils won their first state title over the Wolves by a final score of 25-0 in the pouring rain on Thursday night.

Running backs Le’Kamren Meadows and Kevin James combined for 285 yards on the ground. Moody held the ball for more than 30 minutes of a game. Quarterback Jake Lowery completed only two passes, both of which were on jet sweeps. It was just an extension of the run game.

The Blue Devils scored on a fair catch free kick.

Moody held a 15-0 lead over Vigor with just a few seconds left before halftime. The Wolves punted the ball away on fourth down on the second-to-last play of the second quarter.

The Blue Devils called for a fair catch at the 40-yard-line, which allowed them to kick a field goal as time expired on the first half. But not just any field goal — a free kick!

This rule only applies to high school and the NFL.

If a team calls for a fair catch anywhere on the field, that team has the option to attempt a free kick from that same spot on the very next play. A free kick more closely resembles a kickoff than a field goal. Both teams line up 10 yards apart and the kicker boots the ball off of a tee without a true snap.

There is just one glaring difference. If the kick goes through the uprights, it is worth three points.

Moody nailed its 50-yard free kick field goal attempt to extend its lead to 18.