Parker takes down Saraland in Alabama 6A state title game

A nearly perfect season ended in a perfect manner Friday night for Birmingham (Ala.) Parker High School.

In a clash between two star-studded programs, the Thundering Herd defeated Saraland (Ala.) 28-17 in the Alabama 6A state championship game Friday night.

Title-winning Parker features several ranked prospects — including Five-Star Plus+ Oregon signee Na’eem Offord, four-star junior and Alabama commit Vodney Cleveland, four-star Auburn signee Jourdin Crawford, Tennessee signee Timothy Merritt and Washington signee Caleb Smith.

On the flip side, Saraland is plenty talented itself. Four-star Texas signee K.J. Lacey quarterbacks the squad with Ole Miss signee Dillon Alfred out at receiver and Auburn signee Antonio Coleman holding down the defense.

Of Parker’s 326 yards, 252 came on the ground with Offord leading the team in rushing with 98 yards and two scores.

Future Longhorn K.J. Lacey was 11-of-24 passing for 226 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

With the state championship win, Parker completed an impressive 14-1 season with its lone loss coming back in September to a Julian Lewis-led Carrollton (Ga.) squad.

Friday night marked Saraland’s first loss of the season. The Spartans walked into the game 13-0 on the year.

More on Parker star Na’eem Offord

On National Signing Day, Oregon flipped Five-Star Plus+ cornerback Na’eem Offord away from Ohio State. Offord had been committed to the Buckeyes since Feb. 4, but Auburn and Oregon continued to push hard for a flip throughout his recruitment.

Down the stretch, all signs appeared to be pointing to the home-state Tigers. Then, on the morning of Signing Day, Oregon began picking up steam behind the scenes before ultimately landing the No. 3 corner in the class.

“The atmosphere was crazy. We always enjoy going out to Oregon,” Offord’s father told Scoop Duck in October. “The times we’ve been out there everybody likes Oregon on our end. From Mom, to me to him, just like we like Ohio State … Dan Lanning, we love him as a head coach. I do—great guy,” he added. “I see what Coach Lanning is building out there, so we’re kind of watching everything under a microscope.”