EJ Crowell, an Alabama signee and five-star recruit, showcased his exceptional talent by rushing for 304 yards and scoring five touchdowns, leading Jackson to a commanding victory in the Class 4A championship game. The showdown took place at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 5, 2025.
This impressive performance included a record-breaking effort that surpassed the previous Class 4A Super 7 record set 25 years ago by Rayvon Howard of T.R. Miller. In two prior encounters against St. Michael Catholic, which featured the top two teams in the state, Crowell accumulated a remarkable total of 566 yards and six touchdowns on just 46 carries.
Jackson”s head coach, Flournoy, praised Crowell, stating, “EJ is amazing. In the big moments, he is always at his best. We were beat up all year up front, but he just kept on chugging.” Flournoy, who had been conservative in using Crowell throughout the season, opted to unleash him in this crucial game. By the end of the third quarter, Crowell had already tallied 252 rushing yards and all five touchdowns.
Flournoy emphasized the importance of Crowell leading the state in rushing, indicating it was a priority for the offensive line. Crowell expressed his ambition to win the prestigious Mr. Football award, saying, “Winning Mr. Football has been a goal all my life. I”ve really been concentrating on helping our team win again. But if it does happen, it will be the best day of my life.”
Looking ahead, Crowell confirmed his participation in the upcoming Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic scheduled for next Saturday in Hattiesburg, before he reports to Tuscaloosa on January 5. He is eager to tackle the challenges that await him at the college level.
Flournoy is confident that Crowell is ready to make an immediate impact on the field for the Tide. “He”s physically ready. He”ll have to learn the speed of the game, and we know he won”t be able to reverse field and just run away from people at that level. But when it comes to running downhill and hitting the hole, he”s ready,” Flournoy remarked.
Jackson also noted, “He was about what I thought and better. He”s a special young man. Special men like that don”t come around often. He”s a generational-type guy with his vision, speed, and agility. I told my guys all the time to just give people their due credit. If they are good, say they are good. And he”s really good.”
