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Photo by Todd Lester
Clay-Chalkville celebrates following the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Saraland FS,WR Adrian Martin(0) and Saraland SS,FS Tamidrae Sewer(5) combine to tackle Clay-Chalkville QB Aaron Frye (1) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville DL Keith Richmond (13) and Clay-Chalkville OLB Javiyeen Taylor (11) combine to sack Saraland QB Jamison Roberts (10) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville DL Jaylen Cole (20) breaks up a pass to Saraland WR Adrian Martin (0) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville WR Corey Barber (2) tackles Saraland WR Deshawn Spencer (2) and during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville head coach Stuart Floyd during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville WR Corey Barber (2) runs after a catch during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville TE Nasir Ray (17) catches a pass during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Saraland FS Brayden Clifton (3) attempts to tackle Clay-Chalkville QB Aaron Frye (1) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville QB Aaron Frye (1) attempts a pass during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville OLB Leland Johnson (12) tackles Saraland QB Jamison Roberts(10) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville QB Aaron Frye (1) scores a touchdown during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Photo by Todd Lester
Clay-Chalkville DL Jaylen Cole (20) defends a pass attempt by Saraland QB Jamison Roberts(10) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Saraland MLB Ayindae Pugh (9) looks to tackle Saraland WR LarryE dwards (6) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville OLB Jamario Yadao (9) tackles Saraland WR LarryE dwards(6) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville QB Aaron Frye (1) runs the football during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville WR Corey Barber (2) runs after a catch during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Saraland SS Tamidrae Sewer(5) tackles Clay-Chalkville TE Nasir Ray (17) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville QB Aaron Frye (1) runs for a touchdown during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville OLB G'Kobi Robertson (44) celebrates Clay-Chalkville's win during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville DL Keith Richmond (13) and Clay-Chalkville DL Carlos Pope (26) combine to sack Saraland QB Jamison Roberts(10) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville ILB Isaiah Brown (15) tackles Saraland QB Jamison Roberts(10) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville OLB Jamario Yadao (9) tackles Saraland FS Adrian Martin(0) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville RB Aaron Robinson (21) returns a kickoff during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Photo by Todd Lester
Clay-Chalkville ILB Isaiah Brown (15) celebrates during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Photo by Todd Lester
Clay-Chalkville QB Aaron Frye (1) runs the football during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville DL Colton McIntyre (5) and Clay-Chalkville DL Keith Richmond (13) combine to tackle Saraland QB Jamison Roberts(10) during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
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Clay-Chalkville WR Jacari Johnson (8) runs for a touchdown after a catch during the AHSAA Class 6A state football championship between Clay-Chalkville and Saraland December 5, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, AL. Photo by Todd Lester
BIRMINGHAM – It was déjà vu from the same stage 729 days ago.
In a rematch of the 2023 state championship, Clay-Chalkville High School once again toppled Saraland, 38-21, in the Class 6A title game on Friday night at Protective Stadium, to conclude the Super 7 and the Alabama high school football season.
The 2023 matchup was a classic, one of the best games in Super 7 history. But the Cougars ensured Friday night’s game did not have the same dramatic flair.
Part of the reason for that was a singular focus Clay-Chalkville (15-0) has had all season long, never getting over the disappointment of losing in the second round of the state playoffs last fall.
The Cougars were rarely threatened and met all challenges, especially their final one at the end of the road against a Saraland team making its fourth consecutive state title game appearance.
“It’s been a crazy year, a crazy two years,” Clay-Chalkville head coach Stuart Floyd said following the game. “They’ve had goals and made a commitment to each other.”
Aaron Frye stole the show one final time in his high school career, capping off a brilliant season with another fantastic game. He totaled five touchdowns, two passing and three rushing. He completed 8-of-10 passes for 167 yards and rushed 15 times for 183 yards.
“That feeling is amazing,” he said of lifting the state trophy and winning MVP of the championship game. “This team has put in a lot of work for 11 or 12 months. It got cut short last year, so to go on this journey with this team means the world.”
Frye signed with Alabama State earlier in the week, and his head coach said the Hornets are “getting a steal” in the signal caller who became just the third Clay-Chalkville quarterback to post a season with 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, joining Tyrrell Pigrome and Jaylen Mbakwe.
The transformation in Frye from filling in a couple times in 2023 to being the full-time starter the last two years has been evident for all to see.
“I had some jitters as a sophomore, but calmed down when I got in,” he said. “I didn’t play up to Clay’s standard last year, as a starting quarterback losing three games. I had a different mindset over the summer break and worked harder than I ever have before.”
Clay-Chalkville was ready to go from the outset Friday night, scoring on three of its four drives in the first half. The Cougars hit an explosive play to get on the board first, as Frye rolled out to his left and hit a wide open Jacari Johnson, who bolted the rest of the way for a 66-yard score. Johnson has had a penchant for coming up with big grabs down the stretch, capitalizing on his opportunity with the attention superstar receiver Corey Barber garners.
“Today, coach called my name and I made a play,” Johnson said.
The Cougars forced punts on each of Saraland’s first three drives, and went up 10-0 following the second of those. Clay got near the red zone on its second possession, before settling for Joseph Del Toro’s 38-yard field goal late in the first quarter.
Clay-Chalkville scored on another big play to go up 17-0 midway through the second quarter, as Frye ran 39 yards for the score.
Saraland remained afloat, albeit barely, at the end of the first half. On fourth and goal from the 2-yard line, Jamison Roberts scrambled and found Eddie Turner in the end zone to cut the deficit to 17-7 at the break.
Each team scored on its first drive of the second half. Clay managed to score after finding itself in a second-and-32 situation. A couple plays later, on fourth and 8, Frye found Nasir Ray running wide open down the seam for a 37-yard score.
“They’ve been integral parts,” Floyd said of Ray and Johnson. “We couldn’t run our offense without Nasir, he’s our Swiss Army knife, we can run any personnel grouping we want with him. He has a rare skill set.”
Saraland responded with a quick score, as Roberts found DeShawn Spencer over the middle for a 28-yarder to make it 24-14.
Frye capped off his championship night with rushing touchdowns of 4 and 56 yards to stretch the lead to 38-14. Saraland scored on its final drive for the final tally.
Joshua Woods also ran 14 times for 66 yards for the Cougars.
As impressive as Clay-Chalkville’s offensive showing was, the defense was equally as disruptive to Saraland’s typically lethal offensive attack. The Cougars tied a Super 7 record with eight sacks on the night, with Zay Brown leading the way with 2.5 sacks. Brown credited the preparation throughout the week, led by backup quarterback CJ Eldridge on the scout team.
Brown led the team with 10 tackles as well. Xavier Starks racked up seven tackles, with Brayden Butler, Jamario Yadao and Keylon Curry-Stewart adding six each.
Floyd gave immense credit to his assistant coaches. Offensive coaches Preston Hatcher and Kyle Dickerson formed a great tandem leading charge of the offense, while defensive coordinator Jake Helveston’s defense was lights out almost the entire season.
Floyd joins a rare club with the win, having won state titles at Clay-Chalkville as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
“My own personal coaching journey is nothing short of God putting me where I couldn’t put myself,” he said. “To be sitting here at this podium with these guys at this moment, I can’t put it into words other than, ‘Thank you, Lord.’”
Floyd knows the focus shifts quickly. The talk will soon become about next year’s team, but on Friday night, Clay-Chalkville grabbed the state title for the fifth time in program history, joining the 1999, 2014, 2021 and 2023 teams in the record books.
“We left a good legacy,” Brown said. “We made history, going 15-0, and we’ve got a young team. We’ll definitely be back.”
