DECATUR – The Bob Jones Patriots kept their post-season hopes alive Friday by ruining Austin’s chance to wrap up a spot in the playoffs.

Bob Jones came from behind to shock 9th ranked Austin, 36-28, after the Black Bears led 21-3 in the second quarter.

An Austin win would have knocked Bob Jones out of the playoffs and decided the four teams representing Class 7A, Region 4: James Clemens, Sparkman, Austin and Florence.

“It was huge win. I’m super proud of our team and our coaches,” Bob Jones Coach Kevin Rose said. “We challenged our offensive line and our defensive line, and told them that they were going to have to win the game, and they did.”

The Bob Jones win leaves five teams playing for four spots in the final week of region play. James Clemens (6-2, 6-0) leads the region after a 49-3 win over Sparkman (7-1, 5-1). Austin (6-2, 4-2) and Florence (5-4, 4-2) are tied for third. Bob Jones (4-5, 3-3) sits in fifth. The Patriots have not missed the playoffs in 14 years.

Friday’s schedule has Austin at James Clemens, Sparkman at Florence and Bob Jones at Huntsville.

Bob Jones came out showing plenty of fight. The Patriots took the opening kickoff and marched to the Austin 4 before being pushed back and settling for a 3-0 lead on a 38-yard field goal.

The lead didn’t last long. Austin returned the kickoff to its 49. On the next play, quarterback Quincy Crittendon flipped a quick pass to Tybo Williams, who turned it into a 51-yard touchdown that made it 7-3.

Austin went up 14-3 early in the second quarter on Jevon Jackson’s 39-yard run. It was 21-3 with 1:06 left in the half when Crittendon connected with Williams on a 39-yard touchdown pass.

Bob Jones still had time to strike. The Patriots used three pass completions and a late hit penalty on Austin to move the ball to the Black Bears’ 18. From there, quarterback Caden Rose hit Kelly Fields on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left in the half to make it 21-10.

An interception gave Bob Jones the ball at its 34 less than two minutes into the quarter. Running back Jacob Guyton then went 66 yards for a touchdown, and the Austin lead was down to 21-17.

Bob Jones then scored touchdowns on its next two possessions to take 30-21 lead with 10:10 left in the fourth quarter.

Austin answered with a six-yard touchdown run to make it a 30-28 game with 7:35 to play.

After the touchdown, the Black Bears held on defense and the offense got the ball back at the Bob Jones 47 with 6:03 to play. The drive stalled at the Bob Jones 31 when a fourth down pass fell incomplete. It was too far to attempt a go-ahead field goal.

On the next play, Guyton ran 64 yards to the Austin 5. Bob Jones scored on the next play to make it 36-28. The snap for the extra point attempt was low and a pass into the end zone failed, keeping the lead at eight points with 1:52 left to play.

Austin took the kickoff at the 30 and moved to the Bob Jones 31, but a desperation pass into the end zone fell incomplete as time expired.