CITY SECTION FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS : Birmingham Puts End to Wilson’s Comeback, Season

After teammate and best friend Marvin Powell went down to injury, Courtney Blount took it upon himself to lead his Birmingham team to victory.

“When Marvin got hurt, that inspired us to play,” said the Birmingham running back. “I had to do it for Marvin because he would do it for me.”

Blount rushed for 209 yards and three touchdowns in 21 carries as Birmingham topped Wilson, 27-20, in a City Section 4-A semifinal game at Wilson.

Powell suffered a mild concussion at 7:08 in the second quarter after being tackled by Wilson defensive back Jaime Munoz. Powell was taken to County-USC Medical Center.

After Blount scored his third touchdown of the game on a 14-yard run that put the Braves ahead, 27-13, with 11:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, Wilson fought back.

Mule quarterback Eddie Gonzales, who was 11 of 22 for 191 yards, connected with Luis Sanchez for his only touchdown of the game on a 40-yard pass to bring Wilson within 27-20 at the 8:16 mark.

After stopping Birmingham on downs, Wilson got the ball at its 48-yard line with .44 seconds left.

Gonzales drove the Mules to the Birmingham 15-yard line but his third-down pass to Sanchez was intercepted by defensive back Rick Courtney in the end zone.

“Birmingham is a really good football team,” said Wilson coach Eddie Martinez. “We couldn’t stop their running game.”

Blount, who rushed for 148 yards in the first half, scored on runs of 19 and 1 yard, the second of which put Birmingham ahead, 12-7.

Gonzales, who rushed for 27 yards in seven carries, scored on a one-yard run to give Wilson a 13-12 halftime lead.