BIRMINGHAM – UMS-Wright quickly found a winning formula in the Class 4A state championship game: Long drives and passes from Bragg Foshee to William Reaves.

The Bulldogs went 97 yards and 98 yards for their first two touchdowns Thursday to deliver an early knockout and beat Cherokee County 41-7 for their fourth state title of the decade and the fifth overall.

Foshee completed two passes to Reaves for 72 yards during the opening drive, which ended with a 1-yard run by Nicholas Laskay. Reaves then caught a 36-yard pass from Foshee for the second score on the way to a 4A record 181 yards receiving on eight catches.

Reaves, who’s listed at 5-foot-9 and 159 pounds, was named the game MVP.

UMS-Wright (13-2) spoiled the dreams of a first championship for Cherokee County (14-1) on a cold, breezy night at Legion Field, where temperatures were in the 30s and fans bundled up in blankets.

The UMS-Wright offense piled up 489 yards, and its defense held the Warriors to only 191 yards. Parker Hollinghead led the UMS-Wright defense with nine tackles, including three for a loss.

Christopher Dukes had touchdown runs of 26 and 5 yards for UMS-Wright and led all rushers with 164 yards on 27 carries. Brandon Lee scored on a 6-yard run for the Bulldogs and Alex Gilmore rushed 3 yards for a late score.

Cherokee County’s only points came with just 3:17 remaining, when Jacob Morgan bulled his way into the end zone on a 1-yard run.

Foshee, a junior, completed 12-of-14 passes for 232 yards without an interception.

UMS-Wright is located in Mobile; Cherokee County is in Centre near the Georgia line.