SPANISH FORT, Ala. - The Spanish Fort Toros defeated the Saraland Spartans 24-14 on Friday in an AHSAA state semifinal and advanced to their second consecutive Class 5A state championship game.

PHOTOS: Spanish Fort vs. Saraland

The defending champion Toros (14-0) will face Muscle Shoals (13-1) on Thursday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa for the championship.

"Our coaches have done a great job," Spanish Fort head coach Mark Freeman said after his team's win against the Spartans (12-2) on Friday. "I love our kids and I love our coaches."

Spanish Fort sophomore quarterback Tyler Johnston had two rushing touchdowns and Michael Howard rushed for a third for the Toros, who fought back from a 14-10 deficit in the fourth quarter.

The Toros scored first when Alexander Theodore hit a 34-yard field goal at 5:16 in the first quarter. Saraland answered with a six-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 40-yard touchdown pass from John Ward. Johnston scored his first rushing touchdown in the second quarter and the Toros led 10-7 at the half.

In the third Saraland's Skylar Mosley intercepted a Johnston pass and returned it from near midfield to the Spanish Fort 9. Ward connected with Leander Burrowes for a 9-yard score on the next play and the Spartans led 14-10 with 5:04 left in the third.

Spanish Fort drove 81 yards on runs from Trey Shabel and Johnston, who scored his second touchdown of the night from two yards out on the first play in the fourth quarter. Howard's 11-yard touchdown run later in the fourth sealed the win for the Toros.

"That was a heck of a team we played," Freeman said of Saraland's effort. "They did a great job over there. Their kids played hard. The game was about like we thought it would be. Could have been even closer. It was just a great game."