The Stephenson Jaguars scored late in the fourth quarter and held off the McNair Mustangs for a 24-16 win on Saturday at Godfrey Stadium to advance to the Trail to the Title middle school football championship game.

Stephenson (8-0) was trailing 16-14 to McNair (7-1) when quarterback Gavin Kinchen scored on a nine-yard touchdown run with three minutes to play. Wayne Jenkins ran in the two-point conversion to make it 22-16.

The Jaguars would later get a safety on a fumble caused by Quentez Shaffer to close out the game with the 24-16 win.

Stephenson grabbed the early lead after stopping McNair on downs at the Mustang 18. Kinchen completed a short drive with a touchdown run. The two-point conversion failed to keep the margin at 6-0.

McNair came right back to take the lead behind a 27-yard touchdown run by Deontae Dougherty. Jaylen Alexander ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-6.

The Jaguars scored on a Kinchen quarterback sneak with 22 seconds to play in the first half and Kristian Folks added the two-point conversion to send Stephenson into the half up 14-8.

McNair struck back late in the third quarter as Alexander connected with Dougherty on a 33-yard touchdown pass play with 1:44 left in the quarter. Goni Santana ran in the two-point conversion and McNair took the 16-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

Stephenson is the defending Trail to the Title champions and can win back-to-back titles for the second time having won the 2004 and 2005 titles. A win in the championship game would give the Jaguars a county-best seven titles.

The Jaguars face off with the Cedar Grove Saints (6-2) for the title on Saturday at 10:00 am at Avondale Stadium.