What looked to be an insurmountable lead for Mortimer Jordan after the semifinals almost proved to be anything but.

But a dramatic win in the 171-pound finals by Josh Pate gave the Blue Devils the cushion they needed to win the 2010 Jefferson County Schools Wrestling Championship at Clay-Chalkville.

Jordan edged the hosts by 71/2 points to claim the title, the first win in a traditional-format tournament for Jordan in their wrestling program’s six-year history.

The Devils had been ahead of the Cougars by more than 30 points going into the finals, and had qualified seven wrestlers for championship finals plus four in consolation finals.

But as those finals progressed, the Devils came up on the short end of all but one, a technical-fall win by two-time state champ Brandon Brindley over Fultondale’s Nick Spradling.

Pate’s fate was in doubt as well, as he found himself down to David Harmon of Oak Grove 5-0 in the early going of their bout. But Pate scored a takedown and 3-point near-fall to tie the score, then scored another takedown of Harmon with less than a minute to go in the final period. Pate released Harmon for an intentional 1-point escape in an effort to get another takedown, but neither wrestler could gain an advantage before time expired.

The Pate-Harmon bout was voted best of the tournament by head coaches.

The end result proved that not everyone has to win their class to win a championship. Jordan coach Terry Tingle said.

“It doesn’t take 10 state champs to win a state championship. Whit it takes is 10 or 11 guys placing. That’s what we’re working toward,” Tingle said.

Pinson Valley finished third in the team standings, followed by defending two-time champion Gardendale. Fultondale placed fifth, and Corner was 11th.

Jeff Ingram won the 189-pound class by pin for the Wildcats. Connor Hayman took the 125-pound title for the Rockets, defeating Travis Shellnut of Jordan 4-2, and Andrew Todd won gold in the 152-pound finals by defeating Jordan’s Jake Jasper 2-0.

Team standings:

1. Mortimer Jordan 169.5; 2. Clay-Chalkville 162; 3. Pinson Valley 143.5; 4. Gardendale 113.5; 5. Fultondale 106; 6. Erwin 101.5; 7. McAdory 98; 8. Oak Grove 89; 9. Hueytown 77; 10. Minor 76; 11. Corner 26; 12. Shades Valley 3.

Full results of final matches:

103 pounds: Championship: Chris Jones (Erwin) 24-4 won by decision over Colt Alvis (Mortimer Jordan) 24-9 (Dec 7-3)

    Consolation: Logan Dawkins (Hueytown) 12-5 won by decision over Chris Isbell (Pinson Valley) 26-14 (Dec 9-4)

112:  Championship: Morgan Franks (Pinson Valley) 26-1 won by tech fall over Robert Hood (Erwin) 22-7 (TF 16-1)

    Consolation: Spencer Gargus (Clay-Chalkville) 25-14 won by pin over Lucas Lane (Mortimer Jordan) 18-14 (Pin 1:00)

119: Championship: Jesse Franks (Pinson Valley) 33-2 won by pin over Justin Mays (Mortimer Jordan) 24-7 (Pin 5:41)

    Consolation: Travis Norris (McAdory) 19-7 won by forfeit over Mason Absher (Corner) 15-7 (FF)

125: Championship: Connor Hayman (Gardendale) 24-1 won by decision over Travis Shelnutt (Mortimer Jordan) 27-4 (Dec 4-2)

    Consolation: Trey Norris (McAdory) 26-7 won by decision over Jordan Awtry (Oak Grove) 25-10 (Dec 5-0)

130: Championship: Ashton Jones (Clay-Chalkville) 40-2 won by tech fall over Brandon Roberts (Gardendale) 23-11 (TF 19-2)

    Consolation: Garrison Foster (McAdory) 25-7 won by pin over Anthony Smith (Pinson Valley) 21-12 (Pin 2:55)

135: Championship: Jacob Crocker (Pinson Valley) 27-3 won by decision over Craton Bush (McAdory) 25-6 (Dec 7-5)

    Consolation: Zachary Cummings (Fultondale) 38-10 won by decision over Elliott Conn (Mortimer Jordan) 17-6 (Dec 11-5)

140:  Championship: Brandon Brindley (Mortimer Jordan) 33-0 won by tech fall over Nick Spradling (Fultondale) 30-15 (TF 19-3)

    Consolation: Devonta Ravizee (Erwin) 20-8 won by decision over Jacob Howse (Mortimer Jordan) 9-5 (Dec 7-5)

145: Championship: John David Grissom (Clay-Chalkville) 26-5 won by major decision over Devyn McCombs (Mortimer Jordan) 27-4 (Maj 12-0)

    Consolation: Nick Weldon (Clay-Chalkville) 26-16 won by forfeit over Treddy Gray (Oak Grove) 10-9 (FF)

152: Championship: Andrew Todd (Gardendale) 29-1 won by decision over Jake Jasper (Mortimer Jordan) 25-9 (Dec 2-0)

    Consolation: Mitchell McFarling (Clay-Chalkville) 25-17 won by major decision over Cody Fortner (Pinson Valley) 21-12 (Maj 15-6)

160: Championship: Trey Belvin (Clay-Chalkville) 26-3 won by pin over Jordan Guidy (Pinson Valley) 17-13 (Pin 3:36)

    Consolation: Jonathan Hagler (Minor) 13-7 won by pin over Mitchell Holcomb (Fultondale) 33-15 (Pin 1:34)

171: Championship: Josh Pate (Mortimer Jordan) 28-5 won by decision over David Harmon (Oak Grove) 27-5 (Dec 7-6)

    Consolation: Micah Davis (Minor) 17-5 won by major decision over Chris Averette (Erwin) 15-9 (Maj 10-0)

189: Championship: Jeff Ingram (Fultondale) 46-4 won by pin over Tre King (Minor) 12-4 (Pin 0:40)

    Consolation: Rodderick Hubbard (Erwin) 21-10 won by decision over Fred Dunn (Clay-Chalkville) 14-9 (Dec 4-2)

Hvy: Championship: Adam Wright (Clay-Chalkville) 39-0 won by pin over Marcus Dawson (Hueytown) 13-6 (Pin 1:10)

    Consolation: Napoleon Nollie (Hueytown) 9-4 won by pin over Daniel Adkins (Gardendale) 14-22 (Pin 0:52)