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The lone stat that properly reflected the Hoover High football team’s domination of Hewitt-Trussville on Friday night was shown on the Hoover Met scoreboard. Fortunately, for the Bucs, that is ultimately the only stat which really matters.
So, despite outgaining the Huskies by a single yard and running 14 less offensive plays, the Bucs scored 31 points before halftime and eventually claimed a 38-0 victory that forced a three-way tie for second place in Class 7A, Region 3 play.
“I’m just proud of our kids,” said Hoover head coach Josh Niblett, whose team converted just 3-of-13 third downs. “We challenged them all week and we challenged ourselves to compete. I think that’s what we were missing – just compete and play and let’s have some fun.”
It certainly was much more fun for the Bucs (7-2 overall, 5-2 Class 7A, Region 3) than last week during a 20-13 loss to Vestavia. The setback marked Hoover’s second region loss in three games and had people doubting the Bucs' ability to challenge for a fourth consecutive Class 7A state title.
Friday’s result sent the message that it might be too early to count the Bucs out.
“These guys have a little something in them, we just got to keep tapping into it,” Niblett said. “We’ve got a chance to be something special. There are a lot of doubters out there about us. We just got to make sure we keep our locker room and our culture the way we want it to be.”
Hoover made big plays in all three phases on Friday night. The Bucs rushed the ball 35 times for 178 yards, with touchdowns from quarterback Christopher Vacarella and running backs Vonte Brackett and Aaron Lawler. Vacarella also threw for 109 yards, including a 32-yard pass to Jimmie Johnson to set up the first touchdown.
The Bucs’ defense bent at times – especially before Husky quarterback Zac Thomas was lost with a leg injury – but still shut out the Huskies (6-3, 5-2). Thomas, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound major college prospect, had 33 rushing yards and 60 yards passing before staying on the field following a 5-yard run with 7:45 left in the first half. Trainers put his right leg in an air splint before Thomas left the field on a stretcher.
“Our hearts and our prayers go out to Zac and his family,” Niblett said. “We were praying for him, I was praying for him when he was out there. He’s tough kid, unbelievable athlete, (and) he’s got a bright future ahead of him. This will be a little setback but I know what he’s made of, he’ll be back.”
Hoover led by two touchdowns – scoring on a 1-yard run by Brackett and 8-yard run by Vacarella – before Thomas’ injury. A few seconds later, the Bucs built on to the advantage when PJ Hall fielded a punt along the home sideline and weaved his way 65 yards to the end zone.
The Bucs eventually took a 31-0 lead into halftime after a 1-yard scoring run by C.J. Sturdivant and a 44-yard field goal by Barret Pickering.
Hewitt-Trussville, which used sophomore Davis Burgin at quarterback, threatened a couple of times in the second half but failed to score. One key for the Hoover defense – in both halves – was keeping Ole Miss commitment Jarrion Street from breaking big runs. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Street finished with 67 yards on 19 carries – a 3.5 yard per carry average – with a long run of 15 yards.
“He had a couple good runs but I thought we did a good job of containing him,” Niblett said. “When you do that against them, then you make them get out of their element a little bit.”
The only second half score came on a 58-yard run by Lawler with 2:38 left in the game.
Hoover now closes the regular season on Thursday night with a game against unbeaten North Marion (Fla) at the Hoover Met.
After that, the Bucs will begin chasing a special ending to the season.
