Photo by Neil Fonville
Hoover Football
Hoover's Jayden Jordan (22) stretches out for an interception in the third quarter in the Tom Landry Classic game between Hoover and Allen on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Eagle Stadium in Allen, Texas.
Hoover did something not many teams get the opportunity to last week. The Bucs traveled to Allen, Texas, to take on Allen High School in the Tom Landry Classic.
However, the Bucs fell to the Eagles, 25-7, in a game where they scored on their opening drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead, as Garrett Farquhar hit Kam Ford on a slip screen that resulted in a 16-yard touchdown.
After that, though, the offense failed to score again and hardly threatened. Allen’s defensive line was stout, not allowing running backs C.J. Sturdivant or Vonte’ Brackett much room to operate, as they finished with 35 and 37 yards, respectively.
The passing game struggled as well after getting off to a hot start. Faruqhar finished the night 12-of-31, for 134 yards and a score.
Allen took a 10-7 lead into the break, but the Eagles broke through for consecutive big plays late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 20-7.
“We just didn’t put any pressure on them,” Niblett said following the game. “The only pressure we put on them is when we went (up) 7-0. You have to make plays. I thought our defense played well enough to win the game. When you play in games like this, everybody’s got to play their A-game, and we didn’t tonight.”
Christon Taylor led the charge on defense, finding himself in the backfield all night long. Jayden Jordan made an outstanding interception near the sideline in the third quarter, but the offense was unable to capitalize.
Niblett did emphasize the opportunity the Bucs had to participate in the game. “I want us to soak this in,” he said. “We need to take this in. There was a lot of sacrifice and hard work to put this thing together.”
Friday, the Bucs play their first home game of the season, the Class 7A, Region 3 opener against Mountain Brook. The Spartans are off to a 2-0 start and are riding a wave of confidence, something that has eluded them in recent seasons.
Mountain Brook came home from Gulf Shores with a 50-point win under its belt, and backed it up with a 21-14 victory over Helena last week. Reid Hogue sealed the game with a late interception.
The Spartans will come into Hoover Metropolitan Stadium with confidence, but the Bucs will present a challenge they have not seen in the first two games.
Hoover’s offense has yet to reach its potential, while the defense has the pieces to be a dominant unit. The atmosphere will be top-notch, with the home fans waiting out long road trips over the first two weeks to see the Bucs at the Met.
If the Bucs have recovered from their trip to Texas, the game will not lack entertainment.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Next week, the Bucs host rival Spain Park.
