Bucs begin road back to Super 7

Luckily for the Hoover High School football team, Bob Jones is in the state of Alabama, albeit just less than 20 miles from the state line.

The Bucs have been lethal against teams inside the Yellowhammer State. None of those eight teams scored more than eight points in a game, which Spain Park accomplished. The closest any of them came to Hoover was Central-Phenix City and Mountain Brook, whose defenses held the margin to 16 points.

Against those eight opponents, the Bucs were 8-0, including a perfect 7-0 mark in Class 7A, Region 3.

However, against out-of-state foes, Hoover lost to both Allen (Texas) and Grayson (Ga.) by double digits. Those two teams accounted for 58% (61 of 105) of the total points allowed by the Bucs all season.

The Bucs will face intrastate teams from here on out, and first up is Bob Jones, who visits the Hoover Met on Friday at 7 p.m. for a AHSAA first-round state playoff game.

Last fall -- as Hoover was knocked out by Spain Park in the state semifinals -- marked the first time in head coach Josh Niblett's tenure that Hoover did not at least advance to the state final, a streak dating back to 2008.

Bob Jones (7-3, 5-2 Region 4) comes into the contest following an open week that did not work out as hoped for the Patriots. James Clemens' win over Austin last week helped break a three-way tie for second in Region 4, in which Bob Jones shook out the No. 4 seed.

The Patriots have averaged over 36 points per game offensively, but that total is almost assured to be lower against Hoover. The matchup between Bob Jones' defense and Hoover's offense will be critical, as that has been an inconsistent facet for the Bucs this season, but one that came on strong in the latter half of the season.

The winner is set to face the winner between Gadsden City and Mountain Brook in the quarterfinal round.