Bucs breeze past Huffman, secure region title
Add one to the win column.
Led by three Garrett Farquhar touchdown passes and a dominant defensive performance, the Hoover High School football team (6-1, 5-0 in Class 7A, Region 3) breezed to a 38-6 victory over region opponent Huffman (3-4, 2-3) on homecoming night at the Hoover Met.
The win officially clinched the Bucs a playoff spot and the Region 3 crown, thanks in part to Mountain Brook's overtime loss to Vestavia Hills.
“Our kids understand what we’re doing. They play fast and they rally to the football,” Hoover head coach Josh Niblett said. “I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the way they played.”
Hoover linebacker Kholbe Coleman-Abrams set the tone early when he intercepted Huffman quarterback Anthony Wiggins on the second play from scrimmage. Coleman-Abrams, who was named homecoming king at halftime, led an impenetrable Bucs defense that limited Huffman to only 25 first-half yards. The Vikings finished with 119 yards and just seven first downs.
“We just come out every game ready and excited to play,” Coleman-Abrams said of his defense. “We love playing with each other.”
Hoover place-kicker Barret Pickering converted his teammate’s pick into instant points, splitting the uprights with a 26-yard field goal.
Then, the scoring frenzy began.
Running back Vonte’ Brackett rumbled into the end zone from 5 yards out, and Farquhar fired a pair of second-quarter TD passes. The first came on a screen pass that wide receiver Kam Ford took 34 yards to the house. On the second, Farquhar found wide receiver Cortez Hall streaking across the front of the end zone for an 8-yard score.
Hoover led 24-0 at half.
“I thought Garrett moved around the pocket well tonight,” Niblett said. “[He] made some plays on third down and came up with a couple of big throws we needed on some drives, and our guys did a really good job catching the football.”
The Bucs picked up where they left off following the intermission.
Hoover zoomed 57 yards down the field in a span of 1:10 to open the third quarter. Running back R.J. Randle capped the four-play drive with a 12-yard touchdown scamper.
On the Bucs’ next possession, Farquhar rolled to his right before hitting a wide open Brackett in the front, right corner of the end zone. The 14-yard strike pushed Hoover’s lead to 38-0.
The Bucs pulled their starters on Huffman’s ensuing possession and coasted through the final 19 minutes of game action. Although they surrendered a 13-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Bucs’ cushioned lead provided their second-string players valuable experience.
“It’s been the last three games we’ve had an opportunity to get those guys reps, and they deserve to get reps,” Niblett said. “When they get an opportunity, it’s priceless how many reps they can get because they’re the next man up.”
Hoover totaled 399 yards of offense: 192 rushing and 207 passing. Farquhar went 15-of-21 for 207 yards and 3 TDs, while Randle paced the ground attack with 47 yards on eight carries and a touchdown. Wide receiver Jimmy Turner led the receiving corps with six catches for 57 yards.
Hoover will return to action next Friday, when it hosts Vestavia Hills for a region matchup. Huffman will host a Thompson team fighting to keep its playoff dreams alive.