Bucs best Jags to reclaim city crown
The Hoover High School football team scored revenge Friday night on cross-town rival Spain Park.
After mustering only 6 total points against the Jags (3-1, 1-1) in a pair of 2015 defeats, the Bucs (3-1, 2-0) rolled to a 26-8 victory in a highly attended, Class 7A, Region 3 rivalry game at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.
“First of all, to God be the glory, what a blessing,” Hoover head coach Josh Niblett said. “These are great kids. They knew what the elephant in the room was. They lost the last two times to them, but we didn’t say anything about that. This is a different group. They want to leave a different legacy.”
Hoover flexed its defensive muscle throughout, forcing four total turnovers. Spain Park was held scoreless until the fourth quarter, and the Jags’ typically potent rushing game was limited to 49 yards.
“That was a butt-whuppin’, man,” Spain Park head coach Shawn Raney said. “They jumped on us early; they had us pinned down there; we couldn’t get any first downs.”
Hoover led 16-0 at halftime thanks to three Barret Pickering field goals and a 9-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Garrett Farquhar.
The Bucs scored on each of their first four possessions.
“We knew we were going to come out aggressive, and that’s the way we do it,” Niblett said. “We’ve got to set the tempo of the game. We’ve kind of been letting them play the music, and we dance. Tonight, I thought we played the music and made them dance a little bit.
Hoover linebacker Eli West picked off Jags quarterback Hunter Howell on the game’s opening drive, setting Hoover up with starting field position at its opponent’s 30-yard line. Pickering, the Bucs place-kicker, concluded the drive when he connected on a 47-yard field goal to give his team a 3-0 lead.
He then added a 23-yarder on the next Bucs’ possession, a 37-yarder near the end of the second quarter and a 20-yarder in the third quarter. He was named the game’s Most Valuable Player for his performance, as selected by the TV crew producing the game.
“It makes the other ones feel a lot easier,” Pickering said in regard to his booming 47-yarder that initiated Hoover’s scoring. “It gives you a whole lot of confidence for the rest of the game – confident in every kick, kickoffs included.”
Spain Park’s best chance to hop on the board in the first half came with seven minutes to play in the second quarter. The Jags faced fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, but running back Larry Wooden got stuffed at the line of scrimmage.
“It was deflating,” Raney said. “They’re a real good football team.”
Trailing 19-0 after three quarters, Spain Park threatened to make it interesting in the closing stanza. Howell hit wide receiver William Mee in the back, left corner of the end zone with 11:48 left in regulation and then converted a 2-point conversion on a nearly identical play.
Spain Park recovered the ensuing onside kick, but failed to capitalize.
Hoover defensive end Markese Brown recovered a Howell fumble four plays into the Jags’ drive, and the Bucs turned them immediately into points. Running back Vonte’ Brackett slashed through the Spain Park defense for a 54-yard rushing touchdown on the play directly after the fumble. A Pickering extra point finalized the game’s scoring.
“That was a huge play for us after getting the turnover, so when we can do that, that’s team football,” Niblett said.
Brackett led his team with 61 yards rushing on four carries. Fellow running back C.J. Sturdivant totaled 55 yards on 14 carries. Through the air, Farquhar went 18-of-28 for 167 yards and one interception. Cortez Hall hauled in five receptions for 62 yards, and Shedrick Jackson caught five passes for 47 yards.
Spain Park running backs D’arie Johnson and Wooden combined for 63 yards on 22 carries. Howell went 21-of-47 for 187 yards and 1 TD. Thomas Jordan racked up 80 yards receiving on five catches.
On defense, Hoover defensive back Chase Brown snagged two interceptions, and linebacker Kholbe Coleman-Abrams tallied 10 tackles.
Defensive back Jack Connell led the way for Spain Park with eight total stops.
The Bucs and Jags will both continue their treks through region play next Friday. The Jags will host Mountain Brook, and Hoover will travel to Tuscaloosa County.
"We've got to continue to keep getting better, continue to take it to another level and grind and do what we do," Niblett said. "These kids are going to do that. They love what they do."