Bucs shut out Thompson to close out perfect Region 3 record
ALABASTER — Rough start, better finish.
That pretty much summed up Hoover High School’s 20-0 shutout at Thompson on Friday, which gave the Buccaneers a perfect 7-0 record in Class 7A, Region 3 play and at the same time eliminated the Warriors from a post-season berth.
The Bucs were their own worst enemy in the first half, driving deep into Thompson territory twice but being stifled both times by penalties. A holding call on the first drive forced Hoover to go for a 43-yard field goal by Barret Pickering, which turned out to be the only points for either team before halftime.
Then late in the first half, the Bucs drove behind their senior running back, C.J. Sturdivant, all the way down to the Warrior 14. But in the last series of downs, Hoover was called for 40 yards of infractions — and instead of at least a chip-shot field goal try, they were back inside their own half of the field and forced to punt.
All totaled, Hoover lost 80 yards on flags in the first half and 110 yards for the night, and didn’t get a first down until early in the second quarter.
But while their offense sputtered, the Bucs defense stood strong. They forced four Thompson turnovers — a pair of fumbles in the second quarter and two interceptions late in the game, the latter of which was a 64-yard pick-six by Will Singleton with 1:18 before the final whistle.
“I’m kind of glad we faced some adversity tonight, because we need to face it to get ready for the playoffs,” Hoover coach Josh Niblett said. “We’re shooting ourselves in the foot in the red zone…. We’ve just got to do a better job with discipline.”
Thompson’s offense, hobbled by injuries to key players including starting quarterback Josh Huner, pinned much of its hopes on a pair of sophomores. Quarterback Caleb Ragland, who had started for coach Mark Freeman early in the season before being swapped for Huner, struggled to find openings in the Hoover defense. Running back Shadrick Byrd shouldered much of the ground attack, gaining 103 yards on 29 carries.
But the defense picked up much of the slack, Freeman said. “Our defense has played good all year, and that kept us competitive. But we put the ball on the ground. We’ve been so close this year to getting some great results.”
Pickering added a 26-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, and kicked both extra points.
The Bucs scored their lone offensive touchdown on the third play after halftime, when on third down and 4 from their own 36, quarterback Garrett Farquhar threw a bomb to Shedrick Jackson, who pulled the ball down in coverage and dashed the rest of the way for the score.
Thompson only ventured past the midfield stripe into Hoover territory three times, two of which ended in turnovers.
Sturdivant led the Bucs rushing attack with 79 yards on 16 carries.
“I’m proud of C.J., he was a workhorse for us,” Niblett said. “He came away with some good carries and moved the sticks for us.”
Farquhar completed 10 passes in 24 attempts for 128 yards and one interception.
The win puts Hoover at 8-1 overall, going into a contest against fellow USA Super 25 power Grayson High from Loganville, Ga. The game will be next Friday at the Hoover Met and televised by ESPNU.
“They’re very athletic, big and fast,” Niblett said. “And offensively they give you everything from the wing-T to the spread.”
Thompson (4-4, 3-4 region) closes out its season next Thursday night when it hosts Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.