Bucs finish strong to knock off Mountain Brook
MOUNTAIN BROOK — It was a strong showing for the Hoover High School football team on Friday night in Spartan Stadium.
The Buccaneers (5-1) punched in a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and executed in all three phases of the game to hold off a tough Mountain Brook team 26-14 in non-region play.
“It was a war and we knew it was going to be a war,” said first-year Hoover head coach Wade Waldrop. “I still think they’re the most complete team we’ve played all year long, but I’m so proud of our guys tonight for how hard we played, I thought we fought really hard.”
Hoover, ranked fourth in Class 7A, outscored the Class 6A No. 2 Spartans 16-7 in the fourth quarter following back-to-back touchdown passes from senior Brewer Smith, who finished with 224 yards on 16 completions. The righty tossed his first TD to Jordan Woolen on the first snap of the fourth quarter. The throw traveled 32 yards, converted a fourth-and-9 and put the Bucs ahead 17-7 with 11:09 remaining.
After an answer by Mountain Brook (5-1) — a 44-yard touchdown pass from John Colvin to Jackson Beatty — Smith delivered again, this time on a quick slant to Freddie Dunson, who charged ahead for a 66-yard TD reception that set the final count at 26-14.
Dunson pulled in three receptions for 76 yards in the win. Woolen led all receivers with eight grabs for 122 yards and a score. Ahamari Williams paced Hoover on the ground with 101 yards and a score on 20 carries.
Williams provided the first points of the night when he polished off the visitor’s opening drive with a 5-yard take off left tackle.
However, it was defense that sparked Hoover in the first half. Senior defensive back DJ Estes delivered at the end of the first half, blitzing off the edge for a strip-sack of Colvin with 21 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Estes tore the ball loose and recovered it at the Mountain Brook 27-yard line, setting up Peyton Argent’s 29-yard field goal as time expired. That kick broke a 7-7 tie and sent Hoover to the break with a 10-7 advantage.
Both teams would go scoreless through the third before the fourth-quarter fireworks.
“DJ is an electric player,” said Waldrop. “He plays really hard and he’s a very smart player. That was a big play.”
Kaleb Jackson and Braxton Urquhart both recorded interceptions for Hoover. The Bucs also forced a safety midway through the fourth when Colvin chased a fumble into the end zone and was eventually called for intentional grounding to give Hoover a 19-14 lead with 6:09 remaining.
For Mountain Brook, Colvin went 11-for-27 through the air for 134 yards and a score. Cole Gamble led the rushing attack with 102 yards and a score on 11 calls. His touchdown covered 43 yards and evened things up at 7-7 midway through the first quarter.
Mountain Brook is off next week. Hoover is scheduled to visit Oak Mountain next Friday night in Region 3 play.