Jaguars host Tuscaloosa County in region game Friday

Spain Park hosts Class 7A, Region 3 opponent Tuscaloosa County on Friday at 7 p.m. at Jaguar Stadium.

The Jaguars are coming off a thrilling 15-14 win over Thompson. Kicker Crosby Gray drilled a 39-yard field goal through the uprights with 25 seconds left in the game, his fifth field goal of the night, to pull out the win at Alabaster.

“To get a win like this, especially on the road, it’s a blessing. I can’t even put it in words,” Spain Park coach Shawn Raney said after the game. “We got a lot of grit, and that’ll win you a lot of games, just to be able to continue to fight like they do.”

Gray also connected on kicks from 31, 39, 44 and 22 yards.

“Crosby stepped up. I had full confidence in him. He’s done it his whole career,” Raney said.

Running back Wade Streeter led Spain Park (2-1, 1-0) offensively, hauling the ball 27 times for 113 yards.

Tuscaloosa County (0-2, 0-1) has lost its first two games to Northridge and Hewitt-Trussville. The Wildcats were a playoff team last year, and beat the Jaguars 26-7 in the 2014 meeting, but their backs are against the wall already in tough Region 3. If the Jags can pull this one out and go to 2-0 in the region, they’ll be in prime position for one of the four playoff spots.

The Jags will likely look again to the running game, with Streeter and Larry Wooden, as the Wildcats surrendered 349 yards on the ground to Hewitt-Trussville. Penalties also plagued County High.

The game will be carried by My68 in Birmingham as part of its Friday Night Rivals prep game of the week series.

Next week, Spain Park will travel to Hewitt-Trussville for another big region matchup. Tuscaloosa County will host Hoover.