Perfect region record within reach for Bucs

In five of the previous eight seasons under head coach Josh Niblett, the Hoover High School football team has posted an unblemished region record.

The Buccaneers will get a chance to make that six out of nine years on Friday, as they travel to take on Thompson at 7 p.m. at Larry Simmons Stadium.

Hoover (7-1, 6-0 Class 7A, Region 3) is riding a six-game winning streak since returning from Allen, Texas, and its game in the Tom Landry Classic, its only loss of the season.

The Bucs have an impressive streak to keep up. In each of their seven wins, they have held opponents under 10 points, with the high mark coming in the 26-8 victory over crosstown rival Spain Park on Sep. 9.

Thompson’s offense is averaging just 20 points per game, so the chance for the Bucs to do that once again is certainly in play.

Thompson is a team desperately fighting for a playoff berth and will have to count on a number of events to fall into place if that is to happen. Last week, the Warriors survived Huffman in overtime, 13-7, to keep those hopes alive.

Hoover took care of business against rival Vestavia Hills last week as well, winning 38-7. The Bucs jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back.

Running back C.J. Sturdivant carried the rock 15 times for Hoover on the evening, gaining 77 yards and scoring a pair of short touchdowns. Brackett gained 69 yards on 11 rushes.

Quarterback Garrett Farquhar wrapped up the game 14-of-21 passing for 214 yards and a pair of scores to Shedrick Jackson and Joseph Timpa. Jackson also threw a touchdown pass himself on a trick play in the second quarter.

Vestavia Hills gained just 176 yards total, 130 of them on the ground.

"The defense is playing really good,” Jackson said. “The offense got off to a slow start (on the season), but we’re picking it up. Give credit to the defense. They’re a great defense; probably the best I’ve played with in my career.”

The Bucs have already secured the top seed in Region 3, but Niblett does not want any letdown from his team.

“They can start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel right now. It’s a process, it’s not a moment. We want to stay locked into the process,” Niblett said.