Jaguars clinch region title with gritty win
At times throughout the 2015 season, Spain Park’s defense has resembled a brick wall: sturdy, secure and impossible to crack.
Friday night’s game was one of those times.
Anchored by a bruising defense characterized by constant hustle, Spain Park (7-1, 6-0) fought its way to a gritty 20-10 victory over Oak Mountain (3-5, 2-4), clinching the Class 7A, Region 3 title and securing home-field advantage in the first round of the state playoffs.
“It’s huge, especially the way we’ve played at home,” Spain Park coach Shawn Raney said. “We’ve done a really good job at home, so I’m glad to get teams coming down there.”
It’s safe to say opposing teams don’t share the same sentiment, as each of Spain Park’s first three regular season games at Jaguar Stadium have yielded three shutout victories.
Hueytown, Tuscaloosa County and Vestavia Hills all were unable to produce any points on the Jags’ home turf.
“It’s been unreal. If they can’t score, they can’t win,” Raney said.
That philosophy pretty much sums up Spain Park’s season, including Friday night’s victory over Oak Mountain.
Heading into Heardmont Park, the Spain Park defense hadn’t allowed its opponent to score since Sept. 25.
Although the Jags couldn’t continue that streak, surrendering 10 first-half points to Oak Mountain, the defense buckled down after the halftime break, preventing the Eagles’ offense from finding its rhythm.
Spain Park set the tone early in the third quarter when linebacker Perry Young intercepted a backward lateral from Oak Mountain quarterback Warren Shader. As Shader scampered down the field after choosing to keep an option, Young chased after him in hot pursuit.
“It was just all about hustle,” Young said. “I was chasing him for at least 30 yards, and I guess he thought I was his pitch man, and I was just right there in a good spot to make a great play.”
Young returned the interception nearly 30 yards to the Oak Mountain 22-yard line, setting up an eventual 40-yard field goal from kicker Crosby Gray.
The kick gave Spain Park a 17-10 lead with 6:30 to play in third quarter.
Spain Park’s first two touchdowns came in the first half on a two-yard run from fullback Deandre Thompkins and a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joey Beatty to wide receiver Bridge Suber.
Gray added his second field goal of the night with 2:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, icing the game when he split the uprights from 31 yards out.
“It’s automatic. It’s unreal. That kid just doesn’t stress,” Raney said. “He just looks over there and he’s smiling. He can’t wait to get out there and do what he does best.”
The Jags’ defense closed out the game in relentless fashion, forcing a pair of turnover-on-downs to seal the victory.
Having gone undefeated in region play up to this point, only Mountain Brook stands between Spain Park and region perfection.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do. We want to try and finish the region undefeated,” Raney said. "Hopefully we keep getting better each week."