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Buckhorn WR Devan Whitworth is surrounded by a host of Hoover defenders to end the 2nd quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover cheerleaders celebrate after a touchdown. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover punt returner P.J. Hall is brought down by Buckhorn defender Aaron Zawacki. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover WR Shedrick Jackson (80) reaches for the enzdone as Buckhorn defender Aaron Zawacki jars the ball loose after he crossed the plane of the end zone in the first quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoovers Tyler Byrd recovers a loose ball from Buckhorn QB Dalen Morris. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover nose guard Khamari Brown is congratulated after bringing down Buckhorn QB Dalen Morris. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover's Cortez Hall ( 3) hauls in a first quarter pass. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover WR Shedrick Jackson (80) reaches for the enzdone as Buckhorn defender Aaron Zawacki jars the ball loose after he crossed the plane of the end zone in the first quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Defensive Tackle Taures Payne hurries Buckhorn QB Dalen Morris. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover punt returner P.J. Hall looks for running room. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover WR Shedrick Jackson (80) hauls in a long pass at the 1 yard line. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover WR Shedrick Jackson (80) hauls in a long pass at the 1 yard line. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover Head coach Josh Niblett. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover Head coach Josh Niblett. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Defensive end Christon Taylor (40) brings down Buckhorn QB Dalen Morris in the 1st quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover fans cheer after a touchdown. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover RB C.J. Sturdivant looks for the end zone. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Kicker Barret Pickering (47) kicks a fired goal early in the game to put the Bucs on the board. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover TE Quincy Cox looks for running room between Buckhorn defenders Jordan Barney and Nickie Riviers. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover RB C.J. Sturdivant looks for running room. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover RB C.J. Sturdivant looks for running room. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover QB Christopher Vacarella looks downfield for an open receiver. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover head coach Josh Niblett. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover NG Khamari Brown celebrates another sack. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Buckhorn QB Dalen Morris scrambles away from Hoover defensive playersAlabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover Tight End Quincy Cox takes off on a long pass play in the first quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover RB C.J. Sturdivant (1) splits his blockers in the first quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover RB C.J. Sturdivant (1) splits his blockers in the first quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover RB C.J. Sturdivant (1) dives for a couple of extra yards in the first quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
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Hoover WR Shedrick Jackson (80) leaps over a the hands of a defender in the first quarter. Alabama High School Playoffs with 7A Hoover hosting Buckhorn at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama Friday November 6, 2015. Photo by Frank Couch.
Hoover High football coach Josh Niblett made it crystal clear what was important for his team during Friday night’s 38-7 dismantling of the Buckhorn Bucks in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs.
It wasn’t about looking back on a regular season that uncharacteristically included two Class 7A, Region 3 losses. It wasn’t about looking ahead to next week’s rematch with rival Vestavia Hills, which advanced with a win over Class 7A, Region 4 champion Bob Jones.
So what was it about?
“It’s all about being 1-0,” Niblett said.
Hoover left little doubt it was headed toward 1-0 in the postseason over the first 24 minutes of Friday’s game. The Bucs (9-2) scored points – a field goal and three touchdowns – on their first four possessions to carry a 24-0 lead into halftime.
The domination began with the opening drive when quarterback Christopher Vacarella threw the ball on the first five plays to begin an 11-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard field goal. The next three series concluded with a 6-yard scoring toss from Vacarella to Shedrick Jackson and touchdown runs of 1 yard by Vonte Brackett and 8 yards by Vacarella.
During those four drives, Vacarella was 9-of-13 for 151 yards, including a 37-yard strike to Jackson that came the play before Brackett’s short scoring run.
“We always want to try to get Vac going, as early as we can,” said Niblett, whose team has outscored the last three opponents, 86-7, in the first half. “At the same time, we felt like they stacked the box a little bit, brought some stuff off the pressure. It was some run-pass options. If we had the run, we’d take it. If we had to throw we’d take the throw.”
On other other hand, Buckhorn (6-5) had very few successful options in the first half. The Bucks managed just 92 yards on 24 first half plays. Strangely enough, one of Hoover’s biggest defensive plays of the first half came on Buckhorn’s lone big offensive play. The play, a 77-yard sprint by Buckhorn quarterback Dalen Morris ended 10 yards short of the goal line because of an outstanding hustle play by Hoover cornerback Malachi Herron. On the next play, Hoover defensive end Tyler Byrd jumped on a loose ball after a bad shotgun snap by the Bucks.
Herron, who lines up on the opposite corner from standout PJ Hall also contributed the biggest defensive play of the second half when he grabbed an errant throw by Morris and returned the interception 21 yards for a score to give Hoover a 31-0 lead with 8:35 left in the third quarter.
“I’m just so proud of him,” Niblett said of Herron. “Malachi has had a rough couple of plays, a couple of games. But he’s a great player, he’s a great kid and he’s a guy who we put on an island like we do PJ. I was just proud to see him catch the guy there – run him down, tackle – and not only rewarded by getting the fumble but it’s also nice to see a kid get rewarded by getting a pick 6 too.”
Herron’s interception was the highlight of a second half that was largely played in a driving rain. Niblett not only chose to remain conservative on offense but also pulled his offensive starters in the third quarter. Buckhorn managed to score on a 29-yard pass from Morris to Robert Ford but Hoover countered with a 23-yard scoring run by backup quarterback Garrett Farquhar. Hoover finished with 158 passing yards and 156 rushing yards.
Afterward, Niblett was asked about turning his attention to Friday’s rematch with Vestavia Hills, which beat Hoover, 20-13, on Oct. 17.
“Any time you play somebody and you lost to them, there’s a reason why you lost to them,” Niblett said. “What we’ve got to be able to do is figure that out and we’ve got to be able to put ourselves in the right positions to be successful. We can’t turn the ball over, we can’t have 15-16 penalties in the game. We’ve got a lot of stuff we need to make sure we clean up.”
Niblett added: “I don’t think I’ll have a problem getting our kids up for this one or getting them locked in, that’s for sure.”
