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Hoover cornerback Jordan Williams (2) returns an interception during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover captains head to midfield for the coin toss prior to a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover linebacker Khonor Latham (25) celebrates after a tackle during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover linebacker Khonor Latham (25) stops a Muscle Shoals ballcarrier during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover running back Malik Boggan (1) runs the ball for a big gain during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover players combine to bring down a Muscle Shoals ballcarrier during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover Cheerleaders during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met. Photo by Barry Stephenson
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Hoover Coach Krystle Johnson and members of the 2026 7A State Champion Girls basketball team were recognized prior to a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover basketball coach Krystle Johnson reacts as her high school number 55 is presented to her during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover running back Malik Boggan (1) carries the ball during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover cornerback Jordan Williams (2) upends the ballcarrier during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover head coach Chip English watches the action during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover running back Paxton Weatherly (0) looks for running room during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover wide receiver Blake Clark (3) is tackled after a catch during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Members of the Hoover band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met. Photo by Barry Stephenson
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Hoover linebacker Jayden Evans (52) makes a tackle during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover defensive end KJ Wright (15) tackles the Muscle Shoals quarterback during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover safety Aidan Callins (4) tackles a ballcarrier during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover defensive tackle Jordan Williams (9) and Hoover defensive end Jovon Pulliam (7) make a tackle during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover wide receiver Blake Clark (3) carries the ball during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover quarterback Kaleb Freeman (7) is brought down after a run during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover running back Paxton Weatherly (0) runs the ball during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover linebacker Jayden Evans (52) and Hoover safety Aidan Callins (4) combine to bring down a Muscle Shoals ballcarrierduring a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover safety DJ Waluyn (1) makes a tackle during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover kicker Steele Witschy (39) watches a kick during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover tight end Anderson Clark (10) breaks a tackle on his way to the endzone during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover quarterback Kaleb Freeman (7) runs the ball during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover linebacker Nathan Johnson (11) stop a Muscle Shoals ballcarrier during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover quarterback Kaleb Freeman (7) is brought down after a run during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met. Photo by Barry Stephenson
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Hoover quarterback Kaleb Freeman (7) runs the ball during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Hoover defensive back Hunter Wetherholt (22) goes high in an attempt to block a kick during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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Members of the Hoover band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met. Photo by Barry Stephenson
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The colors are presented prior to a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
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A Hoover coach speaks to players prior to a game between Hoover High School and Muscle Shoals High School on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Hoover Met.
HOOVER -- The Hoover High School football team’s defense came up with the plays it needed Friday night, as the Buccaneers held off Muscle Shoals 14-8 in the season-opener at the Hoover Met.
The Bucs' defense made the game-sealing play after the Trojans were gifted a late lifeline.
Despite being outgained 253-166 in total offense, Hoover starts the season 1-0.
“Winning is tough,” Hoover head coach Chip English said. “We came out here and found a way to win. I am proud of our guys. We have a lot to clean up but we beat a good Muscle Shoals team.”
Following a weather delay at kickoff, defense and early missteps defined the opening 24 minutes.
Muscle Shoals struck first following a Hoover fumble on the Bucs' opening play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Trojans quarterback Logan Smothers stepped up in the pocket and hit a crossing Christian Pritchard, who scampered past the Hoover defense for a touchdown to make it 6-0 with 9:18 left in the first quarter.
Hoover responded late in the frame, taking advantage of short field position. Anderson Clark took a tight end bubble screen from Kaleb Freeman, then spun and powered through the Trojans’ defense for a 16-yard touchdown. The point-after attempt gave Hoover a 7-6 lead with 2:44 remaining in the opening period.
Hoover put together a promising drive midway through the second period, but Muscle Shoals defensive back Christian Patterson intercepted a third-down pass in the end zone with 6:29 left to stifle the Bucs.
Muscle Shoals threatened late in the half, driving inside the Hoover red zone, but a fumble ended the threat and preserved the Bucs' 7-6 edge going into the locker room despite only 91 yards of total offense for the home side.
Midway through the third quarter, Paxton Weatherly provided a spark with a 44-yard run. Freeman then connected with Micah Square for a 7-yard touchdown, extending Hoover’s lead to 14-6 with 5:35 remaining in the third quarter.
Jordan Williams outjumped a Muscle Shoals receiver on the next possession to intercept a pass, then stayed on his feet and returned it 37 yards to give Hoover excellent field position. The Bucs, however, were unable to capitalize, going backward on the ensuing possession before punting the ball away.
Smothers moved the Trojans down the field early in the final frame with several completions to Pritchard, who had multiple catches of more than 10 yards on the drive including a clutch reception on fourth-and-7 to keep the possession alive, moving Muscle Shoals to the Hoover 23-yard line.
But the Bucs’ defense eventually forced a turnover on downs. Smothers scrambled on fourth-and-long with 3:46 remaining and came up a yard short.
Muscle Shoals got one more break in the final two minutes. A high snap on the ensuing punt forced a tough catch attempt by the punter, who ultimately had to hit it out of the end zone to avoid a Trojans’ touchdown, cutting Hoover’s lead to 14-8 with 1:52 remaining.
The Trojans got the ball back at their own 49-yard line and moved into Bucs’ territory, but Hoover’s defense delivered one final stand. The Bucs stopped Muscle Shoals on fourth-and-2 at the 33-yard line to seal the victory.
“When one side of the ball struggles, the other side of the ball can play really well,” English said. “We have to put a full game together, we know that. It only gets tougher, so we have to play together.”
Hoover travels to Opelika next Thursday, while Muscle Shoals has an open date.
Thank you to Southlake Orthopaedics for sponsoring our coverage of Hoover football this season.
Jags hang on
Spain Park earned a 17-13 win over Sparkman on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Sparkman jumped on the board with a touchdown with 2:40 remaining in the first quarter, going ahead 7-0. Spain Park responded on the ensuing drive, as Nash Davis found Sawyer Scott on a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7 with 9:43 to play in the second quarter.
Sparkman reclaimed the lead later in the quarter, as a long pass set up a 13-yard touchdown run by the Senators' quarterback. With the missed extra point, Sparkman's lead was 13-7.
The Jags scored in the final minute of the half, as Nash Davis hit CJ Davis on a crossing route for a 14-yard touchdown, to make it 14-13.
Garrett Hoffman's 31-yard field goal was the only scoring in the final two quarters.
Spain Park hosts Bessemer City next Friday night. Bessemer City knocked off Pell City on Friday.
