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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover wide receiver Jonah Winston (4) sprints downfield during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover wide receiver Jonah Winston (4), Hoover quarterback Mac Beason (15), Hoover wide receiver Reggie Jackson (6), and Hoover defensive lineman Pa'Landing Drammeh (9) observe the pre-game coin toss prior to a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Members of the Hoover band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover quarterback Mac Beason (15) scrambles for a first down during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover cornerback Jamar Moultrie (2) upends Hoover tight end Anderson Clark (80) during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa tight end Kahden Smith (3 ) makes a nice catch in front of Hoover cornerback Jamar Moultrie (2) during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover running back Jacorrey Hayes (23) during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover kicker James Bryant (96) attempts a PAT during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
A Hoover Drum Major directs the band during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Members of the Hoover band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Members of the Hoover band perform during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover free safety Cam Spates (22), Hoover offensive lineman Lincoln Anderson (54) and Hoover cornerback Jordan Williams (13) stare down Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa tight end Kahden Smith (3 ) after a fair catch during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover inside linebacker Trey Sanders (6) combines with another Hoover defender to bring down a Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa ball carrier during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover outside linebacker Justyn Hartley (14) and Hoover defensive lineman Pa'Landing Drammeh (9) put pressure on Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa quarterback Bryson Kimbrough (12 ) during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover running back Jacorrey Hayes (23) runs away from Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa inside linebacker Brooks Fowlkes (44 ) during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover wide receiver Avery Crawford (3) sprints to the endzone during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover cornerback Jamar Moultrie (2) just misses blocking a field goal attempt during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover defensive lineman Branden Rudolph (92) works around a block during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover running back JR Mosley (13) is stopped after a short gain during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover wide receiver Jeremiah Tabb (2) tightropes down the sideline on the way to a big gain during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover running back JR Mosley (13) cuts away from a defender during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
A Hoover running back is stopped by the Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa defense during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover wide receiver Jonah Winston (4) looks for running room during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover cornerback Jeremiah Robinson (24) breaks up a pass during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover inside linebacker Cameron Torbor (5) pressures Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa quarterback Bryson Kimbrough (12 ) during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
A Hoover defender makes a tackle during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover fans during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
Hoover wide receiver Jonah Winston (4) scores a touchdown after a long run during a game between Hoover High School and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa High School on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
TUSCALOOSA -- Five different players found the end zone Friday night as the Hoover Bucs rolled to a 35-6 victory at Hillcrest High School in the Class 7A, Region 3 opener.
"We left some points on the board, but the defense played lights out," said Hoover Coach Chip English. "We want to be 1-0 at the end of the night, and we are. Hillcrest, I think, is a top four team in our region, so to come away with a convincing win the way we did, I'm really proud of the guys."
Mac Beason carried Hoover (2-1, 1-0 Region 3) with 252 yards of total offense, completing 12-of-20 passes for 186 yards and rushing for 66 yards. He ran in the Bucs' first touchdown of the night in the final two minutes of the first quarter, and threw a 47-yard touchdown to Christopher Warren with 4:11 to play in the third quarter.
While Hoover gave up some big plays in spots, the defense stood strong inside the redzone with three stops inside the 5. The first goal-line stand set up a 26-yard field goal by Hudson Hall for Hillcrest's first points, 7-3, only 20 seconds into the second quarter. Jacorrey Haynes answered with a 6-yard Hoover touchdown run. Hillcrest marched down the field again, but another stop inside the five set up a 20-yard field goal from Hall to make it 146 with 4:33 left in the first half.
"I can't say enough about our defense coming out and playing tonight with two big goal-line stands. That's big for our program," English said. "I told the guys tonight if we serve one another, because we're on the same team, and have a mind of service, then good things will happen. The defense served us tonight with great field position and two goal-line stands. We fed off of that offensively. It was a complete team win."
Jonah Winston powered Hoover in the third quarter, beginning with a 35-yard touchdown run in the first minute. A turnover on downs gave the ball back to the Bucs at their own 45. JR Mosley and Keilan Jefferson helped push the ball down to the Patriots' 3. Winston pushed the ball into the end zone again, but the play was ruled a fumble and turnover, keeping the score 21-6.
After Warren's touchdown catch later in the third quarter, the Bucs' defense answered with a takeaway of its. Dylan Bunkley intercepted Hillcrest's Bryson Kimbrough at the Hoover 3 with 1:56 left in the third quarter. Beason marched Hoover back down field, but was picked off by Javarski Lanier at the Bucs' 2-yard-line.
Once Hoover forced a punt, clock management went to work. Hoover ran 7:27 off the clock, going 80 yards in 13 plays to cap the evening with a 3-yard Jordan Jacobs touchdown run with 1:21 to play.
Hoover finished the night with 438 total yards to Hillcrest's 249, while holding Kimbrough to 38 yards passing. The Patriots' offense largely came from Christian Richey's 114 yards on 11 carries and Jacobi Harris' 82 yards on six carries.
Next up for the Bucs is a region road trip to Hewitt-Trussville on Friday, Sept. 13 before hosting the Prattville Lions in Region 3 action on Sept. 20.
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