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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover quarterback Robby Ashford(16) rolls out to pass during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover fans during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover fans during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover offensive lineman Christian Ledbetter(75) leads the blocking during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover quarterback Robby Ashford(16) looks over the field during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Action during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover safety Kory Chapman(3) makes a tackle during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover linebacker Jason Riles(27) makes a tackle during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Action during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover defensive end Joseph Davis(33) makes a tackle during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover safety Kory Chapman(3) runs back an nterception during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover running back Dylan Pauley(5) runs the ball during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver RJ Hamilton(80) turns upfield after a reception during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
A Hoover defensive player forces a fumble during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover's Cotton Peters (41) makes a special teams tackle on a kickoff return during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover running back Massiah Tolen(4) looks for running room during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover cheerleaders during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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2019 Hoover Football
Hoover linebacker Marcus Williams(5) makes a tackle during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover defensive end Joseph Davis(33) makes a tackle during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver Malik Thomas(11) hauls in a touchdown pass during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover cheerleaders during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover cheerleaders during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover quarterback Robby Ashford(16) runs the ball during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover wide receiver Cooper Tullo(12) looks for an opening before breaking free for a big gain during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
The Hoover High School Marching Band perfoms during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover linebacker Marcus Williams(5) makes a tackle during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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Photo by Barry Stephenson
2019 Hoover Football
Hoover quarterback Robby Ashford(16) sprints for the sideline during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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2019 Hoover Football
Hoover running back Anthony Hayes(6) breaks through the line for a nice gain during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
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2019 HHS Football
Hoover wide receiver Malik Thomas(11) hauls in a touchdown pass during a Class 7A first round playoff game between Sparkman and Hoover on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at the Hoover Met.
HOOVER -- The sign Hoover High School football players ran through before Friday's first-round playoff game read, “First step on the road to redemption.”
At a school where a state championship is the expectation, the Buccaneers lost in the Class 7A semifinals last year. In a 21-3 win over visiting Sparkman, Hoover conquered its initial obstacle and welcomed back its top player.
Dual-threat quarterback Robby Ashford, who is committed to Ole Miss, had been out since the third game with a broken left foot. He returned to the lineup and completed 17-of-28 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns — all to junior Malik Thomas — as Hoover improved to 9-2.
The Buccaneers will travel to James Clemens next Friday in the 7A quarterfinals.
“I felt good, just getting all the rust off,” Ashford said. “It wasn’t my best game by far, but it’s the playoffs so coming out with a win means everything. We’ve got a lot of things to work on and I’ve got a lot of things to work on myself, but it feels good to get a win.”
Ashford hit Thomas with an 8-yard score in the first quarter, an 11-yard touchdown in the second and put the nail in the coffin with his 15-yard strike to Thomas in the fourth quarter.
It was the first three-touchdown game for Thomas.
“We just got our quarterback back and we were happy, so we had to turn up for him,” Thomas said.
Thomas caught six passes for 59 yards. The Bucs went 6-1 with backups Josh Lundy and Evan Reeder filling in admirably, but the offense ascends to a different level with Ashford’s ability to run. He didn’t have much success there, totaling six yards on four carries, but didn’t really force the issue. Ashford, who was sacked twice, did have a 10-yard run early in the game and said his foot felt good.
“Just huge for him to knock some rust off and get out there and run around, get tackled, bang it around a little bit and overcome a little bit of adversity,” Hoover coach Josh Niblett said. “He was pumped up with a lot of energy early.”
Hoover’s defense was strong, led by senior defensive end Joseph Davis. Davis had five tackles for loss (two sacks), including a pair on a drive where Sparkman had first-and-goal at the 8-yard line in the third quarter and had to settle for a field goal.
He also forced a second-quarter fumble that teammate Drew Tountasakis recovered at midfield. It led to Hoover’s second touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
“Joseph Davis, he gets what he deserves,” Niblett said. “That guy is one of the hardest workers and he’s a team leader for us. He works his tail off every day and it just shows by how he plays.”
Anthony Hayes led Hoover with 63 rushing yards on 14 carries, but Hoover also got running back Dylan Pauley back from injury. The junior eased his way in with 15 yards on three carries.
Kory Chapman had an interception for the Bucs.
Hoover will continue its playoff journey next Friday at James Clemens. The Jets defeated Vestavia Hills 21-20 on Friday night in Madison.
Sparkman, under coach Laron White, finished its season at 8-3.
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