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Spain Park High’s recipe for football success has rarely wavered this season. It calls for a ton of solid defense, the running game to fuel the offense and some timely plays in the passing game.
Why change now?
It certainly didn’t change on Friday when the Jaguars defense shut down the Bessemer City offense, Larry Wooden and Wade Streeter moved the chains with the running game and Joey Beatty threw a pair of touchdown passes. Add it all together and the result was a 24-6 victory that completed a special regular season for the Class 7A, Region 3 champion Jaguars.
“I believe you've got to play great defense, run the football this time of year,” said Spain Park head coach Shawn Raney, whose team won for the ninth consecutive time. “That’s what we’ve done all year and been successful. We’ve limited the turnovers – I don’t think we had one tonight. I think we’ve got four all year in 10 games. If we can continue to do what we’re doing then I think that’s what you’ve got to do heading into the playoffs.”
Spain Park will begin the postseason at home against Hazel Green next week. But before the Jaguars worried about that, they had to finish off Bessemer City (6-4) on Friday night. The Spain Park defense had a big hand in the victory, actually outscoring the Bessemer City offense thanks to a 20-yard fumble return for a touchdown by senior linebacker Perry Young.
Young’s big play, which came after fellow linebacker Houston Hollis stripped the ball from Bessemer City’s Marqus Johnson-Mason, came with the Jaguars clinging to a 10-6 lead with less than two minutes left before halftime.
“It was a real momentum-shifter,” said Young. “Our offense was kind of struggling. We had to have their back. Houston Hollis, he just made a great play, stripping the ball from the receiver. When it happened, I had to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Raney wasn't surprised that Young, who is receiving attention from major college recruiters, stepped up with the big play at a crucial time.
“He’s done it for three years, since I’ve been here,” Raney said. “He’s a kid who’s had a great senior year. Sometimes kids will start to tail off but he’s carried this defense, basically, for the three years I’ve been here.”
Actually, the defense was pretty darn good throughout the season. On Friday night, defensive linemen Douglas Henze and Damon Wright helped control the front and Bessemer City had no answer. The Tigers managed just 49 yards on 22 rushing attempts and gained 50 yards through the air. The lone touchdown came on a 99-yard kickoff return by sophomore Jalen Conwell.
Spain Park’s offense scored on its opening possession with the 51-yard drive being capped off with a 7-yard scoring toss from Beatty to Parker Kelley. But it wasn’t necessarily a smooth evening for the offense the rest of the way. Beatty was 7-of-11 for 77 yards, including a second half touchdown pass of 18 yards to Larry Wooden to provide the lone second half points.
The running game, which also featured sophomore D’Arie Johnson late in the game, had some success. Wooden gained 84 yards on 13 carries while Streeter finished with 59 yards on 12 carries. Johnson entered the game with just over five minutes left in the game and carried the ball 19 times for 76 yards.
When the game ended, the Jaguars could finally turn their focus toward the postseason.
“The last two weeks have been tough for us,” said Raney, whose team had already clinched the region title. “There’s not a lot to play for but you’ve got to keep the momentum of the season going. We got to rev it up this week with Hazel Green coming in.”
For Young and the other seniors, it’s a chance to extend their final season of high school football. And it’s a bit extra special after Spain Park missed the playoffs last season.
“It’s awesome,” Young said. “Not making the playoffs last year, it really hurt us. This year, it’s absolutely fun. We beat on our rivals (Hoover) and we’re going to the playoffs strong. We’re just taking it day by day. We’re just taking it day by day and not stepping ahead.”
