By Rubin E. Grant
Five Over the Mountain high school football teams opened the AHSAA state playoffs last week, and all five are still alive.
Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook posted convincing first-round victories, while Homewood and Spain Park rallied from third-quarter deficits to advance.
Meanwhile, five OTM flag football teams also opened the playoffs, but only three survived. Vestavia Hills, John Carroll Catholic and Spain Park advanced to the second round, but Hoover and Homewood saw their seasons end.
Hoover was eliminated 39-7 by Hewitt-Trussville and Homewood fell 19-6 to Bob Jones, both in Class 6A/7A games.
Here’s a recap:
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Patriots Come Back
Homewood quarterback Kaleb Carson accounted for 276 yards total offense and four touchdowns as the Patriots came back from a 24-17 deficit to beat Athens 31-24 in a first-round Class 6A game at Waldrop Stadium.
The Patriots were inspired when defensive back John Griffin was injured early in the fourth quarter and had to be immobilized, carted off the field and taken to the hospital.
Following the injury, Homewood got a defensive stop and then put together a 98-yard scoring drive, capped by Carson’s 5-yard run with 3:58 remaining to snap a 24-24 tie.
“The injury really motivated our players to finish the game for him,” Homewood coach Ben Berguson said.
Griffin’s scans and X-rays were negative and he was released from the hospital Saturday.
Carson finished the game with 102 yards rushing and three touchdowns and 174 yards passing and a TD.
“Games like that aren’t supposed to take place until at least the quarterfinals,” Berguson said. “We got ourselves into a dogfight. Playing from behind and through some adversity will help us out down the road.”
Homewood (9-2) will travel to Fort Payne (9-2) Friday for a second-round game.
Rebels Romp
Vestavia Hills traveled to Semmes near Mobile and routed Mary G. Montgomery 42-21 in a Class 7A first-round game.
Mary Montgomery came into the game with a 9-1 record, but the Rebels (6-5) didn’t show them any respect.
The Rebels rolled up 437 total yards. Sophomore quarterback Charlie Taaffe completed 22 of 28 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown and rushed 15 times for 94 yards and three touchdowns. Bruce Littleton also ran for two touchdowns. Chase Webb caught seven passes for 90 yards and a touchdown.
“We’re built for this, and we are,” Vestavia Hills coach Robert Evans said. “Our schedule has hardened us. We’ve seen the best the state has to offer. We’re playing better than we played early, and on a given night, if we play clean football, we’ll be with anybody in the end in the state.”
Vestavia Hills (6-5) will visit Central-Phenix City (8-2)
Jaguars Rally
Spain Park scored 20 unanswered points to overcome an 11-point third quarter deficit to defeat visiting McGill-Toolen Catholic 44-35 in a Class 6A game.
The Jaguars trailed 35-24 with 2:57 left in the third before rallying. Senior running back Dakari Shanks started the comeback with a 3-yard touchdown run late in the third.
Junior quarterback Brock Bradley’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Corey Barber put the Jags ahead 38-35 early in the fourth. Bradley later scored on a 1-yard sneak to clinch the victory.
“Our kids are used to big moments,” Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes said. “They didn’t panic. McGill got after us, but our kids wanted it.”
Shanks ran 25 times for 186 yards and two touchdowns, and C.J. Cowley had 17 carries for 107 yards and a score. Bradley was 9 of 18 passing for 170 yards and a TD, and Barber caught seven passes for 151 and a touchdown.
“Brock didn’t have his best game, but any time you have Dakari and C.J. you can still move the ball,” Vakakes said. “If we don’t have them, we wouldn’t have won.”
Spain Park (11-0) hosts Russell County (9-2) in the second round Friday.
Spartans Efficient
Quarterback Cayden Hofbauer completed 11 of 16 passes for 219 yards and six touchdowns to lead Mountain Brook to a lopsided 45-7 victory at Southside-Gadsden in a Class 6A game.
Three of Hofbauer’s touchdown passes went to Archie Andrews, who finished with six receptions for 125 yards.
The Spartans scored on their first seven offensive possessions and amassed 420 total yards. They limited Southside to 125 yards, just 37 on the ground.
“We played complementary football,” Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager said. “The defense gave the offense good field position, the offense took care of the ball and the special teams kept (Southside) bottled up.”
The fifth-ranked Spartans (8-3) will host second-ranked Parker (10-1) in the second round Friday. The teams played on Aug. 30, with Parker winning 30-16.
Bucs Roll
Senior quarterback Mac Beason completed 14 of 25 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, leading Hoover (9-2) to a 35-10 victory against Fairhope (5-6) in a Class 7A game at the Hoover Met.
Both of Beason’s touchdown passes went to Jeremiah Tabb, covering 10 and 32 yards. Tabb finished with four receptions for 68 yards and the two scores. Senior A.J. Allen ran for 146 yards on 12 carries and scored twice on runs of 10 and 62 yards.
Hoover rolled up 436 yards total offense.
Despite the blowout, Hoover coach Chip English said the Bucs need to improve.
“There’s a lot to clean up,” English said. “Even a win, 35-10, you feel good about it, but at the same time you don’t because of the mistakes. We’ll iron those out and get back on track with what we need to do.”
Hoover (9-2) will meet Opelika (9-2) Friday in the second round.
FLAG FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Rebels, Jaguars Advance
Junior quarterback Julia Rose completed 27 of 42 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns to lead Vestavia Hills to a 19-13 victory over visiting Gadsden City in a Class 6A/7A game.
Senior Emily Spooner rushed for 40 yards and a TD for the Rebels. Senior Layne Turner caught six passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Callie Davis caught eight passes for 52 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Alexis Rubin caught eight passes for 118 yards.
Junior Molly Mitchell had four tackles (flags). Junior Chloe Leahy and senior Isa Wiley had three tackles each.
The Rebels (19-2) will visit Jackson-Olin in the second round Wednesday night.
In another 6A/7A first-round game, Spain Park routed Clay-Chalkville 34-6. The Jags will host Austin in the second round Wednesday night.
Cavaliers Roll
Riley Elkins scored on offense and defense to lead John Carroll Catholic to a 25-6 Class 1A-5A road victory over Westminster Christian.
Elkins also finished with three interceptions and multiple flag pulls, or tackles. Quarterback Ceci Jehu threw three touchdowns to three receivers – Lucy Wagner, Elkins and Kaylynn Nutter.
John Carroll was scheduled to host Northside in the second round Tuesday night.
