By Lee Davis It seems like we’ve been waiting forever, but the Alabama high school football playoffs finally begin this weekend. Last week’s season finales were important, but they had the feel of NFL exhibition games in that they meant nothing in the region standings. Now we are back to business, and the first round – as always – is intriguing and fraught with danger for … [Read more...]
Smylie Face: Ex-Rebel Wins First PGA Event
By Lee Davis Most PGA players don’t win a tournament in their rookie seasons. Even fewer win their fifth start. Vestavia Hills graduate Smylie Kaufman did both last week. Firing an epic 10-under par 61 in the final round, Kaufman shot a four-day total of 268 to win at the TPC Summerlin Course in Las Vegas on Oct. 25. He started the day seven shots behind the … [Read more...]
Rebel Cause: Vestavia Stuns Hoover With Late Victory
By Lee Davis Buddy Anderson is the winningest coach in the history of Alabama high school football. And while Anderson probably wouldn’t admit it, he’s probably never had a sweeter victory than the one his Vestavia Hills Rebels earned last Friday night. A late touchdown by Walker Minor gave Vestavia a 20-13 upset of defending three-time state champion Hoover at the Rebels’ … [Read more...]
And Howze! Ex-Hoover Star Looking Forward to New Season With Hammers
By Lee Davis Ever since he was a second-grader at St. Rose of Lima Academy, Norris Howze has loved to play soccer. Howze was a standout in the sport at Hoover High School and had an outstanding career at UAB. Now his greatest soccer milestone is straight ahead. Howze is a defensive midfielder for the Birmingham Hammers, which will begin play as a member of the National … [Read more...]
Best Efforts: Spain Park Center Aims for Title
By Lee Davis It’s not fair, but even the best offensive centers in football labor in anonymity compared to quarterbacks, running backs and receivers. Spain Park senior center Grey Best got a much-deserved moment of fame during the Jaguars’ epic 17-0 upset of arch-rival Hoover on Oct. 1. With the game scoreless in the final minutes of the first half, Spain Park had marched to … [Read more...]