By Rubin E. Grant Erin Oliver grew up going to UAB football games with her dad. So, when the chance for her to play flag football for Spain Park this fall presented itself, Oliver, a senior, jumped at it. The Alabama High School Athletic Association sanctioned flag football as one of its sports this year. “I was really excited when it was sanctioned,” Oliver said. “I’m sad … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Reagan Riley is running cross-country again and nothing could please her more, especially after what she went through last year. Riley, a junior at Mountain Brook High School, missed most of her sophomore cross-country season because of hip surgery. She had a torn labrum in her hip, a mix of genetics and overworking, she said. She had surgery Sept. 11, … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Mountain Brook senior outside linebacker John McMillan woke up last Saturday morning and watched a replay of the Spartans’ game from the night before with his dad, Murphy McMillan. What they saw was another dominating performance by the Spartans’ defense as fifth-ranked Mountain Brook recorded a 31-0 shutout on the road at Shades Valley in a Class 6A, Region … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant As Hoover won its first state volleyball championship in 2020 with the season of a lifetime and a tall, talented and deep roster, the Bucs also had a secret weapon. Strength and conditioning coach D.J. Taylor was employed to keep the Bucs in top-notch shape, and he did just that. “He was a huge reason for the success of our season,” Hoover volleyball coach … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant In the third quarter of Homewood’s season-opening football game at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa with the Patriots trailing by two touchdowns, junior quarterback Woods Ray dropped back to pass and was surprised to see who was streaking down the field. It was his brother, Harvey Ray, Homewood’s senior tight end. “I wasn’t expecting him to run that route, a go route,” … [Read more...]